appointments

New Buffalo Times LOCAL INTELLIGENCE — SINCE 1942 —

ETHICS SOCIETY OF PROFESSIONAL JOURNALISM MICHIGAN PRESS ASSOCIATION MEMBER PROPRIETOR NEW BUFFALO TIMES, INC. EDITOR NEW BUFFALO TIMES INTELLIGENCE EDITORIAL BOARD CREATIVE DIRECTOR JOE DURK REPORTERS AND CONTRIBUTING WRITERS THERESE DONNELLY FRANCESCA SAGALA LAWRENCE VON EBELER KURT MARGGRAF ALEXANDER FATOUROS SOPHIA ROSE FATOUROS STAN MADDUX GAIL ISAACSON KRISTIN E. FATOUROS NEW BUFFALO TIMES INTELLIGENCE NEW BUFFALO TIMES POLITICS GUESTS PROOFING FRANCESCA SAGALA BROADCAST/ADVERTISING JANINE ADAMSKI (630) 370-0820 OR JANINEADAMSKI@GMAIL.COM SUGGESTIONS, CRITICISM, IDEAS MEDIA@NEWBUFFALOTIMES.COM ADVERTISING MEDIA@NEWBUFFALOTIMES.COM CLASSIFIED ADS CLASSIFIEDS@NEWBUFFALOTIMES.COM SUBSCRIPTIONS SUBSCRIPTIONS@NEWBUFFALOTIMES.COM COMMUNICATE DIRECTLY WITH NEW BUFFALO TIMES INFO@NEWBUFFALOTIMES.COM Periodical Postage paid in New Buffalo, MI. Postmaster, please send address changes to: NEW BUFFALO TIMES PO BOX 959, New Buffalo, MI 49117 ©2020 NEW BUFFALO TIMES, INC. PUBLICATION NUMBER 377960 NEW BUFFALO TIMES distribution: Milda’s Corner Market • Customs Imports Sawyer Garden Center • The Whistle Stop David’s Delicatessen • Grand Variety Barney’s • Knoll Bros. • Stray Dog Infusco Coffee Roasters Black Currant Bakehouse The Marina Grand • Redamak’s Outpost Sports • Big C Lumber Between Casey’s and Nancy’s Sawyer Hardware • The Harbor Grand Froehlics . Three Oaks Journeyman Distillery . Three Oaks The Acorn Theater . Three Oaks The Lakeside Inn

New Buffalo Township Library now open for

Tappointments The New Buffalo Township Library is now taking appointments for book browsing. Full rules are listed on the library’s website, Facebook page and on the doors of the library. Appointments are limited and of a half-hour duration, so patrons should call to schedule an appointment soon. Curbside service and service

Flooding on Whittaker Street appointments are still available. Patrons can call the library to near beach made dry arrange their appointment. Curbside and appointments are only available BY STAN MADDUX to cardholders, so patrons should

Almost constant flooding That section of Whittaker Street sign up for their card on the library’s on Whittaker Street near before the reconstruction developed website, newbuffalotownshiplibrary. the beach in New Buffalo numerous pot holes from high water org. should be a thing of the past following a recent construction project. A 40-foot stretch of the road north of the bridge on Whittaker Street was reconstructed last week for about $44,000. City Manager Dave Richards said a low spot where flood water collected is now level. The road was also slightly tilted gathering not just during storms. Water was backing up from the river being swollen and deposited on the street through a storm drain along the curb across from Harbor Pointe condominiums. Eventually, Richards said the badly deteriorated stretch of Whittaker Street was turned into a gravel surface, which is easier to maintain until a solution to Youth Services is offering biweekly story times for both little ones and bigger ones as well as weekly crafting projects available via curbside service. A Youth Fall Reading Program began Sept. 22. Those who are interested can sign up now. Curbside Trick or Treat will be Friday and Saturday, Oct. 30 and 31, by appointment. Adult Services is offering Flash to send water during storms toward the flooding was in place. Fiction on Mondays at 12 p.m. and the lake and into a 30 foot long swale The storm drain was filled with Books on the Beach on Tuesdays constructed between the sidewalk and concrete during the summer to stop the and Thursdays at 4:30 p.m. on Galien River. discharges from the river, which has the library’s Facebook page. Adult

Richards said the 2- to 3-feet deep risen from the record high water levels Services is also offering Blind swale was also equipped with a pump on Lake Michigan. Date with a Book. Patrons can to discharge water from the manmade “I think it was a good deal for a call the library to sign up. A new cavity into the river. temporary fix that should last several virtual book club is also on offer,

