11 minute read
New Buffalo school board accepts resignation of board trustee Magro
Tickets are still available for a Christmas concert by the LaPorte County Symphony Orchestra.
Advertisement
The 28th annual Holiday at the Pops is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 10, at the historic LaPorte Civic Auditorium.
The concert under thousands of twinkling holiday lights and other decorations will also feature the LaPorte High School Mixed Chorale singing Christmas songs like Irving Berlin’s “White Christmas.”
A choral group called “Illumination” will also perform “Spirit of Christmas” and Christmas carols.
According to LPSO officials, the concert will conclude with a rousing Tran-Siberian Orchestra arrangement of “Carol of the Bells” followed by the performance of “Silent Night” by the orchestra with help from the audience.
Table seating on the floor is sold out but tickets for seating in the balcony are still available, LSCO officials said.
Tickets at $15 for adults and $5 for children under age 12 can be purchased by visiting “HOLIDAY AT THE POPS” at www.lcso.net.
They can also be purchased at Roxy Music in LaPorte and the Civic Auditorium.
The concert is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.
— STAN MADDUX
SCHOLASTICS
New Buffalo school board accepts resignation of board trustee Magro
Members of the New Buffalo Area Schools Board of Education accepted the resignation of board trustee Frank Magro effective Nov. 18, 2022, at their Monday, Nov. 28, meeting.
“I have enjoyed serving the people of this community,” Magro said in his resignation letter, dated Nov. 11.
Interim superintendent Dr. Michael Lindley said that board policy has required them to advertise for the position and that anyone who’s interested in filling the board vacancy should turn in a letter of interest to the board secretary by noon Dec. 7. Board members may hold interviews at their Dec. 12 meeting, although Lindley sad they’re not required to interview everyone. If board members do want to interview everyone and they have three or more people, than they may have to hold a special meeting.
Board members have until Dec. 18 to complete the process. While he feels it’s “unlikely,” Lindley said that if, for some reason, they can’t fill the vacancy by then, the Berrien RESA Board of Education will step in, during which they’ll “call and talk to us and pick our brain.”
Board members approved the appointment of Brooke Kaufman as a secondary special education teacher, pending background check.
A New Buffalo alumna with 10 years of experience, Lindley said that Kauffman is working out the details of when she’ll begin at New Buffalo, as she’d liked to finish out the semester at Niles Community Schools. As a result, she’ll probably start either around Jan. 9 or 23.
Board members approved adding dance to the high school curriculum for the third trimester as a pilot.
Lindley said art teacher Ashley Jager will teach dance and that they were in the process of seeing how many students are interested. If there’s enough, then there’d be a pilot and then they’d see how many students there’d be next year. At that point, Lindley said he’d bring the matter back to the board for a recommendation.
He added that he thinks dance would be able to fill a physical education or art credit.
Board members approved the employment of the following individuals, pending background approval: Elizabeth Hattam - BASE administrative assistant, Ron (Scott) Bailey - fourth and fifth grade BASE lead and sixth grade boys’ basketball coach, Billy Breen - third and fourth grade girls’ basketball coach, Jason Berquist - fifth and sixth grade girls basketball coach,
BY FRANCESCA SAGALA
Melody McManus - third and fourth grade boys basketball coach and Marc Ogilvie - fifth grade boys basketball coach.
Lindley said the New Buffalo High School Class of 2023 Commencement Ceremony will be at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, June 3, at the multiplex field, with a rain date scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Sunday, June 4, at the field.
The dedication for the STEAM building across the street from the middle/high school is scheduled for 5 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 20. Lindley said he’s hoping the floors will be sealed by the end of the week or early next week, leaving about 10 days to get equipment in place for demonstrations during the dedication.
“We’re looking forward to it – just hoping for sooner rather than later so we can get everything in there,” he said.
Lindley said he was meeting for a second time Tuesday with the support staff with regards to negotiating their contract, which ends at the end of this academic year. Noting that the first meeting was “very cordial and respectful,” Lindley said he wouldn’t be surprised if they settled either at Tuesday’s meeting or another one and that they’ll have that contract done effective July 1, 2023.
Board members approved cancelling the board meeting for Monday, Dec. 26.
SPORTS
From the Bleachers
COLUMN BY KURT MARGGRAF IN CHICAGO
As usual, a lot has been
happening in the wide world of sports.
College football had the University of Michigan destroying the Ohio State University in the rivalry game, 45-23. Michigans coach, Jim Harbaugh, led the Wolverines to their second straight victory over the Buckeyes, something that hasn’t happened since the 1999-2000 seasons. Sometime after the game ended, Ohio States coach joined Alabama’s coach in lobbying to be considered for the playoffs. Personally, I’m glad other teams get an opportunity.
Chicago’s professional sports teams all had some disappointing moments last week. The Bears, with their second string quarterback, got smoked by the New York Jets. While watching the Blackhawks jump to a 4-1 lead with just about ten minutes left in the game against Dallas, I was very impressed. Watching the Stars score five goals in ten minutes to beat the Hawks 6-4, not so much. The Bulls had a nice little run and appeared to be going in the right direction after knocking off two of the best, Boston and Milwaukee. Then, they played the mediocre Oklahoma City Thunder, and fell in overtime. Consistency is not yet a strength of the Bulls, and if they are going to make the playoffs, they better start playing up to their potential, consistently.
Speaking of disappointing moments, Chicago’s baseball teams are leading the pack. While I know that there is still plenty of time before the season begins, both teams are bothering me by seemingly sitting on their hands and watching the world go by.
