October 13, 2022

New Buffalo Park/Harbor

School board candidates have their say during a candidate forum

School board discusses mental health, safety and special education at New Buffalo

Bison soccer close to turning corner

Welcoming fall during Harvest and Wine Fest

16 years of chili at Skip’s Chili Cookoff

"Patrick Ryan, The Windy City

of dazzling

hair color, he makes every visitor feel like

signature

by Patrick' technique results in completely natural

New Buffalo Times

LOCAL INTELLIGENCE

— SINCE 1942 —

ETHICS

SOCIETY OF PROFESSIONAL JOURNALISM

MICHIGAN PRESS ASSOCIATION MEMBER

PROPRIETOR

NEW BUFFALO TIMES, INC.

EDITOR

NEW BUFFALO TIMES INTELLIGENCE

EDITORIAL BOARD

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

DURK

REPORTERS/WRITERS

THERESE DONNELLY

FRANCESCA SAGALA

LAWRENCE VON EBELER

KURT MARGGRAF

ALEXANDER FATOUROS

SOPHIA ROSE FATOUROS

STAN MADDUX

KRISTIN E. FATOUROS

NEW BUFFALO TIMES INTELLIGENCE

NEW BUFFALO TIMES POLITICS GUESTS

QUOTES

DINO N. FATOUROS

PROOFING

FRANCESCA SAGALA

BROADCAST/ADVERTISING

JANINE ADAMSKI (630) 370-0820 OR JANINEADAMSKI@GMAIL.COM

SUGGESTIONS, CRITICISM, IDEASMEDIA@NEWBUFFALOTIMES.COM

ADVERTISING

MEDIA@NEWBUFFALOTIMES.COM

CLASSIFIED ADS

SUBSCRIPTIONS

The annual Lakeside Inn Halloween

Bizarre Bazaar will be held Saturday, Oct. 29.

The bazaar’s activities will take place outside on the beautiful historic grounds of the Inn from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The day’s free activities will include hayrides, kids’ crafts, family fun games, food, merchandise vendors, art vendors, live music, a campfire and more. Guests may want to bring a chair and stay awhile (fur babies are welcome to come as well).

As the close to this year’s Halloween Bizarre Bazaar, join the inn for a Murder Mystery

Dinner starting at 6:30 p.m. A limited number of places are available for the Bloodwood Masquerade (a game from mymysteryparty. com): “Bloodworth Falls is an isolated town full of scandal, blackmail, and deceit. The townsfolk bicker in the streets, and many believe the local government to be corrupt.

Nevertheless, the mayor is hosting a mysterious masquerade ball in the old Bloodwood Castle, and the tickets to the event have sold out in record time. You are worried about what

Bazaar”

will happen on this night when toxic people gather at the castle. You are alarmed, as you didn’t purchase your ticketit was placed in your mailbox in an unmarked envelope. Somebody wants you there, but you don’t know why.”

Tickets for the Murder Mystery are $45 per person, including the game and dinner.

Characters will be assigned in advance, and costumes are encouraged but not required.

Please call 269-4690600 or email events@ lakesideinns.com to sign up or to request a place when booking a hotel reservation. — STAFF

REPORTS

Man rescued from fire by policeman

AA Michigan City Police officer rescued a man from his burning house while another residence elsewhere in the community was going up in flames.

Officer Angelo Davenport pulled up to a fire at Homer and Pine streets early Sunday, Oct. 9, and forced his way into the two-story home a short distance from the A.K. Smith Career Center.

Billy Greene, who reported the fire, said he witnessed the officer race upstairs and return with the man he described as in his 60s.

He said the homeowner walked down the stairs and out of the home with help from the officer.

Greene, ,who lives next door, said he was getting ready for bed when he saw an orange colored light through his window.

He said the fire seemed to have started in a detached garage on the property and spread a short distance to the residence.

The most common lie is that which one lies to himself; lying to others is relatively an exception. — Friedrich Nietzsche

“It just took off,” he said.

After reporting the fire, Greene said he woke up his mother and went outside wearing only his boxer briefs.

Greene said the officer pulled up then after realizing someone lived at the residence busted open the door and soon came out with the homeowner.

At the time, firefighters were also battling a house fire on Ohio Street that erupted about 15 minutes prior to the Homer and Pine streets fire.

According to the Michigan City Fire Department, both structures were a total loss and the cause of each fire was under still investigation.

Local Government Meetings

New Buffalo Times

Democracy Requires Transparency

CITY OF NEW BUFFALO JOHN HUMPHREY, MAYOR CITY COUNCIL

LOU O’DONNELL, IV. MARK ROBERTSON, JOHN HUMPHREY, ROGER LIJESKI, BRIAN FLANAGAN City Council meets on the 3rd Mondayof each month at 6:30PM

CITY OF NEW BUFFALO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETINGS to be determined

NEW BUFFALO TOWNSHIP BOARD

PETE RAHM, MICHELLE HEIT, JUDY H. ZABICKI, PATTY IAZZETTO, JACK ROGERS

Board meets on the 3rd Mondayof each month at 7PM

NEW BUFFALO TOWNSHIP PLANNING COMMISSION

Meets on the 1st Tuesdayof each month at 6:30PM

NEW BUFFALO AREA SCHOOLS BOARD

CHUCK HEIT, PRESIDENT HEATHER BLACK, VICE PRESIDENT JOHN HASKINS, TREASURER LISA WERNER, SECRETARY JOYCE LANTZ, TRUSTEE FRANK MARGRO, TRUSTEE PATRICIA NEWSTON, TRUSTEE

CHIKAMING TOWNSHIP CHIKAMING TOWNSHIP BOARD

DAVID BUNTE, PAULA DUDIAK, LIZ RETTIG, RICHARD SULLIVAN, BILL MARSKE

Chikaming Board meets on the 2ndThursday of each month at 6:30PM

CHIKAMING TOWNSHIP PLANNING COMMISSION

Meets on the 1st Wednesdayof each month at 6:30PM

THREE OAKS THREE OAKS TOWNSHIP BOARD

Meets on the 2nd Mondayof each month at 7PM

VILLAGE OF THREE OAKS BOARD

Meets on the 2nd Wednesdayof each month at 7PM

GRAND BEACH

Meets on the 3rd Wednesdayof each month at 7PM MARY ROBERTSON, CLERK DEBORAH LINDLEY, BLAKE O’HALLORAN, JAMES BRACEWELL, PETER DOERR, PAUL LEONARD, JR.

MICHIANA

VILLAGE OF MICHIANA COUNCIL Meets on the 2nd Fridayof each month at 1PM

Police involved in old factory blaze probe

BY STAN MADDUX

Police are involved in the investigation of a fire that destroyed a huge old factory building in LaPorte.

LaPorte Fire Chief Andy Snyder said the cause of the Oct. 5 blaze was still not known but reasons not to rule out arson as a possibility still exist.

He said there was no gas or electric service to the old American Rubber Products plant at 315 Brighton Street along with reports of people breaking in and possibly living in the structure over the years.

Snyder said the Indiana State Fire Marshal’s Office was planning to bring dogs to comb through the remains.

The dogs are trained to detect the presence of any gasoline or some other fuel that would indicate arson.

The flames spread rapidly because the building was used to store alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

Snyder estimated one-third of the structure contained the highly flammable product, which was going to be taken to an incinerator near Plymouth for disposal.

Deanna Reese was not surprised to hear that arson was still a possibility.

He said there was no gas or electric service to the old American Rubber Products plant at 315 Brighton Street along with reports of people breaking in and possibly living in the structure over the years.