“So far, it’s working well,” he said. years,” Richards said. called the Dewey Decimators. More information is available on the library’s website, Facebook or Instagram. Art flourishes where there is The Friends of the Library is a sense of adventure. keeping our calendar full of Zoom presentations. A full roster of — Alfred Whitehead events is available on the library’s website. — STAFF REPORTS

Local Government Meetings

New Buffalo Times Democracy Requires Transparency

CITY OF NEW BUFFALO MAYOR LOU O’DONNELL IV CITY COUNCIL Meets on the 3rd Monday of each month at 6:30PM DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (DDA) MEETING Meets on the 2nd Thursday May, September, and November at 8AM CITY OF NEW BUFFALO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETINGS Meets on the first 1st Tuesday Quarterly at 7PM

NEW BUFFALO TOWNSHIP NEW BUFFALO TOWNSHIP BOARD Meets on the 3rd Monday of each month at 7PM NEW BUFFALO TOWNSHIP PLANNING COMMISSION Meets on the 1st Tuesday of each month at 6:30PM

CHIKAMING TOWNSHIP CHIKAMING TOWNSHIP 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 VILLAGE OF GRAND BEACH COUNCIL Meets on the 3rd Wednesday of each month at 7:30PM

MICHIANA VILLAGE OF MICHIANA COUNCIL Meets on the 2nd Friday of each month at 1PM

Statement Berrien County Health Department about Gov. Whitmer’s revoked emergency powers and potential future local action COUNTY HEALTH OFFICIALS ADDRESS UNCERTAINTY CAUSED BY RECENT MICHIGAN SUPREME COURT RULING

The Berrien County Health Department understands that there has been uncertainty stemming from the Oct. 2, 2020, Michigan Supreme Court ruling determining that Gov. Gretchen Whitmer did not have the authority to issue executive orders under emergency declarations past April 30, 2020.

While the department is continuing to interpret the rulings and establish the best course of action to protect the health of the public, this ruling does not change the importance of continuing the preventative actions residents have been taking to limit the spread of COVID-19.

At this time, the Berrien County Health Department is in consultation with the Berrien County legal counsel, the Board of Health, Board of Commissioners, the Michigan Association of Public Health, and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services to determine next steps for Berrien County. Under MCL 333.2453 of the Public Health Code (Public Act 368 or 1978), the epidemic emergency order for local health departments under the Michigan Public Health Code, the local health officer has broad and flexible powers to issue emergency orders needed to protect the public’s health during an epidemic. However, private businesses and the public sector have the authority, right, and responsibility to require masks and other policies to assure the safety and health of their staff, customers, and clients. It is encouraged and recommended that they continue the same practices and policies established under the previous Executive Orders.

Berrien County Health Department Health Officer, Nicki Britten, stated “in the interest of the public’s health, we encourage the continuation of mitigation measures have been in place throughout the COVID-19 pandemic; we know that it is because of the vigilant actions our residents have taken that we are in a favorable position with a controlled spread of COVID-19 in Berrien County.”

Until there is a vaccine and effective treatment to prevent further spread, the Berrien County Health Department will continue to promote prevention strategies that will lessen the impact of COVID-19 on our community. The department’s focus will remain on protecting our community’s most vulnerable through the continuation of public health efforts of encouraging testing, case investigation and contact tracing, and promoting compliance with safety precautions.

Berrien County has seen relatively stable COVID activity for the past two months, which is evidence that the preventative actions and safety protocols applied so far have been effective.

“We are working hard to keep our students in school, keep our businesses and government open, and make progress in our economic recovery,” Britten said. “The last thing we want to see is our success unravel, schools close for in-person learning, and see cases and deaths increase.”

Residents are urged to continue prevent spreading the virus by: • Wearing a mask when indoors and outdoors when you are unable to keep a 6ft distance from others • Practicing social distancing by keeping 6 feet or more between you and others • Washing or sanitizing your hands frequently • Staying home if you are ill or have

COVID-19, or other respiratory illness symptoms • People who are at highest risk of the virus should avoid large gatherings

The department will share additional information as it becomes available or as circumstances change. General questions can be directed to the Berrien County Health Department COVID-19 hotline at 800-815-5485 or email publichealth@ bchdmi.org. More information can be found at the Berrien County Health Department website www.bchdmi.org.

Late Monday, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services issued an epidemic order to sustain rules that have protected Michiganders’ lives for months (see page 16.) — STAFF REPORTS