Students close out successful band season at spring concert

All bands performed “Lean On Me” at the end of the concerts

Members of the high school band perform during last week’s concerts Seniors pose after their last band concert

BY FRANCESCA SAGALA

Members of the sixthgrade band, the Blue and Gold Band (comprised of seventh and eighth graders) and the high school band at New Buffalo Middle/ High School were celebrating persevering through what turned out to be a somewhat unusual year for band during the spring band concerts at New Buffalo Slater Field Wednesday, May 26.

“We had some challenges this year, but I feel we were really still able to keep music going and these kids have done a great job,” Christina Baumann, band director, said.

As opposed to trooping to Lake Michigan College for the Michigan State Band and Orchestra Association (MSBOA) band festival in March, students participated in a virtual festival. Students did a recording in the school gym before submitting it to a panel of adjudicators. Baumann said the seventh and eighth graders received Division One ratings from those judges as well as A’s across the board in every single category, which is “difficult to do,” she said.

The high school band also submitted a video recording and earned Division One ratings across the board.

Baumann said they were able to have somewhat of a marching band season. Unlike in past years, the students were able to do two shows instead of just one.

Baumann thanked members of the administration for allowing them to “keep band going” this past school year and “creatively” letting students be in the blue gym (as the band room wouldn’t have allowed for social distancing), as well as for their support in getting bell covers and instrument masks – “so that we can keep playing.”

“That didn’t happen everywhere – even around this state even around this area,” she said.

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From the Bleachers

COLUMN BY KURT MARGGRAF IN CHICAGO

Memorial Day. Most

importantly, it’s a time to reflect and give thanks to all the men and women who have so bravely served our country and protected us. It’s a time to put aside our differences and realize that no matter how flawed our country is, there is a reason why so many people want to come here. I didn’t get called to serve in Vietnam, but I knew many who did, and unfortunately some who didn’t make it home. To all of you who served our country in any way in any war, and to all the friends and family of those whose lives were affected, I salute you. We are the land of the free, because of the brave.

Memorial Day can also be a time to reflect on our own lives and because this is a sports column, I will reflect on how sports has affected my life. From my mom and dads encouragement and time to my son and daughter bringing me joy with their skills and competitiveness and even more importantly, their sportsmanship. Obviously, sports are an integral part of my family and many other families. If you’re lucky enough to have adults teach you the proper way to play and teach you good sportsmanship, so many of life’s lessons can be learned.

Life goes on and your favorite teams win championships and come in last place, your favorite players have good years and bad or move on to other teams, and professional sports lose a little bit of their magic. Then it happens. Your grandchildren start to participate and the magic returns. The last few years, I’ve had the opportunity to witness a couple of my grandsons play football and one of my granddaughters play volleyball. While those weren’t the sports I participated in, it was great watching them exhibit all the traits I admire. Their willingness to give all they had to give in order to help their team win and their great sportsmanship made me very proud. Last week I traveled to Minnesota and in five days I saw two of my grandsons participate in four baseball games and two ultimate frisbee contests. The ultimate frisbee games were new to me and were a lot of fun, but the biggest joy for me was their baseball games. They both got to pitch and both pitched brilliantly, and while batting, the ball was flying all over the place. Both my son and I pitched, but my Minnesota grandsons outperformed us and they both seem to be better hitters than either of us. The younger of the boys reached base 19 out of 20 at bats this season and while I was there, hit the ball to the wall and hit one right on the nose for a sacrifice fly that tied the game in the final inning. Needless to say, all 7 of my grandchildren are awesome, whether they are stars or choose not to play at all.

I’m going to quote one of my favorite singers tonight, for his message resonates with me. In his pre vaccine song The Medicine Man, Keb Mo’ sings, “I can’t tell what the future holds, It might turn to crap, it might turn to gold. Maybe the bees might teach the pigs to fly, But I’m just gonna love everybody till the day I die. Everybody’s doing the best they can, We’re all just waiting on the medicine man.”

Refuse hate. Talk to you next week. Peace, love, and happiness.

Lady Bison without star pitcher trounced in district opener

BY STAN MADDUX

The heavily anticipated rematch in girls’ softball between New Buffalo and River Valley in Monday’s District 4 tournament opener was anything but a thriller.

The Mustangs defeated the Lady Bison 15-0 in a game called under the mercy rule after three innings.

New Buffalo (14-8) was without record setting pitcher Ava Mullen, who badly sprained her ankle in a travel volleyball game over the weekend.