Snyder said the dogs will also be used to uncover any bodies of people who may have been inside at the time of the fire and didn’t make it out.

Police are also involved to avoid having to catch up on the investigation if signs of foul play are later confirmed.

“If there’s a criminal act that has taken place we definitely want them to be involved from the start,” he said.

She grew up across the street from the plant until moving to Niles last year.

Reese said it was not unusual to see people going inside the building and making noise after dark.

“Things moving around at night. Glass breaking. I knew that one day it would come to this,” she said.

Snyder said it took about six million gallons of water to completely extinguish the fire, which burned for more than 60 hours.

In comparison, he said a major fire in 2003 at the former Dye Plumbing and Heating building at Lincolnway and Madison Street required about 1.3 million gallons of water to put out.

LaPorte barber charged with dealing Fentanyl

A LaPorte barber is accused of doing more than just cutting hair for a living.

Angel Duarte, 32, is charged in LaPorte Circuit Court with dealing the highly addictive and deadly fentanyl.

He was arrested Oct. 5 on two counts of dealing in a narcotic drug after Judge Tom Alevizos ruled evidence gathered by investigators was sufficient enough for Duarte to answer to the allegations.

According to court documents, Duarte was caught by the LaPorte County Drug Task Force of selling fentanyl pills for $240 on two separate occasions in late July.

Both of the alleged exchanges occurred at his barber shop, “Angel Cutz”, at 2104 Ohio Street on the city’s east side.

Authorities said the deadly narcotic was contained in hand-pressed pills strikingly similar to a batch of fentanyl pills seized during an investigation that led to numerous indictments out of LaPorte and Michigan City.

The pills seized from Duarte and the ones confiscated last year came from Mexico, authorities said.

Duarte could face anywhere from three to 16 years on the most serious of the two counts.

He was being held on $25,000 bond.

— STAN MADDUX

The subtlety of nature is greater many times over than the subtlety of the senses and understanding.

— Francis Bacon

New Buffalo Park/Harbor Commission begins discussion of updated Parks and Recreation Plan

BY FRANCESCA SAGALA

During their Thursday, Oct. 6, meeting – their first meeting since last August - members of the New Buffalo Park and Harbor Commission agreed to meet every two weeks to determine priorities to recommend to the city council to be included in the draft Parks and Recreational plan for consideration.

Members heard results from a survey that was filled out by city and township residents as well as visitors that was put out to the public for a month and a half this past summer.

The city’s current five-year parks plan will be expiring next year. Tony McGhee, vice president of Development Services at Abonmarche Consultants, said New Buffalo Township’s is expiring this year.

The city, which is part of the New Buffalo Recreational Authority with New Buffalo Township and New Buffalo Area Schools, will be updating its plan along with the township.

There will be a plan for the recreational authority as well.

While it’s a joint Parks and Recreational Plan, each entity will have its own section speaking to its individual needs within the plan.

By doing the plan at the same time as the township and authority, McGhee said that the city will “save pretty significant money on the development of their new plan.”

Plans are required to be completed and approved by Feb. 1.

McGhee said depending on what box someone checked, they were put

in a separate area so Abonmarche could track residents from the city, the township and those who are visitors and keep the results separate from each other. That night, members of the Park/Harbor Commission were hearing the results that were tracked from city residents.

An older age demographic filled out the survey compared to the last time a survey was put out for the plan, with a little over 30% being 60 years or older out of the 21 respondents.

Regarding the highest priority for the city, out of the 21 respondents who answered, protecting the water resources was listed as the most important, followed by more trail connectivity.

The school system ranked top among aspects of the New Buffalo area that have most contributed to improving residents’ quality of life (out of 19 respondents who answered). About 60% feel that New Buffalo Transient Marina is about the same compared to other transient facilities in Lake Michigan Harbors, with a little over 40% feeling it’s worse (out of 12 who answered). When asked to pick up to three marina amenities that are most important as a transient boater, 100% said having a gas dock with pump-out was most important, with a little over

90% saying proximity to restaurants and a little over 70% saying picnic tables (out of 11 answered). Almost 70% of respondents believe there are navigation conflicts between human-powered watercrafts (kayaks, canoes, etc.) and sail/motorboats within the channel (out of 12 who answered).

McGhee said depending on what box someone checked, they were put in a separate area so Abonmarche could track residents from the city, the township and those who are visitors and keep the results separate from each other. That night, members of the Park/Harbor Commission were hearing the results that were tracked from city residents.

When asked how existing recreation opportunities in and near the New Buffalo area can be improved, out of the 16 respondents in New Buffalo who answered, 75% said community pool, 68.75% said access to beaches, 62.50% said bike paths and walking trails and 50% said fishing access, playground equipment and recreation programs.

McGhee said that members had three options: to maintain the priorities in the current plan for the next one, to amend those existing priorities in the existing plan or come up with a whole new set of priorities.

Members expressed concerns that the youth hadn’t responded. McGhee sad that last time they did a survey, there were 120 to 130 respondents, which was more than this time. Time to fill out the survey has been extended to Oct. 14 to elicit more responses.

Member Linda Henderson, who said she’s in favor of everyone reviewing the current plan to see if everyone is “still on the same page” and what’s been accomplished, said it’s “absolutely ridiculous” they haven’t met since last summer.

“If we’re going to start with a plan, we should at least have meetings,” she said.

McGhee said that “broad” project priorities are key in terms of the input of members of the Park/Harbor Commission, such as having more trails or more fishing access.

Upon recommendation from city manager Darwin Watson, members agreed to meet every two weeks between now and around Thanksgiving or December, which he said will give them six to eight weeks to “hammer through” the plan.

Members set another meeting at city hall for 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 20.

Regarding the recent harbor dredging, Darwin said the city got a minor permit for up to 10,000 cubic feet and that, although dredging took place a little later than anticipated, the crew pulled out of the harbor in late September

The other maintenance dredging permit that was submitted April 1 is still being considered because the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy told the city that it must do additional sampling, with a five-year permit costing $20,000. The council will be asked to approve the permit at the next meeting, with Watson saying he hopes to get it in advance of the winter, so they’d be ready to go in the spring.

LETTERS TO THE NEW BUFFALO TIMES

New Buffalo Times

OPEN SOURCE OF PRIDE...

October 16-22, 2022, is the annual celebration of National Friends of Libraries week making it a good time to publicly thank the Friends of the Three Oaks Library.

This dedicated group is led by their officers – Sharon Phillips, president; Debbie Weber, Vice-President; Barbara Doepker, treasurer.

The Friends of Three Oaks Library are passionate about assisting the library fulfill its mission “to expand the educational horizons for the children and enhance library services in all formats to meet the needs of the entire community.” They are dedicated to promoting the growth and development of library services while working closely with both the elected Library Board of Trustees and Library Director. I deeply appreciate their dedication and all their efforts.

People frequently ask how they can support the library. I encourage everyone to consider joining the Friends at their next meeting on Tuesday, November 15, 6:00 p.m. at the library. We will have a very brief business meeting and then share appetizers as we decorate the library for the holidays. This is always a fun evening and new faces will be welcomed with a warm smile.

If you are unable to participate on November 15, you may still

join the Friends for $15 per year. Registrations are available at the library check out desk or at the library’s website: www. threeoaks.michlibrary.org under the Friends of the Library tab.

I know that the Three Oaks Township Public Library is a source of pride for our community. Our Friends group is a source of pride as well. Thank you, Friends of Three Oaks Library.

