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CHICAGO • LONG BEACH • MICHIANA SHORES • GRAND BEACH • NEW BUFFALO • UNION PIER • THREE OAKS • LAKESIDE • HARBERT • SAWYER issue 42, volume 85

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Thursday, October 29, 2026

Election Day 2026 Preview; Board candidates have their say at forum PAGES 3 & 22 Village to hold hearing regarding proposed STR zoning ordinance changes PAGE 4 School board hears presentation from civil engineer regarding Lubke Road property PAGE 10

STRANGE DAYS...

TRICK OR TREATERS CELEBRATE NEW BUFFALO-STYLE HALLOWEEN — PAGES 12-13 —

2 THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2026 2

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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/WRITERS THERESE DONNELLY FRANCESCA SAGALA LAWRENCE VON EBELER KURT MARGGRAF JACK OLESKER KAREN EDWARDS ALEXANDER FATOUROS SOPHIA R. FATOUROS STAN MADDUX KRISTIN E. FATOUROS NEW BUFFALO TIMES INTELLIGENCE NEW BUFFALO TIMES POLITICS GUESTS QUOTES DINO N. FATOUROS PROOFING FRANCESCA SAGALA BROADCAST/ADVERTISING JANINE ADAMSKI 630-370-0820 OR JANINEADAMSKI@GMAIL.COM SUGGESTIONS, CRITICISM, IDEAS MEDIA@NEWBUFFALOTIMES.COM ADV ERTISING MEDIA@NEWBUFFALOTIMES.COM CLASSIFIED ADS MEDIA@NEWBUFFALOTIMES.COM SUBSCRIPTIONS MEDIA@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 369, New Buffalo, MI 49117 ©2026 NEW BUFFALO TIMES, INC. PUBLICATION NUMBER 377960 CIRCULATION 5,000+ WEEKLY

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Election Day 2026 Preview BY FRANCESCA SAGALA

he following is a preview of local contested candidates and proposals that will be appearing on the ballot in the upcoming Nov. 3 General Election. For a complete list, visit www. berriencounty.org.

JUDICIAL Judge of District Court 5th District Court Voters can choose one non-partisan candidate for this six-year term: Jennifer E. Fields of St. Joseph and Myrene Kay Koch of St. Joseph.

LEGISLATIVE State Senator (17th District) Voters can choose one candidate for this four-year term: Ashleigh Baker (D) of Marcellus and Jonathan Lindsey (R) of Coldwater. Representative in State Legislature 37th District Voters can pick one of the following candidates for the two-year term as state representative: Angela Jones (D) of Niles and incumbent Brad Paquette (R) of Niles. 38TH DISTRICT Voters can pick one of the following candidates for this two-year term as state representative: incumbent Joey Andrews (D) of St. Joseph, Mark Krieger (R) of Bridgman or Jett Newton (G) of St. Joseph.

COMMUNITY COLLEGE Lake Michigan College Voters can choose up to three nonpartisan candidates out of six candidates for a six-year term on the Lake Michigan College Board: Vicki Burghdoff, Mary Jo Tomasini, Brian Edlefson, Debra Johnson, Cynthia Miller and Julia Gourley Donohue. MUNICIPALITIES CITY OF NEW BUFFALO Voters can pick up to two nonpartisan candidates out of the following three candidates that are running for a fouryear term on the New Buffalo City Council: Brian Campbell, Bob Babbitt and Vance Price. VILLAGE OF GRAND BEACH Voters can pick up to three nonpartisan candidates out of the following five candidates that are

running for a four-year term on the Grand Beach Village Council: Harry Walder, John Larkin, Peter Doerr, James Benz and Mark Connelly. Village of Three Oaks Voters can vote for up to three nonpartisan candidates out of the following four candidates that are running for a four-year term on the Three Oaks Village Council: Pierceton McGinnis, Becky Thomas, Christina Zebell and Lois D. Jones.

SCHOOL BOARDS New Buffalo Area Schools Running for two seats, which each carry a six-year term, on the New Buffalo Area Schools Board of Education are Sarah A. Biggs, Jennifer Summers and Steven McNay.

PROPOSALS Village of Michiana The village is seeking to renew its emergency services millage for police, fire and ambulance services of 1 mill for six years through 2032, which is estimated to raise $112,784.20 in its first year.

It is easy to eat sardines when you’re starving. — Dino N. Fatouros

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Local Government Meetings New Buffalo Times

