December 15, 2022

New Buffalo Township Board approves Sparks Grant application for Harbor Country Drive

BY FRANCESCA SAGALA

Improvements may be in the works next year on Harbor Country Drive in New Buffalo Township.

Members of the New Buffalo Township Board adopted a resolution regarding an application to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Sparks Grant program for the design of a nonmotorized path for Harbor Country Drive, as well as to authorize New Buffalo Township Supervisor Michelle Heit to sign and submit all documents associated with the grant application, at their Monday, Dec. 12, meeting.

Shell station and the motels out that way.

She added that the county is supposed to be redoing the drive next year but will “go with our timeline.”

“If we get this all in place in time, they’ll do it next year – if we have to wait until the following year, they’ll wait,” she said, adding that they’ll “do it in conjunction with each other.”

The application for the Sparks grant, which requires no match, is due Dec. 19. Heit said that they township is looking for funds for a nonmotorized path that will stretch along the drive from the township/city limits to the area surrounding the Shell station and the motels out that way.

The application for the Sparks grant, which requires no match, is due Dec. 19.

Heit said that the township is looking for funds for a nonmotorized path that will stretch along the drive from the township/city limits to the area surrounding the

Heit said it’s not for a long distance and therefore the project “shouldn’t be that expensive.”

The grant must be for nonmotorized and can’t be just for the sidewalk.

Board members adopted a resolution in support for the Berrien County Trails Master Plan.

Heit said the resolution states that the township supports and accepts the trail plan that the Friends of Berrien County Trails spearheaded and got together with Abonmarche. She said it’s very detailed and that she believes that the township gave $5,000 toward the cost

of putting it together.

Ultimately, Heit said the plan should help all municipalities in getting grants.

An increase in residential rental and short-term rental application fees to $500 for three years was approved.

The previous fee was $300 for three years; however, Heit said that there are a lot of costs involved with inspections and work that goes into getting a license, so building manager Estelle Brinkman recommended the fee increase, which is “still very reasonable.”

Board members approved an agreement between the city of New Buffalo and New Buffalo Township to continue providing supplemental fire services to the city through Dec. 31, 2023. Heit said that this is a year-to-year contract to provide 24/7 mutual aid and that they’ll be continuing the contract from last year.

The following board appointments were approved: reappoint Martha Ondrus, Dorothy Palen, and Julie Flick to the Board of Review, with a term expiring Dec. 31, 2024; reappoint Michelle Hannon to the Zoning Board of Appeals, with a term expiring Dec. 31, 2025;

reappoint Traci Lauricella to the Planning Commission, with a term expiring Dec. 31, 2025; and reappoint Rich Kochanny to the Corridor Improvement Authority Board, with a term expiring Dec. 31, 2026.

Board members passed Resolution Public Act 15, which, per the resolution, states the board “desires to exempt the Township from its requirements of the Act for the year 2023.”

Michelle Hannon, secretary of the New Buffalo Area Recreational Authority (NBARA) Board of Directors, said a draft plans for the NBRA’s five-year recreational plan that they’re doing with the city is complete and available for review on the township’s website, www. newbuffalotownship.org. The plan will be up for public comment through January and a public hearing will be held at the NBARA’s Jan. 12 meeting.

Except for the January meeting, NBRA meetings will switch to the second Wednesday of every other month.

The NBARA is also working on its bylaws and should have them done within the next meeting or two. Once the five-year plan is done, the board will be deciding on its next big project.

Local Government Meetings

CITY OF NEW BUFFALO JOHN HUMPHREY, MAYOR CITY COUNCIL

MARK ROBERTSON, ROGER LIJESKI, JOHN HUMPHREY, BRIAN FLANAGAN, VANCE PRICE

City Council meets on the 3rd Monday of 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 Monday of each month at 7PM

NEW BUFFALO TOWNSHIP PLANNING COMMISSION Meets on the 1st Tuesday of each month at 6:30PM

NEW BUFFALO AREA SCHOOLS BOARD

FRANK MAGRO, LISA WERNER, HEATHER BLACK, DENISE CHURCHILL, BRADLEY BURNER, VANESSA THUN

CHIKAMING TOWNSHIP CHIKAMING TOWNSHIP BOARD

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

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

CHIKAMING TOWNSHIP PLANNING COMMISSION Meets on the 1st Wednesday of each month at 6:30PM

THREE OAKS

THREE OAKS TOWNSHIP BOARD Meets on the 2nd Monday of each month at 7PM

VILLAGE OF THREE OAKS BOARD Meets on the 2nd Wednesday of each month at 7PM

GRAND BEACH Meets on the 3rd Wednesday of 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 Friday of each month at 1PM

Ideas for Chikaming Township parks system’s future taking shape

BY FRANCESCA SAGALA

Members of a committee to explore how Chikaming Township should move forward with its parks system were charged

with tweaking a job description for a parks director in a long-term positionat the Chikaming Township Board of Trustees’ Thursday, Dec. 8, meeting.

The committee was formed since a proposal for the dissolution of the elected park board was approved in last month’s general election.

One of the options that was researched was to create a full-time position of a parks and recreation manager. Deborah Hall-Kayler, a member of the committee, said that certain questions would need to be answered, such as what the position would look like, what the salary might be, if the position can be shared with other departments during the offseason and to whom they’d report.

Chikaming Township Supervisor David Bunte said that an interim parks director could assist them in “evaluating everything that this group has put together that then will make a final decision, or assist us in making that final decision, no matter what that looks like.”

Trustee Rich Sullivan, who also serves on the committee, said that they debated using the word “interim” and that whoever the person is, they should understand that they’re not a permanent hire until that person “earns their spurs and shows us they’re going to meets the things that we feel need to be done, whether it’s helping to figure out an assessment or programs.”