— CHERYL KERSEY, DIRECTOR, THREE OAKS TOWNSHIP PUBLIC LIBRARY

REDUNDANCY AND CONFUSION...

We are writing to support a YES vote on the November 8 referendum

to modify the structure of the Chikaming Park Board. Our recommendation is based on our experience with the Cherry Beach Project.

From 2018 to 2022 a group known as The Cherry Beach Committee worked to raise awareness and secure funding to purchase a piece of private land adjacent to the historic Cherry Beach Park. The community responded, the project was successful and the once private land is now part of the Township.

We were co-chairs of the committee spearheading this acquisition. The committee was made up of a group of private citizens who cared deeply about the prospect of securing more public beachfront for the

community. In the initial stage of the project the committee reported to the elected Park Board because in Chikaming Township’s current model of government, the Park Board is responsible for beaches, parks and preserves.

But as the project continued it became apparent that the scope of the task was beyond the expertise of the Park Board and our committee needed to report directly to the Township Supervisor in order to be successful. While the Park Board members are well intentioned and hard-working, the board’s structure does not support efficient decision making, fund raising or complex project management. The acquisition of Cherry Beach was an opportunity of magnitude and importance to the community and needed to be handled by the Township Supervisor and Trustees.

This moment in our history illustrates the need to dissolve the elected Park Board and move to a new structure. Our beaches, parks and preserves are too important to this community to be overseen by anyone other than the Supervisor and Trustees. And there must be accountability from only one entity. Chikaming’s elected Park Board is a rarity in the state, with less than 1% of the statewide townships embracing this model. And for good reason.

The redundancy and confusion with two elected

bodies is impractical. We need a system that is efficient, responsive and accountable. Your YES vote on November 8 is right for the future of Chikaming’s beaches, parks and preserves.

— PEGGY MCTIGUE SUSAN PHELAN

IN RESPONSE...

In response to Ms. Simpson’s letter of October 6, 2022, we believe she is correct that voters in the upcoming New Buffalo School Board election have a clear choice. However the choice isn’t between different types of candidates, but rather how each will address the issues facing our school and education in general. (Visit StopCRTNewBuffalo.com for more information.)

BISON Parents for School Board believe that public schools should teach and continue to provide a great education to all students regardless of their race, sexual identity, or religion.  We are not against LGBTQ students as some are misleading people to believe.

To that point, we do oppose Brunner (as middle school principal) and Werner (as board member)  bringing an antiparent individual such as Mary Jo Schnell into our school on multiple occasions to teach our teachers professional development.   She has posted on Facebook that “the purpose of a public education in a public

school is not to teach kids only what parents want them to be taught. It is to teach them what society needs them to know. The client of the public school is not the parent, but the entire community, the public.”   Ms. Simpson’s letter says Brunner, Werner, Churchill and Thun are for collaboration with parents and transparency.  Why then would Brunner and Werner (and by association the other two) be ok with such a controversial, anti-parent person leading our teachers?

Additionally, this professional development was in coordination with Brunner’s work with an organization called Caring Across Difference.  This group claims to “create a more caring and just America” but their website actually promotes creating social justice warriors out of kids as young as 5 years old. Kids should “pursue justice” and “identify their biases” according to this group. We think 5 year olds should be out playing in sand boxes and learning how to read and write, not being groomed to be social activists!

Let children have their time to be children.  Of course we believe that kids struggling with emotional or social issues should receive support; however it should be at an age-appropriate level and with parental involvement.

— BISON PARENTS FOR SCHOOL BOARD JUSTIN BANEY ASHLEY GRZYWACZ PATRICK KENNEDY TODD TANKSLEY

School board candidates have their say during a candidate forum

BY FRANCESCA SAGALA

Candidates who are running for eight open seats on the New Buffalo Area Schools Board of Education for the upcoming Nov. 8 election fielded questions ranging from safety in schools to the nationwide teacher shortage to issues they see facing the district at the New Buffalo Education Association’s candidate forum in the Performing Arts Center Tuesday, Oct. 4.

Emily Walters and Ren Nash, students in the high school’s government class, moderated the forum for the candidates that are listed below.

Denise Churchill, who’s running for a six-year term, said that she’s spent 30 years in finance, the last 15 of them being dedicated to education.

She said she believes that her experience will “serve the board well regarding fiscal decisions of our district.”

“If elected, I will uphold the interests and ethics of our board with continued transparency to parents and caregivers – I will promote supportive, inclusive academically challenging public education for our students, one that encourages all children to reach their full potential,” she said.

She’s concerned about the district’s declining student population and students’ “postsecondary paths.”

Todd Tanskley, who’s running for a six-year term, said that, as a board member, he’d “like to “encourage life skills.”

“I believe it’s important for our kids to leave their school as a head school student, with some practical skills and safety,” he said.

Tanksley said he wants to encourage students to have a “grateful attitude” regarding their generous school district as well as “hard work – you can’t get through life without it, it’s a necessity” – and “critical thinking skills.”

Brad Brunner, who’s running for a six-year term, comes to the board candidacy with 18 years in education (10 of which were spent being a teacher).

“For me, 18 years in education, I have seen from a teacher’s perspective, from a principal’s perspective and a director of teaching and learning what a priority is in education,” he said.

Issues that stand out to Brunner is student mental health and wellness and New Buffalo dedicating “resources to recruiting the highest quality of teachers.”

Ashley Grzywacz, who’s running for a four-year term and has a degree in psychology and experience working in the mental health field, said she’s an “advocate for the mental and emotional wellbeing of the children in the community –all students need to feel loved and supported and it starts at home.”

“I believe parents have the fundamental right to direct the care and teaching and education of their children - I firmly believe parents need to have seat at the table when policies and programs are considered that will impact their children’s future and wellbeing – it’s common sense,” she said.

Patrick Kennedy, who’s running for a four-year term, said that he’d like to focus on finding a “great superintendent to lead our school” and finding “more opportunities to build bridges between parents, children, schools and the faculty and along with the community.”

“We have so many resources at our disposal, I’d like to see if kids could be more active in the community, whether that’s volunteering or helping with low-income housing – there’s a lot of reward for giving back to the community,” he said.

Lisa Werner, who’s running for a four-year term, has been on the school board for 18 years.

Her top priority is continuing to “promote a safe, nurturing learning environment for all students by providing a space that empowers students as leaders and decision makers, celebrating individual student growth and modeling a growth mindset and fostering the same in students, teachers, administrators and support staff.”

“With economic volatility and rising costs, many families are struggling…Schools need to be a space filled with joy for students,” she said.

Werner added that for too many students, schools are a painful place due to focusing on one thing: testing.

Justin Baney, who’s running for a fouryear term, said that he believes in the system, I believe in this school, I believe in this district” –something that he and his wife tells friends.

He believes one major issue is finding a “solid superintendent” as well as going “back to the basics – which doesn’t mean taking a step back as some may think.”

“I see the strengthening building blocks in education and making way for our school to better educate our students - in a lot of ways, moving forward is raising critical thinkers,” he said.

Vanessa Thun, who’s running for a four-year term, has run a small business wither husband for over 20 years and sat on the city’s tax review board and election committee and is the current president of the New Buffalo Railroad Museum.”

She said she cares “deeply about mental health – mentally strong children become super strong students, they become better friends and members of society.”

“Being on the board puts us in the critical position to make sure we listen, we continue to learn, and we determine the best choices for our kids in our school community,” she said.