Democracy Requires Transparency

CITY OF NEW BUFFALO VANCE PRICE, MAYOR CITY COUNCIL MARK ROBERTSON, ROGER LIJEWSKI, KAREN GEAR, RICH KNOLL, VANCE PRICE City Council meets on the 3rd Monday of each month at 6:30PM CITY OF NEW BUFFALO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETINGS Meets on the 1st Tuesday of each month at 5:30PM NEW BUFFALO TOWNSHIP BOARD HOWARD MALES, MICHELLE HEIT, MICHELLE HANNON, PATTY IAZZETTO, BARBARA ANDERSON Board meets on the 3rd Monday of each month at 4PM NEW BUFFALO TOWNSHIP PLANNING COMMISSION Meets on the 1st Tuesday of each month at 6:30PM SHERIFF BERRIEN COUNTY Sheriff, Chuck Heit Undersheriff, Greg Sanders NEW BUFFALO AREA RECREATIONAL AUTHORITY Meets at 9AM on the 2nd Wednesday of every other month (odd) at New Buffalo Township Hall, 17425 Red Arrow Highway New Buffalo NEW BUFFALO AREA SCHOOLS BOARD LISA WERNER, JOHN HASKINS, DENISE CHURCHILL, JENNIFER SUMMERS, VANESSA THUN, STEPHEN DONNELLY, GREG VOSBERG The Board meets on the 2nd and 4th Mondays of each month at 6PM CHIKAMING TOWNSHIP CHIKAMING TOWNSHIP BOARD DAVID BUNTE, PAULA DUDIAK, LIZ RETTIG, RICHARD SULLIVAN, ARTHUR ANDERSON 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 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 Meets on the 3rd Wednesday at 5PM EST KIMBERLY WOLNIK, CLERK-TREASURER HARRY WALDER, JACK GRACE, ED SEBASTIAN, PETER DOERR, EDWARD BRANDES MICHIANA VILLAGE OF MICHIANA COUNCIL Meets on the 2nd Friday of each month at 1PM

Village to hold hearing regarding proposed STR zoning ordinance changes

he Grand Beach Planning Commission will hold a public hearing at 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 12, on proposed zoning ordinance changes, one of which would disallow an SLU permit tied to a short-term rental (STR) to move with the sale of a home. At the Grand Beach Village Council’s Oct. 21 meeting, Planning Commission Chair Ross Kerr said that it’s being proposed that if someone obtains an STR permit, they won’t be able to transfer it when they sell their property, as it’ll stay with the owner. “We feel that’s important because we want any new owner that comes in to understand the importance of following the STR rules and guidelines,” he said. Also proposed is formalizing the timing of annual STR submissions for SLU permits to be allowed from only Jan. 1 to Feb. 28 each year. Following the hearing will be a special meeting, during which planners will vote on the proposed changes and decide if they’ll present it to the council for ratification. Village Attorney Sara Senica addressed the council’s decision to council grandfather in the current Short-Term Rental permits. Homes have been rented out in the village before even the Village Charter was established. In the mid-2000s, the village passed an ordinance requiring a special use permit if someone was going to rent a home. Senica said the “historic rentals” that had been rented out to multiple family members, friends and neighbors during the summer and into the fall were grandfathered in and didn’t need an SLU permit “because they’d been using their homes like that for decades, some people half a century.” In 2021, the State of Michigan tried unsuccessfully to pass a bill that would allow up to 30% of residential districts to be STRs. Senica said the way the village handled this was to pass an STR ordinance in 2022, which Senica said required the historic

BY FRANCESCA SAGALA

rentals to sign up with the village mainly for safety reasons. Senica said the village changed during Covid, as more people are living there full-time “and they don’t want an STR atmosphere.” Moving forward, each new rental application will need to go through the STR permit process. Council members approved hiring Can Monkey to move trash receptacles at homes where the residents did not move them in accordance with the village ordinance. Council member John Larkin asked if they would come twice a week during the summer, which is when the village has an extra collection day. Council President Harry Walder said they have a Friday collection, and it’s just Saturday where cans wouldn’t be out, so it wouldn’t make sense for them to come through Saturday morning, move the cans and people would move them back out Sunday night. Walder said the fee charged to residents will be changed from $8 to $5 to cover the village’s cost when the contract is finalized. There will also be an additional $100 base fee a week that the village will have to pay. Ed Sebastian said that it’s what he believes to be a low-cost way to enforce the ordinance. Walder added that a survey showed that most residents are in favor of using Can Monkey. Hi Point and Golf being exempt from removing cans won’t change. Council members discussed a proposal from Donkersloot and Sons for the water intake for the golf course irrigation in the amount of $242,381.80. Walder said the other proposal was about $250,000. The proposal is regarding the repair of the water intake pipe down at the lake. The work, which ties into the potential golf course renovation and putting in a new irrigation system in, needs to be done; however, Walder said the question is “when are we going to do it and who’s going to pay for it.” Streets and Water Commissioner Jack

Grace said that if the village purchased water from the township, it would cost around $8,000 to $9,000 a week. Beach Resiliency Committee Chair Bob Acker said the village grant application has been approved for the Michigan Coastal Management Program for 2027. The matching grant is $140,000, with the village half being $140,000, which brings the total amount to $280,000. Some of what the grant pays for is compilation and analysis of the existing shoreline and coastal data; computer modeling of waves, currents and sediment movement; engineering and feasibility to review of the concepts; reports, conceptual drawings, public presentation materials, project management and grant administration. The grant will begin Jan. 1 and runs until June 2028. Aker thanked Edgewater Resources for helping develop the application and the council’s support.

ouncil members approved the payment to Edgewater Resources, per the recommendation of the Beach Resiliency Committee, for the offshore sand source investigation for $53,560. Council members approved adding Acker to the New Buffalo Shore Alliance as a Grand Beach representative. Council members approved the purchase of four vertical signs/panels for crosswalks to be placed from Memorial Day to Labor Day at a cost not to exceed $500. Council members approved the final draft of the Grand Beach Drug Policy. The purchase of a new locator wand in an amount not to exceed $4,500, for use by the Department of Public Works for water system and general village-wide use in locating water lines, valves, power lines, communication lines and other underground utilities was approved.

