July 23, 2026

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THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2026

LIFE IN NATURE ON LAKE MICHIGAN

New Buffalo Times

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CHICAGO • LONG BEACH • MICHIANA SHORES • GRAND BEACH • NEW BUFFALO • UNION PIER • THREE OAKS • LAKESIDE • HARBERT • SAWYER issue 29, volume 85

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Thursday, July 23, 2026

City council approves contract award for Galien River Pedestrian Bridge Project PAGE 4

Lauren Blackford winner of annual ‘Singer Songwriter Competition’ PAGES 10-11

Campers participate in a ‘Music Playground’ at The Acorn PAGE 18

— PLEASE SEE PAGE 3 —

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• Business/Tax Law • Real Estate • Estate Planning • Special Needs • Medicaid & Long-Term Planning • Probate and Trust Care Planning Administration

90+ artists • live music • family activities • food

67th Annual Chesterton Art Fair August 1 - 10 AM to 5 PM August 2 - 10 AM to 4 PM Dogwood Park, Chesterton, IN $5/person - Under 12 free!

Scan the QR code or visit ChestertonArt.org to purchase tickets ahead of the fair and to learn more about participating artists, food vendors, and music performances!

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Golf’s own Mike Keiser and family offer $6 million to develop Grand Beach’s 9-hole golf course

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embers of the Grand Beach Village Council heard of the resignation of councilmember Ed Brandes at their Wednesday, July 15, meeting.

Brandes, whose four-year term is up in November, said that he and his wife are moving to be closer to family.

“I’m leaving you in good hands, you have no idea how serious these guys are about these duties…I’m proud to have served with them, it’s been a good run,” he said, which was met with applause.

“Ed, they’re not applauding you because you’re leaving, they’re applauding because they appreciate your work,” council president Harry Walder said.

He said that they’ll need to appoint a president pro tem at the next meeting, as well as a new council member to serve out the remainder of Brandes’ term. Anyone who’s interested should submit a resume to clerk Kim Wolnik by the beginning of August.

In his report, pro shop and golf commissioner Jack Grace discussed a proposal from Keiser Foundation regarding redeveloping the golf course.

He said Keiser is asking to lease the course and is willing to invest $6 million to rebuild the course’s nine holes and build a three-to-five-hole par-3 course for kids and families, as well as the kids’ program. Also included would be upgrading the driving range and practice area.

Grace listed the course’s current issues: several irrigation issues, the ongoing intake valve problem, the over 100-yearold greens that continue to shrink every year, the tees that are hard to maintain due to their small size and tree roots that come up under the greens in the middle of the fairways and shaded areas over tees

BY FRANCESCA SAGALA

and greens, which prevent grass from growing.

“While being conservative with our new budget,” Grace said that they’re projecting a loss of over $100,000 on the course this coming year.

“The golf course doesn’t generate sufficient revenue to cover the cost of operations today simply looking at the numbers,” he said.

Part of the proposal, he said, would involve taking over the irrigation project, which would save the village over $800,000.

Grace said Keiser is open to a town hall in August.

The course would be closed for an entire season, and reciprocal courses would be made available to residents. Work would take place between the spring of 20272028, and the course would hopefully be open by June 1, 2028.

He said the irrigation project is scheduled for next spring and they would need to work with the development team on coordinating everything.

Keiser has developed world-famous courses, including the nine-hole Dunes Club in New Buffalo and the six-course Sand Valley Golf resort in Nekoosa, Wisconsin.

The course would operate as a 501 © (3) non-profit entity and would include volunteer stakeholders, such as village representatives, “to oversee strategic direction and operational execution.”

“I just think when an opportunity like this presents itself, I think we as a village need to take a serious look at what it has to offer,” Grace said.

Walder said that it’s a “great idea,” adding that council members should make a list of questions for the developers.

“My biggest concern is we get into bed with these guys and wake up one morning and they’re gone and we got a golf course

all torn up and we have no money – there have got to be ways to structure all that so we’re not in that situation,” he said.

Grace said there’ll be another meeting of the Golf Committee before the town hall, and council members should submit concerns.

Council members approved a quote from Serviscape for $2,907.95 regarding lighting the arch. Four small spotlights will be on the ground that will point up at both vertical columns, with the lights having the ability to change color. At the top will be two more spotlights that will shine across and illuminate the flags and the sign that says, “Grand Beach.”

Council members approved awarding a tree removal contract to Reyes Tree Service to remove the tree on Greenwood which is in danger of falling. They will remove the tree, which will cost $775, and the Department of Public Works staff will dispose of it.

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ouncil members approve a resolution requesting to purchase platted street from the Village adjacent to Lots 22, 23 and 48, 49 of Grand Beach Springs, with councilmember Ed Sebastian abstaining. Sebastian and his neighbor will be splitting the property, which Walder said the village doesn’t collect taxes on and will never be used as a road, and will each be paying $20,000 for the land.

A Planning Commission meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday, July 30, regarding review of the proposed Zoning Ordinance changes around Special Land Use (SLUs) as it relates to Short Term Rentals, as well as a Planning Commission Town Hall discussing trash receptacles 11 a.m. Aug. 15.

I think the first thing we hear when a loved one dies is the birds chirping.

— Dino N. Fatouros

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THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2026

Local Government Meetings New Buffalo Times

Democracy Requires Transparency

CITY OF NEW BUFFALO VANCE PRICE, MAYOR CITY COUNCIL MARK ROBERTSON, ROGER LIJEWSKI, KAREN GEAR, RICH KNOLL, VANCE PRICE City Council meets on the 3rd Monday of each month at 6:30PM CITY OF NEW BUFFALO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETINGS Meets on the 1st Tuesday of each month at 5:30PM NEW BUFFALO TOWNSHIP BOARD HOWARD MALES, MICHELLE HEIT, MICHELLE HANNON, PATTY IAZZETTO, BARBARA ANDERSON Board meets on the 3rd Monday of each month at 4PM NEW BUFFALO TOWNSHIP PLANNING COMMISSION Meets on the 1st Tuesday of each month at 6:30PM SHERIFF BERRIEN COUNTY Sheriff, Chuck Heit Undersheriff, Greg Sanders NEW BUFFALO AREA RECREATIONAL AUTHORITY Meets at 9AM on the 2nd Wednesday of every other month (odd) at New Buffalo Township Hall, 17425 Red Arrow Highway New Buffalo NEW BUFFALO AREA SCHOOLS BOARD LISA WERNER, JOHN HASKINS, DENISE CHURCHILL, JENNIFER SUMMERS, VANESSA THUN, STEPHEN DONNELLY, GREG VOSBERG The Board meets on the 2nd and 4th Mondays of each month at 6PM CHIKAMING TOWNSHIP CHIKAMING TOWNSHIP BOARD DAVID BUNTE, PAULA DUDIAK, LIZ RETTIG, RICHARD SULLIVAN, ARTHUR ANDERSON 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 at 5PM EST KIMBERLY WOLNIK, CLERK-TREASURER HARRY WALDER, JACK GRACE, ED SEBASTIAN, PETER DOERR, EDWARD BRANDES MICHIANA VILLAGE OF MICHIANA COUNCIL Meets on the 2nd Friday of each month at 1PM