Thun added that SEL (social emotional learning) is critical to help teachers, principals and counselors intervene for those children who have parents who “aren’t involved” and wants community members to help kids “get to that next step” and seek help for mental wellness.

Members of the public met candidates in the commons for a meet and greet

Candidate Patrick Kennedy speaks to members of the public during the meet and greet

Social Studies teacher Tina Keller, Emily Walters, Ren Nash and middle school science teacher Mary Cooper

Candidate Brad Brunner speaks to members of the public during the meet and greet

Candidates for the New Buffalo School Board answer questions

SCHOLASTICS

School board discusses mental health, safety and special education at New Buffalo

BY FRANCESCA SAGALA

Recommendations centering around mental health, safety and special education are in the works at New Buffalo, interim superintendent Dr. Michael Lindley said at the New Buffalo Area Schools Board of Education meeting Monday, Oct. 10.

Lindley said that the state legislature has allocated some additional funds and that the district’s counselors, student advocate and social worker would like the board to consider hiring another social worker.

Lindley said he’d also talked with the district’s school resource officers (SROS) regarding having “slowdown flashing type signs” across the street at the middle/high school and the elementary school and that New Buffalo Township is having a meeting this Monday regarding possibly funding one of those signs at the elementary school. He added that he was still waiting to hear back from the city with regards to funding a sign at the middle/high school.

The signs would be blue toothed enabled, as well as would be programmed to have the light come on for students who are crossing the street to and from the future STEAM building or the pickleball and tennis courts as well as at the beginning and end of the school day.

Other safety issues that were discussed were adding some additional radios for communications and training for the SROS.

Lindley said he also talked with personnel about the possible need to add to two new special education teachers.

“We are currently fine in terms of our numbers and in terms of the letter of the law - there’s some question as to whether or not we’re meeting the spirit of the law and really meeting the full needs of the students,” he said.

Lindley said he’d come back to the board at their meeting in two weeks with a recommendation for all three topics.

Board members approved the purchase of wood shop equipment from Rockler for the STEAM building.

During council comments, trustee Chuck Heit said he wondered why there was now a card system that was implemented for public comment.

He said that in the 20 years he’s been on the board, he’s “never seen a need for someone to not give their name.”

“I’m questioning what value we’re looking out of it when I don’t see there’s ever been a problem,” he said.

Lindley said board president Lisa Werner asked him about developing the system and that a similar one was used in the two other interim positions he’s held as well as while on the board of Lake Michigan College, adding that it’s “not meant to discourage anybody by any shape or form.”

Werner said she’d never stop anyone from speaking, even if they didn’t fill out a card, and it’s meant to create “some sort of order” if a lot of audience members want to speak. She added that the city also has people put their names on a sheet for public comment, which is brough to the clerk before the meeting.

During public comment, Brad Brunner, who’s running for a six-year term on the school board, thanked the New Buffalo Education Association for putting on last week’s candidate forum (see page 8.) as well as for endorsing four of the candidates – himself, Werner, Vennessa Thun and Denise Churchill.

Werner, who was speaking as a member of the public and is running for the four-year term, addressed Critical Race Theory (CRT) at New Buffalo.

She said that talking about race is not CRT, which “examines racism in the law at the graduate school level” and that “discussing events of the day is not theoretical but a reality.”

“Our nation’s history and present day are shaped by the experiences of people of color – we are so far away from being a racist free society,” she said, adding that “teaching anti-racism is and should be considered a core American value.”

Streaming Selfie Search Results

Bison soccer close to turning corner

BY STAN MADDUX

The record doesn’t reflect just how competitive the New Buffalo High School boys’ soccer team has been this season.

The Bison (1-8-5) finished the regular season with a 5 to 1 loss at home to Bloomingdale Monday, Oct. 10.

New Buffalo trailed 2-1 with about 20 minutes left in the final half, but Bloomingdale took advantage of some changes made on defense to score three additional goals.

Head Coach Erik Beers said Bloomingdale came on offensively after he moved first string goalie John Riley into the center mid-field position as an experiment before the post season.

Beers said another player wound up getting injured and could have returned but was kept out to be at full strength for the post season.

Nick Haskins with an assist from Hagen Davis scored the only goal for the Bison.

Davis struck the ball with his head toward Haskins, who then kicked the ball a short distance past the goalie and into the net.

The Bison, though, were not able to take advantage of other scoring opportunities from balls, including several at close range, kicked wide or over the net.

The Bison play Cassopolis Thursday, Oct. 13, at 6 p.m. in the district tournament, which is

at New Buffalo.

Beers said the defense this year has kept a vast majority of their opponents to just a few goals or less per game.

The Bison, for example, lost 2-0 to conference champion Howardsville Christian and were defeated 1-0 by a good Michigan Lutheran squad.

He blamed the offensive struggles on having a team of mostly young players still learning how to fully execute when scoring opportunities present themselves.

“The offense is a little more technical in terms of the patterns that you got to play and the runs you got to make and the finishing. It’s taken a little bit longer to get to the point we wanted, but it’s coming,” he said.

“We’re not that far off,” Beers said.

The team seems positioned to take their play to a higher level next year.

The Bison are losing seniors Landon Haskins, Evan Messinger and Harucki Everly, but three of their best players, Elliot Bourne, Axel Rodriguez and leading scorer, Geovanni Sanchez, are expected to return.

“I’m looking forward to what we’ll do next year. We’re knocking on the door and, hopefully, we’ll take that step through next season,” Beers said.

SPORTS

From the Bleachers

COLUMN BY KURT MARGGRAF IN CHICAGO

What a nice weekend I just had.

After spending a great day with family at Dinges searching for the perfect pumpkin, we had a bite to eat in Three Oaks where I had a spirited game of darts with my six year old grandson, and after returning to Chicago, was able to watch a couple of the MLB wildcard games.

For some reason, I’ve got a soft spot in my heart for Cleveland, so I was happy they beat Tampa Bay. Seattle had a great series and beat Toronto, and in the National league, the Cardinals and Mets both lost, making me extremely happy. Being a Cub fan almost automatically makes me a Cardinal hater, and I’m also a big former Cub Kyle Schwarber fan, so Philadelphia’s victory over the Cards was twice as sweet.

The Mets are another story. Way back in 1969, the Cubs had their first good team since 1945, when most players were soldiers in WWll. I was a young man that lived and died with the Cubs, and the Mets came out of nowhere to beat them and get to the World Series. Sports fandom isn’t necessarily logical, so I’ve hated the Mets for the last fifty three years.

Plus, former Cub Yu Darvish pitches for San Diego and I’ve always liked Yu. I think that it’s time for me to forgive the Mets and Cards for their past transgressions over the Cubs. Next year I’ll do my best to not root against them, unless of course, they’re playing the Cubs.

The Bears game against the Vikings started out horribly. I was literally yelling at the television set like I was a teenager.

My disgust with everything connected to the team was as high as it’s been in years. In the first half, I was so disappointed with the coaches and players, i didn’t know who to blame.

While I was trying to figure it out, the Bears started to play better and the coaches started to coach better. The second half was completely different. Had it not been for a somewhat questionable penalty while Justin Fields was scampering for a touchdown, the Bears just may have pulled out a victory.

While the Bears have quite a distance to travel before they can compete for a championship, everyone, including us fans, have to be patient and realize that there are a lot of potholes on the road to success. Hockey and basketball are in the midst of their preseasons. Soon the Blackhawks will begin their rebuilding era with a new coach, a bunch of youngsters, and Toews and Kane. I can only hope this year won’t be too painful.