There’s one thing everyone should understand: I like my character. —Dennis Rodman

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World Series star has strong ties to the area

BY STAN MADDUX

t’s an exciting time for a La Porte County woman, who’s watching her nephew, Christian Yelich of the Milwaukee Brewers, play for a chance at winning his first World Series title. “It’s unbelievable to think that little baby I once held in my arms is in the World Series. It’s surreal,” said Irene Yelich-Stevens, who still lives in Fish Lake where she grew up. Hoping the Brewers would win, she didn’t turn off her TV until after midnight early Wednesday when they lost 4-3 to the Tampa Bay Rays in 12 innings in Game 4 of the World Series. “I think I’m going to need to call and make a cardiology appointment. They’ve been nail biters, right, the games,” she said. She watched the game with her 91-year old mother, who is Yelich’s grandmother. “She never misses a game,” she said. Yelich, now in his 14th major league baseball season, is a left fielder and designated hitter for the Brewers. The National League’s Most Valuable Player in 2018 has over 200 home runs and 900 runs batted in for his career. The Brewers, who have never won the World Series since the franchise moved from Seattle in 1970, are ahead 3 games to 1 in the best of seven series. Yelich-Stevens along with her older brothers, Steve, who is Christian’s father, and Chris, the star players’s uncle, all graduated from La Porte High School. Chris Yelich, who later became an offensive lineman in football at UCLA, is a member of the Hubner Sports Hall of Fame at La Porte High School. He was inducted in 2019. She said Steve Yelich, who starred at basketball and track in high school, turned down scholarship offers to play basketball in college. He went on to Indiana University focused strictly on becoming an orthodontist. Yelich-Stevens said watching Christian on the field reminds her so much of his father when he was a student athlete. “If you ever notice Christian stealing those bases, it’s like I’m watching Steve in track. They have the same body type. Everything,” she said. After college, Steve Yelich made a career in

pharmaceutical sales in southern California where he still lives after moving there to be closer to his brother in Thousand Oaks where Christian grew up west of Los Angeles. Yelich-Stevens said she’s asked about her connection to Christian from time to time but, ironically, most people share memories of watching her brothers play sports during their high school days. She said the late University of Michigan football coaching legend, Bo Schembechler, once came to their home to speak to Chris about joining his team. Yelich-Stevens said it’s been a few years but she has visited Christian, occasionally, since he was born and speaks regularly with his father. She’s also been to his games, including some at Wrigley Field in Chicago, where she had her picture taken with her nephew on the field during his MVP season. “We keep close tabs on him for sure with my brother,” she said. Yelich-Stevens also credited her brother for the time he spent with his son, Christian, throughout his childhood working on his game and paying for private lessons. “What it takes to get a player to this level is unreal and here we are. He’s got the chance to win the World Series,” she said.

elich-Stevens said her family moved to Fish Lake from Gary when she was 5 years old. She never left the area and spent close to 39-years at Beacon Medical Group in La Porte where she was an office supervisor when she retired about two-years ago. Yelich-Stevens said her favorite memory of Christian is probably when he was a toddler and she bought him a toy barbecue grill that sizzled. “He giggled and laughed. He was just the sweetest little boy,” she said. Irene Yelich-Stevens with her nephews, including Milwaukee Brewers star Christian Yelich at Wrigley Field in Chicago in 2018.

Higher income tax adopted to make up for lower property taxes

BY STAN MADDUX

a Porte County residents will pay higher income taxes to help plug a financial hole for county government created by declining property tax revenue. The La Porte County Council Monday night voted 4 to 3 in favor of a new income tax expected to generate about six million dollars next year. Average wage earners will pay about $140 more a year in the amount of local income taxes currently assessed. The revenue will be used to strictly fund the La Porte County Emergency Medical Service, which currently operates with money from property taxes in the general fund. The savings in the general fund will free up dollars that could go elsewhere, like catching up on building maintenance neglected in recent years to stretch tight budgets. Councilman Mike Mollenhauer said it was either raising taxes or keep putting off repairing and even replacing some of the buildings needing attention. “Truthfully, I just don’t see how we’re going to get anything accomplished, and every year we’re just going to be further and further behind. Nobody wants to put a tax on them, but everybody wants these services, too,” he said. Councilman Justin Kiel said a higher tax allows deficit spending to be avoided to address building maintenance issues such as the millions of dollars needed to replace the failing heating and air conditioning system at the historic La Porte courthouse. Councilman Jennifer Heath voted against the tax at a time when many residents are struggling financially from other higher costs for things like fuel and utilities. “I don’t know how we can put this additional fee on the back of our taxpayers right now,” she said. Local governments statewide are imposing or at least considering higher local taxes to make up for revenue declines from property tax reform adopted by the Indiana legislature in 2025. The projected loss in revenue for La Porte County government this year is about $2 million, but the reduction is expected to be higher in future years. The local income tax was raised previously in 2022 to generate funds for public safety in areas like salary hikes to curb a high turnover rate of emergency responders going elsewhere for more pay. Kiel said the new income tax will expire at the end of 2027 unless it’s extended.