“If you were asking us for a recommendation, our leaning would probably be that some type of person would be hired to get us started through

this process with the understanding that that person may wind up working their way into a full-time position for this based on whether they met what our expectations were,” Sullivan added.

Board members agreed that there should be a final, or semi-final, job description by their Jan. 12 meeting.

Board members could also discuss if there should be a community volunteer, who Bunte said could serve as a “bridge right now” with regards to overseeing the current day-to-day operations of the parks system, until the role is filled.

Board members adopted a resolution in support of the Berrien County Trails Master Plan and making it a part of the township’s documentation.

John Chipman, vice president of Friends of Berrien County Trails, said that the plan is a “roadmap, essentially, for the future development of parks in our county.”

Marcy Hamilton, deputy executive director/senior planner at the Southwest Michigan Planning Commission, said several municipalities in the county contributed funding to support the development of the 126-page countywide plan as well as The Pokagon Fund and other foundations.

The process of putting together the plan involved doing an inventory of the county’s trails, sending out an assessment to the county’s 39 municipalities, open houses, a survey that elicited 2,000 responses and a gap analysis to figure out the routes.

Per the plan, the county currently has 122 miles of water trails and it’s being proposed that 24 more miles be added. There are also eight miles of existing bike lanes (it’s being proposed that another

45 miles be added), 35 miles of existing shared use paths (another 109 miles is being proposed) and 94 existing miles of paved wide shoulders on roads (another 109 miles are being proposed).

Hamilton said one of the “key findings” was that “people really wanted these significant regional connections,” like the Marquette Greenway or the linear trail on Red Arrow Highway.

“Right now, we have these little pieces – we need to connect them so people can get to where they want to go,” she said.

Board members approved Kruggel Lawton’s proposal for the township’s audit.

Bunte had sent out a Request for Proposal to, and received a proposal from, two local firms with regards to taking over the township’s audit function: Hungerford Nichols (its current auditor) and Kruggel Lawton.

Board members adopted three separate resolutions regarding the applications through the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Sparks Grants program for the development of the proposed Sawyer Square and improvements to Lakeside and Harbert Community parks, which included a 10% commitment on each of the projects.

Board members also approved a professional services agreement in the amount of $3,000 with Abonmarche for the design of the Sparks Grant application for Harbert Community Park.

Bunte said “in order to get the detail done on a plan” for the grant application, the township needed an agreement signed and approved by them through Abonmarche estimated at $3,000 for time and materials.

You can work on an album forever, but finishing it is a whole different deal. — Joe Walsh

Board members approved 2023 township road improvements as well as that the township’s current road maintenance budget be amended to reflect the change in an increase in revenues to $699,400 and that it also reflects the change in overage of costs for this year’s road projects from $638,000 to $702,000.

The following road improvements are being recommended by the township’s road committee: Flynn Road from West Warren Woods Road to West Elm Valley; Harbert Road from Three Oaks Road to Flynn Road; Cherry Beach Road, which will go from gravel to a primed and double sealed roadway; Elm Valley Road from Lakeside Road to Schwarck Road and Flynn from Browntown Road to Sawyer Road.

Board members adopted a resolution for Paws for Humanity to operate as a non for profit for a gaming license.

Board members adopted a resolution on the rules and regulations of the Galien River Sanitary District (GRSD), which were updated in 2010 but never formally adopted by the GRSD Board.

Board members approved fire chief Allen Wiech hiring Lexipol for grant writing for a project to replace the fire department’s air packs and air bottles.

Weich said he’d like to investigate Lexipol’s airpack grant program, which is sponsored by MSA and Scott. The township would only be required to pay $2500 as opposed to $5,000 to hire Lexipol to do the grant writing.

He added that Lexipol is thinking of going with the FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program. If awarded the grant, the township can add the professional grant writing cost as part of the project and would only need to provide a 5% match of the $2500 fee.

The goal would be to replace both the air packs and the bottles in a single grant.

Board members approved the purchase of permanently installed radios. Weich said two vehicles still need to be outfitted with the radios.

Lee Strohl, Tim Hawkins and Ed Gramberg were reappointed for two-year terms on the Board of Review. The 2023 board meeting calendar was approved.

Law enforcement participating in 2022 holiday ‘Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over’; As the busy holiday season begins, a reminder to drivers to “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over”

DDuring the Christmas and New Year’s holiday, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is working alongside the law enforcement community in Berrien County to decrease impaired driving.

BROKEN POWER LINES SCARE AT FARM

It might be a while before a truck driver hauling 24 tons of lime to a La Porte County corn field gets over the shock of his close call with power lines.

Phillip Stephens on Dec. 6 backed a dump truck into a cornfield at 900 West and 1350 South, according to La Porte County Police.

the truck and trailer on fire.

Stephens jumped out of the truck and put out the flames with a fire extinguisher.

He then notified his employer, Kaiser Crop Services in Wanatah, about the mishap.

While beginning to dump the lime on the ground, Stephens told investigators the 2008 Peterbilt truck began getting stuck in the soil, police said.

Police said Stephens was fortunate not to have been electrocuted from being in such close proximity to the power flowing out of the live wires.

Also, in Michigan:

From Dec. 16, 2022, through Jan. 1, 2023, the Berrien County Sheriff’s Office, Chikaming Township Police Department, and Saint Joseph City Department of Public Safety will be participating in the “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” enforcement period. In support of the law enforcement community’s dedication to protecting the lives of residents, you will see officers working together to take impaired drivers off the roads. Officers will be on the lookout for motorists under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol throughout the enforcement period. In Michigan, it is illegal to drive with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher, although motorists can be arrested at any BAC level if an officer believes they are impaired.

• Over the 2021 Christmas and New Year’s holiday period, 11 people died in crashes.

• In 2021, 32% of fatal crashes involved a drinking motor vehicle operator, pedestrian, or bicyclist, and 24 percent of fatal crashes involved drugs.

