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THURSDAY, APRIL 13, 2017 Judges Angel Reichert, Sandy Sporleder, Pam Feeney and Susan Henshaw
Clearing the way for Harbor Country mountain bike trail
S Bookworms win at bookmark contest
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LINDA HENDERSON IN NEW BUFFALO
ecently, the New Buffalo Township Library committee announced the winners of the Design a Bookmark Contest. Awards were given at the respective schools that the students attend. The first, second and third place winners represented entries submitted by children from different age groups who attend New Buffalo Elementary, Middle and High School and St. Mary of the Lake Catholic School. More than 200 creative entries were received by the library and the Bookmark Contest committee members. The artists were asked to create a bookmark based on a favorite character or theme from a favorite book; however, no trademarked images or computer art was allowed. The original artwork could be submitted in pen, crayon, ink, magic marker, colored pencil, water colors or paint. Each student was allowed only one entry. The judges took their time deliberating over the creative entries. Everyone agreed that it was a very difficult choice to select the winners, as there were so many original, creative, colorful and thought-provoking entries from all the different age groups. They said that they felt that there were many unique images and meaningful messages by a lot of very talented kids. The judges considered the art, the ability of the student’s age, the message and the execution of the design when selecting the winners. The entry groups were as follows: kindergarten, first and second grade, third through fifth grade, sixth grade through eighth grade, and high school students. The winners were: kindergarten through second grade, first place, Jackson Saundes; second place, Harlow Allee and third place, Aaron Berk. Third grade through fifth grade, first place, Elissa Seifert; second place, Izzsy Moser and third place, Max Brown. Sixth grade through eighth grade, first place, Joey Pokuta; second place, Abi Sheldon and third place, Anika Leslie Buller. High school, first place, Lexi Moser; second place, Alaina Maniscalco and tied for third place were Alyssa Mulligan and Emily Fatter. The winners in each age group received monetary awards of $25 for first place, $15 for second place and $10 for third place. In addition, all the winning entries will be displayed at the library and will be available as laminated bookmarks, while supplies last, for a $.50 donation to the library. The judges for the contest were local artists Angela Reichert and Susan Henshaw, Honorary Leader Pam Feeney with Friends of the Library and NBT Library Board member Sandy Sporleder.
BY FRANCESCA SAGALA IN CHIKAMING TOWNSHIP
oon, Harbor Country residents and visitors won’t have to trek far to find a genuine mountain biking trail. A group of volunteers spent Sunday, April 9, cleaning up and creating what will be a mountain bike trail at Chikaming Township Park and Preserve in Chikaming Township. The trail will be six miles long and a single track. According to JV Peacock, he was approached by Kirk Schrader with regards to a possible trail. Peacock owns Outpost Sports which has locations in South Haven, New Buffalo and St. Joseph, Michigan, and Mishawaka, Indiana. “I put a big call out on Facebook,” he said of his volunteer recruiting process. Peacock added that while there were bike trails located throughout the park, they were too “grassy and flat” for mountain biking. He added that the trail will also be used for fat tire biking. Kirk said the trail was approved at a Chikaming Township Park Board meeting last December. In addition to Peacock, he also enlisted the help of Bruce Jones, who helped create the Andrews Trails located near Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan. Currently, the trails are the only place for mountain biking in the area. He said he and Jones first went to the 263-acre park and put up flags
for the trail. The first “build day” for the trail, he said, was back in February, where they had 10 volunteers and put in 56 volunteer hours. So far, he said they already have 170 volunteer hours. His hope, he said, was that the trail will lead visitors to rarely traversed parts of the park. Jones said he believes it will serve as a positive asset to the surrounding area, as Harbor Country contains many
outdoor enthusiasts. “A lot of people do outdoor activities around here,” he said. Janet Schrader, a member of the Chikaming Park Board, pointed out an area of the trail located on a slope that has been what is called, “bench cut.” Bench cutting, she said, makes it easier to ride as well as prevents erosion. In clearing the trail, she added that they’ve used no heavy machinery while working on the trail. This includes the use of no chainsaws for downed trees, and rarely for any trees that may be “in the way,” as they’ve merely gone around them. “We’ve taken a green approach,” she said.
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JV Peacock pauses during work
Joe Green and Mark Pitts work on making the trail
t noon, Janet said volunteers enjoyed a lunch that was provided by Luisa’s Café in Harbert, Michigan. Coffee was provided by Whistle Stop in Union Pier, Michigan. Tools for work on the trail were burrowed from the Northern Indiana Mountain Bike Association (NIMBA). “People really want this done,” said Janet of the trail, adding that mountain biking is a “growing pastime.” Those who are interested in volunteering for the creation of Harbor Country’s premiere mountain bike trail are invited to come to the park Sunday, April 23, at 9 a.m. The park is located on West Warren Woods Road in Chikaming Township.
Janet and Kirk Schrader with Bruce Jones and Buddy