NBBA welcomes Smock as newly elected president, looks ahead to 2023

As the newly elected president of the New Buffalo Business Association (NBBA) Board of Directors, Benjamin Smock said that drawing people to New Buffalo year-round – not just during the 100 days of summer – is his primary goal.

Smock said he’s on the hunt for “great ideas for how to get people here when it’s not sunny and 75.”

“To try to make the season last as long as we can and to try to engage with visitors yearround is the goal of our general group – and we do that through events and activities,” he said.

Members of the NBBA heard from Smock with regards to the NBBA’s accomplishments from the recent year, as well as what the organization hopes to accomplish in the new year, at their annual meeting at the Marina Grand Resort in New Buffalo Wednesday, Dec. 14.

Members also presented a plaque for “Outstanding Performance in Leadership” to Audrey Tuszynski-Bock, who’s been president of the NBBA since 2020.

NBBA Managing Director Elisha Campbell-Taylor thanked Tuszynski-Bock for “staying longer on your term to make sure we were all ready and willing and able to put forward everything you have strived for.”

Smock, who owns Hummingbird Lounge in New Buffalo, said he’s had experience doing events while working with Chicago on their destination marketing.

“But I’m excited to bring some of the things that are appropriate to engage visitors here because this is a much different destination than Chicago - even though it’s only an hour away,” he said.

Smock opened Hummingbird Lounge, located on 9 S. Barton Street, in the spring of 2021. A recent renovation to the kitchen allows the restaurant to offer full plates and entrees yearround, which includes a full menu for events.

In terms of finances, Smock said that NBBA membership continues to be the biggest revenue generator, as Smock said that the organization is up about 10% in total revenue and in total members and has 97 members.

Smock said there’s also plans in the works to update and improve the website, newbuffalo.org, which would involve not only improving the navigation and SEO but also some visuals and adding some calendar functions “that can draw people into things going on a year-round basis.” Members will be invited to submit information that will allow the NBBA to “populate” the calendar with “anything that would engage potential visitors.”

Smock said that the organization is also looking into doing some purchased ads to target “drive market business,” which involves people who “drive in for a day and do some shopping, grab a meal or drive in for a weekend and do those things and stay in a hotel or visit the casino or any of those types of activities.”

As for the upcoming year’s programming, Smock said that a spring event is currently “in development – there are more details to come.”

Summer will see a return of the farmers’ market; however, Smock said that the NBBA is currently working with the city to scout out potential new locations for it. This past summer’s location on the lot at the corner of Buffalo and North Whittaker streets, which Smock said involved working with the city “to be able to negotiate to get what we thought was going to be an ideal location,” turned out to be a less-than-desirable location based on the feedback from others.

“We solved the problem - we didn’t negatively affect the businesses on Whittaker Street, but we didn’t solve the problem of creating a destination for visitors and community members alike to get together to buy goods and see some other local artisan and craft vendors in the city,” he said, adding that he believes that participation could’ve been increased based on the general feedback.

The NBBA is also looking for a farmers market coordinator, which would run from February through September.

Mondays at the Marina, which was a free open aired concert at the transient marina, proved to be popular and will return next summer.

The Harvest and Wine Fest, which is held on North Whittaker Street the Saturday during Columbus Day weekend, raised a little over $16,000 this year. Smock said a big part of that amount that was raised was sponsorships, with the rest coming from “buying local products and selling tastes with that.”

Smock attributed this year’s success to adding fencing around the perimeter, which involved licensing that space in accordance with the law, so that visitors could wander around the entire perimeter of the festival with their wine and beer.

A new business model was also established, which involved an NBBA Bar. Smock said Hickory Creek Winery paid a sponsorship fee to be the wine sponsor, Journeyman sponsored the spirits and Haymarket Brewery sponsored the beer. As a result of paying a sponsorship fee, each establishment had a select group of its products available in the middle of the event right in front of the stage.

Members of the NBBA Board of Directors are Smock, Traci Lauricella, Lisa Werner, Leslie Danesi, Gary Wood and Wesley Moguel.

BY FRANCESCA SAGALA

ALLEGED BANK ROBBER TREATS HIMSELF TO PIZZA BEFORE GRABBED

ANew Buffalo man suspected in a recent bank robbery ordered a pizza while in hiding and paid for the tab with money from the heist.

Those are among the details alleged in the case against Ryan James.

James, 43, is charged in LaPorte Superior Court 1 with the Dec. 15 robbery of First Source Bank in the 3900 block of Franklin Street in Michigan City.

According to court documents, James on a note slipped to a teller demanded money and indicated he had a gun.

James, who was wearing a mask, fled with about $4,000 in a dark colored sport utility vehicle with a Chicago White Sox sticker in the back window, police said.

A Pokagon Tribal Police officer soon located the suspected getaway vehicle outside Judy’s Motel on U.S. 12 just west of the New Buffalo city limits.

The motel was placed under surveillance while police and prosecutors gathered evidence to present to a judge for an arrest warrant.

James then had a pizza delivered to his motel room and paid the tab with the stolen money judging by the serial numbers on the bills matching the currency taken from the bank, according to court documents.

About three hours later, an arrest warrant was obtained and James obeyed commands from officers to step out of the room.

James confessed to the robbery and also stated he did not have a gun during the hold-up, court documents revealed.

He was booked into the Berrien County Jail and held until he could be transported across state lines to the LaPorte County Jail to face the allegations.

Berrien County Police Undersheriff Chuck Heit said there’s a process that must be followed before offenders can to be taken to face charges in other jurisdictions.

He anticipated James will be given to authorities in LaPorte County sometime in the next 30 days.

He would not be more specific on exactly when that will occur.