• In 2021, one person was killed in an alcohol-involved crash every 25 hours.

In 2021, nearly 47% of fatalities on Michigan roadways involved alcohol and/or drugs, according to the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute. Over the Christmas and New Year’s holiday periods from 2017 to 2021, there were 78 drivers killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes in Michigan. In those crashes, 27 of the drivers killed were alcohol impaired.

“We want to support our community by keeping it safe from impaired drivers,” said Berrien County Sheriff L. Paul Bailey. “The bottom line is that no matter what the substance is, if it has impaired you, you should not be driving. We want everyone to enjoy the holidays. Please commit to yourself and your community members that you’ll drive sober each and every day.”

The “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign is supported with federal traffic safety funds provided by the United States Department of Transportation and NHTSA and coordinated by the OHSP. — STAFF REPORTS

Stephens of La Porte then chose to dump the rest of the load by driving the truck forward to avoid his tires sinking too far in the dirt.

In doing so, police said the still-extended arm on the bucket of his trailer caught one of the overhead power lines.

While trying to safely lower the bucket, a second power line was snagged and both live wires snapped from tension to the lines caused by lowering the bucket, police said.

According to police, electricity from the broken lines caught the tires on

A responding officer made contact with Stephens but would not speak to him further until they moved a safe distance away from the fallen lines.

Ashort time later, NIPSCO arrived and turned off the power.

The truck with help from a police escort was taken in for repairs to a facility less than a mile away.

According to experts, lime controls the acid levels in soil by neutralizing the acids from nitrogen, fertilizer, slurry and high rainfall.

Other benefits include increased earthworm activity, improvement in soil structure and grass that tastes better to livestock. — STAN MADDUX

Bees sting Bison to snap winning streak

BY STAN MADDUX

Atwo-game winning streak by the New Buffalo High School girls’ basketball team ended Monday, Dec. 12, at home against Bridgman.

The Bison trailing by 11 points at halftime were overpowered by the talent and size of the Bees’ players during the final two periods in losing 43-8.

Tatyanna Hill, an over six foot tall and lanky sophomore, made scoring close to the rim look easy despite her much shorter opponents working extremely hard to keep the ball out of her hands.

She finished with 21 points.

The first points of the game for the Bison (2-3) came nearly halfway through the second quarter when freshman Ava Mancini sank two free throws.

A three point shot from senior Lily Ruskowski was the first field goal for New Buffalo just before halftime.

Eventually, Bridgman started finding holes in the once air tight defense from New Buffalo by finding open shooters with quicker ball movement.

A lot of points were also scored by Bridgman on second and

third chance shots primarily from Hill using her height advantage to grab offensive rebounds.

Senior Lexi Parmley scored all three second half points for New Buffalo by sinking a free throw and later nailing a short jump shot before the final buzzer.

New Buffalo also at home on December 9 cruised to a 46-8 victory over Countryside Academy.

Senior Sami Smith led all scorers with 16 points.

Jordan Bryk, who’s also a senior, contributed 12 points while Ruskowski added seven points.

Head Coach Dave Kelly said one reason for the lopsided victory was excellent passing, which is something his players have worked hard on during practice.

“It was good to see it happening in the game,” he said.

He also credited good ball movement and making a higher percentage of shots close to the rim along with better play on defense.

The Bison on Dec. 6 won their first game of the season at Grace Christian 35-19.

Kelly said he expected wins in both of the previous games and hopes the team improves enough as the season goes along to begin competing better against the stronger teams like Bridgman.

“We’re making progress a little at a time,” he said.

Bison lose to Eau Claire, Countryside Academy

BY STAN MADDUX

The young boys’ basketball team at New Buffalo High School is searching for their first victory of the season but they could win the battle in the long run.

The team, which recently added another freshman, Lucas Forker, to the roster, is taking some lumps but playing well at times against more talented and experienced opponents.

The Bison (0-3) lost Tuesday. Dec. 13, at Eau Claire 8846 and Dec. 9 at home to Countryside Academy 58-41.

New Buffalo often struggled with turnovers from the speed and quickness of both teams but also seemed unfazed at times.

The Bison were also badly outrebounded in each game but had moments of hitting the glass well despite their lack of size.

Only time, perhaps, will allow the growing up head coach Nate Tripp is trying to make happen quicker for his players.

“Maybe that’s youth. I don’t know, but we can’t always use that as a scape goat that we’re young,” he said.

Against Countryside Academy, senior Landon Haskins started the scoring for the Bison by nailing a short jump shot while driving toward the rim.

However, things went sour quickly for the Bison from panicking against a pressure defense, which made slowing the game down to a more comfortable pace for them more challenging.

Countryside Academy used the fast tempo to their advantage in jumping out to a 13 point lead after the first quarter.

The lead did not change much until early in the third quarter, when the Bison started narrowing the margin beginning with a lay-up from junior Cameron Forker.

Junior Elliot Bourne followed by turning a steal into a lay-up and sinking a 10 foot jump shot after a dazzling crossover dribble.

A three point shot by freshman Sam Tripp cut the lead to nine points.

The Cougars quickly took back control of game, though, and led by as much as 21 points in the fourth quarter.

Bourne led the Bison with 17 points while Tripp and freshman James Shaw added seven points apiece.

Tripp said the play of Bourne, who was not on the varsity squad last year, was a real positive.

“Elliot doesn’t want to lose. He wants to work hard. Elliot is becoming a great leader,” he said.

He also praised a spirited Lucas Forker, who scored two points and grabbed three rebounds in just six minutes of play, for adding “a little bit of spark and energy.”

The Bison ended the first quarter against Eau Claire trailing 31-8 but nearly outscored the Beavers in the second and fourth quarters.

Shaw and Bourne led New Buffalo in scoring with 14 points and 10 points respectively.