City council approves contract award for Galien River Pedestrian Bridge Project

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embers of the New Buffalo City Council approved awarding the Galien River Pedestrian Bridge Project to Rausch Infrastructure, LLC in the amount of $3,497,544 at their Monday, July 20, meeting.

The city received a Revitalization and Placemaking (RAP) 2.0 grant from the state for the construction of a pedestrian bridge over the Galien River for $1 million.

After advertising for contractors to complete the project, the city received bids from Anlaan, Grand River Construction, Inc., and Rausch infrastructure, LLC. City Manager Darwin Watson said that the state will issue letter to proceed to the contractor and for the project to get started, and the project will then be done by next May. He added that bids for the project came in at the amount that was anticipated for the broadside dock project.

“So, the monies are here for this particular project,” Watson said.

As a result of bids coming in higher than expected for the broadside dock, Mayor Vance Price said that that project is off the table.

Watson added that some elements of the broadside dock will be “tied into” the pedestrian bridge.

“There are going to be some modifications to what was presented

BY FRANCESCA SAGALA

in April by Abonmarche because it showed the broadside dock tied into the pedestrian bridge,” he said.

Price said it’s going to be “beautiful,” adding that they’ll be putting project pictures on the city’s website.

Council members accepted the resignation of member Karen Gear, effective immediately. The council will receive applications from those who are interested in filling the unexpired term ending November 2028 until Aug. 28.

Council members approved awarding the 2026 City of New Buffalo Streets Resurfacing Project to Michigan Paving & Materials Company in the amount of $484,675.05.

A Request for Proposals (RFP) was issued by the city, with bids being received from Michigan Paving & Materials Company and Rieth – Riley.

Price said that this is “the start of all our road improvement tax money,” with Watson adding that it’s strictly for resurfacing and not water and sewer.

Council members approved the road repair and patch work to Affordable Asphalt Paving & Bulldozing on city streets in the amount of $21,870.

Several repairs and patches need to be completed on city streets and are a primary result of infrastructure installation/repairs.

Council members approved the purchase of parking software and

equipment from Spot Parking, Inc., with the cost of the equipment installation and first year’s subscription being $25,969 (monthly subscription is $1,032).

Per the agenda’s packet, there have been several appeals to parking citations due to the inability to discern when a vehicle parks and when payment is made at the kiosk.

Watson said Spot Parking, Inc. tracks vehicle traffic through the lot and identifies the time it has been in the lot, which will allow the city to adjust the policy on the time that’s allowed to make payments.

“When a car pulls into a lot and the person that gets out of there walks from there to the kiosk, there’s a delay in time and sometime there’ve been tickets issued in that time that shouldn’t be,” he said.

The transfer of the city’s 2005 E-One Cyclone II ladder truck, along with additional fire related equipment, to New Buffalo Township in the amount of $200,000 was approved.

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atson said this is a result of the city approving a fire protection services contract with the township in June, with the agreement providing 24/7 fire protection of the city by the township. The truck was appraised by Garage Technologies, Inc. in November. Representatives

To have a great man for an intimate friend seems pleasant to those who have never tried it; those who have, fear it.

— Homer

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from the township and city settled on a price of $200,000.

Council members approved the hawking and peddling permit for Burk’s BBQ to operate July through September 2026 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturdays (beginning July 25), at 1 West Madison. Co-owner Cassy Burk said that they’ll be at the new Corrective Chiropractic location

THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2026 on Whittaker Street for their grand opening Aug. 15.

Watson engaging representatives from Petite Acres on the potential sale of city owned parcel that abuts Petite Acres on Belle Avenue was approved.

An appraisal was completed

by Joseph Farina of Farina Real Estate Appraisers on the property.

It was approved by city staff, who

recommended the city move forward with engaging Petite Acres in discussions on the property’s sale.

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ouncil members approved the second reading of an ordinance to amend Article 8, Sections Z8-02, Z8-04 and Z8-05 of the City of New Buffalo Zoning Ordinance. The

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amendments would allow by right site plans to be approved at the Planning Commission level. All other site plans would still require the dual approval method.

Site plans to expand an existing deck at 32 Walden Way and the addition of covered porches, ramps, deck, and stairs at 115 North Berrien Street were approved.

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THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2026

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Museum award recipient in Best of Michigan Awards

he Harbor Country Museum of History + Rail (New Buffalo Railroad Museum) has been chosen by readers and editors of Guide to Michigan as an award recipient in the 2026 Best of Michigan Awards: Best of Michigan Regional Winner in the Museums Category.

Best of Michigan is an annual roundup of the best products and services across the great state of Michigan. Throughout the year, readers of The Guide to Michigan voted for everything they love in the Best of Michigan annual awards. The votes are tabulated and compiled along with our editor’s picks. The result is a fabulous resource that showcases great businesses across our state. Being recognized in the 2026 Best of Michigan Awards is a significant achievement, with less than 10% of Michigan businesses receiving this prestigious accolade.

The Harbor Country Museum of History + Rail is one of the largest cultural institutions in the region known as Harbor Country, Michigan with a mission to preserve our history and enrich our community for future generations. The Museum was built in 1989 as part of the development and renovation of the old and vacated Pere Marquette Railroad Roundhouse property located on S. Whittaker Street. In the 1920s, the Pere Marquette Roundhouse was a major terminus connecting the rich trade area of Northern Michigan with the Chicago mercantile and shipping markets and served as the major employer for the residents of the New Buffalo Area. The Museum is housed in a replica of the original Pere Marquette Depot that existed near the site in the 1920s built from the original blueprints. Today, the Museum building itself is a display featuring the original waiting room, conductor’s office, and freight room surrounded by a deck and platform used to board and load incoming trains.