“From a safety and security standpoint in moving offenders, we don’t let anybody know when that is going to happen,” he said. — STAN

Friends of Berrien County Trails celebrates adoption of master plan, carries momentum into next phase of 10-year trail network project

Fresh off the milestone achievement of their Trails Master Plan being adopted by the Berrien County Board of Commissioners, the citizenbased nonprofit Friends of Berrien County Trails (FBCT) is carrying that momentum into the next phase of creating an interconnected trail network in the county.

The first of its kind, the Trails Master Plan serves as a detailed roadmap to guide short- and long-term priorities for the trails network in Berrien County over the next 10-plus years. The eventual goal is an interconnected network of trails that will enhance the county’s overall economy, health and quality of life.

FBCT’s plan was completed in November, and the Berrien County Board of Commissioners adopted a resolution of support on Dec. 1. The proposed routes in their plan will connect significantly more residents and destinations by increasing the mileage of infrastructure by 372 miles, connecting communities to key destinations such as schools, parks, beaches, shopping areas, medical facilities and major employment centers.

FBCT has worked tirelessly on developing the master plan since 2019. In the last year, the leadership team, steering committee and community partners joined in. The plan reflects community input from the last year thanks to a series of public workshops, online surveys, expert focus groups and municipal assessments.

“By no means have we made it this far alone,” Dawn Marie Smith said. “Everyone’s involvement greatly helped us develop a proposed trail system that best addresses our communities’ needs and desires.”

Marcy Hamilton, senior planner and deputy executive director of the Southwest Michigan Planning Commission, and Smith of Be Healthy Berrien joined forces with FBCT President Gary Wood and Abonmarche Consultants to lead plan development.

The plan provides guidance for the location and facility design for bicycle, pedestrian, water and equestrian facilities. Developing a safe and accessible nonmotorized transportation and recreation network is an important part of keeping Berrien County an attractive, desirable, and healthy place, Smith said. These trail facilities have a broader impact than simply improving the safety of people who walk, bike and drive; they are economic development tools that attract new business and residents, provide tourism destinations for visitors and aid in the physical and mental health of residents.

“This is the first time we looked at all the trails throughout Berrien County and saw that there is a real opportunity to fill in the gaps and create a connected regional network,” Hamilton said. “It’s exciting. Imagine one day being able to get on your bike in Niles and pedal all the way to Jean Klock Park in Benton Harbor.”

Next, FBCT hopes to receive resolutions of support from Berrien County municipalities as the plan has been introduced to all 39 of them in this process. So far, they’ve received funding from 22 of those. Additional funding came from foundations and private entities.

“There are 71,235 county residents living within a fiveminute walk to an existing nonmotorized pathway,” Hamilton said. “Full implementation of the master plan would increase that number to 104,241.”

“It is the final plan, but it can always change as new information is discovered,” Wood said. For detailed information on the master plan and the Friends of Berrien County Trails, visit www. berrientrails.org. — STAFF REPORTS

FOUR REGIONALLY SIGNIFICANT ROUTES ARE THE BACKBONE OF THE PROPOSED TRAIL NETWORK: • Marquette

Greenway/Red

Arrow Linear

Park/Lakeview

Trail • Indiana-Michigan

River Valley Trail • Old Sauk Trail • McCoy’s Creek

Trail

SPORTS

From the Bleachers

COLUMN BY KURT MARGGRAF IN CHICAGO

What a difference a

week makes. Last week, it seemed as if the prospects for both Chicago baseball teams were dismal. While the successful teams like the Phillies, Mets, Yankees, Astros, etc. we’re spending unprecedented amounts of money on free agents, both Chicago teams seemed to be sitting on their hands.

Let’s begin with the White Sox. Last season, the Sox were predicted to be one of the best teams in baseball and compete for a championship. Unfortunately, they stumbled out of the gate and never came close to reaching their potential, ending the season with 81 wins and 81 losses. The season was a total disappointment for the team and their fans.

Clearly, something had to be done to change the chemistry, or lack of it. Before this week, all the Sox had done was change managers and let Jose Abreu go to the Astros as a free agent. Changing managers was a positive step, but letting Abreu leave was a big negative.

Something had to be done and finally, last week, the Sox made a move. Andrew Benintendi, who last played for the Yankees, signed a 5 year 75 million dollar contract, and he seems to be the type of player the team really needs. I’m sure more moves will be made, but at least the Sox are trying to improve.

On the north side, the Cubs had promised to spend some money and add free agents to their team to try to be competitive again, but until last week they had been disturbingly silent.

Finally, the Cubs spent what the market demanded and signed Dansby Swanson to a 7 year 177 million dollar contract. After spending a similar amount of money on Jason Heyward 8 years ago, the Cubs were a little skittish about signing a player for that long a period of time.

But the other top shortstops signed 11, 11, and 13 year contracts so the Cubs did well to limit Swansons contract to seven years. The Cubs needed to step up after spending the last couple of years in the cellar. The signings by both teams in Chicago renewed hope for a strong summer of competitive baseball, and I look forward to seeing how it plays out.

The Bears played the Philadelphia Eagles almost to a standstill on Sunday. While clearly having inferior talent at many positions, the Bears made a game out of it. While I’m afraid to curse them, I can hardly wait for next year. It took me a while, but I’m a full blown believer in Justin Fields. If he stays healthy, there’s no doubt in my mind that he will end up being the best quarterback ever to play for the Bears.

Not enough can be said about the coaching staff either. They have the team playing with great enthusiasm and are most often put in a position to succeed. So baseball and football are looking good in Chicago, can basketball and hockey be far behind?

Michael Altshuler said, “The bad news is time flies. The good news is you’re the pilot.”

Happy holidays. Talk to you next week. Peace, love, and happiness.