The Bison were badly outrebounded in both games.

Tripp said the players have learned rebounding techniques like boxing out their opponents and everyone breaking toward the rim to help overcome their lack of size.

However, Tripp said he’s not always seeing the effort in rebounding and other areas of the game, particularly from some of his more veteran players.

“We got some serious things to address right now. We need our older guys to step up. Otherwise, we just need to start building for the future,” he said.

From the Bleachers

COLUMN BY KURT MARGGRAF IN CHICAGO

News and notes from the sporting world.

It seems like half the world is enjoying the World Cup. Defending champion France, Morocco, Argentina, and Croatia remain standing after exciting quarterfinal games. England, Portugal, the Netherlands, and Brazil,all fought valiantly but fell just short. I enjoyed the games, they were thrilling, and I learned that soccer fans wake up screaming for their team and continue all day. I also heard an announcer say “goal”, and that one word lasted 18 seconds.

Speaking of announcers, Pat Hughes, the voice of the Cubs, who was in New Buffalo at The Sports Card Shop last week, won the Ford Frick award, the Baseball Hall of Fame’s top broadcasting honor. Congratulations Mr. Hughes, it was an honor well deserved. There was a lot of activity at the baseball winter meetings, but so far, our local teams have been mostly spectators. Aaron Judge, Trea Turner, and Xander Bogaerts signed contracts worth 940 million dollars over 31 years. A couple of pitchers, one who is 40 years old and one who has a history of arm problems signed contracts worth 271 million over 7 years. The Cubs and Sox both got a pitcher and the Cubs got Cody Bellinger from the Dodgers.

If he can be the player he was a few short years ago, he will really help the Cubs. The north siders also lost Wilson Contreras to the Saint Louis Cardinals.

Here’s hoping there’s more moves on the horizon.

The popular narrative about the Chicago Bulls is that they should blow up their roster and start all over again, but I disagree. Lonzo Ball’s injury sure is a devastating blow. A knee injury that was supposed to take a couple of months to heal has lasted about a year with no sign of improving. When he got injured, the Bulls were flying high but have been struggling since. The league is full of great players, and the Bulls have their fair share. Hopefully they can start a long winning streak soon.

This was a bye week for the Bears, so I watched the Lions beat the Vikings. After thinking about it for awhile, I think I’m going to go out on a limb and predict that next year, the Lions and the Bears will be competing for the NFC North championship. That means the Vikings and the Packers will be battling to stay out of the cellar, and the Packers will lose that battle. If next season plays out like I think it might, it will be a dream season for Bears fans. Bears in first, Packers in the cellar, it couldn’t get any better than that.

A quote from an unknown source, “Stop comparing yourself. Flowers are pretty, but so are sunsets and they look nothing alike.”

Be kind to one another. Keep smiling. Talk to you next week. Peace, love, and happiness.

What’s my status? I’m just a guy from Saginaw, Michigan, trying to make it.

— Draymond Green

SCHOLASTICS

Keller sworn in as new member of New Buffalo school board

BY FRANCESCA SAGALA

Paul Keller was sworn in as a new member of the New Buffalo Area Schools Board of Education Monday, Dec. 12. He will be filling the remainder of the unexpired term of Frank Magro until the next general election in 2024.

Since 2000, Keller has been a teacher at Lakeshore Public Schools, where he’s taught Social Studies, economics, world history and government and civics. He’s also been a member of the Professional Learning Committee since 2004. Since 2019, he’s been vice president of the Lakeshore Education Association. For the last couple of years, he’s been part of the collaborative bargaining agreement and has been part of the process of bargaining with administrators and the principal.

A lifelong resident of New Buffalo, Keller, who was chosen from a field of six other candidates, is the husband of a New Buffalo High School teacher and the father of three New Buffalo graduates.

Board trustee Tricia Newton, who said that two professionals in education will be on the board come January, asked what perspective or strengths Keller could bring to help the district that “otherwise might not otherwise be represented by the other educators.”

As vice president of the union, Keller said he’s had the “opportunity of learning the ins and out from all levels, elementary through high school.”

“I hear the concerns, I hear the issues that our teachers have and

our administrators - I think that’s something unique that I can bring maybe from that perspective,” he said.

Special recognition was given to Jose

alerting parents to children being at risk for not attending school, which also plays a factor into the school’s scores.

The school’s overall index was 97.84.

participatory index is at 100%, which means that all students participated in the MSTEP and SAT last year.

The school received a 100% proficiency score on math and ELA.

The index for school quality and student success was at 75.74%. Students are rated on two categories, advanced coursework and how many students are taking advanced classes and postsecondary enrollment, which combined gives the school an 80.69% rating. Ripley said that this could be attributed to getting more students enrolled in advanced courses.

Martnez and elementary school students for alerting him to a student who was choking on a carrot, so Martinez could perform the Heimlich maneuver and get it dislodged from the student’s throat.

Board members heard a principals’ presentation.

Referring to www.mischooldata. org, New Buffalo Elementary School Principal Adam Bowen said the school scored a 100% in participation with MSTEP data.

The school met its target of 100% with regards to proficiency in ELA as well as in math.

Bowen said that different components are looked at in terms of how the school rated on the index for quality and student success, which the school received a 98.13 score on per the website. Access to the arts and physical education as well as a librarian or media specialist helps the school’s ratings. With regards to on track attendance, Bowen added that letters are sent home

New Buffalo Middle School Principal Dan Caudle said that the school’s growth index is at 96.03 Currently, he’s focused homing in on the “bottom 30%” of students by putting in extra RTI courses at the end of day, so students have math and ELA RTI. Students also get “targeted intervention” during bonus period.

“Hopefully, we can grow the 96% that we have on the growth index by really targeting the bottom 30%,” he said.