The Harbor Country Museum of History + Rail pays homage to the history of the greater New Buffalo area, known as “Harbor Country” (Michiana, Grand Beach, New Buffalo, Union Pier, Lakeside, Harbert, Sawyer and Three Oaks in Southwestern Michigan) and in particular, to the various rail systems that were important to the economic development of our area over the years: the Pere Marquette Railway, C&O Railroad, Chessie Systems, CSX Transportation, the Michigan Central Railroad,

and Amtrak honoring the significant impact the railroads made to the area’s economic development.

The Museum today hosts hundreds of photographs, displays, and artifacts, mostly donated or loaned by area residents whose generations of family members were touched and supported by the presence of the railroads, as workers, retailers, and business services. In addition, we have three de-serviced rail cars donated to us by CSX Transportation: A Chessie System Box Car, a Pullman World War II Troop Sleeper Car, and a C&O Caboose which are open for visitors to enter and explore. An interactive model train layout, maintained for us by the Duneland Model Railroad Club, depicts how the South Whittaker railroad yards and the New Buffalo area may have looked in the late 1800s. Also, a wonderful and moving Veterans Display lists and honors those men and women from our area who served in all categories of service from the Civil War to the present. The newest display, New Buffalo Built on a Dream, highlights some of the information that is included in our two volumes which we offer for sale, the New Buffalo Story: 1834-1976 and the New Buffalo Story: 2012 as well as supporting artifacts from the New Buffalo Area Schools and most recently from City Hall.

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he museum has hosted many special events including Ice Cream Socials, Flea Markets, Conductor Days, Sunset Socials, Boxcar Buffets, and onsite visits with Santa.

The Museum is currently open Saturdays and Sundays, noon to 5 p.m., April through October.

Admission is free, with the continued help of many individual donors, the area’s business community, and funders such as the Michigan Council for the Arts, the Frederick S. Upton Foundation, the Rednecked Fund, the Berrien Community Foundation, Tionesta BCS Foundation, Southwestern Michigan Realtors, the Ozinga Foundation, AMTRAK, CSX Transportation, Semco Energy, State Farm Insurance, AmazonSmile, the PayPal Giving Fund, and The Pokagon Fund. The Museum is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit.

For more information, email ask@ harborcountrymuseum.org or call 269-820-1504.

— STAFF REPORTS

CAR AND MOTORCYCLE COLLISION RESULTS IN FATALITY IN NEW BUFFALO

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n individual is deceased after a motorcycle and car collision on U.S. Highway 12 in New Buffalo Township July 16.

Per a press release made by Lt. Thad Chartrand of the Berrien County Sheriff’s Office, first responders were dispatched to W. U.S. Hwy. 12 and Lubke Road in New Buffalo Township for a multi vehicle crash that occurred at approximately 12:30 pm.

They found that a motorcycle had been hit from behind and that the driver was suffering from life threatening injuries. The motorcycle driver was treated on scene by MEDIC 1 and was transported to Franciscan Hospital in Michigan City.

“The driver, a 45-year-old male from Niles was taken to surgery where he eventually succumbed to his severe head trauma,” the release said.

“Investigators learned from witnesses that the motorcycle was nearly stopped on the roadway going westbound, with its left turn signal on waiting to make a left turn onto Lubke Road, when a westbound mini-van driven by a 39-yearold female from Sedalia, Missouri, was distracted while driving and failed to notice the motorcycle slow in front of her and struck the motorcycle from behind ejecting the driver,” the release stated.

After striking the motorcycle the driver of the “mini-van lost control and crossed the eastbound lanes of traffic striking another vehicle in the side causing damage as well,” it said.

The driver of the mini-van suffered minor injuries but declined treatment. The driver of the third vehicle did not suffer any injuries.

The driver of the motorcycle was not wearing a helmet.

It didn’t appear that drugs or alcohol were factors in the crash.

Both directions of U.S. 12 were closed for around two hours. This crash remains under investigation.

Agencies involved were Berrien County Sheriff’s New Buffalo Township Patrol, Berrien County Sheriffs Crash Reconstruction Unit, New Buffalo City Police, Pokagon Tribal Police, Grand Beach Police, New Buffalo Township Fire, MEDIC 1 Ambulance. — STAFF REPORTS

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THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2026

Ship and Shore Blues and Soul Festival coming next month

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beloved New Buffalo tradition is entering an exciting new chapter, as Exit One Events is proud to announce that the historic Ship & Shore Festival has been reimagined as the Ship & Shore Blues & Soul Festival, bringing together outstanding blues and soul artists, exceptional food vendors, craft beverages, and a welcoming community atmosphere at Lions Park Pavilion Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 8 - 9.

While embracing a fresh musical identity, the festival remains rooted in the community spirit that has made Ship & Shore a favorite gathering for generations. Designed as an endof-summer celebration, the festival invites residents and visitors alike to experience two days of exceptional live entertainment, local hospitality, and one of Southwest Michigan’s most scenic waterfront destinations.

“This festival is about honoring the history of Ship & Shore while creating an experience that reflects the future of New Buffalo,” said John Moultrie, executive director of Exit One Events. “We’re celebrating great music, outstanding food, and the spirit of community that makes New Buffalo such a special place.”

Throughout the weekend, festival guests can enjoy continuous live music, delicious food, Michigan craft beer and wine, and activities for the entire family.

Guests are encouraged to bring lawn

chairs, relax with family and friends, and enjoy the performances throughout the day and evening.

Live music begins at 1 p.m. each day and continues through the final performance.

The following is the Saturday Performance Schedule: P.T. & The Cruisers — 2 – 3:30 p.m.; Hank Mowery and the Hawk Tones — 4 – 5:30 p.m.; Donna Herula — 6 – 7:30 p.m.; and Marty “Big Dog” Mercer — 8 – 10 p.m.

The following is the Sunday Performance Schedule: The Newport Blues Project — 2 – 4 p.m.; Head Honcho — 4:30 - 6 p.m. and Mandalyn and the Hunters — 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Featured food vendors are La Patrona, Cool Runnings, Prize Pig Barbecue, Pineapple Paradise and Cabo Ice Cream.

A variety of Michigan craft beer, wine, and non-alcoholic beverages will also be available throughout the festival.

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he Ship & Shore Blues & Soul Festival is produced

by Exit One Events, a Michigan 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to creating memorable festivals and community experiences that strengthen local businesses, promote tourism, and celebrate arts and culture throughout Southwest Michigan.

