December 23, 2021

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2021

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LIFE IN NATURE ON THE SANDY SHORE

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CHICAGO • LONG BEACH • MICHIANA SHORES • GRAND BEACH • NEW BUFFALO • UNION PIER • THREE OAKS • LAKESIDE • HARBERT • SAWYER issue 51, volume 80

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Thursday, December 23, 2021

Township board members briefed on raid leading to arrest of individuals, recovery of stolen items PAGE 4 Grand Beach Village Council discusses MDOT proposal for Marquette Greenway PAGE 5 New Buffalo City Council discusses business license, rental fees PAGE 6 Merits of masking, quarantines discussed at New Buffalo school board meeting PAGE 9

HOOP DREAMS...

‘A Christmas Menagerie’ tells the story of Christmas PAGE 10 Goals for 2022 outlined at annual NBBA meeting PAGE 11

BISON BASKETBALL TEAM REMAINS UNDEFEATED AFTER COUNTRYSIDE ACADEMY GAME — PAGE 8 —

PHOTO BYY STAN MADDUX

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2021

Berrien County Health Department offering Pfizer COVID-19 booster for ages 16-17

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n response to new guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Berrien County Health Department is now offering Pfizer COVID-19 booster doses for residents ages 16-17.

Individuals are eligible for the Pfizer booster six months after they complete the primary two-dose vaccine series. It is recommended teens who received the Pfizer vaccine series stay consistent and receive the Pfizer booster.

Individuals 18 and older may receive any U.S.-approved booster.

“We encourage residents who are 16 or 17 and eligible for a Pfizer booster to get one,” said Acting Health Officer Guy Miller. “The COVID-19 vaccines are critical in slowing the spread of the virus, reducing the severity of symptoms and keeping patients out of the hospital.”

The Berrien County Health

REPORTS

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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 For the most con

New Buffalo Railroad Museum welcomes new board members

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Department offers regular and booster doses for ages 12 and older during a walk-in clinic 3 to 6 p.m. Tuesdays at its Benton Harbor office.

Individuals ages 16 to 17 need written parental consent or a parent or guardian present, and anyone younger than 16 must have a parent or guardian present. All are asked to bring their vaccination record to the clinic.

COVID-19 vaccine appointments are available for children ages 5 to 11. To schedule an appointment, visit bchdmi.org/covid19.

Community members who have questions about COVID-19 and the vaccines are encouraged to call BCHD’s hotline toll-free at 800-8155485 between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

For more information about BCHD’s COVID-19 response and vaccine clinics, visit www. bchdmi.org/covid19. — STAFF

A poet’s autobiography is his poetry. Anything else is just a footnote.

— Yevgeny Yevtushenko

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The New Buffalo Railroad Museum Board of Directors recently voted to add four new board members to its roster, each with terms beginning Jan. 1, 2022.

Joining president Vanessa Thun, vice president Todd Van Buskirk, and secretary-treasurer/volunteer administrator Katha Kissman are Therese Donnelly, Sherri Kerhoulas, Rich Knoll, and Lori Schlundt Peterson Therese Donnelly grew up in New Buffalo and graduated from New Buffalo High School. She currently resides in Three Oaks but works in New Buffalo and continues to be part of the community with volunteer activities and family ties.

Sherri Kerhoulas has lived in the area since 1989 after moving from the east side of Michigan/metro Detroit area. She graduated from the University of Michigan with a degree in political science and a minor in sociology.

She is returning to the board of the New Buffalo Railroad Museum, where she had served for many years as treasurer. She also served four years as New Buffalo Township treasurer and then went back to her family’s insurance and real estate business. Today she runs those businesses with her husband, Ted, while building a travel business for her retirement years.

Rich Knoll returns to the board after a hiatus of a few years. Rich attended River Valley High School and now lives in New Buffalo with his wife Lisa, a long-time teacher at New Buffalo. He is recently retired from CSX Railroad.

Rich has served as a member of the New Buffalo Area Schools Board of Education and he and his wife are active volunteers at their church.

Lori Petersen is a lifelong resident of New Buffalo.

She is a volunteer at Hesston Steam Museum, working as a conductor on the narrow-gauge railway. She is also a founding member of Military Railroad Society, and a volunteer for Operation Lifesaver. She has three daughters Katie, Kristen, and Emily. She also has a 5-year-old grandson (who calls her “Gramma Choo Choo”). For the past year, she has been a volunteer with the New Buffalo Railroad Museum, including serving as the Museum’s liaison with the Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers.

The Museum will re-open for the season Saturday, April 2, 2022, and will be open through Oct. 30, 2022, on Saturdays and Sundays from noon to 5 p.m. Additional open dates may be announced. Watch the Museum’s Facebook page for postings at https://www.facebook. com/Newbuffalorailroadmuseum For additional information about the New Buffalo Railroad Museum, contact Katha Kissman at ask@ thenewbuffalorailroadmuseum.org. — STAFF REPORTS

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2021

Local Government Meetings New Buffalo Times

Democracy Requires Transparency

CITY OF NEW BUFFALO JOHN HUMPHREY, MAYOR CITY COUNCIL LOU O’DONNELL, IV. MARK ROBERTSON, JOHN HUMPHREY, ROGER LIJESKI, BRIAN FLANAGAN City Council meets on the 3rd Monday of each month at 6:30PM CITY OF NEW BUFFALO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETINGS to be determined NEW BUFFALO TOWNSHIP BOARD PETE RAHM, MICHELLE HEIT, JUDY H. ZABICKI, PATTY IAZZETTO, JACK ROGERS 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 NEW BUFFALO AREA SCHOOLS BOARD CHUCK HEIT, PRESIDENT HEATHER BLACK, VICE PRESIDENT JOHN HASKINS, TREASURER LISA WERNER, SECRETARY JOYCE LANTZ, TRUSTEE FRANK MARGRO, TRUSTEE PATRICIA NEWSTON, TRUSTEE CHIKAMING TOWNSHIP CHIKAMING TOWNSHIP BOARD DAVID BUNTE, PAULA DUDIAK, LIZ RETTIG, RICHARD SULLIVAN, BILL MARSKE 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

Township board members briefed on raid leading to arrest of individuals, recovery of stolen items

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BY FRANCESCA SAGALA

embers of the New Buffalo Township Board heard an update on a search warrant that led to the arrest of individuals and the recovery of stolen items on El Dorado Boulevard at their rescheduled Thursday, Dec. 16, meeting.