The assessment participation for ELA and math was at 100% and the science and social studies participation was at 97.5%, which Caudle attributed to two students couldn’t complete science and social studies testing due to illness.

The overall index for the middle school was at 94.55%.

New Buffalo High School Principal Tracy Ripley said that the high school’s

The other part of the index, the post-secondary enrollment score, was the lowest one at 73.62%, which she attributes to the pandemic and students choosing to continue their education.

The school’s growth index was at 94.07. The school’s ELA growth met 100% of the target and math was at 89.64% and met target.

Collectively, all those scores combined gave the school an overall index of 98.07.

Board members approved the hiring of Dine Hyatte as elementary special education teacher effective Jan. 9, pending background check.

Board members employed Jack Early as a third-grade basketball coach, pending background check.

After going into Closed Session, board members approved ratifying the 2023-2026 Master Agreement with the New Buffalo Educational Personnel Association.

Paul Keller (right) is sworn in by Denise Tuszynski while Dr. Michael Lindley (far left) looks on

Students and Jose Martinez (far left) are honored by the New Buffalo Area Schools Board of Education

New Buffalo Elementary School Principal Adam Bowen named ‘Principal of the Year’

BY FRANCESCA SAGALA

According to Dr. Micheal Lindley, interim superintendent at New Buffalo Area Schools, there are almost 5,800 elementary/middle schools in the entire state of Michigan.

Standing at the front of the auditorium at New Buffalo Elementary School, Lindley then asked students to raise their hands and show him with their fingers how many principals of the year do they think there were this year.

“I see a lot of ones - there’s only one and who is it?” Lindley asked to which the students responded “Mr. Bowen!” Students, teachers and members of the community had gathered in the auditorium to celebrate New Buffalo

Elementary School Principal Adam Bowen, who has been named the 2022 Principal of the Year by the Michigan Elementary and Middle School Principals Association, along with SET SEG. Bowen is currently in his 17th year in education and his fifth year as administrator of New Buffalo Elementary. His experience is diverse with time spent in special education, general education, Title I Coordinator, and finally as current building principal.

According to a press release, Bowen’s nomination was supported by many administrative colleagues, teachers, parents (who wrote several letters of support) and local community leaders.

New Buffalo Elementary parent Ashlee Croskey wrote the following:

“As the parent of an extremely anxious now fifth grader, we have struggled... On particularly hard days, I have sent Mr. Bowen an email or text and let him know our plight. It has never failed that he has dropped whatever he was doing and met us at the school doors asking us how he can support us.”

Karen Muckey-Martinez, said that she “can’t think of anyone more deserving than Mr. Bowen of the award” as he’s inspired her and other teachers “to be better and to do better - not just for ourselves but for students at the elementary school.”

Before coming to New Buffalo, Martinez was a principal.

“It’s not an easy job at all - it’s a really, really, hard job…A principal has to take

care of so many people, a principal has to take care of parents, has to take care of staff and of course, the students – Mr. Bowen does such a great job of taking care of everyone,” she said.

Martinez said that the elementary school’s vision statement – “Every Student, Every Day” – is what lies at the core of every decision Bowen makes.

Once a month, he sits down with teachers and talks about every student to see who’s struggling in what subject “so he can help you – he always has a plan to help every student with academics.”

“He truly does care about each and every student in the building,” Martinez said.

Cheers ring out for Adam Bowen from students in the auditorium

Students hold up signs of Adam Bowen wearing many hats

Students were prepared with a song for their principal, Adam Bowen

Karen Muckey-Martinez thanks Adam Bowen

New Buffalo Area Schools Board of Education

President Lisa Werner thanks Adam Bowen

Adam Bowen thanks everyone for their support

The Bison tickets and class compliments that students engage in, Martinez said, “aren’t just for fun – they are teaching you valuable life lessons to be responsible, to be respectful and safe.”

She added that students will use these qualities to “help the world” – being successful isn’t just about getting good grades, it’s about helping people.”

In separate statement, Martinez also said Bowen’s “focus and enthusiasm for PBIS and Social Emotional Learning has been inspiring.”

Bowen also pushes the teachers with new yearly goals and initiatives – which, she said, are always aimed at ways they can “better the kids.”

“Mr. Bowen has built a great atmosphere and great teams do great things and that’s what we’re doing at New Buffalo Elementary School - we are doing great things,” she said.

“Congratulations, Mr. Bowen, on winning ‘Principal of the Year for the state of Michigan and for being a way to make the elementary school the very best place for our students.”

In a written statement, New Buffalo High School Principal Tracy Ripley said that Bowen “has led New Buffalo Elementary to be recognized as a National Blue Ribbon school (in 2020).”

“This is not an easy accomplishment and further shows his commitment to his staff, students, and community,” she said.

Dr. Jeff Leslie, former superintendent of New Buffalo Area Schools, writes that “In addition to his knowledge of the programs and curriculum already in place, he has a caring nature and really goes above and beyond to help each kid.”

Lindley, who was superintendent while Bowen was a student in the district, said he helped mentor him and get his first teaching job in South Bend.

“He’s excelled at every level, whether

a teacher, Title One coordinator and now principal, so we’re very proud –he’s one of our own and he’s excelled and we’re just very, very, fortunate to have him,” he said.

Bowen said that winning the award is a “direct impact that each of the teachers have and plus the students - you guys are so important and the way you’re able to be respectful, be responsible and be safe and follow the rules and be good friends and do well on all your tests that allows us to do the things we can do here at New Buffalo.”

“So, thank you students, for always doing what’s right and doing your very best every day and thank you, teachers, for working with me all through the years to continue trying to get better each and every day,” he said.

Bowen also thanked the superintendent and New Buffalo Area Schools Board of Education for “always believing in me and supporting me - I thank you for your trust each and every day.”

He also thanked the parents for “believing in me and trusting me with your child each and every day.”