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2026

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30:

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31:

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3:

• Election Day! Vote at your local precinct 7AM-PM • A Toast to Tomorrow Election Night Watch Party at Commune + Market | Three Oaks | 6-10PM [Free] • Bingo at Union Pier Social | Union Pier | 6:30PM [Cover to play]

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5: • Game Night at Three Oaks Public Library | Three Oaks | 6:30PM [Free]

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6:

• Karaoke at SideYard | Sawyer | 7PM [Free] • River Valley High School presents a production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream | Three Oaks | Friday & Saturday 7PM, Sunday 2PM [Tickets]

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 7:

Police involved in pot delivered to medical clinic

BY STAN MADDUX

a Porte County Police are investigating a package of marijuana delivered through the mail to a doctor’s office in the Michigan City area. Police said the red, white and blue package was from a marijuana dispensary in California. Officers on Thursday, Oct. 22, were called to the Children & Family Health Clinic on County Road 400 North. Police said an officer manager reported finding a sealed padded envelope in the mailbox at the clinic and calling law enforcement because of what she believed was a strong

odor of marijuana coming from the package. The envelope and its contents delivered by the United States Postal Service was stamped Priority Mail for quicker delivery, police said. Police said nearly two ounces of marijuana in the original dispensary packaging were discovered inside the envelope when it was opened under a court ordered search warrant. Investigators are looking into the possibility an employee at the doctor’s office may have ordered the marijuana, which remains illegal in Indiana.

Michigan man on stolen motorcycle killed in crash

BY STAN MADDUX

man on a stolen motorcycle killed in a head-on crash with a semi-truck in La Porte County was from Michigan. The victim was Levi Nation, 38, of Dorr, which is about 20 miles south of Grand Rapids. According to La Porte County Police, emergency responders on Thursday, Oct. 22, were called just before 7 a.m. to the 2300 block of E. U.S 20 near Rolling Prairie. Police said the investigation revealed the eastbound motorcycle was being operated erratically before it crossed the center line and struck the oncoming 2026 Freightliner semi-truck. Nation was pronounced dead at the scene. Police said Nation was operating a 2003 Harley Davidson motorcycle reported stolen Wednesday through the Coloma, Michigan Police Department. Swanson said she’s waiting to review footage from a dashboard camera in the

semi-truck to help determine if the crash happened by accident or on purpose. She said suicide has not been ruled out. “In speaking with the family, he had been having some mental health issues,” she said. Nation was not carrying any identification, said La Porte County Police Chief of Detectives Andy Hynek. About 12 hours later, Hynek said he came across a social media post from a 22-year-old Michigan woman asking for help in locating her father, who she hadn’t seen for a day or two. Hynek said he called the woman since her post contained a picture that resembled the victim and he was formally identified from her description of some of his tattoos. “The tattoos matched,” he said. Hynek also said the motorcycle was stolen Wednesday from the parking lot of a retail center after the owner went inside one of the stores.

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NOKTOBERFEST

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10 THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2026

SCHOLASTICS

School board hears presentation from civil engineer regarding Lubke Road property

embers of the New Buffalo Area Schools Board of Education heard a presentation from a civil engineering firm that could potentially partner with the Building Trades program on developing the Lubke Road property at their Monday, Oct. 26, meeting. Board President Denise Churchill said the board had decided not to “continue moving forward with the Bison Preserve project,” which was planned to be located on the 37-acre school property across from New Buffalo Elementary School. The board had been engaged in discussions with developers regarding potential ways to develop the land, which included creating attainable housing and retaining building sites for the Building Trades students to construct single family homes. “Now, we’re looking at utilizing the land solely for the Building Trades program, so this is to explore how that process would take place,” she said. Civil Engineer Colin Finch said VK Civil has worked with the school district before on projects. Established in 2011, they are licensed engineers in several states and are municipal engineers for townships on the south side of Grand Rapids.

BY FRANCESCA SAGALA

VK Civil also works with parks and recreation, commercial developers, industrial developers, residential and schools. The Building Trades Subdivision Process, as it was displayed on the PowerPoint presentation, would involve a three-step process. Step One, the “entitlement/overall site plan,” involves figuring out how many lots can be developed, working with the private utilities (gas and electric), and then the public utilities as well, such as water and sewer, and meeting with the township to work out what the “development process will be to make the development approvable,” and meeting with the road department to get access in the driveway. Step Two, “Engineering and Construction Plans,” Finch said, would involve plans that would lay out the roadway, storm water management and design of the water and sewer utilities “that would get permitted and approved through the road department, the township and the state for public utilities” and developing an erosion control plan that the Drain Commission would review. In the “Construction Plan,” VK Civil would provide oversight of the construction team and prepare

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layouts of the different lots for each development. Surveyors would place pins at each property corner, so “each is a buildable lot that already has water service to it, sewer service to it, electric gas provided and a roadway access.” “At that point the Trades can come through and have the learning opportunity to build each home on each lot,” Finch said. It would take about three months each step, so the entire process could take about nine months. He confirmed that they can leverage studies that were already done on the land, such as the wetlands study, and that he believes that they already have soil borings.

uperintendent Adam Bowen said the project would work on the township requirements, which would involving getting a “PUD and all that because there’re multiple homes there.” “We don’t know how many but it’s going to be significantly smaller in scope than what we had been discussing for a number of years, so that would all be determined throughout that process,” Bowen said. Board members approved 31aa Resolution B, which will secure funding for mental health.

