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www.newbuffalotimes.comw w

THURSDAY, MAY 2, 2019

Karen Cummings, Joan Brown and Larry Shawver

LETTERS TO THE NEW BUFFALO TIMES:

DEMOCRACY LAYS DOWN WITHOUT TRANSPARENCY THE VIEWS HERE DO NOT NECESSARILY REPRESENT THE VIEWS OF THE NEW BUFFALO TIMES. THE NEW BUFFALO TIMES ASKS THAT YOUR LETTERS BE UNIQUE, KIND AND BASED ON REASONED FACTS. THE NEW BUFFALO TIMES RESERVES THE RIGHT TO NOT PUBLISH ANY CORRESPONDENCE FOR ANY REASON. PLEASE KEEP YOUR LETTERS TO 500 WORDS OR FEWER. PLEASE INCLUDE YOUR NAME, PHONE NUMBER AND YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS. PLEASE EMAIL YOUR LETTER TO THE INFO@NEWBUFFALOTIMES.COM. THANK YOU KINDLY IN ADVANCE. DEMOCRACY REQUIRES TRANSPARENCY.

New Buffalo Times LOCAL INTELLIGENCE — SINCE 1942 —

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A FOND FAREWELL...

resigned from the Harbor Country Chamber of Commerce last week after 8 years at the helm. I know I’m not unique, but having worked consistently for 45 years with only a 4 week break, I’m looking forward to a much longer one in the coming months. For once in my life, I am not making any plans and will see what opportunities might excite me enough to get off the back porch (or not). There are lots of people to thank for helping me take the Chamber to a new level. First and foremost — Rich Kochanny, Gregg Bubb, Maureen Culp and Kevin Harrington — the Steering Committee that hired me and had a vision for economic development in Harbor Country. Chamber staff past and present especially Kim Wendt, Emily Hojara, Robin Quackenbush and Kim Pruitt, who made every day in the office fun. Margaret Adams of Cornerstone Alliance for her partnership and inspiration. To the Chamber Board of Directors, past and present, for their guidance and support. And to the 500 Chamber members who I had the pleasure to serve and get to know. Last, but most certainly not least, I would like to thank Dave Johnson of Harbor Country News and the staff of New Buffalo Times for their commitment to covering Chamber activities. We are so fortunate to have two local papers in our community. I can’t wait to get back to gardening, classes at the Y, and walking…lots of walking. See you around town!

— VIKI GUDAS, UNION PIER

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KEEP THE FAITH...

n the midst of hate and violence, SW Michigan faith leaders declare a commitment to love and peace “As faith leaders in SW Michigan, we decry the violence and hatred expressed towards our neighbors at the Islamic Association of SW Michigan.   Our faith, in its Scriptures and in its translation into action, is one of love. We worship a God who calls us to love, and to seek peace and harmony in community. We worship a God who calls us to advance justice, particularly for those who are being excluded or subject to fear and threat of danger. In the past six months, we have reacted in horror to the killings at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh and the Chabad Synagogue in California, the killings at mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, and the killings targeting churches and public spaces in Sri Lanka.  This Friday, we have learned that hatred and violence exists in our own backyard, and we remain shocked by the bomb threat issued against the Islamic Association. We stand in unity with all people

who are threatened by the forces of hatred, and we stand in unity and community with our friends who worship at the Islamic Association of SW Michigan.  We surround them with prayer, with love, and with our protective presence. And we are committed to making SW Michigan a community where love prevails over hatred.”

— REV JAY FAST, HARBERT COMMUNITY CHURCH REV JOAN OLESON, SARON EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH OF ST JOSEPH REV LAURIE HARTZELL, FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF BENTON HARBOR REV DAVID M. SCHELL, FAIRPLAIN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH MICHAEL NIXON, VICE PRESIDENT ANDREWS UNIVERSITY REMEY RUBIN, FIRST HEBREW CONGREGATION OF SOUTH HAVEN REV ADAM BOHLAND, ZION ST JOE UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST REV DR SID MOHN, INTERFAITH ACTION OF SW MICHIGAN DR ANDREA LUXTON, PRESIDENT ANDREWS UNIVERSITY DEBRA BASHAM, ST JOSEPH BUDDHIST SANGHA PASTOR GEORGE LAWTON, LAKESIDE METHODIST CHURCH REV NAN DEHNKE, ST JOHN’S EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN OF BARODA DR TERESA REEVE, INTERFAITH COMMITTEE OF ANDREWS UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT COUNCIL DIANE RAPAPORT-YAMPOLSKY, TEMPLE B’NAI SHALOM OF BENTON HARBOR REV SUSAN GREENWOOD, FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF COLOMA DR DAN STENBERG, FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF NILES REV JEFFREY DICK, FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF SOUTH HAVEN PASTOR DANI VEENSTRA, ST. PAUL’S UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST OF WATERVLIET GLYN DURSTON, CHURCH OF THE MEDIATOR EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF LAKESIDE REV TRAVIS WILSON, PEACE EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH OF SOUTH HAVEN STEPHEN LEONARD,  ST. AUGUSTINE OF CANTERBURY EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF BENTON HARBOR PASTOR JEFF DRYDEN, SAWYER HIGHLANDS CHURCH REV JEFFREY HUBERS, FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF ST JOSEPH ROSALIE PLECHATY, ST BASIL CATHOLIC CHURCH OF SOUTH HAVEN REV DIANE PIKE, ST PAUL’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF ST JOSEPH, TRINITY EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF NILES AND ST PAUL’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF DOWAGIAC REV FRAN LANE-LAWRENCE, FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF NILES  PASTOR KEL PENNY, WATER’S EDGE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH OF NEW BUFFALO REV MICHAEL RYAN, EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF THE EPIPHANY OF SOUTH HAVEN SISTER MARY PUNG, CONGREGATION OF ST. JOSEPH FR. ROBERT CREAGAN, ST. JOSEPH CHURCH, ST. JOSEPH AND SS. JOHN AND BERNARD CHURCH, BENTON HARBOR AND ST. JOSEPH CHURCH, WATERVLIET FR. LEONEL CARTAGENA FRANCO, ST ANTHONY CATHOLIC CHURCH OF BUCHANAN AND ST GABRIEL CATHOLIC CHURCH OF BERRIEN SPRINGS

Flag Day Hog Roast makes an encore at Acorn Theater

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BY THERESE DONNELLY

t wasn’t the usual fare offered up at the Acorn Theater when the Three Oaks venue played host to the Flag Day Hog Roast fundraiser Sunday, April 28. The Flag Day Committee and volunteers transformed the seating area into a temporary dining room, while staff from New Buffalo Bill’s served up the main course - a pastureraised hog donated by restaurant owners Bill Reynolds and Mary Hess. The hog started slow cooking Saturday evening and was ready shortly before noon Sunday. Bill’s staff dished up the meat while members of the Miss River Valley Court and the Flag Day Committee helped serve up sides. Committee members have been working for months to arrange the dinner and collect items for the silent auction. Long-time committee member Larry Shawver said in addition to the hog roast, sponsorships from businesses and individuals and grant money help provide the nearly $12,000 Flag Day Prince Aaron York needed for the public checks on the hog events. In addition to the largest Flag Day parade in the nation, the Flag Day Committee also provides a firework display during the weekend of festivities. A full list of Flag Day activities can be found at www. threeoaksflagday.com.

Brian Thompson and Pat Ard

Royalty Alexis Walton, Brianna Taylor (back), Lou Lou Taylor (front)