For tickets, event information, and festival updates, visit www. exitoneEvents.org. — STAFF REPORTS

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THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2026

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Baseball team of college stars hires General Manager

BY STAN MADDUX

general manager has been hired for a new team of major league baseball hopefuls to play in New Buffalo beginning next summer.

The nickname of the team will also be unveiled July 30 at the new high school baseball field, where the team will play about 40 home games a season from late May to mid-August.

The first name of the team is Dune Coast because of Lake Michigan and the dunes surrounding it in southwest Michigan and northwest Indiana.

Blagica Bottigliero will oversee the business and “operational engine” of the team, said co-owner Brian Williams, a New Buffalo resident and scout for the Texas Rangers.

Williams said one of her major focuses is building a brand that resonates with the region from Benton Harbor and St. Joseph to La Porte, Michigan City and Valparaiso in Indiana.

“She has the experience and know-how to run what is the marketing and sales aspect of our organization,” he said.

Bottigliero lived in New Buffalo for two years and was involved in the community before moving back several years ago to the Detroit area where she grew up.

She’s a graduate of Western Michigan University.

“I could not be more pumped to take on this role,” she said.

Williams said Bottigliero was already involved with the team as a consultant under contract doing things like shaping the brand of the team in recent months before hired as general manager primarily for her skills in areas like digital marketing and digital advertising.

“Building a team from the ground up is a rare opportunity.

My goal is to make Dune Coast baseball a place people are proud to be part of on the field and off,” she said.

The nickname of the team will be unveiled during an event that begins at 8 p.m. with a youth skills competition featuring things like kids running the bases, a home run derby from behind second base and possibly a radar gun recording the speed of each pitch.

“We definitely wanted to involve the youth,” he said.

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fter the competition, Williams said the nickname and logo of the team will be unveiled after the newly installed lights are turned on for the first time.

“It should be a really fun time,” he said.

Four finalists were chosen from over 150 nicknames submitted during an online contest.

The finalists are Breakers, Quillbacks, Phantoms and Lightning.

The team will be in the Northwoods League, which has produced more than 400 major league players since the early 1990s.

The league consists of college players nationwide looking to improve their chances of being drafted by major league teams by continuing to compete during the summer.

Major league players such as potential hall of famers Max Scherzer and Chris Sale along with current Chicago Cubs star second baseman Nico Hoerner played in the league.

Williams said grandstand seating for about 500 people or more will be added to the park in the fall.

HIKERS TO EXPLORE BURNS PRAIRIE PRESERVE

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earn more about Burns Prairie Preserve from Bob Wagner, steward of this Chikaming Open Lands preserve, as he leads the Harbor Country Hikers through this beautiful prairie, which is currently in full living color at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 25.

Michigan’s Indigenous peoples used tall-grass prairies and oak openings for intensive agriculture, hunting, and foraging. They used controlled burns to maintain open grasslands, cultivate berry crops, and expand populations of deer and elk for hunting. Today’s prairies primarily support highly specialized grassland birds, diverse pollinators, and elusive small mammals. They are vibrant but endangered ecosystems, with less than 1% of the original tallgrass prairies remaining.

Burns Prairie Preserve may not be a remnant of the original prairies that bison roamed, but it is being actively restored to resemble such an ecosystem.

The Preserve boasts native prairie grasses, such as big bluestem and Indian grass, as well as an abundance of summer-blooming wildflowers, including black-eyed Susan, purple coneflower, and butterfly weed. A seasonal wetland was also re-established in a drainage area that bisects the preserve.

For more information, including driving directions, visit the Hikers’ website, www. harborcountryhikers.org, or its Facebook page. — STAFF REPORTS

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THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2026

From the Bleachers COLUMN BY KURT MARGGRAF IN CHICAGO

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unday morning.

Decisions have to be made. Cub game or World Cup final between Argentina and Spain.

The Cub game against the Minnesota Twins started an hour before the soccer game, so I started with the baseball game and the Cubs jumped off to a quick 7-0 lead in the first three innings. Being a big Cub fan, I was enjoying the whipping that the Cubbies were putting on the Twins, but being a sports fan, I thought I should switch over to watch the World Cup final, so I did. The soccer match was 0-0 at halftime and in the past I would have thought it was boring.

This year though, probably because I had watched so many games, I appreciated the skills of all of the participants, and was glad that I had changed channels. I didn’t realize that halftime at the soccer game was going to be so star studded, so I switched back to the Cub game.

The score was now 10-0 so I ran a couple of errands and finished a chore or two before turning the channel back to the soccer match.

The score remained tied at zero through regulation and the first half of extra time. The anticipation and finally the joy or sorrow of two countries and it seemed like a zillion fans finally was realized less than a minute into the second 15 minutes of extra time.

The fans that could afford the average ticket price of $19,000.00, and the world, (the only sporting event that surpassed the television audience is the Super Bowl)

watched as Spain celebrated and mourned for Argentina.

It seems as though soccer has gained a lot of fans in the United States, but I think it’s a shame that we will have to wait four years to witness this spectacle again.

Meanwhile, the Cubs and White Sox continue to win and stay in the race for the playoffs. Last weekend, the Cubs celebrated the tenth anniversary of their World Series victory. Like the White Sox eleven years earlier, the fans really enjoyed celebrating their heroes, and the players loved getting together and reliving their magical seasons. We can only hope there won’t be a work stoppage after this season.

The other Chicago sports teams will all be more fun to watch this year.

The Bulls new G.M., new coach, and sensational rookie Caleb Wilson, will make the team more competitive.

They will need time, but at least they’ve chosen a direction. The Blackhawks will have to get through the first month of the season without their soon to be superstar Connor Bedard. The bad news was that he injured his shoulder, the good news is that he just signed a five year, seventy five million dollar contract to stay with the Hawks. Finally, unbelievably, the Bears rookies report to camp on Saturday. Time marches on.

Winston Churchill said, “A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.” B e kind. Talk to you next week.

Peace, love, and happiness.

OWI for driver of tractor in collisions

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BY STAN MADDUX

several-mile trip on an antique farm tractor in La Porte County Tuesday night resulted in the arrest of the driver for being impaired by alcohol after crashing into several mailboxes and causing other damage.

Daniel Krupa, 38, of Westville was booked into the La Porte County Jail for Class A misdemeanor operating while intoxicated.