Lt. Ryan Sullivan of the Berrien County Sheriff’s Patrol said that recently, the multijurisdictional narcotics team, Southwest Enforcement Team (SWET), assisted deputies from the Berrien County Sheriff’s Department as well as the New Buffalo Township patrol of the Sheriff’s Department with a search warrant on El Dorado Boulevard.

For over a month and a half, the township patrol had had ongoing issues with the residence on El Dorado Boulevard. Between Oct. 27 and Dec. 9. the sheriff’s department had “somewhere in the neighborhood of a dozen or more separate incidents resulting in contact with at least 12 individuals suspected of, charged or arrested for various crimes,” Sullivan said.

Currently, the sheriff’s department has been “involved in the arrest and detention of several of these individuals on 16 felonies and two misdemeanors,” he said, adding that “at least eight additional felony charges and one misdemeanor charge are currently being sought in relation to these individuals as well.”

He added that individuals from this residence are also related to a fatal crash that occurred in Chikaming Township Nov. 27,” which “resulted in an individual

being charged with vehicular-related homicide with the Chikaming Township Police Department.”

Hundreds of tools and miscellaneous items have been recovered from the residence and from multiple vehicles involved in related traffic stops.

“Thus far, three victims of break-ins and larcenies have been reunited with their stolen property,” he said, adding that the victims are from La Porte and Michigan City.

Sullivan said he suspects that a lot of other break-ins and larcenies are related to some of these individuals, but he “doesn’t know if we’ll ever be able to formally make that tie in some of the cases unfortunately.”

“This overall situation and the law enforcement response is a testament to the value of having deputies who are familiar with the needs and the norms of the community that they patrol as well as the availability of additional resources that can be brought from a larger sheriff’s department when needed,” he said.

In a 3-0 vote (Patty Iazzetto and Judy Zabicki were absent), board members approved the 13th payment to the Public Safety Building Project in the amount of $24,942.90.

Board members adopted resolution for Public Act 152. Township supervisor Michelle Heit said the resolution exempts the township from the act so they can contribute to employees’ health savings accounts.

The following reappointments were

approved: Pano Arvanitis, Steve Necsi and Carol Schmidt to the Planning Commission for terms expiring Dec. 31, 2024; Traci Lauricella, Susan Rogers, and Ron Oselka to the Zoning Board of Appeals for terms ending Dec. 31, 2024; Chad Butler, Ed Carpenter and Mary NyKamp to the Construction Board of Appeals for terms ending Dec. 31, 2023; and Kurt Hauseman and Bradley Griffith to the Corridor Improvement Authority for terms ending Dec. 31, 2025.

A quote from Advanced Property Management Services for landscaping maintenance in the Union Pier corridor area, Township Hall and the Public Safety Building was approved.

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oard members approved hiring David LeRoy as the township hearing officer at the following costs: prehearing site visit, $50 plus mileage and hearing, $100 for the first hour and $25 for an additional 15 minutes plus mileage.

Upon recommendation from the employee committee, board members approved the time off policy for full-time employees in a 2-1 vote (Jack Rogers was the dissenting vote), which Heit said states employees get 60 days banked time off (12 weeks) and a maximum payout of 30 days (six weeks).

The purchase of two trucks – one for the water department and one for the parks department – from Three Oaks Ford for a cost not to exceed $28,000 was approved.

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 7PM MICHIANA VILLAGE OF MICHIANA COUNCIL Meets on the 2nd Friday of each month at 1PM

All truly great thoughts are conceived by walking.

— Friedrich Nietzsche

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ST JOSEPH RECORDS LOBBY GOES TO APPOINTMENT ONLY

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he Berrien County Sheriff’s Office Records Lobby, located at 919 Port Street in St. Joseph, moved to appointment only Dec. 16.

Individuals will be able to make an appointment for the following services: firearms transactions, sex offender registry, and fingerprinting.

The Berrien County Sheriff’s Office in Niles will remain closed to the public and all appointments will be handled at the St Joseph office.

To schedule an appointment, call (269) 983-7141 ext. 7211 or email sheriffrecords@berriencounty.org.

If you are requesting an appointment via e-mail, please state the reason for the appointment and provide a contact phone number.

Available appointment times are from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Masks will be required to enter for your scheduled appointment.

No walk-ins will be accepted. If you come without an appointment, you will be turned away until you schedule one. — STAFF REPORTS

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2021

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Grand Beach Village Council discusses MDOT proposal for Marquette Greenway

lans for the nonmotorized 60-mile Marquette Greenway are moving forward, members of the Grand Beach Village Council learned at their Wednesday, Dec. 15, meeting.

Council president Deborah Lindley said that Southwest Michigan Planning Commission Senior Planner Marcy Hamilton contacted her to discuss the egress over the Grand Beach Road railroad tracks, as the greenway will be crossing over them.

New Buffalo Township Fire Chief Jamie Flick said that a proposal from the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) includes a double yellow line that will be on both sides of the track down the middle of the crossing. A white marking line will be on all four sides of the road (two before the tracks and two after the tracks), which will help decide where bike traffic is and vehicle traffic goes.

The proposal also includes what Flick called four “bike parking lots,” with one on each corner of Grand Beach Road and one on each corner of U.S. Highway 12. The “lots” would be concrete pad areas for the bikes to pull off and wait for trains or traffic to clear. Flick added that this proposed work will be done at no cost to the village.

Councilmember Blake O’Halloran said that they’d be “opening themselves up for some trouble” if they didn’t approve the proposal. Board president Deborah Lindley adding that the village could be liable if someone gets hurt and they say no to it, adding that their village charter was “found on safety and police.”

