stairs

Chikaming Township Park Board approves rebuild of Harbert Beach stairs

BY FRANCESCA SAGALA

Members of the Chikaming Township Park Board approved appropriating a sum of money to rebuild the Harbert Road Beach stairs after the old ones washed away in October 2019 for an amount not to exceed $10,000, contingent upon receiving all required approvals of permits and receipt of an acceptable design, at a special meeting Monday, April 5.

After visiting the site and looking at the “cross feasibility” of each of three proposed designs, architect Dan Menitoff and board member Joseph Reed said that wooden stairs with an expanded platform at the top and a second platform midway to the beach will be the most acceptable one.

Reed said he felt this was the best option because it was a lower overall cost and was “completely constructable” with volunteer labor.

Similar to what was installed at the Cherry Beach stairs last summer, a cable system would prevent the stairs from sliding down the slope and losing them.

A platform would be located at the top that has seating benches on both sides. An intermediate beach platform would be built down on the beach level, with stairs down to the beach.

Reed said the same construction methods that were used at Cherry Beach would be used. The last two or three stairs would be buried in the sand in case of erosion. The cable tie system would then be installed and attached at

the top of the stairway adjacent to the subject to approval of a design and field and she was wondering how the existing stairs. The cable would then necessary funding and obtaining any improvements that are being suggested attach to the platform at the bottom, so required permits. now would work with future ones in a there wouldn’t be that “pull away” that Chair Arthur Anderson said a site plan. occurred when the stairs failed in 2019. committee looked at the park and “The five-year plan kind of starts the United States Department of Agriculture “I can’t guarantee that it will prevent pulling away but we’ll tie them up so found a good site for the venue. He said the proposed stage would be to address all of those issues at once but now with the partial development it seems that those areas have dropped off the radar and you’ve the Red Arrow Linear Park Pathway Project” changed the projects - is this a progressive plan of development for the entire park or are you only looking to do these improvements and that’s it?” she said. Anderson said that it’s not the “end of the improvements” and that it can be done in phases. He said that board members need to establish first a list of features or items they desire for the park before of Natural Resources Trust Fund is currently moving onto a site plan A schematic drawing of the proposed Harbert Beach stairs The restored Cherry Beach stairs last July for the park. He added that the grant deadline is we can retrieve the pieces and if we a footprint of about 15 by 25 feet. October. have to do repairs, the ease of repairs is Board member Garth Taylor said Board members approved asking much simpler going forward,” he said. the Michiana Fund for the Arts has the township for a supplemental Board member Jocelyne Verlee offered a $50,000 grant if Chikaming appropriation to match the grant said that the committee could start the project within two to three weeks. Township can match the funds. offered by Michiana Arts Foundation after approval of the venue’s design, Volunteers are needed with the construction, as well as to donate food. She said the stairs should take two to three weeks to install. “It’s a pretty big undertaking,” she said. Additional features with the venue may include a boardwalk to connect it to the picnic pavilion and possibly some plantings. Verlee said she’s concerned how as well as the scheduling of a public hearing on a plan for the venue after the design’s submission. Board members approved appropriating $3,400 to hire contractor to grade the parking lot at Harbert Community Park and the parking In a 6-1 vote (Verlee voted “nay”), the components would work with an lot and road at Chikaming Township board members approved the entire overhaul of the entire park. She Park and Preserve to be completed construction of a small performance said there has been mention of pickle this calendar year, with the contractor venue to be located south of the pond ball courts and tennis courts and a having the required insurance and any area at Harbert Community Park, consideration of removing the ball required license.

SCHOLASTICS

New Buffalo School board members hear Food Service Department update in time of coronavirus

Last spring, staff members in the Food Service Department at New Buffalo Area Schools found themselves in the spotlight when the department had to operate under its summer food service program.

“The food service department instantly became front line essential staff - our program changed overnight from working behind the scenes to full exposure during a pandemic,” Patty Iazzetto, food services director, said at the New Buffalo Area Schools Board of Education meeting Monday, April 12.

Staff members went from serving plated meals to packaged, ready to eat meals curbside at five locations: the high school, the elementary school, Judy’s Motel, Oak View Estates, and New Buffalo Township Library. The first day, 128 meals were picked up. By the third day, it was 930. Meal sites were expanded to include the parking lot at Converge Community Church.