New Buffalo Times

— SINCE 1942 —

Board secretary Vannessa Thun read an announcement that “New Buffalo Area Schools traveled to Lansing to accept the Michigan School Wellness Award (Bronze level) by the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS).” “This award highlights our commitment to supporting the whole child by creating a healthy, active, and supportive school environment— from physical education and health curriculum to nutritious meal programs and wellness initiatives,” she read. Board members learned Bowen approved the following hires: boys middle school basketball: seventh grade - Kevin Ebbeson and eighth grade - Conner Lijewski and girls middle school basketball: eighth grade - Zack Robertson (paid thorough River Valley); high school boys’ basketball: varsity - Nate Tripp Sr., junior varsity - Nate Tripp Jr., junior varsity “B” -Tyler Haske (paid through River Valley), and flex position - Adam Forker (program assistant); and high school girls basketball: varsity - Jason Alexander (paid through River Valley) and junior varsity - Shawn Gedert (paid through River Valley).

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2026 11

From the Bleachers COLUMN BY KURT MARGGRAF IN CHICAGO

ast week I told you that I am old school. Today, for this column only, I’m trying something new. I downloaded the Muse app and asked it a question. Here is the response. It is the greatest season in Milwaukee Brewers history, and it isn’t finished yet. The Brewers won 103 games in 2026— six more than the franchise record they set just last year— finished with the best record in baseball, and took a 2-0 lead in the World Series over the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday night. Two wins now stand between Milwaukee and the first championship in the 57- year history of the franchise. The season began with doubt. Over the winter, Milwaukee traded its ace, Freddy Peralta, and made a confusing deal involving Caleb Durbin that nobody quite understood. It looked like the kind of small market winter that ends with a step backward. Instead, the Brewers got better. Peralta, ironically, now pitchers for Tampa Bay— the team standing between Milwaukee and the title. The club that replaced him did it the way Milwaukee always does: young arms, airtight defense, and a roster full of players who do the little things right. The regular season was a runaway. Milwaukee went 103-59, outscoring opponents 832-618and drew nearly 2.8 million fans to American Family Field. Brice Turang, the second baseman, was the team’s best player. Jackson Chourio, the young left fielder, stayed healthy and kept growing into a star. Christian Yelich, the captain and former MVP, anchored the lineup as designated hitter.

William Contreras was one of the best hitting catchers in the game, and first baseman Jake Bauer came out of nowhere to hit 26 homers— his previous career best was 12. On the mound, Jacob Misiorowski (the Miz) emerged as the National League’s Cy Young front runner, throwing 103 miles an hour. The postseason has been a white knuckle ride. Milwaukee beat San Diego in the Division Series, then swept the mighty Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLCS , four games to none, a year after the Dodgers swept them out of the playoffs. The Brewers trailed in all four games of that series and won them all. Then came the World Series. In game one the Miz threw the first pitch 103.5 mph, a World Series record. The Brewers won 3-2, the franchise’s first World Series victory since 1982. Game two was wilder.Tampa scored four runs before Milwaukee even batted. The Brewers chipped away and won 5-4. That is the story of this team. They have trailed in seven postseason games by a combined 16-5 and won all seven, outscoring opponents 23-0 the rest of the way. The bullpen, particularly Alan Ashby ( who has not allowed a run in nearly 16 playoff innings) has been on another planet. They do not blow teams out. They hang around, they defend, and they break your heart late. Two more wins, and Milwaukee finally gets its parade. That was fun, hope you liked it. Albert Einstein said, “Imagination is more important than knowledge.” Be kind. Talk to you next week. Peace, love, and happiness.

Raiders end varsity football season on high note

BY STAN MADDUX

he Red Arrow Raiders ended the high school football season with a 7448 victory at Eau Claire Friday, Oct. 23.The Red Arrow Raiders ended the high school football season with a 74-48 victory at Eau Claire on Friday, October 23. The Raiders finished 2-6 while the Beavers ended the season at 1-8. Raiders Head Coach Matt Johnson said he was happy to end what’s been a struggling season with a win for the outgoing seniors and underclassmen returning next year. “We had a lot of trials and tribulations this year that we didn’t anticipate going into the season. So, to be able to win and win in that fashion, it gave the kids a little hope for the future. It was a good win,” he said. The Raiders on their opening drive put together an eight-play drive that ended with a 20-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Colten Lijewski to senior Drew Bowen. The touchdown was set up by a 24yard pass completion from Lijewski to Brody Nikkel on the previous play. The Beavers came right back to even the score, but the Raiders regained the lead on their next series of downs that ended with a 29-yard run into the end zone by Lijewski. “From there, we never looked back,” Johnson said. The Raiders scored two more first quarter touchdowns after recovering the ball from two consecutive onside

kicks that seemed to catch the defenders off guard. August Johnson and John Bradshaw, both seniors, each scored a touchdown in the second quarter for the Raiders, who led at halftime 40-22. Two other seniors, Travis James and Hunter Gnodtke, also found their way into the end zone. The Raiders 8-1 last season were hopeful of having similar success this season, but they couldn’t overcome a heavy loss of seniors particularly on the offensive and defensive lines.

ext year, the Raiders will have to overcome the loss of ten seniors, including several in key positions like running back and wide receiver and in the defensive secondary. Johnson said encouraging, though, is the return of Lijewski and Nikkel, both juniors, who are also key players on defense. He also expects to have back most of his players on the offensive and defensive lines, who gradually improved from the experience gained this season. Johnson said he also hopes to have more depth next year from a large group of middle school players coming in next year as freshmen. “Anytime you lose 10 seniors at our level, that’s a cause for concern. We got to fill some holes,” he said.