Councilmember Paul Leonard said that he approved of the plan for safety reasons, adding that the markings will “help cyclists be aware of traffic, and it will also help traffic be aware of cyclists.”

“When they get the Marquette Greenway done, there’s going to be a lot of cyclists coming out to Grand Beach Road and all the way out at our exit and

BY FRANCESCA SAGALA

entrance at Route 12 and we can’t hide from that - at least this gives us some input in the decision-making,” he said.

Leonard said before the council agrees to the plan, he’d like to see a memorandum of understanding with the respective agencies that will assume all the financial responsibility for maintaining all of it “in perpetuity.”

Councilmember James Bracewell said if the proposal is a good idea, it’s “good only because they have rejected the best idea – a separate crossover for bicyclists and not to jumble them together with automobiles.”

Bracewell said that the “treatment” of the bike path in Michigan City in front of Nipsco involves separate crossovers, as opposed to putting cyclists “along or over the railroad tracks” – which he said is “safer than what we’re looking at.”

Lindley said that Hamilton told her that’s what Indiana is deciding to do, adding that it’s been difficult getting an agreement with Amtrak to do a crossover.

In a 4-1 vote (Bracewell voted “nay”), councilmembers approved having a memorandum of understanding with the respective agencies with regards to maintenance before approving the plan.

Lindley said she was contacted by Nick Jager from the chief planning branch of the Army Corps of Engineers who said they were ready to proceed with the “next step” with regards to a study to solve the problem at the lakefront.

For the New Buffalo Shoreline Alliance (NBSA) to proceed with the project to do a study, they had to have a municipality support them.

The government would give the Army Corps $50,000 to start the process to initiate the Federal Interest Determination (FID), and the other $50,000 would be funded by the Department of Treasury. After that, the village would have to split cost with the Army Corps to proceed.

Lindley said that she told Jager they

could agree to go on with the process, but they don’t have the money to give the 50 percent amount. zShe told him that the village could agree to go on with the process and say they’re not going to pay any money to proceed any further; however, she was told that municipalities “usually agree upfront. “ On Friday, Lindley said she learned that the NBSA filed its lawsuit against the Army Corps and is no longer working with the Corps to solve the problem.

She said she was “nervous about going that far” and if the Shoreline Alliance has dropped their agreement with the Army Corps and they were the ones that the village was sponsoring, she didn’t think that the village should proceed any further.

Lindley said she’ll tell Jager that the village was no longer going to sponsor the study.

Councilmembers approved the village joining the Harbor Country Chamber of Commerce for an annual amount of $100.

Lindley said Jayson Powell became eligible for health insurance Dec. 1.

The village has a policy of prorating the HSA contribution for deductibles and copays. Councilmembers approved paying $541.67, which was the prorated amount for December, and $5 to open the account to Powell’s HSA account.

Councilmembers approved salary adjustments for employees, which included a $25 increase for Ryan Layman, Jamie Flick, Bob Dabbs, Dale Powell, and Mary Robertson.

Councilmembers approved making the $11,500 payment to MERS prior to Dec. 31, 2021, so the village can get it into this year’s actuary report.

Lindley mentioned putting a dog park in a small area back in the corner next to the driving range of the Grand Beach Nature Preserve, which was recently acquired by the village.

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2021

New Buffalo City Council discusses business license, rental fees

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BY THERESE DONNELLY

he City of New Buffalo’s finances are in good shape, according to the 2021 year-end financial report.

In a review during the city council’s Dec. 20 meeting, Joe Verlin of Gabridge and Co., explained the general, water and sewer and pension funds are all well covered and overall revenues exceeded expenses.

Verlin did caution that some balances will likely go down in the upcoming year as capital improvement projects that were delayed due to Covid 19 restrictions are expected to resume. He thanked city staff for “a very smooth audit process,” noting all requested information was provided remotely.

He also told the council that the city received a “clean opinion” on its financial statements as of June 30, 2021.

Following the auditor’s report, treasurer Kate Vyskocil told the council that several large projects are coming up for the city, which would require amendments to the city’s budget. Following Vyskocil’s update, the council approved budget amendments for the 2022 fiscal year.

Later in the meeting, the council addressed issues in the short-term rental limits. City Manager Darwin Watson told the council that some property owners are circumventing the short-term rental restrictions by entering one-month rental agreements, which the tenants cancel after a brief stay. Watson said the new fee schedule is needed because the city needs to better monitor houses registered as longterm rentals. He also said the fee schedule will ensure that long-term tenants are being treated fairly.

Among the fees included are a $1,000 city administration fee and an annual inspection fee of $150. Properties in violation could face compliance inspection fees.

Due to limited manpower at the New Buffalo Fire Department, the city has a Fire Service Agreement with New Buffalo Township to provide supplemental fire services for emergency calls in the city.

Under terms of the renewed agreement, the township will provide coverage in 2022 for $60,000. Either party can terminate the

agreement with 30 days’ notice.

The council approved the renewed agreement, but noted it is a short-term solution to the issue.

Watson informed the council that the dump truck had several issues and Duneland Custom Repair Center had performed necessary repairs for $6,704.49.

The council approved the charges.

The council tabled an easement request for a residence at 307 N. Whittaker Street.

Watson said Abonmarche Engineering had recently been contracted by the property owner to provide design services for repair and renovation work on a seawall. During their survey, Abonmarche determined a portion of the house’s deck and entry stairs had been built on the public right-of-way.

Watson told the council the deck and stairs predated the current owners and are the main access to the house. Under the proposed agreement, the owner would pay the city $2,500 consideration for a 480 square foot easement, plus any associated legal fees, and agree not to build beyond the current footprint inside the easement.

The council discussed the request and tabled the matter until further information could be made available.

The council did approve Watson’s recommendation to purchase a payment kiosk for the city boat launch. Watson said the purchase would make the launch consistent with other fee collection locations in the city, including the public beach parking lot. The city will purchase a kiosk for $7945 from Total Parking Solutions, which provides the city’s other kiosks.