On the other hand, the Bulls are really good. Unfortunately, so are a lot of teams in their division. If the Bulls can avoid injuries this year, and Lonzo Ball can return from his knee injury, they might be good enough to compete for the NBA crown.

Winnie the Pooh said “It’s the first day of autumn! A time of hot chocolatey mornings, and toasty marshmallow evenings, and, best of all, leaping into leaves!”

Have fun out there. Talk to you next week. Peace, love, and happiness.

Where you from? Where you from Bro?

In Europe, this is what I get asked. — Dino

Wolnik shines for Raiders in football win

BY STAN MADDUX

Ryder Wolnik on offense and defense helped propel the Red Arrow Raiders to a blow-out victory in high school football Saturday, Oct. 8.

The Raiders (4-3) defeated the Twin City Sharks 48-0 at River Valley High School.

A fumble recovery by Wolnik set up a 10 yard touchdown run on a quarterback keeper by Eli Thomas to make the score 14-0.

The Raiders quickly scored again when Wolnik after a bad snap to the Sharks’ punter recovered the ball in the end zone for a touchdown.

The lead grew to 28-0 when a wide open Wolnik following a 20 yard gain by Ethan Lijewski on a quarterback keeper caught a 14 yard pass in the end zone.

Wolnik, though, was not finished making big plays.

The Stars were threatening to score early in the second quarter when Wolnik intercepted a pass to the end zone and returned the ball close to the 50 yard line.

“Ryder had a good game. He was all over the place,” said Raiders Head Coach Matt Johnson.

The Raiders took a 36-0 lead into halftime after Thomas intercepted a pass and ran the ball about 20 yards

into the end zone.

“Defensively, we didn’t give them a lot of room to breathe,” said Johnson.

Johnson said he felt it was the best performance of the season for the team in terms of the offense and defense playing well at the same time.

He complimented the play of David Fairchild, Kaden Krieger, Peyton Lijewski, Josh Seifert and David Nicely for their work on defense.

“Across the board, we just played very, very well,” he said. It was a homecoming game for the

players on the Raiders from River Valley High School.

Homecoming for the New Buffalo players on the team is the final game of the regular season against Bangor Oct. 21.

Their next game is Oct. 14 at Lawrence.

Johnson said his vastly improved team after a 0-2 start has a chance to win the final two games of the regular season.

“There’s some things we got to clean up offensively blocking wise. If we do that, we’ll be in a good spot to win out,” he said.

Welcoming fall during Harvest and Wine Fest

BY FRANCESCA SAGALA

New Buffalo was the perfect picture of fall when the New Buffalo Business Association (NBBA) presented the 16th annual Harvest and Wine Fest in the middle of the downtown Saturday, Oct. 8. Fall-themed activities, such as throwing the pumpkin in the buckets and pumpkin- and face-painting, were in full swing on one end of the downtown. Tents with vendors touting their fresh apples and other fall produce and various crafts crowded the middle of North Whittaker Street. Music from a lively line-up of bands, which included The Osco’s, The Sypian Family Band, WYSIWYG and Mr. Blotto, drifted overhead throughout the afternoon and into the evening from the stage at one end of the festival’s limits.

People streamed in and out of the large white wine and beer tent, which featured a large variety of representatives from area wineries, that was located on Merchant Street. Local wineries that were featured were Domaine Berrien Cellars, Lemon Creek Winery, St. Julian Winery, Round Barn Estate, Tabor Hill Winery & Restaurant, Dablon Vineyards - Winery & Tasting Room, Marland, Chill Hill and Hickory Creek Winery. Breweries that were featured were Haymarket, Round Barn, Ghost Isle Brewery, North Pier, River St. Joe and Livery. Representatives from Journeyman Distillery and Hummingbird Lounge and North Pier Brewery were also present with their spirits and Virtue with their cider.

People mix and mingle in downtown New Buffalo

Gabby and Joseph Bilek relax at the festival

The afternoon scene at Harvest and Wine

wyswyg takes the stge at Harvest and WineA scene from the wine and beer tent

Hunter Moles tries his hand at the pumpkin toss

Festivalgoers enjoy food from the Roundbelly’s Pizza food truck

Madelyn Kudin, Libbey Cook and Ana Sokratov from Melore and CH Distllery Madison Moles tries her hand at the pumpkin toss

Celebrating 16 years of chili at Skip’s Chili Cook-off

BY FRANCESCA SAGALA

Every year, Skip’s Chili Cook-off features around 10 contestants, who all make between eight to 10 gallons of chili.

“So, if you multiply those times 16 years - that’s a lot of chili consumed,” Rhonda Sobecki, owner/partner at Skip’s Restaurant and Catering, said.

Visitors came out in droves to get their chili fix at the 16th annual cook-off, which took place in a white tent during Skip’s European Farmers’ Market in New Buffalo Sunday, Oct. 9.

The following won this year’s judge’s awards: first place - Berrien County Sheriff’s Office deputies, Lt. Nick Magro and Sergeant Kristin Robbins; second place - father daughter team, Darrel and Eryka Kettring of Three Oaks and third place - chef Alyssa Brake and manager Tyler Mantei from Beer Church Brewing Co.

The following won this year’s People’s Choice Award: first place - home chefs Deb Wagner and partner Trinka; second place - Alyssa Brake and Tyler Mantei

from Beer Church Brewing Co. and third place - Chris Hebron of Hebron Farms and Marcial Kajer from Kajers Greens.

Darrel Kettring said he’s been cooking up kettles of chili for the cook-off for 15 years (he missed one year when he went overseas to Belgium for work).

“I keep on saying I’m not going to do it because it’s a lot of work – but my wife helps me, she does all the muffins,” he said, adding that he also enjoys the bragging rights that come with clinching a title.

His daughter Eryka and his granddaughter, Alice, could also be seen ladling chili out of the kettle and serving chili taste testers.

While cooking his chili, Darrel said he likes to throw a little extra something into the mix.

Sometimes, he’ll let the chili “get a little warm and then soothe it down with a little Hershey’s chocolate” at the end.

“It’s not a set recipe that I go by every year – I wing it a little,” Darrel said.

Guests enjoy the last farmers market of the season

Guests enjoy the last farmers market of the season at Skip’s Fall produce was aplenty at the last farmers market of the season

Cathy and Aaron Jaedlo enjoy chili

Chris Hebron and Marcial Kajer are glad to their chili-making forces again for the cook-off

Darrel Kettring stands by his pot of chili with daughter Eryka and granddaughter AliceChili lovers sample chili

Adella Keener and Hannah Kesling-Post enjoy the entertanment with Poppy

B

rake said that this is the fourth year they’ve been chili contestants.

She said this was their second year receiving third place for the Judge’s Award. In the past, they’ve won first place in the Judge’s division as well as for People’s Choice.

As a result of their long winning streak, Brake said that this year, they “stuck to what we know best,” making small tweaks here and there – “nothing too crazy” - to their recipe.

“We just feel like we have a really good thing – why fix something that’s not broken,” she said.

Sobecki said that this year’s cookoff was the busiest one yet.

“We’re running low on chili - and it’s already after an hour and a half,” she said.

Sobecki said the cook-off “runs the gamut” in terms of the chili selection, from white chilis to vegetarian ones. This year, two of the farmers who are featured at the farmers market, Hebron Farms and Kajer Greens, used everything to make their chili from the market –right down to the ladle, which was from one of the other vendors.

The cook-off took place during the last day of the 14th season of Skip’s European Farmers’ Market.