According to La Porte County Police, officers about 11 p.m. (CDT) were dispatched to the area of Otis Road and County Road 100 North between Westville and Michigan City.

A woman following him reported seeing the tractor pulling a disc mower strike several mailboxes.

Upon arrival, police said officers found a 1975 John Deere farm tractor attached to a 2017 New Holland disc mower commonly used for cutting hay.

The disc mower was missing a tire from one of its wheels, allowing the rim to make heavy gouge marks in the pavement.

Police said another wheel on the hay cutter was bent in a way that would not allow the tire to roll.

8 kids a day are accidentally killed or injured by FAMILY FIRE.

When I’m in the ring my main focus is just to get the job done. — Gervonta Davis

9

FAMILY FIRE is a shooting involving an improperly stored gun, often found in the home.

ENDFAMILYFIRE.org

An officer followed a trail of heavy gouge marks in the pavement for several miles into Porter County and noticed several recycling totes left beside the road for pick-up knocked over.

According to police, Krupa showing multiple signs of impairment told investigators he consumed only a mixed drink containing bourbon a few hours earlier in the evening.

He also denied knowing he had struck anything along the way, police said.

A portable breathalyzer test allegedly showed he had a blood alcohol level close to three times the legal limit.

H

e refused to take a certified blood alcohol test, though, which led to his automatic arrest under Indiana law for driving impaired, police said.

Police said a man and woman who know Krupa showed up at the crash site and were allowed to drive off with the tractor and have a tow truck come for the disc mower.

Krupa was being held in the La Porte County Jail on $900 bond.

www.newbuffalotimes.com

10 THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2026

Lauren Blackford winner of annual ‘Singer Songwriter Competition’

I

BY FRANCESCA SAGALA

n “A Good Thing,” Lauren Blackford sings about the cycle of “getting your hopes really high about a person – only to be let down by them and “then going through that cycle over and over” again.

“I think it’s really inspiring and a testament to the human spirit that even when you get knocked down, even when you get heartbroken, we’re still willing to put ourselves out there again even if it’s scary,” she said.

It was one of three songs Blackford sang at the 14th annual The Acorn Singer Songwriter Competition, of which she was named the winner, in Three Oaks Saturday, July 18.

“I came in with no expectations – I’m really just here for the camaraderie and the chance to show my music to people,” Blackford said.

Judge Andy Sydow said that Blackford has “really killer vocals and melodies,” adding that he could hear a full band backing up her tunes, like rock and pop songs.

He added he was “really taken” by the guitar part in her first song, “Dead Body Baby.”

“I think what was really great about it was it was unique and also didn’t district from the song or the lyrics,” he said.

Judge Justin Flagel said the lyrics were “clever” and he “loved the word play.” Judge Cori Somers called the lyrics “passionate, uplifting and hopeful.”

She especially appreciated her voice in singing “supposed to do” during “A Good Thing,” adding that all she did vocally with those two words was “really beautiful.”

A lifelong singer-songwriter from Milan, Michigan, Blackford solidified her status as a rising star following the release of her selfproduced EP, One Too Many Times, in April 2024. After embarking on a Midwest tour and winning the title of “Best Vocalist” at Illinois’s Bitter Jester Music Festival, she released her self-directed debut music video and filmed a series of live performances aptly called the Loft Sessions. Drawing comparisons to Fiona Apple, Billie Eilish, and Joni Mitchell, Lauren’s emotion-driven melodies underline refreshingly self-aware lyrics, leaving listeners equally comforted and cracked open.

Second runner-up was James Moore and third runner-up was Patty PerShayla.

M

oore said his second song that he performed, “Stick and Move,” was based on how he wasn’t “vibing” with the atmosphere of the 2016 presidential election.

“This was a song about my frustration and how the media kind of turned everything going on in the country into a circus, into entertainment,” he said.

A singer/songwriter from Chicago, Moore has fronted alt-rock band the Dirty Nines and indie-folk band Whiskey Mil. He also served as the primary songwriter for both groups. He has played at the prestigious Old Town School of Folk Music sponsored festival “Square Roots Fest” in 2022. He also won the Hey Nonny Songwriting Competition in 2023.

Sean Heffernan takes the stage

James Moore takes the stage

Brigitte Benson performs on stage

Patty PerShayla takes the stage

Sammie Hershock performs on the piano

Emcee Christopher Gold performs an opening number with his son

mwww.newbuffalotimes.com

THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2026 11

P

Lauren Blackford takes the stage

Andy Sydow, who was one of the judges, opens the show

Emcee and Acorn Artistic Director Nikki Gauthier prepares to award the three finalists

erShayla said her second song, “Perpetual Motion Machine,” that she performed was her contribution to one of those songs that “all songwriters (such as ACDC) stitch onto one another about the road.”

“I was always of the mind that people who tour a lot you always have to have one of those songs,” she said.

Originally from Grand Rapids and now in Nashville, Tennessee, PerShayla won The Rock Boat Sound Check competition in 2023 and was featured on Sixthman Sessions at Sea, Vol. 8, a cowriting project with fellow Rock Boat XXIII artists. Her debut EP, Oracle Bones (2019), and later full-band EP, Perpetual Motion Machine (2023), both won WYCE Jammie Awards for Best Pop/ Rock Album.

Other finalists were Brigitte Benson, a singer/songwriter and jazz musician from Colorado Springs, Colorado; Sean Heffernan, a Chicago-based singer-songwriter whose sound blends folk, rock ’n’ roll, and traditional Irish influences and Sammie Hershock, a multi-awardwinning songwriter known for her captivating melodic lines and heartfelt lyrics from Michigan.

Sydow is a singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and storyteller whose music blends Americana, folk, and roots rock.

Whether solo or with his band, Andy Sydow & The Minor League, he delivers songs that are both poetic and grounded. Sydow has released multiple albums and singles, earned Triple-A and AMA radio airplay, and twice been a finalist in the prestigious Kerrville New Folk Songwriter Competition.

Flagel is the founder of Red Chuck Productions and the host

of its flagship podcast, Anywhere the Needle Drops. He’s hosted live events across the region, including at The Acorn, and written for magazines, newspapers, including regular cultural features for Leader Publications.

Somers is currently the violinist for Aurora & Antheia and Grace Theisen, a member of the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra (since 1999), and a former member of the Red Sea Pedestrians (2013–2025). In addition to her performance career, she teaches for Kalamazoo Kids in Tune, runs her own private teaching studio, and is the owner of Rainbow Forest Creations, a retail artist business specializing in small-batch handmade apothecary products and accessories.