Due to extenuating circumstances, the council approved a one-time vacation payout for New Buffalo Police Department Officer Nate Voytovick. While city policy is that unused vacation time cannot be carried over from one calendar year to the next, police chief Rich Killips requested the council approve the payout for $1573.76, explaining that Voytovick had been unable to use his vacation time due in part to a need for coverage.

Prior to adjourning, the council approved reappointed Vanessa Thun, Jack Kennedy and Juli Westergren to the Board of Review, and approved the 2022 meeting calendar.

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2021

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2021

SPORTS

Bison basketball team remains undefeated after Countryside Academy game

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BY STAN MADDUX

he New Buffalo High School boys’ basketball squad topped the century mark in points to remain undefeated going into Christmas break.

The Bison (3-0) defeated Countryside Academy at home 101-71 Friday, Dec. 17.

Jeremiah Mitchell led the Bison with 28 points.

Kaden Parmley scored 25 points while Zack Forker added 21 points, 17 rebounds and four blocked shots.

Head Coach Nate Tripp said he was not happy about the play of his team on defense and his players giving up too many second shots.

“I think we had solid game but they weren’t supposed to score that many points and they killed us on the offensive glass.

That’s not how we rebound the basketball so we got a lot we got to work on,” he said.

Looking unstoppable, the 6-foot-9 Forker shot the ball and scored the first seven points for the Bison before Mitchell and Parmley began scoring buckets in droves.

Parmley sank a three point shot just before the first quarter buzzer.

He and Mitchell started the second quarter by quickly hitting a pair of buckets to give the

Bison a 31-14 lead extended to 47 to 24 at halftime.

Parmley started the third quarter scoring with a lay-up off a steal.

The crowd roared when Forker, after having his shot blocked, hustled to the other side of the court in time to record a blocked shot of his own.

The lead grew to 29 points when Mitchell, after driving the length of the court, laid the ball in with his hand above the rim.

After a steal, he quickly went full court again with the ball for a lay-up before the end of the third quarter.

Anthony Lijewski contributed 12 points while Ryan Vinson added eight points for the Bison.

The emergence of Forker as a major force should work to the advantage of the Bison with all five starters back from last year’s District 4 championship squad.

Tripp said Forker and the bulky 6-foot-1 Vinson in the game at the same time will give teams trouble on offense and defense.

“Both guys know where the gaps are. They know how to rebound. That’s going to create a match up problem sometimes when we go to our twin towers,” he said.

From the Bleachers COLUMN BY KURT MARGGRAF IN CHICAGO

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hen I sit down to write this column next week, it will be the day after Christmas.

As one gets older, the time seems to be going so fast that it’s almost hard to believe. The holiday season contributes to the illusion that time is flying, and this year there’s another contributing factor.

For many different reasons, I decided to move. I’ve spent the last 30 years or so in the great city of Chicago, but for me, at this time of my life, the suburbs have more appeal. But moving during the Christmas season might not have been the best choice.

But the choice was made, and all one can do is roll with the punches. So tomorrow, when the movers arrive, my suburban journey will begin.

Leaving the hustle and bustle of the city for the peace and tranquillity of the suburbs already feels like a good thing.

Plus, I’m moving to an area that I’m pretty familiar with, so the transition should go pretty well.

I’ve known I was moving for seven weeks, and about eight hours before the movers are due to arrive I finally finished packing.

That made me think of the poor athletes who get traded and have to leave their friends, teammates, and surroundings at a moment’s notice. Often when a baseball player gets traded, he packs a suitcase and goes to his new team the same day, leaving his partner to do the bulk of the work.

Chicago sports have been at a standstill

lately. Cubs and Sox players have been locked out until a collective bargaining agreement is reached and nobody is allowed to communicate.

The Bulls had so many players on Covid protocol that the league postponed a couple of games. They resumed play tonight (Sunday) with a thrilling victory over the Lakers.

The Blackhawks had a game postponed because their opponent had Covid problems.

Finally, the Bears. If there was ever a season that the Bears wished that sports fans attention was elsewhere, this would be it. They play the Vikings Monday night and they might get their wish.

I took an informal survey this week and found out that fans are really fed up with the situation the Bears are in. Most likely, Coach Nagy will be seeking employment elsewhere next season. Many think that General Manager Ryan Pace should join him. If either or both of these guys are relieved of their duties, we can hope that the new regime will be able to mold Justin Fields into a star quarterback.

That’s the area the Bears continue to have a difficult time with and if Fields is the answer, a lot of other things will finally fall into place.

Marc Jacobs said, “Change is a great and horrible thing, and people love it or hate it at the same time. Without change, however, you just don’t move.”

Happy holidays. Refuse hate. Talk to you next week. Peace, love, and happiness.

I don’t like to do a lot of talking. — Lonzo Ball

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2021

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SCHOLASTICS

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Merits of masking, quarantines discussed at New Buffalo school board meeting

discussion over the merits of masking and quarantine took center stage at the New Buffalo Area Schools Board of Education’s nearly two-hour meeting in the Performing Arts Center Monday, Dec. 20.

The school district switched to remote learning the week before due to a growing number of Covid cases.

Per the district’s Return to Learn Plan that was approved by the board in August, the district recommends face masks in the school buildings but doesn’t require them.

Superintendent Dr. Jeff Leslie said that, when he made the decision to switch to remote learning, he felt there was evidence that there was transmission in the building, which he said they “hadn’t had up to that point going back to September 2020.”

He reiterated what he’d said at the Dec. 13 board meeting, which was that they’d had “as many (cases) that previous week as we’d had in the entire school year up to that point.”

According to a form that gives the cases throughout the county that was given to board members, board president Chuck Heit said that, when he looks at the numbers, New Buffalo’s numbers are “very similar and not any higher than those (districts) that have mask mandates in place – and some had mandates in place since the beginning of the year.”

“When you look at our internal data, the data, to me, just does not show that it’s a big difference between districts when you look at per student transmission per capita,” he said.

