Trailhead, parking lot in Union Pier offers resting spot for walkers, runners and cyclists

Runners, walkers, and cyclists now have a spot to rest and refresh themselves for the journey ahead at the newly completed trailhead facility, which includes restrooms, off-street parking, and benches, on Townline Avenue in Union Pier.

New Buffalo Township Supervisor Michelle Heit said that it’s been open since shortly after the July Fourth weekend.

“We’d gotten our occupancy permit and it’s been open ever since,” she said.

Heit said the gravel parking lot located next to the building is a work in progress, as it’s been decided that it’ll be unpaved for now.

“There’s still landscaping, a little thank you water feature garden (for The Pokagon Fund) going in soon – a few things are still going to happen there but everything’s up and usable now,” she said.

Burkholder Excavating did the parking lot. The trailhead was paid for through a grant from The Pokagon Fund (New Buffalo Township wrote for the grant).

“The Pokagon Fund actually paid for the property too – they gave us the grant to purchase the property and part of the grant agreement was to put the parking lot in,” Heit said.

Heit said the trailhead has been busy the times she’s stopped by to put supplies in there.

“People are in and out using it so much already and the picnic tables in the front – it’s nice,” she said.

Also getting plenty of use is the nearby 10-foot non-motorized path, which was a part of the Red Arrow Highway/Union Pier Corridor Improvement Project.

Aribbon-cutting was held in downtown Union Pier for the project on Memorial Day weekend, and Heit said the path has been busy ever since.

“From the minute it was done, I’ve seen so many people, especially families…For kids who need to be able to get out and use bikes, there’s not really a sidewalk in that area, so they can safely get out and walk or ride bikes or roller skate. It’s been nice to see families be able to get out and move around and bike,” she said.

Heit said that she hopes the path will someday continue to Bridgman. It’s hoped that the trail will be part of a future linear park, which will stretch from the Galien River County Park in New Buffalo Township to Bridgman.

“We put in the first portion of that,” she said.

Heit said that a block party celebrating the newly finished corridor project is tentatively scheduled to take place sometime after Labor Day.

BY FRANCESCA SAGALA

Thousands flock to inaugural Lakefest

The first Lakefest in LaPorte backed by strong turnout last weekend could become an annual tradition.

Attendance for three days of activities, such as live concerts and jet-ski racing, was not immediately known but Mayor Tom Dermody and others involved in organizing the event were pleased with the crowds.

Turnout was estimated well into the thousands.

Dermody vowed a return of Lakefest for 2022 and more than likely beyond.

“I think you’ll see this develop into the place to be for people throughout northern Indiana,” Dermody said. There were activities at Pine, Stone and Clear lakes, along with the downtown.

Food and beverage vendors were at each location.

The biggest draw out of all the activities, perhaps, was a downtown street dance Friday night at State and Monroe streets.

The streets north of Lincolnway were closed for three hours while Middle of the Road Band played on a stage in the intersection

“That had an unbelievable attendance,” Dermody said.

Turnout was also heavy Saturday night for a fireworks show over Clear Lake then a concert by LaPorte native and professional musician, Rich Hardesty, at Fox Park beside the lake.

Originally, the inaugural Lakefest was planned last year but had to be cancelled because of the pandemic.

Dermody said the idea came from discussions he had with his wife about an event to showcase the lakes and parks in the city.

“It was exactly what we thought it would be and we’re just excited,” he said.

A lot of children also turned out to play in the massive amount of bubbles churned out by a foam machine at Unity Park beside Pine Lake.

Hundreds of spectators Saturday and Sunday were also at Stone Lake Beach for jet-ski racing.

The racers are from the AquaX series, which signed a contract with the LaPorte County Convention and Visitors Bureau to compete at Stone Lake this year.

The sanctioning body out of Florida also has races in Europe and Asia. LCCVB Executive Director Jack Arnett said talks are already underway to bring AquaX racing back to Lakefest for at least several more years.

“We think this will grow,” he said.

LaPorte area resident Maddie Mack said the jet-ski racing was exciting enough for her to want to give the sport a try.

“It definitely think this is something I want to do. It looks fun,” she said.