Recently, the market placed fourth in Michigan, 26th in the Midwest and 102nd in the nation out of 7,000 market nominees in the American Farmland Trust’s best farmers market contest with the Farmers’ Market Coalition, a national organization.

Sobecki said that customers voted for Skip’s in the contest.

“We were pretty pleased with that - we didn’t know we were nominated, that’s pretty significant in our opinion,” she said.

The market runs every Saturday and Sunday from May through October. Sobecki said that it averages between 30 to 40 vendors for every market, adding that having a smaller market ensures that there’s no “duplicity.”

Sobecki said the vendors, who call themselves “Skip’s family,” help each other set up tents as well as have created a page to follow and promise to get together to have dinner once a month.

The familial feeling, Sobeck said, is mutual between her and the vendors.

“This is always a bittersweet day for me because now I have to go almost eight months without my family,” she said.

Jim Post and Neil Allesee provide the live entertainment

Enjoying the last farmers market of the seasonPaige Drew ladles chili from Skip’s

Chili lovers sample chili under the tent

Guests relax and enjoy chili under the tent

Sgt. Kristin Robbins and Lt. Nick Magro from the Berrien County Sheriff’s Office serve their chili

Chef Alyssa Brake, Tyler Mantei and Courtney Stantz stand by Beer Church’s pot of chili

Ribbon is cut on New Buffalo’s new and improved dune walk A DUNE WITH A VIEW

BY FRANCESCA SAGALA

It only took five years for residents of and visitors to New Buffalo to have a new and improved way of taking in sweeping views of Lake Michigan at New Buffalo Public Beach.

Mayor John Humphrey said the process of constructing the city’s new dune walk, which was officially unveiled to the public the morning of Saturday, Oct. 8, had involved going through two city managers and two city councils.

There was also a global pandemic, material shortages, funding hurdles and having to build in a less than ideal environment in the middle of a sand dune.

“Along the way we have met many challenges, including the project costs doubling since its creation but we have persevered and are able to stand here today on the new dune walk and a completed phase one of the multiphase beach and marina waterfront redevelopment plan,” he said.

Humphrey added that the dune walk was the city’s “greatest achievement since the redevelopment of the downtown streetscape,” which was completed in the summer of 2018.

The new dune walk is safer and more accessible than the previous one. In a press release, Humphrey said the city was able to “replace and expand the existing dune walk across the top of the dune” as well as add a “second walkway into the middle of the dune structure that is fully ADA compliant and accessible to persons of all abilities.”

The project was made possible through funding commitments from the city, the MDNR and The Fund.

Humphrey thanked The Pokagon

Fund for its “financial support and leadership” as well as the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR), adding that “without its assistance this wouldn’t be possible.”

“Projects like this illustrate the very best of what public government can accomplish when like-minded people with vision and tenacity work together in the public’s interest…I personally look forward to the promise of future development in the City of New Buffalo and hope this dune walk will stand as another example of what we can all accomplish together,” he said.

The project was managed by Abonmarche Consultants. City manager Darwin Watson said Tom Runkle was the “lead design guy” and thanked him for “working with us to get this done.”

He also thanked The Fund “for all the support they give the community – not just New Buffalo, but Harbor Country as a whole.”

Judy Zabicki, chair of The Pokagon Fund Board of Directors, said that there’d been a dune walk at the beach for as long as she’s been in the area, which has been 40-some years.

“It’s where everyone comes to, it’s where proposals are made, it’s where pictures are taken -it’s a part of us… When the city came to The Pokagon Fund and asked us to support them in this, it was one of the greatest pleasures that we could do,” she said.

The Pokagon Fund Executive Director Dan Petersen said he’s “glad it’s more accessible and appeals to a broader range of audiences.”

In a prepared statement, Petersen said that the dune walk is what makes the city “unique.”

“Residents of the Greater New Buffalo Area, and visitors alike,

will once again be able to create memories with friends and family with this structure as the backdrop,” he said.

Jack Kennedy, who was a former mayor of the city, said his main goal was to have a walkway for people to walk with their strollers with younger children in them or for those who may have trouble walking up the stairs, such as senior citizens.

He said that people of all ages can now enjoy the walk on special occasions, such as weddings.

“So, I am glad, so pleased, so happy that this type of arrangement is going to be used a lot,” Kennedy said.

Onecould say Kennedy’s claim that the walk will be “used a lot” was confirmed for him on the sunny, 60-something degree day of Sunday, Oct. 9.

Throughout the afternoon, several people could be seen making their way up the stairs or strolling down the walkway.

Terry McMillon, who had reached the walk’s summit with her husband, Jack, couldn’t have chosen a better time to return to New Buffalo.

“It’s lovely, I like the accessible area – this is a really nice addition,” she said, adding that she hadn’t been to the area in 16 years.

Jack added that he also thought the walkway was a nice touch.

“The whole section looks like it’s easily accessible for people that are maybe disabled who can’t get up there versus a little more challenging stairway,” he said, adding that the view from the top overlooking Lake Michigan looks “very pretty.”

Mayor John Humphrey, city manager Darwin Watson and The Pokagon Fund Board Chair Judy Zabicki welcome the crowd to the new dune walk

Panoramic views of Lake Michigan can be seen from the dune walk’s summit

Cutting the ribbon on the new dune walk at New Buffalo Public Beach

Mayor John Humphrey speaks before the ribbon-cutting, while city manager Darwin Watson looks on

Jack Kennedy, a former mayor of New Buffalo, speaks during the ceremony

REAL ESTATE

OBITUARIES

Lois Joan Backus

1929-2022

from 12:00 noon until time of service at 2:00 p.m. in Trinity Lutheran Church of Sawyer, 5791 Sawyer Road, Sawyer.

Lois will be entombed with her beloved husband, at a later date, in Swan Lake Memorial Gardens, Michigan City.

The family prefers contributions in memory of Lois be made to Trinity Lutheran Church of Sawyer, 5791 Sawyer Road, Sawyer, Michigan 49125 or Caring Circle Hospice, 4025 Health Park Lane, St. Joseph, Michigan 49085.

Aaron (Julie) Flitcraft of Frankfort, Illinois, Jacob Amlung and Cece Sommer, both of Cincinnati, Brynlee Flitcraft and Elliot Flitcraft, both of Frankfort. He was preceded in death by his parents.

Lois

Joan Backus, 93, of Three Oaks, died peacefully Monday, October 10, 2022. Her life began June 26, 1929 in Niles, Michigan, the oldest child born to Emmett and Magles Pitchford. She married Melvin John Backus, Sr. May 6, 1950 in Niles, Michigan. After forty-seven years of marriage, he preceded her in death July 19, 1997.

Lois enjoyed making afghans for every member of her family. She was an avid gardener and loved to can fruits and vegetables that she grew. She grew up during the depression and learned to can everything. She had a love of bowling and playing bingo. She was an outdoors person and enjoyed fishing and camping. Lois was also a talented polka dancer. She enjoyed shopping with her late sister-in-law Lucille Daron. She started her career at the Featherbone in Three Oaks and ended her career, as an inspector, at Gerber Baby Products.