BY FRANCESCA SAGALA

Heit said that currently, the “test to stay” does not require you to have a mask.

He added that the county health officer and state chief health officer, who have the power to issue a mandate, haven’t and have left it “up to districts to make the best decision we have with the data we have.”

The district has invested in mitigation measures, such as ionization units in both buildings.

He added that the board may want to look at quarantine, such as of not quarantining students who are not sick and having testing in place to make sure they are not asymptomatic.

Adding that he’s fully vaccinated with a booster, Heit said he took offense to being told the previous board meeting that those who choose to not wear masks thought Covid was a “joke” and are “idiots.”

“I will never tell anyone not to wear masks but the fact that I don’t for people to make judgements about those who don’t - I find that offensive,” he said.

Heather Black said that looking at the list that was distributed to them, New Buffalo was “in the top one third percentage of transmission” on the list of 18 school districts. Per the list, they were higher than larger school districts, such as Benton Harbor and St. Joseph.

“I believe we’re here to protect our kids, we did it (wore masks) all last year and our transmission rates were very low,” she said.

While she urged everyone to think of others and their health and wear a mask, Lisa Werner said that school boards were “never considered to be

an arm of the state government – they are by design a representation of the community and we represent you and we want to do what’s right for you.”

“They (school boards) were also never intended to make a blanket public health decision but rather making policy to deal with protecting the healthy from the unhealthy with a case-by-case evaluation,” she said.

Tricia Newton said that the numbers that Leslie gave them last week were “alarming and scary.”

She said that she had originally voted for the choice to wear masks because “things had changed,” such as the availability of vaccines and that the numbers were “way down.” Now, things had changed again.

“I can’t count what cases haven’t happened,” she said, adding that there’s no data on that.

M

ore than 20 people participated in the public comments, which also featured parents from neighboring school districts such as St. Joseph and Lakeshore.

Bryan Strother said that his children have experienced headaches, breakouts on their faces and have had difficulty seeing teachers’ faces while wearing a mask.

“I am the parent of my children and as much as I respect all of you, I get to choose what happens with my children’s health and wellbeing and I choose that for the reasons I have,” he said.

Heather Gradowski said that her child, a middle schooler at New

Buffalo, was contact traced for the third time in seven days on the first day of remote learning, along with her sophomore.

She said her seventh grader “broke down in tears” and said that the previous year, ‘we had to wear masks and we got to be in school for the whole year and now people won’t wear masks and I can’t go to school.”

She added that giving “two days’ notice” on the return to remote learning also inconvenienced working parents.

Jim Oselka said that he sent an email to the board with over 65 signatures from parents against a mask mandate and a petition is circulating of over 120 parents who don’t want one.

He said that he counted all the cases and quarantines compared to this year and last year.

“This year with masking optional, there should be an exponentially higher number of people having to quarantine but there isn’t,” he said, adding that that tells him that masking is “immaterial when it comes to the spread of Covid.”

Lauren Gradowski read a statement from a student, Ren Nash, stating that refusing to wear a mask and follow the recommendations of health and scientific professionals “is not civil liberty, it’s selfish.”

She feared that traveling during over the holidays would cause the “consequent spreading of germs’ when students returned Jan. 3.

“I ask kindly that you listen to the CDC and various medical professionals,” Nash’s letter said.

www.newbuffalotimes.com

10 THURSDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2021

‘A Christmas Menagerie’ tells the story of Christmas

A

BY FRANCESCA SAGALA

udience members heard the retelling of an ancient story – an ancient true story, director Cindy Dryden said – during Harbor Country Singers’ “A Christmas Menagerie,” which was held at Real Life Community Church Saturday, Dec. 18.

A series of Christmas songs, dances by Imagine Worship (a local liturgical dance company) and renditions of Christmas melodies by pianist Maggie Martin - with Bible verses sprinkled throughout – told the age-old story of the birth of the Christ child.

The concert showcased the music of John Rutter, an English composer and conductor who’s known for the many Christmas carols he’s composed or arranged.

The Harbor Country Singers is an independent community chorus supported by the School of American Music (SAM) and a grant from the Pokagon Fund.

The Harbor Country Singers open the show

Anna Searles, Emma Zieger, Caitlin Gearhart and Gracie Bettig sing The Light Dwells Among Us

Imagine Worship dancers perform during Still, Still, Still

Imagine Worship dancers perform Christmas is Coming

Imagine Worship dancers perform during the Christmas Menagerie

Mallory Nicholson sings Rise Up Shephards and Follow

Aiden Bettig and Maggie Martin play Carol of the Bells

Director Cindy Dryden leads the audience in a round of carols

Caitlin Gearhart sings Winter Snow

Lance Olson and Shelly Zeiger sing O Come All Ye Faithful

mwww.newbuffalotimes.com

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2021 11

Festivalgoers streamed in and out of the wine and beer tent during Harvest and Wine

F

Members of the New Buffalo Business Association gather at the New Buffalo Art Gallery

A view of the farmers market on Whittaker Street in July.

(Provided by Facebook)

Goals for 2022 outlined at annual NBBA meeting

BY FRANCESCA SAGALA

illing empty board positions, solidifying an event calendar, and hiring an executive director were just some of the goals Audrey Tuszynski, president of the NBBA Board of Directors, has for the New Buffalo Business Association (NBBA) for 2022.

At the NBBA’s annual meeting at the New Buffalo Art Gallery Tuesday, Dec. 13, Tuszynski said that there are currently up to four positions available on the board.

She said an executive director (the former one resigned at the beginning of 2020) can take over “a lot” of the social media and manage the emails and phone calls.

Tuszynski said that she’d like to have an event calendar of events that will be put on by the NBBA for 2022 by the end of February and that she wants to “stick to it.”

Tuszynski said they’ve learned how to “live in the pandemic world” when planning events, which will allow them to continue to put on popular festivals like the Harvest and Wine Fest.

“As long as we know how to do these things in a safer way, which I think outside we’re going to always be alright – I want to always be able to do that,” she

said.

