A Symphony Orchestra

Summer Pop Up Concert Series to take place in New Bufflo, St. Joseph and surrounding area

After a successful start last week, the Southwest Michigan Symphony Orchestra’s Pop Up! Concerts will continue this Thursday, June 8, and will feature members of the symphony orchestra and friends.

Cellist Brooke Bennett and his wife, violinist Jessica Bennett will perform at 4 p.m. in the garden at the Maud Preston Palenske Memorial Library, 505 Market St., St. Joseph. The Bennett’s will share a wide variety of music for string duo including classical favorites, popular fiddle tunes, Irish jigs, Broadway hits and well-known film music.

These concerts were started during the pandemic as a thank you to the community for its support of the SMSO. They are free to the public; however, if you are so moved, please consider making a tax-deductible contribution to help ensure the fiscal health of the SMSO. The SMSO hopes the community will enjoy these rousing orchestral offerings.

The Wood Stock and Grill food truck will be on site for anyone who would like to purchase food or drink to enjoy during the concert.

The following is the upcoming schedule for additional Pop-Up Concerts:

• JUNE 15 – The Formosa Duo will perform at 4 p.m. at the Maud Preston Palenske Memorial Library, St. Joseph

• JUNE 22 – The Martin Wind Duo will perform at 4 p.m. at the Maud Preston Palenske Memorial Library, St. Joseph

• JUNE 29 – A String Chamber Ensemble will perform at 5:30 p.m. at the Lions Pavilion Park, New Buffalo;

• AUGUST 3 – A String Quartet will perform at 6 p.m. at the Krasl Art Center, St. Joseph;

• AUGUST 10 – A Classical Duo will perform at 6 p.m. at the Krasl Art Center, St. Joseph;

• AUGUST 17 – The Dvorak String Quintet will perform at 6 p.m. at the Krasl Art Center, St. Joseph;

• AUGUST 24 – The KalHaven Strings will perform at 6 p.m. at the Dwight P. Mitchell City Park, Benton Harbor nd

• AUGUST 31 – A String Quartet will perform at 6 p.m. at The GhostLight Theatre, Benton Harbor.

These concerts are supported, in part, by the Berrien Community Foundation, The Monday Musical Club, New Buffalo Arts Council, Horizon Bank of New Buffalo, as well as an award from the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs and the National Endowment for the Arts.

— STAFF REPORTS

Town Square

LETTERS TO THE NEW BUFFALO TIMES: THE VIEWS HERE DO NOT REPRESENT THE VIEWS OF THE NEW BUFFALO TIMES. THE NEW BUFFALO TIMES ASKS THAT YOUR LETTER TO THE NEW BUFFALO TIMES, BE UNIQUE, KIND AND BASED ON REASONED FACTS. THE NEW BUFFALO TIMES RESERVES THE RIGHT TO NOT PUBLISH ANY CORRESPONDENCE FOR ANY REASON. PLEASE KEEP YOUR LETTERS TO 300 WORDS OR FEWER. PLEASE INCLUDE YOUR NAME, PHONE NUMBER AND YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS. PLEASE EMAIL YOUR LETTER TO INFO@NEWBUFFALOTIMES.COM. THANK YOU.

New Buffalo Times

LOCAL INTELLIGENCE — SINCE 1942 —

FOR THE RECORD...

As the former city treasurer, I am writing to clarify statements from the May 25th article “New Buffalo Mayor the target of another recall attempt”. In reference to the status of the city’s sewer fund, it was stated that “the city’s fund used for plant operation and maintenance had more than $300,000 in red ink annually in recent years” and “property tax revenue was allocated to cover the yearly sewer fund deficits”.

I served as the city treasurer since 2016. I was proud to be an integral part in bringing the city into financial stability and promoting financial transparency. This letter is not a commentary on specific persons or politics. It is simply to correct information.

The upcoming budget can be viewed on the city’s website by clicking on “meetings”, then “city council meetings” then “4-20-23 final packet”. The sewer fund budget is on page 30 of the packet. The net of revenues/appropriations—fund 590 line at the bottom of the page shows whether each year ended with a surplus or a deficit. In 2017-18 the fund ended with a surplus of $124,698; in 2018-19 a surplus of $219,827; in 2019-20 a deficit of $219,563; in 202021 a surplus of $119,157; and in 2021-22 a surplus of $26,360. The sewer fund had a deficit once—in 2019. That being said, sewer costs have increased and it has been difficult to fund preventative maintenance. However, the statement that the sewer fund had more than $300,000 in red ink annually in recent years is inaccurate.

Additionally, at the top of the same page under “estimated revenues”, line 590-000-699.000 “transfer in” shows any monetary transfers made into the sewer fund. One transfer was made in 2017 to cover the sewer’s fund’s portion of the bond payment for the downtown project. No other transfers have been made from the general fund into the sewer fund in the past 6 years. Property tax revenue is deposited into the general fund. Therefore, general fund monies or property taxes have not been allocated to cover yearly sewer fund deficits. And, as previously clarified, there have not been yearly sewer fund deficits.

I wish my successor the best and sincerely hope the city continues to be fiscally responsible.

KATE VYSKOCIL, NEW BUFFALO