Mullen, a sophomore, could only offer moral support on crutches a week after breaking the New Buffalo High School record for strikeouts in a season.

She finished the regular season with 255 strikeouts, which was four more than her sister, Maggie, who graduated in 2014.

The Mustangs defeated New Buffalo during the regular season in extra innings.

Freshman Laura Wamsler was no match on the pitcher’s mound for the Mustangs, who carefully placed infield singles and hit the ball hard into the outfield to score nine runs in the first inning.

Two walks, a hit batsman and several miscues on defense further opened the flood gates the Mustangs.

Two of the first innings runs for River Valley were driven in by a sizzling line drive to left field by Hanah Lynch.

The Mustangs finished their scoring in the second inning when Macey Springer hit a two-run home run over the left center field fence.

Springer also recorded nine strikeouts and gave up no hits in three innings on the mound.

The Lady Bison did threaten to score in the final inning when Amanda Jones and Amelia Sieler walked.

The bases were loaded when a fielding error was made on a ground ball to the second baseman by Aaron James.

Kaitlyn Jones then struck out swinging to end the game.

I would argue that nothing gives life more purpose than the realization that every moment of consciousness is a precious and fragile gift. — Steven Pinker

New Buffalo marks Memorial Day 2021

BY FRANCESCA SAGALA

New Buffalo

marked Memorial Day 2021 with its traditional ceremony at Pine Grove Cemetery Monday, May 31.

Members of the audience stood amidst the graves, many of which were bedecked with miniature American flags that flapped in the early morning breeze, while listening to members of the New Buffalo American Legion Post 169 as they offered reflections on the day honoring those who have lost their lives for this country’s freedoms.

The Honor Guard gave the 21-gun salute, followed by the playing of “Taps.” Members of the New Buffalo High School band performed the National Anthem.

Bill Russell gives a brief history of the American Legion

Dr. Lee Strohl offers a refelction during the ceremony The Honor Guard performs the 21-gun salute

New Buffalo Township Supervisor Michelle Heit, with members of the Berrien County Sheriff’s Office, the New Buffalo City Police and city and township fire departments

Taps

PHOTO PROVIDED BY GARY WOOD

New Buffalo Middle School Principal Bradley Brunner, along with

his sons, George, Thomas and Mark, played “Taps” at the corner of North Whittaker/Buffalo streets in New Buffalo at 3 p.m. Monday, May 31, as part of “Taps Across America” a national project that has been promoted by Steve Hartman from CBS On the Road. “Taps” was played across America in remembrance of soldiers who died in the service of the United States military. The event was organized locally by the New Buffalo Business Association.

Council behind downtown bypass

BY STAN MADDUX

Aproposed downtown LaPorte bypass seems to have gained momentum.

The LaPorte “I think it’s a huge piece of this in being able to show other levels of government that we’re able to work together,” he said. Currently, each of the four County Council Monday night passed a resolution in support of building a four-lane highway for reducing heavy truck traffic from the downtown.

The idea is to draw more people into downtown by making it more pedestrian friendly.

“From what I understand, it could really increase people visiting our community and do some shopping here and, of course, that’s what we really want,” said LaPorte County Councilman Mike Mollenahauer.

The LaPorte City Council has already endorsed the estimated $100 million project.

The LaPorte County Commissioners could be next to consider a formal backing of the proposal.

“It’s on our radar screens,” said LaPorte County Commission president Rich Mrozinski.

Bert Cook, executive director of the LaPorte Economic Advancement Partnership, said local governments rallying behind a project helps boost the odds of acquiring outside sources of revenue to help with financing.

In this case, the project hinges on 80 percent of the cost being funded with federal dollars.

The request for funding could start being considered as early as 2022. routes considered for a bypass would connect U.S. 35 on the southern edge of the city to Indiana 39 near the Indiana Toll Road to the north. The four-lane corridor would run just east of downtown close to where much of the city’s industrial base is located. Supporters believe the eightmile road would draw a good percentage of trucks now having to venture through downtown to reach their destinations. The road is viewed as key for making downtown more of a destination and gathering place by reducing heavy traffic and fears about trucks rumbling while parking. Cook said a more urgent, perhaps, selling point is projections of worsening congestion without a bypass. Right now, it’s not uncommon, especially at rush hour, to be at a traffic light for two signal cycles or stopped on top of the U.S. 35 overpass waiting for the light several hundred feet ahead to turn green. “If we do nothing in the next ten years you will sit in downtown LaPorte for three cycles at a light before you will be able to proceed to the next light. Anyone can recognize how that would be a community killer,” Cook said.