Tuszynski also said she’d like to hire a market manager again for the farmers market.

After having a pickup and smaller market on Merchant Street the summer of 2020, a larger market made a return to North Whittaker Street this past summer (which included the ever-popular market bag giveaway).

In October, the Harvest and Wine Fest, which is also put on by the NBBA, was held on North Whittaker Street.

The Harvest and Wine Fest, which Tuszynski said was around a $45,000 event, was done with Criterion Productions out of Chicago and about five other people – which was “exhausting.”

The NBBA exceeded its sponsorship goal for that event which was $10,000.

“That was an incredible turnout,” she said.

Traci Lauricella, the board treasurer, said that the festival raised over $56,000 that day through sponsorships and the gates and the ticket sales for wine and beer. There were also almost $11,000 in sponsorships and the vendors were over $3600 and the gates and tickets sales brought in $42,000 in cash.

“After everything was paid and split

with the event planner and all of that, we still had a really nice seed account for 2022,” she said.

The NBBA also gave $700 from the tips that were collected from the wine and beer tent to Neighbor by Neighbor in Union Pier.

Tuszynski said that she’d like to create a “community event committee,” which would not only help plan event but also attract outside help.

“I want to create a community event committee not just for these people to help plan events, but it helps spread out our volunteer grid,” she said, adding that they were still short 40 volunteers for the festival.

T

he fireworks held at New Buffalo Public Beach July 3 and the Ship and Shore festival were cancelled this year not necessarily because of Covid or financials, Tuszynski said, but also because the NBBA doesn’t “have that volunteer grid we used to have.”

“We don’t have the manpower to host an event of that size,” she said.

Tuszynski hopes to bring back the Classic Car Cruise In, which was held on North Whittaker Street in the middle

of the week during past summers, next year. She said she could possibly reach out to Rocky Troxell of U.S. 12 Speed and Custom, who could help put on the event.

The event wouldn’t cost anything to the NBBA and would just need approval by the city.

“Our events are our biggest thing – our events bring people into the city to shop at our stores, they bring people to dine, they bring people here to potentially buy homes,” Tuszynski said.

With regards to the city, Tuszynski said she’d also like to have a liaison again from the city, who would help the NBBA Board communicate with the city council members when planning an event, as well as tighten the organization’s bond with the city.

Tuszynski said she’d also like to build a bond with the Harbor Country Chamber of Commerce.

For those who would like to be on the board of the NBBA, she said she’ll begin interviews in January.

“We’re trying to keep our presence in New Buffalo…We’re trying to keep our purpose in New Buffalo, and we would love to have more people onboard to help us do that,” Tuszynski said.

It’s so interesting how success hits people and how they react to it. — John Mayer

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12 THURSDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2021

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Settlement reached in payment dispute with auditor

A

BY STAN MADDUX

n out of court settlement has been reached over the La Porte County auditor withholding payment on claims for services by the La Porte County attorney.

The La Porte County Commissioners Dec. 15 unanimously approved the agreement finalized about 90 minutes prior to the meeting.

Under the settlement, auditor Tim Stabosz will pay $26,169 to attorney Shaw Friedman.

Stabosz will not have to pay the remaining $2,500 he withheld from Friedman due to questions he had on whether those claims were for actual legal work.

Stabosz said he withheld payment on the other billings from September, October and November because Friedman refused to provide the information he needed to verify or reject the billings in dispute.

Friedman works strictly for the commissioners.

He cited attorney client privilege for not handing Stabosz more specific billing information on some of the claims.

Friedman also accused Stabosz of using his public office to settle personal and political scores.

In addition, the settlement mandates whoever is county attorney at the first of the year work under a written contract that specifies the duties to be performed.

The county attorney is appointed by the commissioners annually and, historically, has worked

Jump start that heart

B

unny Ambrose and Jamie Flick, fire chief of New Buffalo Township, stand by the AED at the New Buffalo Township Public Safety Building that was donated by the New Buffalo Lions Club Nov. 3. A plaque dedicating the donation is also on display.

solely at their direction without a contract.

For months, Stabosz and commissioner Joe Haney demanded a contract for Friedman, who they alleged billed the county for political and other non-legal work.

The lawsuit was filed in October by the commissioners after Stabosz ignored their executive orders to pay Friedman.

Stabosz argued he has ultimate authority over claims until they’re been fully audited, but a major of the commissioners reported seeing no problems with the billings.

The majority of the commissioners after reviewing the claims reported seeing no problems with the billings.

Haney said Friedman will be paid once the commissioners grant approval at their meeting on Jan. 5 or sooner if clearance to expedite procedure is given by the Indiana State Board of Accounts.

“We’re all in the mood to get this thing settled and done with,” said La Porte County Commission President Rich Mrozinski.

The settlement also stipulates the agreement will be given no weight in deciding a civil lawsuit filed by Friedman against Stabosz in February.

Friedman is claiming defamation of character against Stabosz for alleging he runs county government by having undue influence over elected officials.

mwww.newbuffalotimes.com

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2021 15

HOR0SCOPE DECEMBER 23-29, 2021

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

There are things you already understand about your family and their styles of sharing.

Take that wisdom and use it to create a warm and loving holiday get together. When you nurture those close to you in the way they understand, you will get the love and admiration that feeds your soul as well.

LEO JULY 23—AUGUST 22

SAGITTARIUS NOVEMBER 22—DECEMBER 21

It is important that you start the generosity, this season. Avoid getting caught up in the feeling of being left out, by being the one who starts the love train. Create the holiday you want and let the law of attraction bring in those that are ready to have fun. Take the lead in the nurturing, give the lion’s share.

Be the one who gives you a good holiday season. If you want something special for yourself, be the one who makes it happen.

Stay true to yourself. When you put yourself first, and treat yourself with love, it creates a vibration of love, that attracts loving, giving people into your life.