Lois will be greatly missed by family and friends. She is survived by one daughter, Joyce (Jim) Yech of Bridgman; grandchildren, Erica (David Boddorf) Morse, David Morse, both of Michigan City, Indiana, Dustin (Emily Horvath) Backus of Buchanan, Dana (Kevin) Kittleson of Crystal Falls, Cody (Justine) Backus of South Bend, Indiana, Kyle (Mindy) Backus of Three Oaks; one step-granddaughter, Tracy (John) Doyle of Port Saint Lucie, Florida; great grandchildren, Lauren, Ruger, Browning, Ellie, Bella, Presley, Kinsley, Brynn, Cole, Garrett, Reed, Ana; six step-great grandchildren; one sister, Lori (Ed) Blake of Buchanan; one sister-in-law, Ursula Phillipi of Buchanan; one brother-in-law, Leo Backus of Niles; former daughterin-law, Angela Backus of Three Oaks; and a host of nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her beloved husband; two sons, Melvin John Backus, Jr., Allen Backus; son-in-law, Alan Morse; two sisters, Phyllis Fisher, Bonnie Phillipi; and two brothers, Larry Phillipi, and Darrell Phillipi.

The family would like to extend a special thanks to Debbie and Richard Ruff of Country Manor. They appreciate their kind and exceptional care of Lois over the years. The family also profusely thanks Meagan Frye and her outstanding staff at A Place Called Home in Stevensville for the love and care they gave Lois throughout the last eight months.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Wagner Family Funerals Pobocik Chapel, Three Oaks. Please share a memory or a message online at www.wagnercares.com.

Roger Wayne Dehne

RogerWayne Dehne, 60, of Wabash, Indiana, died at 9:30 am, Wednesday, October 5, 2022, at his home in Wabash. He was born on May 7, 1962, in Louisville, Kentucky, to Edwin L. Sr. and Kathryn (Roggencamp) Dehne.

Roger was a 1980 graduate of New Buffalo High School. He married Tracy (McNabney) Flitcraft in Wabash on August 25, 2018. He worked at Poet in North Manchester, and also had worked at US Steel in Gary, Indiana. Roger lived the past 4 years in Wabash, and lived the majority of his life in New Buffalo, Michigan. He was a member of the Chapel Ministries Outreach in Peru, Indiana. Roger enjoyed woodworking, bird hunting, and dog training.

He is survived by his wife, Tracy Dehne of Wabash; two children, Shannon Dehne and Ciarra (Benjamin) Patrick, and one grandson, Leeland Michael Dehne, all of Niles, Michigan; six sisters, Kathryn Kempf of Tampa, Florida, Carolyn Ghareeb of Union Pier, Michigan, Anita Mode of Traverse City, Michigan, Patty (Chris) Allmand of White Pigeon, Michigan, Debbie (Robert) Skaleck of Bridgeman, Michigan, and Janice (Thomas) Krycka of Three Oaks, Michigan; brother, Edwin (Toni) Dehne of Three Oaks; and extended family, Carey Marcum of Cincinnati, Ohio,

Funeral services will be 1:00 pm, Monday, October 10, 2022, at Chapel Ministries Outreach, 3054 W. 400 N., Peru, with Rev. Tom Robbins, Pastor Bryan Rouch, and Pastor Vince Darland officiating. Burial will be in Roann Community Cemetery. Friends may call 11:00 am - 1:00 pm Monday, at the church. Arrangements by GrandstaffHentgen Funeral Service, Wabash.

Preferred memorial is Rescue Resort Womens Home. The memorial guest book for Roger may be signed at www.grandstaff-hentgen.com.

Susan Robertson Hahn 1957-2022

SusanRobertson Hahn, 64, of Union Pier, passed away on Saturday, October 1, 2022, at home with her husband at her side.

Sue was born on December 4, 1957, to Arthur and Florence (Templeton) Robertson in Michigan City, IN. She graduated from New Buffalo High School in 1976. On March 16, 1999 she married Wayne Hahn. Sue was a beautiful, loving, caring, kind and giving person. She had a wonderful sense of humor, and was a loving wife, step-mom, sister, sister-in-law, aunt, grandmother and friend. She will be greatly missed by those who loved and cared about her. Sue is survived by her husband, Wayne Hahn; step-sons, David (Danielle) Hahn, Timothy (Alietha) Hahn and Daniel Hahn; grandchildren, Emma, Natalia, Logan and Maddy Hahn; siblings, Gary (Susan) Robertson, Mark (Mary) Robertson, Sharon Sandera; sister-in-law, Chris Sandera; nephews, Zac Robertson, Troy Robertson; niece, Colbie Robertson and great-niece, Navie Elkins. She was preceded in death by her parents, Arthur and Florence Robertson and brother, Ray Sandera.

Cremation has taken place. Private inurnment will take place in Pine Grove Cemetery, New Buffalo. Memorial contributions may be made to Caring Circle Hospice. Those wishing to send a condolence online may do so at www. sommerfeldchapel.com. Arrangements have been entrusted to Sommerfeld Chapel, New Buffalo.

HOR0SCOPE

ARIES MARCH 21—APRIL 19

Relationships will greatly improve this week, and not just romantic ones. Business relationships take a turn for the better because of new approaches and the letting go of past grievances. A more relaxed approach and your enthusiasm for new ideas will help others feel free to express their ideas.

TAURUS APRIL 20—MAY 20

Your work environment and work load will be much easier to handle this week. Partly because of finding the right teammate, one that provides mutual benefit and support. The one caution is that it may be hard to keep secrets or hide insecurities from someone that you mesh so well with.

GEMINI MAY 21—JUNE 21

You are entering a very fun filled period. One where you feel physically charged and up for anything. There may be some shocking news from friends, but nothing you need to stress. The good news is that your health is substantially better than it has been and you are moving freely now.

CANCER JUNE 22—JULY 22

The reconciliation of domestic or family issues will bring you a lot of happiness.

Health, work, and home all seem to balance out nicely this week. There may be a few surprises in your career or public life now, but nothing that harms your reputation, more like something that flatters you.

LEO JULY 23—AUGUST 22

There will be some very happy tidings coming from neighbors or siblings and even though there may be matters you would like to keep private; siblings will have a way of getting the information out of you and into the family loop. Unexpected travel opportunities are possible now too.

VIRGO AUGUST 23—SEPTEMBER 22

There is a lot to be learned and discovered this week about finances and creating more wealth. Mentally you are clearer than you have been in months and you have a lot more energy and enthusiasm to put towards resources and sustaining wealth. Great time to invest and speculate.

LIBRA SEPTEMBER 23—OCTOBER 22

Powerup Libra. The last of the weird vibes are heading out this week. You will feel a huge boost in your will power and selfesteem, once they are gone. Turn that energy towards self-improvements, like buying new cloths or getting a new hairstyle. Beautify yourself and your surroundings.

SCORPIO OCTOBER 23—NOVEMBER 21

Drink from the waters of refreshment, my Scorpion friend. You will get some much-needed sustenance this week. Before you engage in any heated debates or hit hot topics, pull back and evaluate what your end game really is. Do you want to continue and rebuild or move on?

SAGITTARIUS NOVEMBER 22—DECEMBER 21

You will be exceptionally outgoing and positive this week, which will draw the right people to you that will help facilitate your creative side. Being around positive and inspiring people will cause you to be more aware and you’ll use any down time to selfreflect or evaluate the bigger picture.

CAPRICORN DECEMBER 22—JANUARY 19

Career and leadership skills connect nicely, giving you the chance to get some of your great ideas off the ground. Anything that involves group activities is emphasized with bountiful energy now. People will be more open to your ideas and more generous with their resources.

AQUARIUS JANUARY 20—FEBRUARY 18

Don’t let disruptive conversations or an ill-timed revelation throw you too far off the track. Use this information to put your thoughts or plans into motion. This information will be key to solving a long-standing problem or stalemate. Think of it as the final or missing piece to the puzzle.