BY STAN MADDUX

Trust It To Be Wonderful

RESTAURANT

___________________________________________________________________ 685 West Main Street, Benton Harbor, MI 49022 | (269) 983-0325 | passarokahne.com 17656A US Highway 12, New Buffalo, MI 49117 | (269) 469-5297 | Fax: (269) 983-0328 • Business/TaxLaw • EstatePlanning • Medicaid&Long-Term CarePlanning • RealEstate • SpecialNeedsPlanning • ProbateandTrust Administration

LETTERS TO THE NEW BUFFALO TIMES:

DEMOCRACY LAYS DOWN WITHOUT TRANSPARENCY THE VIEWS HERE DO NOT NECESSARILY REPRESENT THE VIEWS OF THE NEW BUFFALO TIMES. THE NEW BUFFALO TIMES ASKS THAT YOUR LETTERS BE UNIQUE, KIND AND BASED ON REASONED FACTS. THE NEW BUFFALO TIMES RESERVES THE RIGHT TO NOT PUBLISH ANY CORRESPONDENCE FOR ANY REASON. PLEASE K EEP YOUR LETTERS TO 350 WORDS OR FEWER. PLEASE INCLUDE YOUR NAME, PHONE NUMBER AND YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS. PLEASE EMAIL YOUR LETTER TO THE INFO@NEWBUFFALOTIMES.COM. THANK YOU KINDLY IN ADVANCE. DEMOCRACY REQUIRES TRANSPARENCY.

New Buffalo Times

LOCAL INTELLIGENCE — SINCE 1942 —

BIG THANKS...

On behalf of New Buffalo Township, I would like to thank all the amazing people that helped to make our 5th Public Safety Day a huge success! We were overwhelmed with the turnout this year! We ran out of food and school supplies toward the end, but will be prepared for a great turnout next year!

Thank you to the Pokagon Fund for funding our school supply giveaway! We heard from some many families that because of this event, they had all the school supplies that their kids needed to start school. Thanks for your continued support!

Thanks to the Berrien County Sheriff’s Office for bringing emergency equipment and vehicles for kids to see. The kids loved checking out the armored vehicle, squad cars and marine division equipment! Thanks to our NBT Sheriff Patrol Lt. Ryan Sullivan for helping make it a fun day!

Thank you to Medic 1 for bring your ambulance and showing kids the cool equipment! It’s such a great idea to let kids see and learn about what you do so if they ever have to ride in an ambulance, it won’t be so scary.

Thanks to First Responders Children’s Foundation for donating over 50 book bags!

Big thanks to Sara Mead and Susan Seifert for organizing our School Supply Giveaway once again! Also, to all the NB Elementary teachers and staff that helped at the event! Lots of happy students and parents left with just what they needed for school.

Last but not least, thanks to our New Buffalo Township Fire Dept. for hosting this event!! Chief Flick and his firefighters are always eager to do whatever they can for our community. Whether it’s teaching fire safety and playing games with day camp kids or showing kids fire equipment and sitting in a dunk tank at Public Safety Day, these dedicated firefighters continually serve their community in so many ways. The Township is very fortunate to have this amazing group of people!

We hope everyone that attended had as much fun as we did and we’ll see you next year!!

— MICHELLE HEIT,

NEW BUFFALO TOWNSHIP SUPERVISOR

Chamber to cut ribbon New Buffalo Art Gallery

BETH ADLER SHOWCASE TO BEGIN THIS MONTH

The public is invited to officially welcome the New Buffalo Art Gallery to town during their Grand Opening from 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 14.

The Harbor Country® Chamber of Commerce will kick off the event by performing a ribbon cutting ceremony. Guests can explore the new space filled with vibrant paintings and photography while enjoying a toast and some bites to eat.

Owners Victor and Emily lovingly restored a 100-year-old building that was at one time in history, Schewenk’s Klondike Saloon. They wanted to create a fun and exciting space for beach art that makes people feel good.

“We wanted to create something beautiful that spreads positivity through art. We also wanted to create more activities and entertainment for people to enjoy, and then the gallery was born,” Victor said. The light and bright gallery features limited edition artwork at an affordable price point so that anyone can walk away with a piece that reminds them of the good vibes felt at the Lake Michigan shore.

The gallery also doubles as an event space for intimate gatherings up to 50 people. Ideally located in the center of the beach town, the site offers groups a multitude of activities to explore within blocks, including shopping and entertainment. Yoga and other unique classes including painting parties will be offered for all to enjoy.