TAURUS APRIL 20—MAY 20

Take the opportunity to have some tender heart to heart talks, this holiday season. You will have a special sense about you this week, that will give you the ability to see how people feel, regardless of what they say, or show on the outside. The veil is being lifted, and you will see the truth.

VIRGO AUGUST 23—SEPTEMBER 22

CAPRICORN DECEMBER 22—JANUARY 19

When you see someone you know, make sure you take time to reconnect, this holiday season. Opportunities that you thought had passed on, or opportunities you may have not moved on before, will be coming back up this week. You will be given a second chance at making a beneficial connection.

Spending time with friends will be just as important as spending time with family, this holiday season. Be sure to create the space for friends and acquaintances, as well as your family. Embrace a higher understanding of love and family. We are all one people, on one earth.

GEMINI MAY 21—JUNE 21

Big social changes are coming in this weekend. Things are not going to go as expected this holiday weekend, so be prepared for alternative locations, and encountering new people or traditions.

You will feel very enriched and full by trying new foods, going new places, and meeting new people.

LIBRA SEPTEMBER 23—OCTOBER 22 An off the wall comment or unusual happening will be the thing that helps you find peace this winter holiday.

When you open up to nontraditional or new views on what the holiday means to others, there will be some very positive changes in your family relationships. Participate in active listening.

AQUARIUS JANUARY 20—FEBRUARY 18

CANCER JUNE 22—JULY 22

SCORPIO OCTOBER 23—NOVEMBER 21

PISCES FEBRUARY 19—MARCH 20

You will be feeling very creative and sentimental this holiday season.

Channel this creativity into good food and good cheer. Christmas caroling is a great way to connect and share happiness. On another note, this is an excellent time to create healthy changes in your everyday routines.

A sense of renewal or inspiration is coming in this holiday. Something will transpire between some of your friends or within your interactions with society, that will give you more faith in what you want to create this coming year. A huge inspiration is dawning, and the utilization is important.

Your energy levels are going to be very strong this week.

Utilize your extra dose of mental power this holiday season by catching up with those friends you have not seen lately. Travel and long distant communication are favored now. Keep your charger handy, you may be on the phone a lot now.

You will feel of particular good cheer this season.

A sense of expanding financial opportunities and a feeling of being in-tune with what holds value, will be giving your mood a positive boost. Get creative with your expressions of gratitude this season. Share more of who you are, not what you have.

When I give I give myself. — Walt Whitman

www.newbuffalotimes.com

16 THURSDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2021

Magic of Lights wows Christmas spirit seekers

J

BY STAN MADDUX

oe Matusiak along with his girlfriend, Alex, and two young sons were not short of Christmas spirit after experiencing the Magic of Lights in La Porte over the weekend.

Driving through tunnels of blinking Christmas lights were the displays they liked best along the 1.5 mile route at the LaPorte County fairgrounds.

“It was kind of weird but cool at the same time,” said Matusiak, who described going through the tunnels of lights changing colors as like Christmas in outer space.

Vehicles began trickling in after the gates opened Sunday but it wasn’t long before traffic was bumper to bumper at times along the route with a five mile per hour speed limit.

“It was a great show. We loved it,” said Linda Wakeland.

She and her husband, Michael, made the 30 minute trip from North Liberty with their grandchildren, Kaiden, and, Reagan, and their dog, Roxy.

Brett Pegler, marketing manager for the drive-thru show, said a total of 1,300 vehicles went through the display of more than one million lights from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Roughly 6,000 vehicles have passed through since the show featuring displays ranging from Santa Claus and Snowmen to a nativity scene and palm trees opened Nov. 19, he said.

Attendance is expected to increase even more as Christmas gets closer, said Caitlyn Sanders, one of the managers of the event.

Ken Hudgens is owner of Magic of Lights, which is presented annually at more than

a dozen locations in the U.S. and Canada during the holidays.

Magic of Lights was booked for the first time this year at the LaPorte County Fairgrounds as another step toward hosting major events there on a more year round basis.

Hudgens is paying rent to LaPorte County government, which owns the fairgrounds, and giving back a slight cut of the proceeds if revenue from ticket sales exceeds a certain amount.

Tickets start at $20 for each vehicle online or $27 per car load at the gate.

“It was awesome. I love seeing something like this come to LaPorte,” said Brandi Glanders.

The LaPorte woman came with her husband, Alan, and their young sons, Kane and Jackson, and nephew, Jackson.

“Everything,” said Kane Glanders when asked what he liked most about the huge display.

He also yelled with excitement at seeing a lighted lobster display.

“We loved it,” said Denny Soule of Walkerton.

Soule, who came with his wife and mother, said he especially liked the lighted nativity scene display.

Novak, who drive through the display with his wife, Debbie, and grandchildren, Xander and Aria, said talks will be held about Magic of Lights returning next year.

“We’re hopeful. We’re open to talking to them again about coming back again and making it even better if it’s possible,” he said.

The display is open through Jan. 2.

Berrien County Sheriff’s Office holds 2021 ‘Shop with a Cop’

O

n Saturday Dec. 11, the Berrien County Sheriff’s Office Reserve Unit held their annual “Shop with a Cop” program.

The 2021 “Shop with a Cop” program took place at the Niles area Walmart.

Berrien County Sheriff’s Office Reserve Unit member Kimberly Fedison spent countless volunteer hours organizing this event. The Berrien County Sheriff’s Office Reserve Unit was able to obtain over $9,000 in donations to cover the costs of this event.

This year, the Berrien County Sheriff’s Office Reserve Unit partnered with the Berrien County Sheriff’s Office Chaplains, the Berrien Springs – Oronoko Township Police Department, the Saint Joseph Department of Public Safety, the Benton Harbor Area Boys & Girls Club, and the Berrien County Sheriff’s Office Sworn Deputies to make this year’s “Shop with a Cop” program a success.

The Berrien County Sheriff’s Office Reserve Unit, along with the partner agencies and organizations, assisted 14 families and 29 children by allowing the children to shop for Christmas gifts for themselves, their family members, and their friends.