“It’s just a combination of everyone working together for the common goal for giving kids at New Buffalo Elementary the best education possible… I hope we can continue to do that for many, many years,” he said.

According to the press release, the MEMSPA Principal of the Year Award “acknowledges contributions to the well-being of the educational community; contributions to a positive environment/motivating and inspiring others; service and achievement in the community; recognition of leadership by the community; orderly and purposeful school leadership; and student achievement.”

Adam Bowen gets the royalty treatment at New Buffalo Elementary School

Interim Superintendent Dr. Michael Lindley recognizes Adam Bowen

Adam Bowen walks the red carpet at the auditorium

Zach Hackett becomes new ‘caretaker’ of Vickers Theatre

PASSING THE BATON

BY FRANCESCA SAGALA

Seeing as how he’s now the owner – or caretaker, as he puts it – of a theatre, it makes sense that Zach Hackett would compare his experience of taking the plunge and purchasing it to a popular movie.

“If you’ve ever seen that movie ‘We Bought a Zoo’ - I was joking with my wife the other day, it’s like that movie only it’s a theater instead of a zoo…We’re totally unprepared, we have no background in it, it was one of those things we knew – like the first time I walked into that building, I knew it was something special,” Hackett said.

That building houses Three Oaks’ Vickers Theatre, which Hackett officially became the new owner of the afternoon of Friday, Dec. 9.

A physicist by trade who runs a manufacturing company down in Vero Beach, Florida, Hackett said that he has “no background in theater whatsoever.”

A few years ago, he visited a friend who moved to Three Oaks and decided to look for a home in the area for when he and his wife eventually retired.

One day, he was sitting on his back porch with his dog and a cup of coffee while scrolling through Zillow.

That’s when an image of the Vickers Theatre popped up.

“The pictures were so extraordinary

- I sort of fell in love with it from afar,” Hackett said.

Soon, Hackett found himself in Three Oaks, where he got a realtor and checked the theatre out in person.

“The second I walked in the building, I knew this was what I was sort of hoping for or maybe searching for,” he said.

At the time, Hackett was unaware that there was a desire for the building to continue to be a local theatre.

This changed, though, after chatting with the residents.

“The first thing everyone asks is, ‘Are you going to keep it a movie theatre?’…I very quickly learned the extreme support for the theatre locally,” he said.

For that reason, Hackett said he plans to keep it 100% as a theatre – which, he said, is probably the main reason why he was able to acquire it from the previous owner, Judith Scully.

“I think that was a big part of why she accepted me as the one to be the next caretaker of the theatre and that I was worthy because I had the right goals - my desire to keep it a theatre is probably one of the reasons why I’m even here and the deal went through,” he said.

According to its website, the Vickers Theatre is currently in its 22nd season. This year marks the 110th anniversary of

the theatre itself, having showed its first movies back in 1911.

In 2010, Judy and her husband, Joe, purchased Vickers.

“If you were to ask my family, they’d say, ‘Oh my God, that was the best thing you ever did, Mom,’” Judy said of her decision to purchase it.

Judy said she feels more than secure in handing the baton to Hackett.

“His happiness is infectious because he’s so excited…I think he’ll be a great steward of this theatre,” she said.

Hackett thanks Judy for making the transition smooth.

He also thanks his family: his wife, who’s been running the other business (“We’re a good team,” he said) and his two teenage children (both of whom are looking froward to working in the theatre).

The theatre will be closed in January and February, which will give Hackett some time to “figure out the plans going forward.”

Hackett said he hopes for the “nice and intimate” theatre to be thought of as a “destination.” Live music, which is a passion of his, and maybe some stand-up comedy may take place there.

He’s thinking of possibly doing a film

festival, and has talked to Mark Strauss, a Sawyer resident whose short film, “A Funeral Photographer,” premiered at the theatre in October.

“I want to keep the same spirt of the theatre together - but I want to add just more opportunity for people to come with more events like that,” Hackett said.

If the theatre had been somewhere else, Hackett said, he might have had second thoughts about his decision to buy it.

“It feels like Three Oaks is a little bit of a special place – I’ve been to a lot of small towns, and very rarely do you find a small town with a distillery, a move theatre and a live theatre for the performing arts like The Acorn… The per capita artistic support here has got to be through the roof compared to other small towns,” he said.

Hackett said he’s felt overwhelmed by the outpouring of support he’s already received from the community. Just this past November, he said he got nine invites to Thanksgiving dinner.

“I’ve often thought since I’ve been here about how very, very quickly this place stopped feeling like somewhere I was just visiting and very quickly became some place like home…People here have quickly made this feel like home already even before I closed on the theatre,” he said.

Guests mix and mingle at a reception for Hackett at the Vickers Theatre

Zach Hackett stands outside the iconic Vickers Theatre

Judy Scully introduces Zach Hackett at the Vickers Theatre

Guests welcome Zach Hackett during a reception at the Vickers Theatre

Local congregations celebrate spirit of St. Nicholas

BY THERESE DONNELLY

Stepping into the Christmas season, members of three congregations-St. Mary of the Lake, St Mary of the Assumption and St Agnesgathered for a St. Nicholas Day dinner Sunday, Dec. 4. After a buffet lunch, children from the religious education program performed a selection of Christmas carols. Santa Claus made a special stop, visiting with the children and handing out gifts.

Berrien County Sheriff’s Office Reserve Unit holds ‘Shop With a Cop’

The Berrien County Sheriff’s Office Reserve Unit held their annual “Shop with a Cop” program Saturday, Dec. 10, at the Niles area Walmart.

Berrien County Sheriff’s Office Reserve Unit Sergeant Kimberly Fedison and other Berrien County Sheriff’s Office Reserve Unit members spent countless volunteer hours organizing this event. The Berrien County Sheriff’s Office was able to obtain over $7,400 in donations to cover the costs of this event.