You can’t be a PPV star if you don’t put on an exciting performance. —Gervonta Davis

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12 THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2026

Trick or treaters celebrate New Buffalo-style Halloween

BY FRANCESCA SAGALA

Alley Krueger, Mandi Rojics and Jessi and Stephanie Ashcraft pose before the parade

Jack and Quinn Earley, Katie Tierney and Sam Spiekhout pose as the Flinstones

Trick or treaters get treats at Converge Community Church.

Trick or treaters stand for costume judging

Mayor Vance Price, council member Roger Lijewski, Allison Lijewski and Dennis Campbell serve hot dogs along U.S. 12

Trick or treaters grab a ice cream at Oink’s

Eden Gore rides Tootsie

Jim Knight judges a group of trick or treaters

he streets of downtown New Buffalo and the surrounding neighborhoods were populated with ghosts, princesses and other colorful creatures for the New Buffalo Community Halloween Parade Sunday, Oct. 25. Costumed characters, who were eager to scoop up some sweet treats, stood on North Thompson Street, which was where the costume judging took place. From there, they marched down Merchant Street before eventually arriving at City Hall. There, the characters received treat bags before embarking on trick or treating in the streets of New Buffalo.

Emerson Grzywacz hangs out in his Space Tent before the parade

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2026 13

Trick or treaters head down Merchant Street

New Buffalo Middle School’s Blue and Gold Band heads down Merchant Street

A group of trick or treaters poses before the parade

A group of trick or treaters takes a break along U.S 12

Roger Lijewski poses next to his car, which has a skeleton passengers

Grand Prize Winner Alex Artega

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14 THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2026

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New Buffalo Township dispensaries evacuated after bombAssisting threat oth Jars Cannabis deputies with the response

dispensaries in New Buffalo Township were evacuated after a reported bomb threat, which was determined to be false. According to a press release made by Sgt. Jared Phillips, at approximately 7:02 p.m. Oct. 22, deputies with the Berrien County Sheriff’s Office (New Buffalo Township Patrol), responded to Jars Cannabis, located at 19799 W. U.S. Highway 12 in New Buffalo Township, following the threat. “Upon arrival, deputies contacted employees and confirmed the business had been evacuated. As a precaution, a second Jars Cannabis location, located at 11451 O’Brien Court in New Buffalo Township, was also evacuated,” the release stated.

and securing both locations were New Buffalo Township Fire Department and the Grand Beach–Michiana Police Department. Sgt. Brandon Crosby and his canine partner, Zeke, a bombdetection canine with the Berrien County Sheriff’s Office, conducted searches of both locations. There were no suspicious items or items of concern at either location. Based on the investigation and searches conducted, the threat is believed to be false. “Sheriff Heit appreciates the assistance and cooperation of the responding agencies and the businesses involved in ensuring public safety throughout the incident,” the release said. — STAFF REPORTS

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2026 15

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16 THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2026

110-year sentence for revenge driven slayings

BY STAN MADDUX

Michigan City man has been given what could be viewed as life sentence for the slayings of a former girlfriend and her new boyfriend that authorities say was driven by revenge. Armann Johnson, 28, was given a 110-year sentence Thursday, Oct. 22, in La Porte Superior Court 1 on two counts of murder. He was convicted by a jury in August of fatally shooting Kiara Hootman, 22, and Travis Pennington, 35, at Normandy Village Apartments in Michigan City in August of 2024. Police said Pennington was about to drive Hootman to work at Hearthside Food Solutions, the maker of baked goods and other edible products on the city’s west side, when they were shot. The victims were inside a car in the apartment complex parking lot when Pennington was shot three times in the head and neck while Hootman suffered four gunshot wounds to the left arm and back, according to the La Porte County Coroner’s Office. According to court documents, Johnson and Hootman were in a brief relationship until she left him due to physical abuse. Police said she had recently been staying with Pennington at Normandy Village after

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moving from her apartment due to fears of Johnson returning. It appears the gunfire came about a week after Johnson warned Pennington to stay away from Hootman or “be dealt with,” court documents revealed. A major break in the investigation came from the use of a license plate reading camera tracking the vehicle the gunman fled into Johnson’s residence in the 800 block of Pine St.

he next day, a search of the vehicle and home turned up shards of glass like the ones from a passenger side mirror collected from where the victims were parked along with a black cloth gun holster fitted for a semiautomatic handgun. Police said there was also dirt on Johnson’s vehicle to explain the tire tracks left by the gunman from driving through the grass at the apartment complex after the shooting. Johnson and Pennington were employed at the same bakery with Hootman until they were both terminated a few weeks prior to the shootings for missing too many days at work, authorities said. He could have received an up to 65-year sentence for each murder.

New Buffalo Times

— SINCE 1942 —

The next Chicago superstar is here!

