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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2016
31ST ANNUAL KEEBOON-MEIN-KAA POW WOW TO TAKE PLACE ON LABOR DAY WEEKEND
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he Pokagon Band of Potawatomi invites the public to its 31st Annual Kee-Boon-Mein-Kaa Pow Wow, the annual celebration of traditional singing, dancing, and culture Saturday September 3 and Sunday September 4. The Pokagon Band’s pow wow arena is located on its Rodgers Lake campus at 58620 Sink Road, Dowagiac, Michigan. Parking and admission are free. Kee-boon-mein-kaa in the Potawatomi language refers to the end of the huckleberry harvest, a traditional time of celebration for the Potawatomi people. The pow wow draws dancers and drummers of all ages from the Great Lakes and beyond to compete for prize money in several categories. This year, organizers have added several new dance contests to attract more contestants including the All Around, where each dancer who competes must dance in all three styles of dance, and a Chicken Dance, which is a vibrant and exciting style that originates from the Plains. Vendors will be selling native artwork, jewelry, crafts, and goods, as well as traditional food. The Pokagon Youth Council is sponsoring a youth dance on Saturday night from 9:30 p.m. to midnight. To kick off the weekend, a group of Pokagon women have organized the ninth annual Women’s Water Walk on Friday, September 2. Protecting the water is a traditional responsibility for women in Nishnabe culture. Following a sunrise ceremony, women and their supporters will walk 15 miles from a tribal lake to the tribal campus at Rodgers Lake. This ceremony and act of walking honors and prays for the waters of the Pokagon Band homelands, and passes on these teachings to others. The Grand Entries for the pow wow, which are the formal start of the dancing and songs, are at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Saturday and noon on Sunday. On both mornings, the vendors and cultural presenters will set up before the dancing starts; the gates to the pow wow grounds open at 10 a.m. For more details, visit the pow wow’s website at www.pokagonpowwow.com.
— STAFF REPORTS
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Sox Park to be named Guaranteed Rate Field LINDA HENDERSON IN NEW BUFFALO
21St Outsiders Outside Art Fair at Judith Racht Gallery
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Chicago businessman with ties to New Buffalo has acquired the naming rights to White Sox Park (formerly known as U.S. Cellular Field), as the Chicago White Sox announced Wednesday that U.S. Cellular Field will be renamed Guaranteed Rate Field beginning Nov. 1. The CEO of Guaranteed Rate, Victor Ciardelli is also the owner of the property located in the heart of downtown New Buffalo formerly known as Village Square/ Fountain Square and Michigan Thyme. He also owns the fenced in parking lot in the 100 block of East Mechanic Street that is unavailable for anyone to park in. The White Sox recently signed the 13-year naming rights agreement with Guaranteed Rate, the Chicago-based national mortgage lender. The original White Sox Park on Chicago’s south side was named Comiskey Park after its founding father Charles A. Comiskey. When the new park was built across 35th Street, it, too, was called Comiskey Park from 1991 until 2002, when the naming rights were sold and the ballpark name was changed in 2003 to US Cellular Field. Many fans referred to the park as “The Cell” or they simply continued to call it Comiskey. Ciardelli threw the first pitch out at Wednesday night’s game, later speculating about a new nickname - the “Rate Field,” “The Rate,” “Go Rate” or “The G.” He added that he would let the fans decide on the nickname. Ciardelli founded the privately held company, Guaranteed Rate, in 2000 and it is now one of the largest home lenders in the United States. They reported funding $18 billion in loans last year. The company has grown to more than 3,200 employees nationally, including more than 700 employees at its headquarters on the north side of Chicago. People have a way of liking nicknames; Sox fans are speculating online about what the park will be called now that it’s not going to be “The Cell.” Will it be “The Rate,” as some speculate, or will it remain Comiskey Park for the diehards? In New Buffalo, many have nicknamed the former Village Square/Fountain Square project “Slab Harbor.” Everyone has hoped for an improved development in the heart of the downtown, but with no information forthcoming from the investors, only time will tell what the future name will be for New Buffalo’s downtown eyesore. The Chicago White Sox haven’t disclosed how much Guaranteed Rate paid for the naming rights. However, U.S. Cellular paid $68 million for its 20-year naming rights deal in 2003, but ironically, U.S. Cellular no longer provides service in the Chicagoland area. On Wednesday, IFSA (Illinois Sports Facilities Authority) Chairman Manny Sanchez said that the deal could generate $6.4 million annually of revenue for the facility. The Chicago Tribune reported that, although no figures were disclosed, they heard reports that it could be in the neighborhood of $88 million. Whenever the final number is revealed, it is guaranteed to be an impressive one. Meanwhile, stay tuned for any development news in downtown New Buffalo.
Evening of Friday, Sept. 2, the opening party for the “Harbert We Own” 21st annual Outsiders Outside Art Fair will take place at Judith Racht Gallery, with the fair continuing throughout the weekend. The Outsiders Outside Art Fair celebrates untrained visionary and folk art from all over the country. The art work will be on display under the big top and available for purchase. The Opening Night Preview Party takes place Friday evening from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., with Jim Fastiggi performing on guitar and Willie Cherry’s gospel music offering a sing-a-long. The entry fee is $25 and includes the party and the first look at everything, plus a full weekend pass. Food will be available by Hernandez Family Tocorea on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Favorites such as Ellison Art Studio, Paul Hart, The Pardee Collection, and Harvey’s Art and Antiques are slated to participate, along with a number of exciting exhibitors including: Scott Covert of New Buffalo, Jeff Matejovsky of Niles and Mike Heavner and Carrie Kirby, both of Crown Point, Indiana. The fair is open on Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. Admission is $10 per day. Children under 12 are free with an adult. If coming from the south, follow the Red Arrow Detours signs, which come out onto Red Arrow Highway at the Gallery. Judith Racht Gallery is located at 13707 Prairie Road in Harbert. For information, call 269-469-1080 or visit www.judithrachtgallery.com. — LINDA HENDERSON
‘It’s Greek to Me’: Folk Dancing, Music and Nosh
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BY ALEXANDER FATOUROS
he Labor Day Weekend Greek Festival in New Buffalo, Michigan is a special delight not to be missed. The annual social affair pledges to uplift your spirits. A full array of festivities—from scrumptious Greek fare and pastries to lively music and folk dancing await the flavor seeker. “Authentic Greek food will be prepared by Tony Mamouzellos of the Formal Fork, and the sights and sounds of Greece promise a memorable adventure. [We will] have a marketplace with Greek gifts and souvenirs and children’s entertainment,” expressed Lillian Casten. The Hellenic Center is located at 17760 Behner Road on US 12, just off I-94, Exit 4B. The gracious and generous support of
patrons and volunteers alike “keep the candles glowing,” expounded Lillian Casten. Father Paul Martin will lead tours of the Byzantine-styled Annunciation and Agia Paraskevi Greek Orthodox Church and the Greek Museum of Berrien County, which are located on the festival grounds. The occasion to partake in the scents and merriment of the time-honored traditions of the Greek-American community is at hand this weekend. The celebration begins on Friday, September 2nd from 5 pm – 11 pm, continues on Saturday, September 3rd noon – 11 pm, and wraps up on Sunday, September 4th noon – 11 pm EST. Admission and parking are free. For more information about the Parish drop by http:// www.aapgoc. mi.goarch.org/.