In 2022, the Berrien County Sheriff’s Office Reserve Unit partnered with the Berrien County Sheriff’s Office Chaplains, the Berrien SpringsOronoko Township Police Department, the Bridgman City Police Department, the Saint Joseph City Department of Public Safety, the Southwest Michigan Boys & Girls Club and the Berrien County Sheriff’s Office sworn deputies to make the 2022 “Shop with a Cop” program a success.

In 2022, the Berrien County Sheriff’s Office Reserve Unit partnered with the Berrien County Sheriff’s Office Chaplains, the Berrien SpringsOronoko Township Police Department, the Bridgman City Police Department, the Saint Joseph City Department of Public Safety, the Southwest Michigan Boys & Girls Club and the Berrien County Sheriff’s Office sworn deputies to make the 2022 “Shop with a Cop” program a success.

Reserve Unit along with the partner agencies and organizations assisted 11 families and 37 children by allowing the children to shop for Christmas gifts for themselves, their family members and their friends. In addition to providing the funding to allow the children to shop, the Berrien County Sheriff’s Office Reserve Unit also provided holiday food baskets and gift cards to the 11 families, so they could enjoy a wonderful holiday feast, have a wonderful holiday celebration with gifts under the tree, as well as enabling them to purchase a “special gift” for their families to enjoy.

The 11 families and the children were from the Niles area, Berrien Springs area, Benton Township area, New Buffalo area and the Benton Harbor area.

The families and children were referred to the Berrien County Sheriff’s Office by various schools and civic organizations, who felt the children and families could use

some assistance this holiday season. The families and children who participated were from the Southwest Michigan Boys & Girls Club, the Brandywine Public School District, the New Buffalo Area Schools District, the Berrien Springs Public School District and Countryside Academy Charter School.

The “shopping” consisted of the families and children being adopted by law enforcement officers and then proceeding through the entire Walmart store to select and purchase the gifts they desired for themselves and their loved ones.

After the shopping spree, the Berrien County Sheriff’s Office Reserve Unit members and the members of the partner agencies and organizations took the children and their families to Michiana Christian Embassy in Niles for snacks and gift wrapping with members of Michiana Christian Embassy.

Associates, Pike Funeral Home, Redbud Recreation Inc and Berrien County Sheriff’s Office Reserve Unit members.

The Berrien County Sheriff’s Office Reserve Unit Deputies take great pride in assisting families that need assistance especially during the holiday season. The smiles of gratitude on the faces of these children and the “hugs” provided by the adults and children to the deputies and officers are something that the deputies and officers will also remember and cherish.

The Berrien County Sheriff’s Office

The following businesses and civic organizations donated money, goods, and services to this Function: Niles Area Walmart, Subway, United Federal Credit Union, Punishers Southwest Michigan, Stevensville United Methodist Church, Michiana Christian Embassy, Milano Pizza of Niles, Friends for Berrien Springs, Lane Automotive, LECO Corporation, Antibus Scales & Systems, Wightman &

Sheriff L. Paul Bailey and the administrative staff at the Berrien County Sheriff’s Office are extremely proud of the efforts put forth by the Berrien County Sheriff’s Office Reserve Unit for this wonderful cause as well as all the volunteer hours they donate to the County of Berrien and the local communities throughout the year to ensure that the County of Berrien, the local communities and the surrounding areas are a wonderful place to reside and visit.

The Berrien County Sheriff’s Office Personnel and all local law enforcement and first responders are proud to serve and protect their communities daily, as well as being able to provide support to individuals, when they need assistance.

HOROSCOPE

DECEMBER

15-21, 2022

AS INTERPRETED BY SANDY “STAR” BENDT

ARIES MARCH 21—APRIL 19

The time is ripe for exploring and encountering new things.

Your mental energy is running high which will absorb information easily now. Use this vibe to its fullest by exploring different cultures or ancient places. Whether you decide to travel or not, at least explore through books.

TAURUS APRIL 20—MAY 20

Your tone could be quite serious this week, and you’ll want others to reciprocate your intensity by following through on promises immediately. Situations and relationships will be more dramatic with some comfort zones being disrupted and an amount of control will need to be surrendered.

GEMINI MAY 21—JUNE 21

This is not the time to sit home alone. Get caught up in the holiday spirit by going out and being with others. Join in on festivities and enjoy the sharing by telling your story and imparting the wisdom you carry. Even though you have a very youthful quality, you have experience beyond years.

CANCER JUNE 22—JULY 22

The stars are blessing you with tremendous strength and willpower this week, making it the perfect time to get a handle on your daily routines and habits. If you have any health concerns address them with certainty now. Getting more exercise and choosing healthier meals is easy now.

LEO JULY 23—AUGUST 22

You have a flair for dramatics this week. Turn that energy toward the theater or performing art, rather than create issues in your relationships. If you start to feel like you need to outshine or compete for attention, walk away and give yourself a chance to realign your energy.

VIRGO AUGUST 23—SEPTEMBER 22

There is no place like home, and this week that is where you will want be. No matter what your schedule is make sure you block out some time to relax and recharge. A little tender, loving, care goes a long way now. If possible book a massage or a spa day. If not, be sure to get some extra sleep.

LIBRA SEPTEMBER 23—OCTOBER 22

It’s all about communicating and learning more about your environment. Check out your surroundings, and make sure you are understanding all you can from your situation. Take the advice and wise counsel that is being offered to you by others. Learn from their mistakes and make the most of your time.

SCORPIO OCTOBER 23—NOVEMBER 21

You have a natural talent for finding things of value this week. This is a great time to take inventory of what you value and what you hold dear. You have the gift of long vision now, and can easily see what preparations are needed to create fertile soil for future planting.