T

he show was emceed

by The Acorn Artistic and Creative Director Nikki Gauthier and Christopher Gold, last year’s runner-up.

Gauthier said they received over 200 submissions for this year’s competition, which was more than any other year. Artists came from the Midwest, both coasts, and other faraway states such as Colorado.

“You may come away this evening meeting you new favorite artists,” Gauthier said.

After performing two songs in the first round, judges narrowed the competition down to three finalists, with the audience choosing the winners.

Art Wible was again the benefactor of the program, which allowed all six finalists to receive cash prizes. An anonymous donor donated $1,000, which offered travel stipends to those who came from further away.

www.newbuffalotimes.com

12 THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2026

A Writer’s Life...

From the Dish Pit...

A HIGHSCHOOLER’S TAKE ON REAL LIFE TOPICS

T

BY SYLVIE DARLING my family and I he Influence of Inconvenience were undergoing Last week, a violent an unintentional storm ripped through our form of “frictionneighborhood – ravaging maxxing.” This new term, coined by trees, toppling trash cans, and worst of columnist Kathryn Jezer-Morton, refers all – snapping power lines. When the to the practice of intentionally choosing storm finally passed, my sister and I the less convenient option in daily life leapt into action: dragging debris from to build tolerance for discomfort. Our the road, flipping over our traumatized fast-paced world has convinced us trash cans, and rescuing soppingtowels that convenience is the key to success, from the lawn. After what felt like bombarding us daily with instant hours, we trudged inside with dripping messaging, on-demand streaming, and clothes. My sister flicked on the light same-day delivery. Anything that moves switch. But the house remained dark. slower than hustle pace is deemed For the next couple of days, my unproductive, inconvenient, and family and I struggled to adjust unnecessary. We are trained to fume at to our loss of power, both literally lagging Wifi signals, huff at backed-up and metaphorically. The absence of traffic lanes, and lose our minds over electricity meant relying on the car’s our loss of power. But proponents of battery to charge our phones. The friction-maxxing argue that convenience absence of lights meant brushing our isn’t the formula for success; it’s the teeth by candlelight. The absence of air recipe for frustration. And maybe conditioning meant sleeping, sheetless, welcoming moments of friction can help on the hardwood floor. For a while, we free us from frustration. lived in a constant state of tension and One Saturday, I came home after frustration – unable or unwilling to a long day and stumbled over to the accept these conditions. Every morning, drawer where our candles were kept. my fingers instinctively reached All of a sudden, a buzzing sound filled for the light switch, and the lifeless our house and the lights flickered back response was a constant reminder of my on. For a second, I was confused. Then predicament. But after a while, I slowly overjoyed. Then indifferent. Perhaps adjusted. Phone charging times became I had adjusted to the inconvenience of routine. Replacing the ice in our cooler our unintentional friction-maxxing. did as well. And as we slipped into Or perhaps I had finally overcome my Day 3, I didn’t even reach for the light frustration. Either way, I clutched the switch. little candle to my chest, smiled, and Although I didn’t know it at the time, turned the light switch back off.

LOCAL INTELLIGENCE

New Buffalo Times

— SINCE 1942 —

DURING THE GOLDEN AGE OF TELEVISION ANIMATION

S

BY JACK OLESKER

omething wicked this way comes…

She was from DIC’s Merchandise Department, which handled requests from toy, product and merchandise companies for DIC to develop television series based upon (you guessed it) their toys, products and merchandise and to market toys, products and merchandise based on DIC’s original series. Today was the first time I’d met her. Thankfully, over time I would forget her name.

She was brash, and not in a good way. She’d crashed my office without so much as a call, hadn’t bothered to introduce herself and went into her pitch without any warm-up. The box of Cap’n’ Crunch cereal almost lewdly cradled in her arms told me all I needed to know.

There’s no question many series created during The Golden Age of Television Animation were toydriven, funding provided by toy manufacturers. But in all the years I worked in animation, with all the writers and toy companies I worked with, I never knew a single one who created a television series with the sole intent of selling toys, myself included.

Don’t get me wrong. Companies like Mattel, Hasbro, Kenner and others were toy manufacturers. Their job and their responsibility to their shareholders was to sell toys. But every toy company executive I worked with knew the way to sell toys through a television series was to tell entertaining stories, and that’s why we were never, ever given an order to pump a certain toy at the cost of telling a good story.

Every writer I ever worked with understood there was a huge responsibility that came with writing for young and impressionable minds and that our abiding principal was to tell the best stories we could. If toys

got sold in the process, then everyone was being served. But we never, ever constructed our episodes with the idea of them being “thirty-minute commercials.” The toys disappeared the second we started typing.

And now, here was this woman standing in my office with her arms wrapped protectively around a box of Cap’n Crunch cereal. I knew what was coming.

I’ll give her this much: she came right to the point. She blurted, “We’ve got a great opportunity here! Cap‘n Crunch is an iconic cereal brand loved by millions of kids. Andy wants you to develop a series around it. It’s a slam dunk for a pick-up!”

I took a good long look at the grinning Captain on the box. I’d caught glimpses of him in a few commercials, but having him right here in my office was different. With his long white whiskers, the silly blue captain’s hat and sleepy eyes, he didn’t look particularly dangerous. In fact, he looked outright friendly, like a harmless old grandpa.

I felt a little sorry for the old guy. I knew he wanted someone to write about him, but it wasn’t going to be me.

I said, “It’s not for me.” When she asked what I meant, I said, “You want someone to write commercials. I don’t write commercials.”

She fell silent, unable to believe what she was hearing. Finally she said, “We’ll sell this series in a heartbeat. All you have to do is write it. I don’t get it.”

I nodded and said, “I know you don’t. This meeting’s over.”

Her eyes narrowed as she said, “Andy wants you to do this.”

I answered, “Well, then you’ve got bad news to deliver to him.”

She turned and left in a huff. I never heard a word from Andy about Cap’n Crunch.

mwww.newbuffalotimes.com

HOROSCOPE JULY 23-29, 2026

AS INTERPRETED BY SANDY “STAR” BENDT ARIES MARCH 21—APRIL 19

LEO JULY 23—AUGUST 22

SAGITTARIUS NOVEMBER22—DECEMBER21

When it comes to dealing with people it’s best to lead from and with the heart, this week. Bigger picture is the people you encounter at this time, will likely be dealing with some heavy issues. It’s important to be honest with your opinion but don’t over do it. A stoic, matter of fact kind of response is best now.