BY GEORGE M. KRUEGER f you don’t already know the name Pete Crow Armstrong, in the next 10 years you will be hearing his name quite a bit. The 24-year-old left handed phenom is the center fielder for the Chicago Cubs. On November 12, 2026, PCA will be winning his very first National League MVP Award. He will be the 11th Chicago Cub to win the historic 156 years going award in baseball. At 24 years old he will become the 11th youngest player to win the award. In the history of MLB he is the seventh player to hit 40 Home Runs and 40 Stolen Bases in one season. PCA’s 2026 season stats: • Batting Average: 280 • Home Runs: 45 • RBIs: 107 • Stolen Bases: 41 Chicago has had its share of MVP Awards Winners: Chicago Bulls, 2: Michael Jordan 5, Derrick Rose Chicago Bears, 1: Walter Payton Chicago Cubs, 10: Ernie Banks 2, Frank Schulte, Rogers Hornsby, Gabby Hartnett, Phil Cavarretta, Hank Sauer, Ryne Sandberg, Andre Dawson, Sammy Sosa, Kris Bryant Chicago White Sox, 5: Frank Thomas 2, Nellie Fox, Dick Allen, Jose Abreu Chicago Blackhawks, 5: Bobby Hull 2, Stan Mikita 2, Max Bentley, Al Rollins, Patrick Kane We have been very blessed to live so close to the city of Chicago, and to witness up close some of the best athletes to ever live. It is not often that a 24 year old comes into a professional sport and does what PCA just did this early in his career. The only advice I can give is keep your eyes on this kid, he might possibly be the next biggest name in the sport of baseball.

MUSEUM HOSTING ‘END OF YEAR SALE’

s its season ends, The Region of Three Oaks Museum will hold a “clearance sale” of antiques on the weekend of Oct. 31-Nov. 1, from noon to 5 p.m. In addition, the museum will open its storage annex, with thousands of rarely seen items, to the public on that weekend. The sale will take place in the storage wing on the south end of the museum, located at 5 Featherbone Avenue in Three Oaks. Items to be sold are duplicates from the museum collection and furniture from the former E.K. Warren & Son building at 7 South Elm, which the museum is restoring as a display space detailing the history of the Warren family and the Featherbone Company they created and ran in Three Oaks for 70 years. No items donated by individuals to TROTOM are being sold off. Disposing of surplus items will help clear space for us to store artifacts that will help tell the fascinating history of our area. The Region of Three Oaks Museum is a 501 (C) (3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation and presentation of the history of this area. The museum is open May through October of each year. More details at www. regionofthreeoaksmuseum.com.

— STAFF REPORTS

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2026 17

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A Writer’s Life...

From the Dish Pit...

A HIGHSCHOOLER’S TAKE ON REAL LIFE TOPICS

BY SYLVIE DARLING ehind the Wall room, we shared I’ve now written seventeen a meal of slowof these articles, and while roasted pork, fresh doing my “research” for this tortillas, and tangy one (i.e. eavesdropping on lemonade made with lemons from a tree conversations), I was reminded of my just outside her window. The afternoon mission here: to observe, ponder, and sun streaming in, Rosario’s joy as she interpret the interactions that give our refilled our glasses, the lush greenery shop life. Although I typically focus around – something about it all felt so on interactions happening beyond the rich, so real. Where else could a small walls of the Dish Pit – from children business owner and his family sit beside skipping across the lawn to customers the coffee grower who supplied their engaging in political debates – I decided beans and laugh over the absurdities of to flip the script and take you behind the Guatemalan traffic? wall to meet someone whose story has I began to realize that our business, become part of mine. although built transaction by I first met Rosario Lemus, an transaction, was upheld person by experienced coffee grower and person. From the hands that grew the agronomist, at a little café nestled beans to the hands that sold them. beneath the Guatemalan mountains. From her story to ours. Suddenly, I felt With dark hair pulled back from her a sobering sense of responsibility: to face and a lean, muscular frame, share Rosario’s story and support the Rosario carried herself with a quiet mission she’d cultivated on this little strength and assurance. Before I could patch of land. say much, she extended her hand and After touring the farm, we met the offered a genuine, crinkle-eyed grin. rest of the Lemus family – Rosario’s I had the privilege of riding shotgun son, her brother and co-owner, Oscar, in Rosario’s red pickup truck as we and Oscar’s wife and kids. Together, climbed the knotty roads to her farm. they shared the history of the Santa She asked me about my hobbies, my Clara Coffee Farm, a legacy of quality dreams, and my go-to coffee order and sustainability passed down from (which, at the time, wasn’t even a coffee generation to generation. Once again, drink), listening attentively and nodding as the late-afternoon sun illuminated in spite of my poor Spanish grammar. their faces and the warm, nutty aroma As we pulled into her driveway, Rosario of coffee drifted up from the hills, I flashed another sincere, crinkle-eyed felt that same sense of responsibility. grin. “Hablas muy bien!” Share their story. Honor their mission. We followed the path to Rosario’s Continue these connections through home, a breezy, terracotta-colored each generation: from their hands, house overlooking rows of multicolored coffee beans as they dried in the to your hands, to the hands waiting afternoon sun. Inside the quaint dining beyond the wall.