SAGITTARIUS NOVEMBER 22—DECEMBER 21

The things that you previously identified with or felt an affinity with are changing, and this week you will feel some definite shifts in what you connect with. You are in the first stages of a new beginning and are at a point where the old is out, but the new has yet to materialize.

CAPRICORN DECEMBER 22—JANUARY 19

This is a great time of year to turn your focus inwards and get in touch with what your soul yearns for. Any kind of pampering or nurturing will go a long way for you now. So, whenever you have the opportunity, relax, pull back and tend to your own needs, then you will be more generous.

AQUARIUS JANUARY 20—FEBRUARY 18

Talking with people will be very important for the Water Bearer this week. Socializing, people-watching and being part of a larger group will help you feel more spirited and youthful now. Debating and openly discussing differences in ways that are inclusive and productive can happen now.

PISCES FEBRUARY 19—MARCH 20

Take some time this week to build your image or create your brand. Let yourself become more public minded and consider what you would like to contribute to society as a whole. Consider what you would like people to remember you by and work towards that goal.

Holiday carols were heard at Lakeside Park (at the corner of Red Arrow Highway and Lakeside Road) when fellow community members, as well as members of the Harbor Country Singers, sang carols at the park Sunday, Dec. 11. Light refreshments were also served. The event was sponsored by Chikaming Township.

Charges in nursing home assault

BY STAN MADDUX

An area nursing home worker is accused of physically assaulting and hurting a resident with dementia.

Corine Hudson, 47, of Walkerton is charged in La Porte Superior Court 1 with two counts of battery causing serious bodily injury.

According to court documents, she worked at Aperion Care at 1101 E. Coolspring Ave. in Michigan City when the alleged offense happened three months ago.

Police said the resident with dementia was walking at the nursing home with a female.

Suddenly, police said the female needed assistance and Hudson came over to try and help.

Police said the man became combative with Hudson, who responded by pushing him to the ground and striking him in the head and face area.

Video footage exists of the alleged assault, court documents revealed.

Police said the victim suffered a fractured skull and laceration to his scalp.

Authorities did not reveal the relationship between the man and female or why the female needed assistance along with her age.

Hudson, who was arrested Dec. 6, was being held in the La Porte County Jail on $2,000 bond.

She could face as much as a 12-year sentence on the most serious of the felony charges.

CHESTERTON FEED & GARDEN CENTER DONATES $7,300 WORTH OF PLANTS TO FRIENDSHIP BOTANIC GARDENS

Chesterton Feed & Garden Center generously donated $7,291 worth of perennials, shrubs and trees to Friendship Botanic Gardens Monday, Nov. 21.

For the past 25 years, Chesterton Feed & Garden Center has been a valuable supporter to Friendship Botanic Gardens, donating plants to be used to beautify all garden areas across FBG’s 105 acres. Their commitment to help nurture and sustain the Gardens is appreciated by Friendship Botanic Gardens members, visitors, students and volunteers alike.

“We are so grateful for the generosity of Chuck Roth and his staff,” Dr. Rima Binder, vice president of the board of directors and head of the Botany Committee at Friendship Botanic Gardens, said. “Hannah Hill and staff provided us with carts, helped load the plants and were wonderful in every way.”

In the spring of 2023, garden volunteers will allocate the donated plants to a variety of garden areas in need of replanting or revitalization

including but not limited to the heritage gardens, the Cleveland-Cliffs Children’s Garden, the Persian Rose Garden and the Cancer Survivors’ Garden of Love and Hope.

The continued support from Chesterton Feed & Garden Center has allowed Friendship Botanic Gardens to advance its mission of “creating a nature-filled sanctuary for all people, as we enrich our community through cultural, educational and social events.”

Friendship Botanic Gardens is closed to the public for the season. Members have access to the gardens year-round from dawn to dusk. The gardens reopen to the public at the beginning of May 2023.

Friendship Botanic Gardens is located at 2055 East U.S. Highway 12 in Michigan City. For more information, contact us at 219-878-9885, support@ friendshipbotanicgardens.org or visit us at www.friendshipbotanicgardens. org. —

STAFF REPORTS

Chesterton Feed a Garden Center Owner Chuck Roth, Jackie Carroll, Janice Casper, Rima Binder, Pat Potempa, Dave Potempa, Jude Rakowski, Chesterton Feed & Garden Center Director, Hannah Hill

CLASSIFIED ADS PUBLIC NOTICES

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FOR RENT

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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.

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FISH FOR STOCKING

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ELDERLY CARE NEEDED?

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

LOCAL INTELLIGENCE

New Buffalo Times

— SINCE 1942 —

PRANK BANK ROBBERY REPORT

Numerous police officers responded to a report of an armed bank robbery turning out to be false in Michigan City.

An effort was being made to determine if the fake bank robbery report was done on purpose and locate the individual placing the call.

According to Michigan City Police, officers about 4:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 12, were called to Horizon Bank in the 3600 block of Franklin Street.

Upon arrival, police said employees reported there was no robbery or any issues whatsoever inside the bank.

Police said further information was being withheld to protect the integrity of the ongoing investigation.

Anyone with information that could be useful in solving the case was urged to contact police.

A reward was also offered for tips leading to an arrest and conviction.

Veteran law enforcement officer Mike Kellems said reporting a crime knowing that it’s false is no laughing matter.

Kellems said bank robbery reports, for example, always draw a heavy law enforcement response and the sense of urgency behind those responses comes with a higher degree of risk to public safety.

“It’s a very, very dangerous situation,” he said.

Calls determined to be pranks also draw emergency responders away from their normal public safety duties, he said.

Kellems is a retired La Porte County police officer who now works law enforcement at the campus of Purdue University Northwest near Westville.

He also works security primarily at U.S. District Court in South Bend.

In Indiana, false informing depending on the level of seriousness can be up to a Class A misdemeanor punishable by a maximum one-year in jail and as much as a $5,000 fine.