The solar energy is radiating your way this week bringing you some vibrant energy and many opportunities to connect with people on a deeper level. This is the time to get out and talk to people. The connections you make over the next few months will be very influential and likely bring in good financial opportunities.

The planets are position in such a way as to spark your desire for living life and connecting with your family and it’s roots.

There will be a passion for learning and connecting with things that your parents or ancestors were part of.

Don’t shy away from the inner knowings and the times when they touch in. Trust it.

TAURUS APRIL 20—MAY 20

VIRGO AUGUST 23—SEPTEMBER 22

CAPRICORN DECEMBER22—JANUARY19

The energy radiating your way this week will be expanding your idea of responsibility and motivating you to be more active in preserving the things you care about. Your sense of home and what it means to care for something will be sparked. Put that divine spark to good use and take a more active role in life.

The vibe coming your way this week is all about getting guidance and a helping hand when you need it. Know that the great benefactor of the sky is resting in the place of renewal and refreshment. It is in the place of the mystic and where the soul resides. Use this position to it’s fullest by paying attention.

There may be some replanting or re tilling of the fields so to speak this week as the stars are in position to activate your regenerative and creative side. This is the time to bring more love, more light and more attention to your living space and turn things around for the better.

Create that special place, now.

GEMINI MAY 21—JUNE 21

Pay very close attention to the things you say this week. Promises may not be so easy to keep now and it would be wise to remain noncommittal until you get more information organized. As far as being informed, you have a lot more information to process before you will be able to make meaningful public statements.

LIBRA SEPTEMBER 23—OCTOBER 22 Stay true to form this week. There may be some rough waters to traverse or bridges to build with people before you can truly connect. The stars are hitting you in the heart chakra and opening up your healing abilities. Grab your amethyst and start radiating love and angelic guidance to the people

AQUARIUS JANUARY 20—FEBRUARY 18

This is the time to reinvent your image and style. Move away from outdated styles or things that keep you centered in the past. Be present. Acting on creative potentials and unusual social styles are your birthright. Be true to your avauntgarde approach to life and break from traditional beauty concepts.

CANCER JUNE 22—JULY 22

SCORPIO OCTOBER 23—NOVEMBER 21

PISCES FEBRUARY 19—MARCH 20

Watch for any omens and signs of renewal before making any moves this week. The stars are in position to boost your psychic and intuitive senses, now. Put it to good use by paying attention to any oddities and looking for the larger patterns. Wait for that inner knowing to spark you into action.

The energy radiating from the stars this week will be giving you some big signs to help you recognize where the real potentials are and how to maximize your skills so that you can expand into new creative and career paths. Look for the signs and trust in your abilities. Blast those creative ideas into the world.

There will be many signs and omens to interpret this week as the moon will be shinning its energy into your dreams. Take time in the early morning hours this week to synthesize your feelings, physical experiences and intuitive senses.

You have the ability to create what the day brings when you follow that lunar compass.

Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself. — Leo Tolstoy

THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2026 13

www.newbuffalotimes.com

14 THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2026

RUTH AUSEMA FEATURED ARTIST FOR PIPE ORGAN CONCERT SERIES

J

oin the Friends of the Roosevelt Organ at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Michigan City as they host the sixth in a series of fine pipe organ concerts at 12:15 p.m. CST Wednesday, July 29.

Ruth Ausema will be the featured artist. A graduate of VanderCook College of Music, Ruth has been an educator for many years and brings a masterful, erudite touch to her interpretation of each piece presented. She received her B.M.E. from Cedarville University with organ as her primary instrument.

She has taught privately since then and has been in the elementary classroom as a music educator for 13 years. In 2018,

she earned her M.M.E. from VanderCook College of Music in Chicago. She just completed her eighth year with the Valparaiso Community Schools, during which she also taught a fine arts class at Valparaiso University in the Education Department.

In her own classroom, she provided a hands-on organ experience for fifth graders using the Orgelkids kit in collaboration with the STEM teacher.

She began playing the organ again in 2016 while working on her master’s degree, taking lessons from Dr. John Sherer at Fourth Presbyterian in Chicago. Ruth has held organist positions in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Indiana.

All Wednesday afternoon concerts will be held at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 818 Franklin Street, in downtown Michigan City. Concerts are free to the public and all are invited to enjoy music played on St. Paul’s historic American Classic Austin Organ.

The Ladies of St. Paul’s will host a reception following John’s performance giving audience members an opportunity to meet the artist.

For a complete schedule, visit http:// mcorganconcerts.org/.

For questions or further information, contact Bill Halliar at William.halliar@gmail. com or call at 219629-5853 cell. — STAFF REPORTS

A

New packing plant for Michigan fruit farm

BY STAN MADDUX

family-owned Michigan fruit farm has taken a major step aimed at continued growth just one year short of its 100th birthday.

Hildebrand Fruit Farms didn’t waste time putting its new and much larger packing facility to use after a July 16 ribbon cutting.

Peaches started being packed the next day in the near 30,000 square foot building, which has twice as much space as the previous 60-year-old facility.

Owner Mike Hildebrand, a fourthgeneration owner/operator of the farm near Berrien Springs in the southwest part of the state, said there was barely any room left in the old packing facility to take in more fruit.

He said the packing facility used to be owned by Dave Pagel, who was in the business of packing fruit for area farmers for 40 years until retiring.

Hildebrand said the farm purchased the packing facility eight years ago.

At the time, it was large enough to pack fruit from the Hildebrand farm and other area growers, but as more growers were added, the packing facility just over a mile from the Hildebrand farm became too small.

“We were just out of space and kept growing. Eventually, our building was going to be a limiting factor on growth,” he said.

The $4 million project was assisted with a $175,000 grant from the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.

The funds were taken from MDARD’s Food and Agriculture Investment Program aimed at providing financial support for food and agriculture projects selected based on their impact on the industry in the state.

MDARD Director Tim Boring said expansion projects like the one at Hildebrand Fruit Farms strengthen regional food systems, support jobs and, ultimately, drive economic impact.

“With a rich history and dedication to

community, farms like Hildebrand are the backbone of Michigan’s Agriculture Industry,” he said.

The new packing facility also has a more efficient layout along with increased capacity and equipment options.

