Repairs to flooded county complex to resume

BY STAN MADDUX

Work on the repairing the heavily flood damaged LaPorte County Government Complex will resume.

The job was shut down five weeks ago to allow time for receiving bids on work added to the project after it began in January.

The work involves replacing old water pipes and other existing infrastructure such as duct work in the half century old building

In most cases, the bids opened during Wednesday’s LaPorte County Commissioners were substantially higher than the original estimates from several months ago.

LaPorte County Commissioner Connie Gramarossa said there’s no way out from paying the higher cost.

“We can’t go back and ask them to hold the prices before we send it out to bid so now it is going to cost the taxpayers a lot more money,” she said.

The commissioners later approved the bids.

The items added to the project were not directly damaged from a water line bursting late last year.

However, officials said those items should be replaced since they’re exposed after the water damaged inside walls being taken down.

The cost of that work would be much higher if performed after the new walls go up, officials said.

The bids were close to a million dollars or more higher than originally estimated, but delaying the project further to receive new bids was considered out of the question with the project five weeks behind schedule.

LaPorte County Council Attorney Guy DiMartino said it’s possible the actual expense of the new work once finished will be less than the estimates, which he believes were not to exceed amounts.

“Your job is going to be on the project manager to whip these people into shape, make sure they’re not lollygagging and, hopefully, their times and materials are going to come in way under what they submitted their bid for,” he said.

So far, the actual cost of all of the repairs once completed possibly by the end of the year remains unknown but previous rough estimates were as much as $20 million.

LaPorte County Commissioner Joe Haney said it’s difficult to estimate the final cost because flood damage continues to be discovered even late in the ongoing demolition happening on the inside.

An insurance policy is covering a vast majority of the cost.

DiMartino said the work added to the project is not flood related but is hopeful much of that expense will also be picked up by the insurance company.

The water line was on the upper level of the five story structure busted when temperatures plummeted to below zero during a blizzard before Christmas.

Enough water leaked from the line to cause damage on every floor of the structure except the county jail.

Singers to lead ‘Songs of the ‘60s and ‘70s’ sing-along

Travel back to the ‘60s and ‘70s, singing those songs at a summer outdoor sing-along with the Harbor Country Singers at 6:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Aug. 8, on Spring Creek Stage, Arts and Education Center, 14 Maple Street in Three Oaks (facing Dewey Cannon Park).

Song books with music and lyrics will be provided. Musicians are welcome to bring instruments to play along. Please bring your own lawn chair or blanket. If it rains, the singalong will be moved to the shelter house at Carver Memorial Park, U. S. 12 and Elm Street, in Three Oaks.

School of American Music instructor Ron Spears will provide guitar accompaniment. Harbor Country Singers members Donna Mitchell, Diane Ruzevich and Pat Putnam will be song leaders.

Harbor Country Singers is a program of the School of American Music (SAM) and is supported by a grant from the Pokagon Fund. For more information, please contact SAM at 269-409-1191 or schoolofamericanmusic@ gmail.com or visit School of American Music on Facebook or the website www. schoolofamericanmusic.com. – STAFF REPORTS

Chicago-based band

its energetic performance to Acorn Theater in Three Oaks on Aug. 18

August 5, 2023 –StoneagleMusic recording artists, Bowmanville, a Chicago-based band known for their electrifying live performances, is set to captivate music lovers at the prestigious Acorn Theater in Three Oaks, Michigan. The muchanticipated event will take place at 8:00 PM Eastern on August 18, 2023, promising an unforgettable night of remarkable music and entertainment.

Hailing from Chicago, Bowmanville strives to bring the hip sensibilities of Hot Club Jazz from 1930s Paris mingled with the influences born of Chicago’s global crossroads to a wider audience. Led by violinist Ethan Adelsman, with Graham Nelson on harmonica/vocals, Noah Plotkin on drums, Oliver Horton on bass, and Mason Jiller on guitar, the group draws inspiration from diverse musical backgrounds to push the boundaries of their craft.

The band can be heard on their debut self-titled album, which was produced by Grammy nominated producer Doug Nelson (Donovan, Little Feat, Pinetop Perkins) and engineered by Larry Millas (Ides of March). Newcity Music called the album “a burst of pure joy” and writes that the group has the “ability to swing the living hell out of whatever they do”.

Thrilling audiences the world over, Bowmanville can be seen regularly at venues such as Space, Andy’s Jazz Club, the Whistler, Chicago Jazz Festival, Fitzgerald’s, the Acorn Theater, and has performed internationally at the Live at Heart festival in Örebro, Sweden.

Band spokesperson, Ethan Adelsman, expressed his excitement for the upcoming event, saying, “We’re thrilled to bring our music to the Acorn Theater in Three Oaks, Michigan. It’s always a joy to perform for our fans in new locations, and we cannot wait to share this unforgettable experience with the audience.” “It is also the first time playing the Acorn for local son Graham Nelson, who’s family lives and works in the area.