“For many families, it was the first time they experienced food insecurity,” Iazzetto said,

When it was announced that frozen uncooked food could be served, staff was able to figure out a way to provide a better variety of food to children and how to package the meals.

Iazzetto gave thanks to Superintendent Dr. Jeff Leslie and Deputy Michael Troupe, the elementary school’s school resource officer, for loading cars and helping deliver meals at every site as well as to families who couldn’t make it to the sites.

By the end of June, the food staff had served 17,828 meals.

This year, breakfasts (which are packaged for each student) are served in the classrooms, while students

BY FRANCESCA SAGALA would be spaced apart at lunch. At the elementary school, one grade at a time is fed in the dining room, with each student having an assigned seat (meals are served to students before they arrive). Other classes pick up their meals in the hallway and take it to their classroom to eat, which keeps students “distanced from their cohorts.”

In the middle/high school, there are three dining rooms: the original Clay Street Café, the gymnasium commons area, and the blue gym.

Last fall, the MDE announced that every student would receive a free meal (currently, the school district has a 42% free and reduced lunch rate).

Iazzetto said she was concerned about offering fresh fruits and vegetables, since everything had to be wrapped. There was “additional labor in the kitchen, an investment was made in new equipment and schedules were switched to offer a “very nice presentation to our students now.” Shortages in certain food items – which occurred last spring- continue to be a problem.

Due to the Bison Virtual Academy, the staff continues to serve food curbside Mondays at the high school. Iazzetto said that “not many families have taken us up on this opportunity” and that they’re serving an average of three meals once a week. In December, more families came onboard, when inperson learning was suspended at the high school and elementary school.

This year, Iazzetto applied for the Child and Adult Care Food Program to supply snacks to students in BASE and Homework Club.

Meals can now be ordered online up to five days in advance, which Iazzetto said has been helpful for students with

LaSata’s literacy challenge winners announced

SState Sen. Kim LaSata announced Monday, April 12, the winners of her March is Reading Month literacy allergies. challenge.

Currently, Iazzetto said the school “My congratulations to Aaleya district serves an average of 267 Tomorrow, who won the challenge by breakfasts and 332 lunches. reading 207 books,” said LaSata,

“No one knows what next fall will R-Bainbridge Township. “I am truly hold, but I will stay up to date on state impressed with her efforts and those and federal information, so we’re of her fellow Southwest Michigan prepared,” Iazzetto said. students, who collectively read

Leslie said that Iazzetto and her staff 1,309 books for the challenge. The have made a “huge impact on the lives challenge proved to be a great way of our kids” with their efforts to keep to keep our students engaged with them fed throughout the pandemic. reading, and I look forward to an even

“Patty she never says no to more successful event next year.” anything…She’s always looking at ways Tomorrow, who is a third-grade to improve,” he said. student at Norton Elementary School in Three Rivers, will be receiving a

Board members approved framed award and will also be invited authorizing Adam Bowen, to serve as a junior senator for a day elementary principal, to at the state Capitol with LaSata. submit a Pokagon Fund The other students receiving grant application requesting framed awards are Caroline Zarotney, Book Vending Machines. Leslie a fourth grader at Lake Michigan said that the machines would be a Catholic School in St. Joseph, who collaboration between The Pokagon read 104 books, and Katelyn Brown, Fund, the PTO and Rotary Club of a fifth grader at North Elementary Harbor Country. School in Watervliet, who read 90

The employment of Gregory “Ty” books for the challenge. Siuda in the position of assistant track All K-8 students residing in Berrien, coach, pending background approval, was approved. Board members did a first reading of several board policies. Cass and St. Joseph counties were eligible to participate by submitting titles of books they read throughout March. — STAFF REPORTS

The Extended COVID-19 Plan Method of Instruction for New Buffalo Area Schools of in-person and virtual education was approved.

Leslie said that “a lot of work” went into the middle/high school courtyard thanks to Steve Necsi and his crew at Nesci Landscape, as well as a grant from The Pokagon Fund. Sun sails will soon be put up with graphics from The Pokagon Fund as well as umbrellas in five of the concrete tables with more graphics.

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