In addition to providing the funding to allow the children to shop, the Berrien County Sheriff’s office Reserve Unit also provided holiday food baskets, and gift cards to the 14 families, so they could enjoy a wonderful holiday feast, have a wonderful holiday celebration with gifts under the tree, as well as enabling them to purchase a “special gift” for their entire families to enjoy.

The 14 families and children were from the Niles area, the Berrien Springs area, the New Buffalo area, and the Benton Harbor area.

The “shopping” consisted of the families and

children being adopted by law enforcement officers and then proceeding through the entire Walmart store to select and purchase the gifts they desired for themselves and their loved ones.

After the shopping spree, the Berrien County Sheriff’s Office Reserve Unit members and the members of the partner agencies and organizations took the children and their families to Michiana Christian Embassy in Niles for snacks and gift wrapping with members of Michiana Christian Embassy.

The 14 families and their children were referred to the Berrien County Sheriff’s Office by various schools and civic organizations, who felt they could use the assistance this year.

The following businesses and/or civic organizations donated money, goods, and services to this function: Niles area Walmart; Pike Funeral Home & Cremation Services; Michiana Christian Embassy; Honor Credit Union; Wightman; D.A. Dodd; Milano Pizza of Niles; Red Bud Recreation Inc.; Berrien County Sheriff’s Office Reserve Unit; Friends for Berrien Springs; Berrien County Sheriff’s Office Deputies; Sergeants, Lieutenants, and Command Personnel, LECO Corporation; Subway Restaurant, Niles Wal-Mart; Siemans in Bridgeman; Antibus Scales & Systems; The Zimmerle Family; United Federal Credit Union; and anonymous Donors The Berrien County Sheriff’s Office Reserve Unit Deputies take great pride in assisting families that need assistance especially during the holiday season. The smiles of gratitude on the faces of these children and the “hugs” provided by the adults and children to the Deputies and Officers are something that the deputies and officers will always remember. — STAFF REPORTS

mwww.newbuffalotimes.com

I

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2021 17

Commissioner caught on snake gate video

BY STAN MADDUX

t may have been an early Christmas present, but video surveillance shows the package that could be viewed as threatening wasn’t left by Santa

Claus.

Instead, the man in the video carrying the package is alleged to be La Porte County Commissioner Rich Mrozinski.

La Porte County Auditor Tim Stabosz said he opened a large white envelope recently outside his office, and inside was a green rubber snake. Stabosz said the find was disturbing, and he took it as a threat from Mrozinski.

The men and several others have been at opposite ends of extreme political fighting since the first of the year.

Mrozinski on ZOOM from Florida seemed to deny he left the snake when questioned twice by Stabosz during the Dec. 15 LaPorte County Commissioners meeting.

Mrozinski said he had already arrived in the Sunshine State when Stabosz found the snake.

However, Stabosz said he has proof on video that Mrozinski left the snake the night before catching his flight.

“The video is clearly Rich Mrozinski. He’s a tall man. He wears cowboy boots. He wore a baseball cap.

He clearly had the envelope, the padded white envelope that was in his arms. It’s Rich Mrozinski,” Stabosz said.

In addition, Stabosz claims that Mrozinski used his county governmentissued security card to enter the county

DEATH NOTICES

administration building after hours to place the snake.

A printout from the card listed his name and title as commissioner at the THREE OAKS – John Walsh, age 79, of time of entry and the times match both Three Oaks, died Wednesday, December 15, the print out and video.

2021. Arrangements are pending at Wagner Commissioner Joe Haney said Family Funerals Pobocik Chapel, Three Oaks. catching Mrozinski in the act verifies that threats and intimidation are used in county government, just like they’ve been alleging this past year.

“This is something that we’ve been talking about for months on end and now we have video evidence of again, another high-ranking elected official, this time, commissioner Mrozinski, dropping an anonymous package in 8 kids a day are accidentally killed or injured by FAMILY FIRE. an attempt to influence, intimidate, threaten and coerce the auditor on his behavior in trying to perform his duties,” Haney said.

The three men and other political

figures have been engaged in a nasty

30 N Whittaker St 30 N Whittaker St 30 N Whittaker St

year-long political battle over Shaw Bar by night Deli by day Deli by day Friedman being chosen as legal representation for La Porte County government at the beginning of the year.

Recently, the commissioners and Stabosz agreed to an out of court settlement over more than $28,000 Stabosz withheld from Friedman over concerns that some of his billing wasn’t for actual legal work.

A lawsuit by Friedman alleging Open 6 days Open 6 days Open Thursday-Monday defamation of character against Stabosz davidsdeliandcoffee.com davidsdeliandcoffee.com thefalsefrontbar.com remains undecided in LaPorte Circuit Court.

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

ENDFAMILYFIRE.org

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2021 19

HIKERS SCHEDULE NEW YEAR’S DAY EVENT

T

imed to coincide with First Day Hikes, the Harbor Country Hikers will lead a walk-through Robinson Woods and Flynn Woods Preserves at 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 1.

First Day Hikes is a national initiative to encourage people to get outdoors on New Year’s Day. Robinson and Flynn Woods Preserves, both Chikaming Open Lands properties, are across the street from each other, and parking is available at both venues. Robinson Woods is located at 8016 East Road, Three Oaks.

Following a 10-minute introduction, Hikers President Pat Fisher will lead a two-mile hike through the combined 115-acres of the two preserves.

Robinson Woods is a mature forest, dominated by beech, maple, tulip poplar and oak, with seasonal streams. Flynn Woods is a forested wetland complex. The hike will take about two hours and is rated moderately physically difficult.

Most Harbor Country Hikers events are open to the public, though membership is encouraged. Children are welcome if accompanied by an adult. An all-terrain Rollator--a wheeled walker with extra-large tires--is available on a first-come, first-served basis by emailing harborcountryhikers@gmail.com.

Those who plan to attend this event should dress for the weather and be prepared for muddy or icy patches along the trail. The hikers follow federal and state Covid guidelines, and use of face masks currently is optional.

For more information, visit www.harborcountryhikers.com.

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