PISCES FEBRUARY 19—MARCH 20

Learning how to work closely with another and making a commitment to stick with a tiresome task, will be a major part of your week. The joining of forces will get the job done twice as fast. Once you get your mind focused on working as a team, the rest is easy. Just get it done.

School of American Music to present ‘The Romantic Violin’ Oct. 30

International violinist and conductor Kunito Nishitani will star in an afternoon of “The Romantic Violin” at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 30, at the Episcopal Church of the Mediator, 14280 Red Arrow Highway in Harbert, Michigan.

Presented by the School of American Music, the program will showcase Europe’s Romantic period of music, which burgeoned in the second half of the 19th century.

In a special treat, Nishitani will be accompanied on piano by worldfamous composer and professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, Rudolf Haken, in a program that will include Violin Concerto No. 3 by Camille SaintSaëns, Violin Concerto by Max Bruch and Csárdás by Vittorio Monti. Though the concert is presented by the School of American Music as part

of its Free Family Concert Series, registration is requested online at schoolofamericanmusic.com.

“Who says a small town can’t present international stars?” Donna M. Mitchell, executive director of the School of American Music, said.

“We’re proud to share these incredible, globally renowned musicians with our community in Harbor Country. This is one not to miss.”

Nishitani has founded a school and two orchestras in Japan and has served on the faculty of universities ranging from New York University to Portland State University to Ikebukuro Community College outside Tokyo. He has served as concertmaster of orchestras in the U.S. and Japan and appeared as a soloist in both countries. Nishitani has released six CDs. Haken is legendary for his creative melding of disparate musical styles

and genres. A professor of Electric Strings and Viola at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champagne, Haken concertizes and teaches regularly on four continents, frequently performing his own concertos on his six-string Wood Viper electric and five-string Rivinus Pellegrina acoustic violas.

The SAM Family Concert Series is made possible by a grant from the Pokagon Fund and donations to the School of American Music. Visit schoolofamericanmusic. com for more information or to donate to the Future Fund, an endowment campaign to guarantee SAM’s financial future. Every dollar donated to the Fund is matched by the Michiana Arts Foundation. SAM is a 501(c)(3) organization, and all contributions are tax-deductible.

STAFF

Outdoor concerts gain a following, encourage camaraderie

BY THERESE DONNELLY

Sunday night in Union Pier and a private concert is getting started up. Musicians from several acts are arriving for an informal get-together.

It’s

Chuck Covert, one of the main organizers, said he and his friend, Ralph Sima, started the outdoor concerts as a way for family and friends to stay connected during Covid. The concerts continued and grew after restrictions lifted. Musicians and guests all bring a dish to pass and share music, stories and camaraderie.

The location rotates each week, and the lineup changes just as often. Musicians come and go, depending on their schedules. Covert notes most musicians work day jobs and perform on weekends, so these get-togethers typically happen Sunday or Monday evenings, when more musician are free. The music changes with the performers. At their most recent meetup in Union Pier, they started out with Kim Creston on vocals, Joe Hinman on drums, Michael Whiteman on bass and Bob Bowen (who’s cohosting the night) on lead guitar.

More musicians trickle in throughout the evening, as their schedules permit. This week’s performance takes a brief interlude so Bowen can give an arriving friend a tour.

Covert says he and Bowen, who are cousins, learned music as children at family get-togethers. The adults would pass around instruments and give everyone a chance to play. Covert didn’t keep playing but still enjoys the connections music forms. Bowen says his mother first taught him to play the baritone ukulele. He’s

added more instruments to his repertoire, though it didn’t always go smoothly.

“I got kicked out of band class,” he recalled. “I didn’t want to play ‘Mary Had a Little Lamb.’”

He still managed to win a talent contest with a medley of rock songs blended with “Michael Row the Boat Ashore.” The success encouraged him to join and form several bands over the years, including local favorite Hired Hands.

Music has a way of drawing people together and keeping them together. Covert noted that many of the people joining the evening’s event grew up in Union Pier or the surrounding communities.

The sound changes each week, depending on who’s playing. Creston prefers folk, so the band starts out with Bob Dillon and other favorites. As more musicians arrive, Creston takes a break and the band shifts to classic rock as Don Hamilton, Brian Kehoe and Mike Esper join in.

Creston

says she started playing as a child, picking up a guitar her mother wasn’t interested in.

“I’d sit on the basement stairs and play,” she said. “It was spooky, but it had great acoustics.”

Beyond entertainment, music has other benefits. Bowen, who has a roofing company on the weekdays, said he needs to perform sitting down nowadays due to back and knee issues

“But when I play, I don’t feel any pain,” he said.

Covert agreed: “Music is great therapy.”

The

Steve Hamann and Chuck Covert

Mike Esper

Kim Creston

Mike Whiteman

Ken Dudiak

Joe Hinman

Plugging in

Don Hamilton, Brian Kehoe and Bob Bowen

CLASSIFIED ADS

Please submit your classified ad via email at classifieds@newbuffalotimes.com. New Buffalo Times can now accept online payments with a credit card or paypal. Go to our website, www.newbuffalotimes.com, and submit $14 per week for a classified ad of up to 160 characters. Deadline is Friday 5PM before the following week’s publication.

ESTATE TAG SALE

OCTOBER 27, 28, 29, 30

9AM-5PM EACH DAY

LOCATED AT 6628 WEST WARREN WOODS RD, THREE OAKS, MI, 49128

EVERYTHING 1/2 PRICE ON FIRST DAY

9 + Acres Gentleman’s Farm for Sale

By Owner

Everything priced to Sell Hundreds and Hundreds of Smallsbuildings and House are full. Roger Lucas AAA Estate Sales 269470-0192 COME SEE

NEW BUFFALO RETAIL

US 12 high-visibility rental & pop-up spaces next to popular yoga studio. Great parking. 700-2,000 SF. Call to view/rates @ 312-259-4011.

NEW BUFFALO

Rent Year Round in New Buffalo.

1 or 2 bedroom apartments starting at $800 per month. Quiet living—no pets. For more information call 269-469-1364.

HELP WANTED

LOVE WORKING OUTDOORS AND IN THE TREES?

Awesome, outdoor, low covid exposure, summer work. C&A Arborists, your local tree care professionals, are looking for help!! Drivers license required, CDL preferred. Please call 269-756-2571, mail jamietreephilosophy@gmail.com.

FULL TIME COOK POSITION IN LAPORTE

1 Year Experience. Call Oak Woods Manor for more details. 219-362-6600.

CONSTRUCTION WORKERS EXPERIENCE PREFERRED

Carpentry drywall flooring tile setting windows doors and decking. Must be 18 years or older with valid drivers license. Heavy lifting involved. 219-808-1329. johnrtaylor1953@gmail.com.

SERVICES

FISH FOR STOCKING

Most Varieties Pond and Lakes.

269-624-6215 Evenings.

ELDERLY CARE NEEDED?

Compassionate help available to care for your loved ones. Experienced and Dependable. Call Diane 219-344-2265.

month, we’re honoring

fought the

the

National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. As we observe this important time of year, we reflect on the impact this disease has on the lives of women in Michigan and all across America. We remember and honor these women, their families, and all those they love. Our staff members at all Starks Family Funeral Homes are wearing pink to support those who survived, and more importantly, to honor those who did not.

seen firsthand the terrible effects of breast cancer

our own families.

has

a

you’ll join us in honoring and remembering

we hope you’ll

we strive to provide