volunteers

His Dream Lives on FIRST ‘KIRK’S RIDE’ CELEBRATES MOUNTAIN BIKE TRAIL AND ITS VOLUNTEERS

While he was sad that he had become too sick to ride on what is now called the Kirk Schrader Mountain Bike Trails at Chikaming Township Park and Preserve, Kirk’s spirits were uplifted when, driving away from the trail on one of his last Jeep rides with his wife, Janet Moore Schrader, he heard a voice call out: “Hey Kirk - thanks for having a dream!”

“It was a call out we’d say to each other: ‘Thanks for having a dream, Kirk,’” Janet said.

Members of the public celebrated having Kirk’s dream come to fruition after two years of hard labor during the first “Kirk’s Ride,” which was held at the trail Wednesday, Sept. 30.

The ride was being held on what would’ve been Kirk’s 56th birthday, Janet said to the crowd of avid cyclists and supporters.

Kirk passed away last November after battling pancreatic cancer.

Since most mountain bike rides have been cancelled this year due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, Janet

BY FRANCESCA SAGALA said that this year would be a celebration He approached the township board, of the volunteers “who made it possible.” which held a public hearing for the trail.

A timed race and fundraiser will be Members of the public latched onto held next year, with possible vendors in Kirk’s dream and volunteered to help the park. with its construction.

Due to leaving the Chikaming “It quickly started happening – it’s Township Park Board amazing how many people in a few weeks, Janet wanted this to happen,” said she’d formed a Janet said. steward committee for the trail – all of whom were given recognition at Wednesday’s event. The trail has been created completely Currently, the trail is 8 and a half miles long. A final loop that currently through the efforts of Kirk’s bike made being cleared will make volunteers, with no an appearance the trail 10 miles. taxpayers’ money being at the celebration “That makes it a used for its construction. destination,” Janet said of

In the beginning, Kirk (who served the final length. as sexton for the township’s cemeteries Already, people are talking about the for many years) had merely planned on trail on Facebook, branding it “the one to creating the trail on 14 acres of his land; watch,” she said. however, his plans soon changed. Initially, the trail was intended to be

“He had a dream – he said, ‘I want for mountain bikers only. This changed, everybody to ride it and liability is a little though, after the outflowing of thanks too high to have it on private property,’” from walkers, dog walkers and runners. Janet said. “They decided that the walkers, if they know they have to get off trail when bikers go through, are welcome to use it,” Janet said.

The following individuals received the Chikaming Township Park Board Volunteer Service Award for putting in more than 50 volunteer hours on the trail: Tony Dlouhy, Stefanie Brown, Rodney Summerscales, Tiffany Summerscales, Cory Schiller, Lanny Ross, Eric Nevalainen, Jack Kirkpatrick, Chad Sperry, and Bruce Jones.

The following received the Chikaming Township Park Board Lifetime Service Award for encouraging people to “get out there and move:” J.V. Peacock and Pat Fisher.

Local businesses were also given thanks, including Whistle Stop in Union Pier, Luisa’s Café in Harbert and Art fx in Bridgman, which donated the trail’s new sign.

Chikaming Township Park and Preserve is located on Warren Woods (between I-94 and Lakewood Estates) in Chikaming Township. For updates on the trail, follow the Chikaming Mountain Bike Trail on Facebook.

Rebranding unveiled to help growth strategy in LaPorte

BY STAN MADDUX

Anew logo and slogan along with the trails already here and were unveiled last week others being developed. for the city of LaPorte She said the orange circle around relying heavily now on its the trees and water is a symbol of the lakes and other natural Slicers nickname for the LaPorte High resources to bring more economic School sports teams, whose primary growth. color is orange. The logo depicting pine trees and The first settlement was established water features the tag line “Livin’ the in LaPorte in 1832. Lake Life.” “Just giving a nod to our city’s long Mayor Tom Dermody said the history and our historic downtown,” rebranding focused on the access here she said. to outdoor activities and lakeside Dermody said among the things living is designed to capitalize on presently happening to further live up assets other cities wish they had for to the rebranding is a trail with scenic attracting more jobs, visitors and overlooks scheduled to be completed residents. this month beside Stone Lake and Pine Lake and Stone Lake connected construction of a boardwalk that’s by a channel deep enough for boats to nearly finished at Clear Lake. navigate back and forth are the main Summerscales, Cory Schiller, Lanny Ross, bodies of water in LaPorte, which has about a half dozen lakes. “LaPorte is a special place and we believe these efforts will help to set us apart and make our community Ground was just recently broken on 200 resort type apartments next to Clear Lake and about 60 housing units are about to attractive as we look to bring in new go up near Fish Trap Lake. businesses with high wage jobs,” he Kayak rental at an undecided said. location are also part of the city’s Dermody also believes the new game plan. image can help achieve his goal of Dermody said emphasis on lifestyle increasing the city’s population to can influence natives once graduating 30,000 by 2030. from college to return and draw new The population here of about residents looking to escape high taxes 22,000 hasn’t changed much since in Illinois. 1960, according to the U.S. Census He said the opportunity to move Bureau. here from places like Chicago is “We believe we are Indiana’s best- greater since more people are working kept-secret. It’s time we have a logo from home since the COVID-19 and tagline that shows it,” he said. outbreak. The city worked closely with Three “With so many people being allowed Lakes Marketing based in Illinois and to work remotely these days, you Texas on the rebranding. don’t want to go to Lake and Porter Jessica Bruder, the city’s director counties. They’re packed. Come to of communications, said the trees LaPorte especially with the advantages represent the city’s wealth of parks we have,” he said.

