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New Buffalo Times

THE OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF NEW BUFFALO • SINCE 1944 THE OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF NEW BUFFALO • SINCE 1942

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CHICAGO • LONG BEACH • MICHIANA SHORES • GRAND BEACH • NEW BUFFALO • UNION PIER • THREE OAKS • LAKESIDE • HARBERT • SAWYER

issue 21, volume 81 www.newbuffalotimes.com Thursday, May 26, 2022

Grand Beach council adopts short-term rental, trash and recycle ordinance PAGE 5

School of American Music celebrates 10th anniversary PAGE 6

New Buffalo school board approves cooperative middle school sports program with River Valley; Adopts 2022-2023 fiscal budget PAGE 8

Steady improvement for young Bison in baseball PAGE 10

The Love Spell Boutique boasts fun, flowy fashions PAGE 12 AND THEY’RE OFF...

STUDENTS, STAFF ‘RACE FOR A CURE’ AT 5K EVENT

New Buffalo Times

LOCAL INTELLIGENCE — SINCE 1942 —

ETHICS SOCIETY OF PROFESSIONAL JOURNALISM MICHIGAN PRESS ASSOCIATION MEMBER PROPRIETOR NEW BUFFALO TIMES, INC. EDITOR NEW BUFFALO TIMES INTELLIGENCE EDITORIAL BOARD CREATIVE DIRECTOR JOE DURK REPORTERS/WRITERS THERESE DONNELLY FRANCESCA SAGALA LAWRENCE VON EBELER KURT MARGGRAF ALEXANDER FATOUROS SOPHIA ROSE FATOUROS STAN MADDUX KRISTIN E. FATOUROS NEW BUFFALO TIMES INTELLIGENCE NEW BUFFALO TIMES POLITICS GUESTS QUOTES DINO N. FATOUROS PROOFING FRANCESCA SAGALA BROADCAST/ADVERTISING JANINE ADAMSKI (630) 370-0820 OR JANINEADAMSKI@GMAIL.COM SUGGESTIONS, CRITICISM, IDEAS MEDIA@NEWBUFFALOTIMES.COM ADVERTISING MEDIA@NEWBUFFALOTIMES.COM CLASSIFIED ADS CLASSIFIEDS@NEWBUFFALOTIMES.COM SUBSCRIPTIONS SUBSCRIPTIONS@NEWBUFFALOTIMES.COM COMMUNICATE DIRECTLY WITH NEW BUFFALO TIMES INFO@NEWBUFFALOTIMES.COM Periodical Postage paid in New Buffalo, MI. Postmaster, please send address changes to: NEW BUFFALO TIMES PO BOX 959, New Buffalo, MI 49117 ©2021 NEW BUFFALO TIMES, INC. PUBLICATION NUMBER 377960 CIRCULATION 5,000+ WEEKLY NEW BUFFALO TIMES distribution: Milda’s Corner Market • Customs Imports Sawyer Garden Center • The Whistle Stop David’s Delicatessen • Grand Variety Barney’s • Knoll Bros. • Stray Dog Infusco Coffee Roasters Black Currant Bakehouse The Marina Grand • Redamak’s Outpost Sports • Big C Lumber Between Casey’s and Nancy’s Sawyer Hardware • The Harbor Grand Froehlics . Three Oaks Journeyman Distillery . Three Oaks The Acorn Theater . Three Oaks The Lakeside Inn For the most convenient location, you can subscribe to get the NEW BUFFALO TIMES in your mailbox or inbox. Please email us for E-TIMES, info@newbuffalotimes.com.

BY STAN MADDUX

The City of La Porte is challenging Norfolk Southern Railroad over its decision to take back a historic downtown train depot restored with $3.6 million in tax dollars.

Mayor Tom Dermody is leading an effort reaching as high as Washington D.C. to try and force the major carrier of freight to return it to the community.

“We’re going every angle possible to protect these depot buildings for our community and sending a message that you can’t push the little guy around. We’re not going to stand for it,” he said.

The city using local, state and federal monies completed restoration of the two historic depot buildings in 2009.

The dilapidated buildings were slated for demolition when the city acquired rights to the property then owned by Conrail for $1 annually under a 20-year lease entered into with the railroad before the restoration, said Bert Cook, executive director of the LaPorte Economic Advancement Partnership.

The lease remained in effect after Norfolk Southern later acquired the railroad.

Norfolk Southern decided not to extend the lease, though, and reclaimed ownership of the property once the agreement expired on Dec. 31.

“We’re just incredibly disappointed. They ought to be ashamed of themselves,” Cook said.

Originally, Dermody said the intent was for ownership of the depot to transfer to the city at the end of the lease.

The depot was occupied by the LaPorte Economic Advancement Partnership and several non-profit organizations when they were evicted by Norfolk Southern.

The restored facility was also where

Santa Claus, after being ushered into the city every year in a parade, visited with children while hot chocolate and cider were served to people gathered for the festivities.

The once bustling structures when the rail line had passenger service decades ago were a source of pride in a community deeply involved in historic preservation.

“I think those depot buildings were a major asset for everyone in the city. They were kind of a shining star of what historic restoration can do for your community,” he said.

LEAP is now located in a nearby building it acquired for $250,000 at 605 Michigan Avenue.

Cook also said the appraised value of the depot has risen from $89,000 prior to the restoration to $500,000 currently. He said LEAP offered the railroad as much as $300,000 for the structures during 18 months of negotiations prior to the lease expiring.

Dermody said talks have already occurred with Congresswoman Jackie Walorski and members of the National Transportation Safety Board about use of the facility being returned to the city. He said contact has also been made with former Indiana governor and current president of Purdue University Mitch Daniels, who’s a member of the board of directors for Norfolk Southern Corporation. Cook said it’s a bit unsettling not knowing what the future holds for the old depot which sits empty.