The gallery will feature the Beth Herman Adler Showcase, with her two collections, “Luna 2021” and “Inspired by Modernism, 2019-2020” Aug. 20 through Sept. 20.

The New Buffalo Art Gallery is located at 137 North Whittaker Street, New Buffalo. Hours are Monday and Thursday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Friday through Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For more information or to reserve the New Buffalo Art Gallery for a private event, visit www.newbuffaloartgallery. com, their Facebook page or call (630)

209-5581. — STAFF REPORTS

Correctional officers charged in escape

BY STAN MADDUX

Two LaPorte County Correctional Officers who allegedly helped an offender escape are facing potential time in prison.

Carly Searing of LaPorte and David Winter of Valparaiso are charged in LaPorte Circuit Court with Level 5 felony Aiding, Inducing or Causing Escape.

They’re also charged with Assisting a Criminal, Obstruction of Justice and Official Misconduct, all Level 6 felonies, and Class A misdemeanor False Informing.

According to court documents, the officers on May 18 were transporting an offender about two miles from the Community Corrections Center near the fairgrounds to the LaPorte County Jail

The offender, Jacob Borders, was being taken to the jail on two outstanding arrest warrants, police said.

The correctional officers were supposed to go straight to the jail but violated policy by stopping at a Family Express on LaPorte’s west side, police said.

According to court documents, the offender was allowed to go inside the convenience store unrestrained to use an ATM and purchase a drink.

The offender, though, fled on foot and the correctional officers did nothing to try and catch him.

According to court documents, the officers claimed Borders was unrestrained when he escaped by reaching through an open window to open the door on the transport van while stopped at a traffic light.

However, video surveillance images captured at the Family Express revealed he was allowed to get out of the van and go into the store, police said.

Police said Borders, 41, ran to a nearby home, where he asked to use a telephone and made arrangements for two people to pick him up.

He was found six weeks later in the South Bend area.

Borders was still being held without bond on charges including escape and violating probation.

Michigan City transfers the Barker Mansion back to the Barker Welfare Foundation

Title to the Barker Mansion in Michigan City has been transferred from the City of Michigan City to The Barker Mansion LLC, a new wholly owned subsidiary of The Barker Welfare Foundation.

“I am very grateful to Michigan City Mayor Duane Parry, general counsel Amber Lapaich, the Michigan City Common Council and the Board of Public Works and Safety for approving this transfer,” said Alex Ross, president of The Barker Welfare Foundation, and the grandson of Catherine Barker Hickox.

“My grandparents donated the mansion to Michigan City in 1968 for use as a civic center, and the family is thankful for the many years of stewardship by the city. But it is now our responsibility to restore, maintain and operate the mansion.”

The Barker Mansion is currently closed and undergoing a $2 million restoration project, funded by The Barker Welfare Foundation.

“We are working on projects from top to bottom, including rewiring the entire mansion, new fire and security systems, new HVAC systems, restoring the Bridal Suite and Mr. Barker’s Room, a new bluestone patio and tent for outdoor events, as well as restoring the garden to the original 1910 plan by the renowned landscape architect Jens Jensen,” Ross said.

The lower-level community meeting rooms are also being upgraded and new exhibits are planned as well, featuring a scale model of the Haskell Barker Car Company factory, which is being designed and fabricated by students and faculty from the Purdue NW College of Technology’s Department of Construction Science & Organizational Leadership (CSOL).

Additional restoration work will continue over the next three years from January through March, during which time the Mansion will be closed to the public. Patrons can expect a reopening celebration in April of each year.

The Barker Mansion is expected to reopen to the public in late fall for the popular Christmas Season at the Mansion, featuring events and historical holiday displays.

The Barker Mansion is a historic home and living museum that seeks to preserve the history of the Barker family business and philanthropy in Michigan City through tours, exhibits, programs, and events. The mansion is available for school, civic and cultural meetings, weddings, and private events, for Michigan City residents and visitors.

For further information, contact: info@barkermansion. org or follow us on Facebook.

SPORTS

From the Bleachers

COLUMN BY KURT MARGGRAF IN CHICAGO

What a week.

The Cubs did what many thought they would do, and held a fire sale.

This was no ordinary, run of the mill sale, it was a raging, out of control forest fire of a sale. I was almost prepared for the extent of this sale, but I don’t think anyone thought that it would be this extensive.