The White Sox who had such a disappointing season last year got a new manager but need to make some moves to light a fire under the team.
The Cubs, who basically promised that they would be very active in the free agent market, have also made but one move, hiring a new hitting coach.
While neither team has to break the bank, it would be nice for the fans if they made some moves, even minor ones. Both teams really must make some improvements before the season begins.
Fans scream from the beginning to the end of soccer matches. Players fall all over the place, pretending to be fouled. Games end in ties. There is very little scoring. For those reasons, I’m not much of a soccer fan. When the World Cup started last week, I didn’t really care. Then, after a couple of games, the United States needs to win a game on Monday versus Iran or they’re finished. My patriotism has kicked in and if the United States wins, I’ll follow the competition to the end.
Finally, I saw a story about a bowler who rolled a perfect, 300 game. While perfect games are rare, what made this one notable was that the bowler was 90 years old. Maybe if I start practicing now…
Confucius said, “Old age… is a good and pleasant thing. It is true that you are gently shouldered off the stage, but then you are given such a comfortable front stall as spectator.”
Be kind to one another. Make good choices. Keep smiling. Talk to you next week. Peace, love, and happiness.
BY STAN MADDUX
It’s almost a total rebuilding year for the New Buffalo High School boys’ varsity basketball team but head coach Nate Tripp has his sights set on another district title.
With no returning starters from last year’s highly successful team, Tripp said he expects the road to be bumpy at least early on.
His focus, though, is more on the team improving enough to compete in the post season.
Already, he’s encouraged by wins in all three recent scrimmage games against Gobles, Delton and Bloomingdale.
“It’s just going to be a matter of maturity and going through those growing pains,” he said.
In a near story book season, last year’s squad made it to the regional championship game and entered the post season ranked No. 1 in Class D.
The 2021-22 team averaged more than 80 points a game during the regular season with a fast paced offense and solid three point shooting to go with a pressing defense forcing a lot of turnovers.
Tripp said the current squad will likely play a patient half court style offense and move quickly with the ball when opportunity arises.
He feels the success of this year’s team will depend largely on how quickly his young players grasp what needs to be done on the court and the performance of junior Cameron Forker.
Forker is expected to be a scoring and rebounding threat underneath the rim and a presence setting screens with his solid 6’3”, 280 pound frame.
Tripp said he wants to keep Forker in games for as many minutes as possible.
“We got to keep him out of foul trouble,” Tripp said.
Tripp said another key player will be Andres Beccera, a slender 5’10” junior expected to begin playing after Christmas break.
“He’s a phenomenal talent,” he said.
Guards with jumping ability, like sophomore M’Nason Smothers, will be heavily relied on for rebounding to make up for the team’s lack of size. “If our guards understand they got to help us on the boards and help us inside, we should be able to hold our own,” he said. Tripp said he expects to start one or two of his three freshmen, who are James Shaw, Nick Haskins and Sam Tripp.
The program has won three district titles in the last four seasons.
Tripp said whatever his players might be lacking in talent and experience to repeat as district champions will be made up by effort no matter what the score.
Eau Claire and River Valley with more returning starters are expected to be strong again this season.
“You can expect to see a scrappy team that’s extremely hard working. Very, very young but also very hungry,” he said.
Fire truck owner turns heads in Santa Parade
AMichiana Shores man was behind the wheel of his own fire truck in the Santa Parade in LaPorte Saturday, Nov. 26.
Indiana State Sen. Mike Bohacek said he purchased the 1980 fire engine from the Michiana Shores Volunteer Fire Department a few years ago.
He said the department was retiring the truck so he bought it to realize a childhood dream and contribute to the community.
“You always wanted to have a fire truck when you were a kid, right? Now, I have one,” he said.
Bohacek said he drives the fire engine strictly in parades and stores it at a friend’s warehouse at the Kingsbury Industrial Park about six miles south of LaPorte.
Turnout for the parade was the heaviest, perhaps, in recent memory along a new route this year.
The late afternoon parade went down State Street, Michigan Avenue and a short stretch of Lincolnway until ending at Plaza 618 at Lincolnway and Monroe Street.
Also new to the festivities this year was a choir, “The LaPorte Singing Company,” singing Christmas carols before the inaugural tree lighting ceremony.
Mayor Tom Dermody and Santa Claus led the large crowd in a countdown to the lights on the tree being turned on as a long line of people a short distance away waited with their children to visit with Santa Claus inside his chalet.
The weather was ideal with temperatures in the ’40s along with sunny skies.
Brett Binversie, the city’s events and civic coordinator, said the turnout in response to the changes this year exceeded his expectations.
“Look at this crowd. I could not be happier with what we have going on,” he said.
Also new this year were food and beverage vendors under the lights above nearby Monroe Street north of Lincolnway.
Dermody was also thrilled at he called a “fantastic turnout.”
“I’m just excited to be a part of it. I think it’s the largest crowd that I’ve ever seen,” he said.
Among the other people in the parade was Paula Tanger, who led about two dozen people dressed as shepherds.
It was her 28th year of appearing with other people from different churches dressed as shepherds in costumes she makes by hand.
Tanger, who lives between LaPorte and the Michigan state line, said the first holiday parade her group appeared in was at New Buffalo.
She now has six children and more than 20 grandchildren.
Several members of her family join her now every year in holiday parades.
“I’ve made a lot of costumes,” she said.
Traditionally, the parade has ventured mostly down Lincolnway but safety concerns from being on a four lane highway were cited for moving the route to a much less congested two lane thoroughfare.
BY STAN MADDUX