“As I understand it, they’re going to try and sell the buildings at some point,” he said.

Dermody said the depot will be discussed with local, state and federal officials next month.

It’ll be brought up during a meeting primarily about trains recently stopping more frequently in front of railroad crossings here and in surrounding communities.

Dermody said representatives from the railroad are expected to be in attendance.

“They got enough business to do. They shouldn’t be worried about two depot buildings that the city of LaPorte has fixed up, repaired and made it look like it does today. This is a fight that needs to be taken on by the city,” he said.

Local Government Meetings

New Buffalo Times

Democracy Requires Transparency

CITY OF NEW BUFFALO JOHN HUMPHREY, MAYOR CITY COUNCIL LOU O’DONNELL, IV. MARK ROBERTSON, JOHN HUMPHREY, ROGER LIJESKI, BRIAN FLANAGAN City Council meets on the 3rd Monday of each month at 6:30PM CITY OF NEW BUFFALO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETINGS to be determined 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

NEW BUFFALO AREA SCHOOLS BOARD CHUCK HEIT, PRESIDENT HEATHER BLACK, VICE PRESIDENT JOHN HASKINS, TREASURER LISA WERNER, SECRETARY JOYCE LANTZ, TRUSTEE FRANK MARGRO, TRUSTEE PATRICIA NEWSTON, TRUSTEE 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 DEBORAH LINDLEY, BLAKE O’HALLORAN, JAMES BRACEWELL, PETER DOERR, PAUL LEONARD, JR. MICHIANA VILLAGE OF MICHIANA COUNCIL Meets on the 2nd Friday of each month at 1PM

Auditor sued again for not paying county attorney

BY STAN MADDUX

The LaPorte County Auditor has been sued again by the lead attorney for LaPorte County government.

Attorney Shaw Friedman is to do with his personal feelings toward Friedman. Instead, Stabosz said he’s acting strictly as auditor and withholding payment until Friedman provides more data to verify the seeking over $120,000 from Tim Stabosz. Friedman claims he’s owed more than $40,000 for work on claims that Stabosz has not paid over the past several months.

Friedman is an independent contractor for working for county government at $150 per hour under a contract.

According to the lawsuit filed by attorney David Ambers, Friedman under state law is entitled to three times the amount owed to him as compensation for legal expenses and other punitive damages if he wins the case.

Any damages awarded would come out of the auditor’s own pocket since he’s being sued personally.

According to the lawsuit, Stabosz is withholding payment because of his personal feelings toward Friedman.

Last year, Friedman filed a defamation of character lawsuit against Stabosz for alleging Friedman runs county government by controlling elected officials. That lawsuit remains undecided.

Several months later, the LaPorte County Commissioners sued Stabosz for going against their orders to pay Friedman close to $30,000 in claims.

That matter was decided by an out of court settlement where Friedman received the money he was owed except for $2,500 Stabosz questioned in his invoices.

In response to the most recent lawsuit, Stabosz said he’s not paying claims for things like political work and duties more in line with a county administrator.

He also said his actions have nothing work at question was for legal purposes. Stabosz also claimed he’s being sued personally because Friedman might have to step down as county attorney until the lawsuit is decided if he sued him as county auditor. “You can’t have a lawsuit against the county with which you work for because that’s a conflict of interest. He’d have to step down. So, he gets clever and sues me personally. We’re going to get it thrown out of court,” Stabosz said. The contract stipulates Friedman shall be paid not just for legal work.

Other duties spelled out in the contract include governmental relations and policy work in various forums like administrative and regulatory settings.

Friedman said every item in his unpaid claims line up within the scope of his duties as county attorney.

“Look at the contract. Look at the contract,” said Friedman.

He strongly denied ever billing for political work in his over 25-years of representing county government.

The commissioners recently ordered Stabosz to compensate the attorney for his latest batch of unpaid claims.

Stabosz like he did the first time vowed not to pay unless he receives more information to verify the claims.

“We’ll let a judge decide. We’ll let a judge decide,” he said.

THREE OAKS TOWNSHIP LIBRARY TO HOST SUMMER READING EVENTS

Get ready to dive into “Oceans of Possibilities” with Bridging the Gap Summer Reading at Three Oaks Township Public Library.

This year, the library is focusing on keeping students ready for school in the fall by providing each child a Bridging Workbook for their grade/ age.

To help us do this, all children in preschool through eighth grade must pre-register before June 10 by visiting the library, calling 756-5621 or emailing director@threeoakslibrary. org.

During the week of June 13-18, please come to the library to pick up a special Bridging workbook and Brag Tag starter chain for all the cool Brag Tags students will earn this summer.

Tuesdays at the library will be all day (10 a.m. to 6 p.m.) from June 21 to Aug. 16, where Mrs. Clark will be present with activities and fun. Those who attend each week will receive a different Brag Tag and an entry into the drawing for a grand prize.

Those who are unable to come to the library on Tuesdays can still get a Brag Tag each week by bringing their workbook sometime during the week.

The library will finish Summer Reading Aug. 16 and grand prize winners will be notified by Aug. 20.

The following special events will take place this summer: • Wednesday, June 15, 7 p.m.:

Coastline Children’s Film Festival will present Disney’s “The

Rescuers” • Tuesday, June 21, 1 p.m.:

Marionette Playhouse Puppet

Show by Jean Kuecher • Thursday, July 14, 1 p.m.:

Critchlow Alligator Sanctuary

Always check the library’s Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/ threeoakslibrary or its website, www. threeoaks.michlibrary.org for pop-up events and special activities. — STAFF