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Pink is“in” ...Breast cancer is out.

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This month, we’re honoring all the women who have fought the devastating effects of breast cancer.

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We’ve seen firsthand the terrible effects of breast cancer among members of our own families. That has committed us to raising awareness and money to find a cure for a disease that strikes one in every eight women in our country.

We hope you’ll join us in honoring and remembering breast cancer victims and survivors. And we hope you’ll contribute to the research that seeks to end its devastating effects on our wives, mothers, sisters, and daughters.

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Bison volleyball off to a 7-0 start

BY STAN MADDUX

The New Buffalo High ace off a serve then put the Bison School volleyball team ahead 13 to 11 with a hard spike is off to a 7-0 start to from mid-court. the season. The Bison lost the first set

The latest victory 25 to 18 then won the next two for the Bison came Monday, sets 25 to 15 and 25 to 19 before Sept. 28, in a thrilling five losing the fourth set 25-14.set match at home against “Our blocking was probably Brandywine. the best I’ve seen so far. We were The deciding point came when sophomore Ava Mullen off a set-up from sophomore Kelsey Corkran delivered a hard spike to the floor on the Bobcats’ side of the net. getting touches on every ball. Blocks on every ball and that’s what we’re looking for,” said New Buffalo Head Coach Kevin Labaj. It was another win against a

The Bison won the final set 15 quality team from a larger school to 12. for the Bison hoping to defend

New Buffalo off serves from their District 4 title last year. Corkran scored the first four “It took us five (sets) but we’ll points of the final set then led 10 take it and just keep moving up to 6 after Sophia DeOliveria slid from here,” he said. on the floor to return the ball and The Bison defeated Bridgman soon spiked the ball over the net. and Sturgis at a tournament in

DeOliveria followed with an Bridgman last Saturday.

SPORTS

From the Bleachers

COLUMN BY KURT MARGGRAF IN CHICAGO

There is plenty of good there will be a lot

baseball left to be played of new faces. I hope this postseason, but none of that the teams front it will feature the Chicago office is able to get teams. The White Sox a good return on the players they trade, went down fighting, but in the end, the and if there is any money left to spend, Oakland A’s were just too much. The I hope they pick up young free agents. I future is bright for the White Sox and wish I could personally thank Rizzo, Báez, it wouldn’t be at all surprising to see Bryant, Schwarber, Contreras, Lester, them in the playoffs multiple times in the upcoming years. Get to know these players, they will likely continue their exciting and excellent play for years to come. They might need another starting pitcher, but basically they seem to be on the cusp of greatness, much like the Cubs were about six seasons ago. Speaking of the Cubs, their star players never got going this year. The team got off to a quick start, the starting pitching was better than anyone thought it would be, and David Ross proved to be a more Arrieta, Maddon, Zobrist, Fowler, and all the other players, coaches, and front office people who were responsible for this magnificent run. This year has been a harsh reminder to us all, change is inevitable. We can fight change, or we can embrace it, but it’s going to happen no matter what. If we decide to embrace it, we can have the best of both worlds. We can have fond memories of the past, and great hope for the future. When my family was young than capable manager. Unfortunately, the and I was teaching them about baseball, lack of hitting continued in the playoffs, my son would slide into home in our front and the chickens came home to roost. yard and proclaim himself to be Cub This group of players brought me great catcher George Mitterwald! I believe that joy for the past six seasons, winning the may have been one of the reasons my World Series for the first time in over one daughter chose to catch for her softball hundred years, and making the playoffs team. Fortunately, we all moved on five times. The Cubs inability to hit from those days. Their children are now against the Marlins had me frustrated, involved in sports and if they want to, but when the emotions wore off and I can choose their own role models. The had a chance to really think about it, Bears lost to the Colts today. I guess some I decided to remember the good times things never seem to change. rather than regret this seasons playoff C.S. Lewis said, “There are far better struggles. things ahead than any we leave behind.”

I’m not sure what the Cub lineup will Stay safe. Be kind. Have fun. Talk to you look like next year, but my guess is that next week. Peace, love, and happiness.