Enjoying a strawberry Sunday at New Troy’s ‘Strawberry Social’

Heather Courtney (far right) scoops out strawberries for guests

Linda and Bob Miller enjoy their strawberry treats

Victoria Petroff, Terry Hanover and Brett Boyd of Classic Catering man the fundraising booth

BY FRANCESCA SAGALA

For the fourth year, the Friends of New Troy (FONT) Community Center was host to a celebration that centered around everyone’s The popular story hour with Miss Ollie (a retired teacher and graduate of New Troy High School) will remain. With regards to games, some installations will be on the wall. favorite, juicy summertime fruit: the strawberry.

Everyone gathered in the center’s gazebo garden for the Allan Boyd Memorial Strawberry Social, which featured an array of strawberry desserts courtesy of Classic Catering as well as live entertainment from Down by the Dock, Sunday, July 10.

The annual event is a gift to the community from the Boyd family to honor the memory of Allan Boyd (1925-2017), who grew up in New Troy and attended New Troy High School, which used to stand on the site of the current New Troy Township Park. As a young man, Allan owned a garage in the center of town. Later in life, he became township supervisor and remained a prominent figure in local politics for many years.

In 2018, the Boyd family also donated the gazebo that now is the centerpiece of the community center’s gazebo garden.

The event was a part of FONT’s “Gather and…” series. Victoria Petroff, vice president of FONT’s board of directors, said that any of the events that they’ll be hosting, as well as any other fundraisers through FONT in general, at this point will be raising money for a new library and meeting room for the center.

“We’re making an effort to transition from books to more technology,” she said, adding that the renovation will include more Wi-Fi and computerfriendly items.

Petroff added that Wi-Fi infrastructure is a “huge need” in Weesaw Township.

The new library will still have books; however, Petroff said there will be more of a book club and curated items. “We’re going to try to create spaces that are super user friendly – create interactive, engaging stations for kids to play at,” she said. Funds are also being raised to redo the meeting room, which Petroff said will “bring it up to par with what the community room is – new floor, new blinds, just to make it more inviting and fresher.” An effort will also be made to procure grants to help cover the cost for the renovations. Petroff said the cost is around $43,550 (as of that afternoon, $12,000 had been raised).

Petroff said the same “template” that was used when money was raised two winters ago to redo the bathrooms will be followed to raise funds for the building’s projects.

“The Friends of New Troy will allocate a certain amount to the project and then seek help from the public and grant writing,” she said.

Another project has been the everevolving history room, which has been made possible through a collection of historical artifacts of the area that have been collected through the years by board president Terry Hanover and former board member Mike Metz.

Petroff said the “Gather and…” events were the brainchild of board member Marlene Newmiller, who owns Newmiller Farms. The next one will be a partnership with the Coastline Children’s Film Festival’s summer film series, where children can watch “Shaun the Sheep Movie” at sunset Wednesday, Aug. 17 (rain date is Aug. 18).

Chamber cuts the ribbon at Pedego Harbor Country during ‘Palooza Party’

BY FRANCESCA SAGALA

Agroup of cyclists, as well as well-wishers,

said “Hello, fun!” during the Harbor Country Chamber of Commerce’s ribbon-cutting at the official grand opening of Pedego Harbor Country in New Buffalo Sunday, July 10.

That’s the motto of Pedego, which sells Pedego E bikes.

Pedego Harbor Country rents by the hour and sells and services the bikes throughout northwest Indiana and southwest Michigan, as well as offers bike accessories.

“The chamber is really excited to add this business and this activity to all other wonderful activities that are available in this area - we have wonderful roads and scenery to be had on their bicycles either to rent or to purchase one from them,” Kimberlee Wendt, executive director of the chamber, said at the ribbon-cutting, which was also being touted as a Neighborhood Palooza Party.

Pedego owners got a taste of these roads and scenery before the party, as they were invited to bring their own Pedego E-bike to participate in an hour-long “Pedegos! Group Ride.” In addition, the official national Pedego bus, which travels around the country to each Pedego store and celebrates group rides and grand openings, pulled up in front of the business all the way from California.

After the ride, the group enjoyed a celebration of live music, big ticket raffle items, food and drinks.

Pedego Harbor Country opened its doors last fall. Since then, Taylor Lindstrom, who owns the Harbor Country store with her partner, Steven Brooker, said that the business has “been swinging with the rentals” and sales have been “amazing.”

She said that around 30 riders had participated in that afternoon’s ride and rode about 15 miles on their E bikes. Around 60 people from all over had attended the event.

“It’s really about our customer appreciation for people who have purchased bikes,” Lindstrom said.

Since opening last fall, Lindstrom said they’ve sold about 150 bikes. She said they have plenty more in stock, with more on the way.

For those who want to rent a bike, it’s advised that they visit their website, to book ahead of time.

For more information, visit www.pedegoharborcountry. com or call (269) 231-5680. The store is located at 425 S. Whittaker Street in New Buffalo.

Getting ready to cut the ribbon at Pedego Harbor Country The national Pedego touring bus parked outside Pedego Harbor Country

Cyclists ride down South Whittaker Street from their mini bike trip

Guests line up for refreshments in front of The Wandering Mule Co