Let’s look back just a bit and see all the changes that have been made.

I’m going to start at the top. The owners, who seemed so awesome a few short years ago, are the same but their approach has changed one hundred percent. They claimed “biblical losses” due to COVID-19 , gave away their best pitcher Yu Darvish, and let World Series hero Kyle Schwarber go without offering him a contract, which began to set the stage for what happened this week.

Then Theo Epstein, the club president, saw what was about to happen and walked out on his contract a year early. Although David Ross is a fine man and manager, in order to hire him, they fired Joe Maddon, the manager that brought the team it’s first championship in more than 100 years.

Now the players.

Shortstop Addison Russell was released because of domestic abuse. Super utilityman Ben Zobrist retired because of marital problems. The players that remained played well, but not well enough to get over the hump and back to the World Series.

Outfielder Joc Peterson was the first everyday player to be traded last month, followed by a couple of relief pitchers.

Every sign pointed toward trading some players this week, and, boy, did they ever.

First, and hardest for many Cub fans, Anthony Rizzo went to the Yankees. The photos of him walking around Wrigley Field with his family were heartbreaking.

Next was El Mago, Javier Baez, to the Mets, another difficult pill to swallow. More heartache followed as they traded Craig Kimbrel across town to the White Sox.

Finally, Kris Bryant to the Giants.

Television cameras caught him shedding a tear as he learned about the trade in the dugout. The decimation was now complete.

All of the World Series heroes—except catcher Wilson Contreras and outfielder Jason Heyward—were gone in the blink of an eye. Never before in history have so many star players been traded in such a short time.

So what could cause more pain to Cub fans?

Well, Rizzo homered in his first game with the Yankees, then Baez homered in his first game with the Mets, and Bryant homered in his first game with the Giants.

I greatly admired these players when they were Cubs, and will continue to root for them with their new teams. I sure hope the youngsters the Cubs got in return for these stars turn out to be really good in the near future.

John Steinbeck said, “It’s so much darker when a light goes out than it would have been if it had never shone.”

Well said, Mr. Steinbeck.

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

What’s you know about Trappers … The traps, who, why, and their accomplices. — Dino N. Fatouros

Neighbor by Neighbor welcomes social worker

Neighbor by Neighbor is pleased to announce the hiring of Shandaligwa “Shanda” Atterberry as its new social worker.

Atterberry, who began her new position Aug. 2, joins Neighbor by Neighbor bringing years of social work and supervisory experience. She earned her MSW from Andrews University and worked at the Department of Health and Human Services office in Benton Harbor for 13 years. Prior to that, she worked for Riverwoods as a case coordinator. Having completed internships at a homeless shelter and a middle school, Atterberry brings a breadth of experience in various social work settings, which should prove helpful at Neighbor by Neighbor. Given the pace of work since the pandemic, Atterberry is sure to hit the ground running to meet the needs of low-income residents of Harbor Country. “Ms. Atterberry’s references could not have been more positive. ‘Creative,’ ‘hardworking’ and ‘positive attitude’ were the words I heard over and over,” Neighbor by Neighbor Executive Director Peg Kohring said.

For more information concerning Neighbor by Neighbor, call 269-2310648 or visit their website at www. neighborbyneighbor.org. — STAFF

REPORTS

New trails and climate change to attract Hikers

Harbor Country Hikers will explore newly blazed trails while learning about efforts to adapt them to climate changes beginning at 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug.14.

The new destination is the Merritt Familyand Younger Family Preserves on South Mydra Road in Union Pier. Chikaming Open Lands (COL) Stewardship Coordinator Dan Engel will point out the different stages of forest succession along the way. He also will explain the climate change adaptation effort in which COL is participating. These new COL preserves protect 60 acres of forest and wetland consisting of two contiguous preserves. Although at first glance they look like one big, monotypic forest, there are actually two forest types in various stages of regrowth that include a mesic (or moist) southern forest and a southern hardwood swamp. The trails follow abandoned logging roads and are of moderate difficulty. Hikers should park on Mydra Road, north of Elm Valley Road, east of Lakeside Road. Recommended attire for this time of year includes long, tucked-in pants, a sun hat, sturdy shoes, insect repellent and water. The Hikers observe federal and state guidelines; face masks currently are optional. For complete details or information on HCH membership, volunteering, and events, visit www. harborcountryhikers.com. — STAFF