The roots of the farm stretch back to 1912 when Adolph Hildebrand, a German displaced by war, immigrated from modern-day Ukraine to the U.S. He settled in nearby St. Joseph where he met his future wife, Alma.

Both worked in a factory, but they purchased the original 40-acre farm in 1927 because of dust in the workplace causing respiratory problems.

Mrs. Hildebrand grew up on a fruit farm and taught her husband how to grow peaches, apples, strawberries, raspberries, grapes, and other fruits.

M

ost of what they grew was sold at a farmers’ market about 25 miles away from the farm across the Indiana state line in

South Bend.

Eventually, more land was added to the farm, which now has about 300 acres of apples, peaches, pears and grapes.

“We’ve been very blessed to have more customers. More business,” he said.

Hildebrand said the new ground includes a farm purchased when he decided as a senior in high school that he wanted to join the family’s operation.

One of the reasons he had the new packing facility built is to continue growing the business for his three children after they recently expressed an interest in becoming the next owner/ operators of the family farm.

“So, it’s like. Let’s go. It’s now or never,” he said.

The old packing facility has been turned into a market for selling fruit.

Hildebrand said the new packing facility was going to be constructed, regardless, but the grant helped soften the financial blow.

“Every dollar helps,” he said.

mwww.newbuffalotimes.com

THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2026 15

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To Your Health COLUMN BY KAREN EDWARDS ND

PARASITES IN YOUR FOOD

vegetables in bags. Buy bulk and cut your own.

This is also true t often starts with a single bite a summer salad or a handful theofcost-effective alternative with cheese. Purchase full blocks and of freshto berries.

Within a few new housing grate your own so the parasite cannot days to a week, itcan transform thrive in the package. into severe abdominal cramps, The most immediate danger of bloating, fatigue, and relentless, Cyclospora is severe dehydration watery diarrhea. This can cause from frequent bowel movements. It severe dehydration and loss of is vital toprioritize consuming fluids electrolytes. This is what ultimately packed with electrolytes such as takes some to the hospital. mineral broths, or coconut water. It is The culprit behind this misery is advised to avoidalcohol and caffeine, Cyclospora cayetanensis. This is a that can contribute to dehydration and microscopic parasite that targets the fluid loss. human small intestine. Case counts The most important takeaway from traditionally spikebetween May johnrtaylor1953@gmail.com this article is to keep your immune and August. For different reasons, system strong to begin with. If our this year has a real outbreak of Residential Builder immune systems are supported and Cyclospora. There are numerous MI License theories out there. No. 2102222731 humming in good health, the parasite Unlike many common foodborne cannot take hold and infect us. A diet bacteria, Cyclosporacannot be of healthy fruits, vegetables, greens, passed directly from person to nuts, seeds beans and microgreens person. When an infected individual are important. Eat like the Blue zones sheds the parasite in their stool, (Previous article.) Avoid sugar and the organism is not yet infectious. It processed foods. Parasites thrive on requires days, or even weeks in the sugar and junk foods that are rotted environment to mature and become and stagnant. capable of causing illness.

About 70% of your immune system Because of its unique lifecycle, resides in your gut. Support it by infection occurs through contaminated eating probiotic-rich foods (like food and water. The parasite enters yogurt, kefir, and sauerkraut) and the food supply when agricultural prebiotic fibers (like garlic, onions, water or soil is contaminated with and oats). Aim for 7 to 9 hours of human feces. uninterrupted sleep per night.

Cyclospora is very hardy. It Establish a calming bedtime easily survives standard chlorinated routine and limit screen time before swimming pool water and resists 1942 — bed can improve your sleep quality. routine chemical sanitizers and Regular, moderate exercise boosts produce washes. Rinsing your cardiovascular health and promotes vegetables help, but it does not good blood circulation. This allows guarantee the elimination of the immune cells and other infectionparasite. The absolute safest fighting molecules to travel more preventative measure is cooking easily throughout your body. produce which kills the organism.

Parasites will not inhabit a healthy If you do however fall ill, the body. symptoms can follow a frustrating, relapsing course that lingers for weeks or even months if left Disclaimer: Everything here is for untreated. Fortunately, the infection nutritional education and is not meant is highly treatable once properly diagnosed. to diagnose, treat prevent or cure. See Pass on the precut salads and your doctor when you have questions.

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18 THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2026

Campers participate in a ‘Music Playground’ at The Acorn

E

BY FRANCESCA SAGALA

xecutive Director Ashley Magnus said they called this year’s camp at The Acorn in Three Oaks “The Music Playground” to “evoke a playful feeling, an experimental feeling.”

“This really isn’t an intense music conservatory environment – it’s really an environment for learning and exploring and having fun with music that hopefully, they’ll carry into the rest of their lives,” she said.

A partnership with the School of American Music (SAM), the free camp let campers choose a track: voice, piano or guitar.

Campers could then receive one-on-one instruction from the faculty at SAM, as well as learn directly from guest instructors and partake in theater and improv games.

There were around 30 campers, six of whom were returning from last year’s camp.

Children from the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Southwest Michigan, who attend the River Valley School District’s summer camp, were also bussed over.

Senior Production Manager Michael Bond said that The Acorn had the chance earlier in the year to “pivot” and offer a program in conjunction with SAM. Students performed in a showcase Saturday, July 18, which included group choral numbers as well as guitar, piano and vocal solos.

“The idea is any level of

expertise, any level of interest in music they could come in and go through these three tracks, whether it’s a voice track or guitar track or a piano track and our teachers from SAM would work with them and put something cohesive together, whether it’s foundational or a little more advanced,” Bond said.

He said one student who picked up a guitar and plucked some strings a couple months ago performed on electric guitar with amp for the showcase.

Another student who’s been writing songs for a while was ready to perform on the piano at The Acorn’s Singer Songwriter Competition July 18.

Campers perform a group number at a dress rehearsal

Andy Sydow coaches campers on the piano

G

uest instructors included Andy Sydow, 2024 Acorn Singer Songwriter runner-up and Kristopher Zook, dean of arts and sciences from Lake Michigan College, who helped campers create a musical from scratch in 45 minutes. Campers even had a handbell demonstration, working kinetically with bells.

Involving music in this year’s camp was a natural evolution for The Acorn, Bond said.

“It’s cool we’re continuing to build this program and do something new but also make it us, make it fun - I think these kids came in with whatever level of understanding they had and are leaving with something better,” he said.

Campers sing during a dress rehearsal

Campers strum the guitar during a dress rehearsal

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