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New Buffalo Times

— SINCE 1942 —

DURING THE GOLDEN AGE OF TELEVISION ANIMATION

BY JACK OLESKER

here’s no business like show business So we’re going back a few years, when I was involved in a development deal before I got to L.A. In 1975, after G.P. Putnam’s Sons had given me a publishing contract for my first novel, No Place Like Home, and before the novel was published, the film rights were sold to MGM. I netted $50,000 – big money in 1975. The producer was to be Bill Castle (The Tingler, 13 Ghosts, Rosemary’s Baby). Bill flew out from L.A. to my Chicago. We had a celebratory dinner at the restaurant on the seventy-third floor of Lake Point Tower, the building I was living in and which I had modeled my murder mystery novel around. Chicago’s Chief of Police joined us as we would need the department’s assistance for the film. He generously offered it. Articles about the impending film appeared in Chicago newspapers, creating a lot of buzz in Chicago, helped by my novel’s hitting the bestseller list. MGM hired veteran screenwriter Richard Alan Simmons to write the screenplay adaptation of my novel. In addition to my fee for the films rights, I would be working as a Technical Advisor for $2,500 a week. Heady stuff for a twenty-five year old. A month before Bill came to Chicago, I flew out to L.A. to meet with him at his Beverly Hills home, where I’d sign the contract for the film rights sale. I was wined and dined. After a couple of days, Bill and his wife Terry took me out to their beautiful pied-à-terre Malibu beach house where I spent a sun-drenched weekend proofing Bill’s upcoming book about his storied career as a horror/suspense film producerdirector, STEP RIGHT UP!...I’m Gonna

Scare the Pants Off America. I was living the dream. And then, in an instant, my dream died. One afternoon back in Chicago, after our dinner meeting, I made a routine call to Bill for an update as to where we were on the film. When Terry answered, I said hello and asked to speak to Bill. In a hoarse voice, she said, “Bill passed away this morning…” Bill had become a friend, and I was crushed by the news of his passing. William Castle died of a heart attack at sixty-three. He’d had a hard early life, orphaned at eleven, raised by an older sister. At thirteen, after he saw Bela Lugosi in Dracula, Bill set his sights on becoming a horror film producer and director. He dropped out of school at fifteen to work in the business, moving to Hollywood at twenty-three. He worked at many jobs, finally embarking on a successful career producing and directing B-horror films that included House on Haunted Hill, Dr. Sardonicus, The Tingler and many others. Kids loved Bill’s films. At the height of his popularity he had a fan club with over 250,000 members. I mourned for a week, then got back to work, knowing Bill would have wanted it that way. My first call was to my agent, Warren Bayless. After we spoke about Bill for a few minutes and shared our positive memories of him, I asked where we were on the film. Warren answered simply, “We’re not anywhere on it.” When I asked what he meant, Warren said, “With Bill gone, the project will probably go into turnaround.” I’d never heard the term ‘turnaround’, but I didn’t like the sound of it. I liked even less what I had thought was going to be a ‘film’ now referred to as “the project.”

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HORROR-SCOPE OCTOBER 29-NOVEMBER 4, 2026 AS INTERPRETED BY SANDY “STAR” BENDT

ARIES MARCH 21—APRIL 19

LEO JULY 23—AUGUST 22

SAGITTARIUS NOVEMBER22—DECEMBER21

It will be a dark and stormy night with a strange howling and barking in the distance. Try as you might to turn on the lights or find your umbrella, you will be in the dark and wet with fright. Whatever you do, stay away from the windows and keep that aluminum foil helmet on!

A large group of crows will encircle your home. A man with an unnatural expression will speak to them and they will do his bidding. You will feel rooted to the ground, expressionless, swaying in the breeze. These crows will dive down and peck at you. Wait, is your home in a corn field?

Today your lucky numbers will be imaginary and your winnings will be unseen. You will hear nothing when there is no sound. You will see nothing if you do not look. If you keep your eyes closed, you will only see darkness. Also. if you keep them closed and walk, you’ll have a nice trip.

TAURUS APRIL 20—MAY 20

VIRGO AUGUST 23—SEPTEMBER 22

CAPRICORN DECEMBER22—JANUARY19

This is the week that everything about you changes. You will grow long fangs, sharp claws, and intense facial hair. The desire for very rare meat and sweet treats like eyeballs and cow’s tongue will be overwhelming. Others may be very frightened, but that’s what will make it feel normal.

You will visit a cabin in the woods this week and even though you are a book lover, do not open any books you find there. A book bound in strange leather, written with blood red ink has the ability to change the earth as we know it and release hell and all its demons. No more reading!

Lock your doors! Close the windows and do not go outside. The government has just released an announcement that the there has been a strange odor and a weird vapor has settled over the cemetery near your home. The dead have risen. They’re coming to get you Capricorn.

GEMINI MAY 21—JUNE 21

LIBRA SEPTEMBER 23—OCTOBER 22 The men in black will arrive at your home again this week. It seems the recent trip you made to the desert, to a certain area has created a rip in the time space continuum again and the neighbors chihuahua has been sucked into another dimension. The local humane society has some questions also.

AQUARIUS JANUARY 20—FEBRUARY 18

CANCER JUNE 22—JULY 22

SCORPIO OCTOBER 23—NOVEMBER21 A caravan will be approaching your home, a night circus or dark carnival of sorts. Trucks with trailers filled with all manner of horrifying creatures great and small will be making its way to your neighborhood. Avoid this carnival and stay away from the cotton candy. It rots your teeth.

You will have many sleepless nights this week because of all the chanting and stomping you will hear. You may notice a strange cone of light coming up from the woods behind your home and figures dancing in a ritual fashion. Be afraid, be very afraid.

A box will be delivered to your home. Inside you will find a packet of seeds. Do not plant these seeds or expose them to water and certainly do not sing to them. Any kind of acknowledgment will awaken them. They may not be real but they can be conceptualized.

You may be able to tell yourself it was only a dream and the lab wasn’t a real place. No, not that recurring dream. The one with the thunderstorm! The lightening! The howling winds. No, not last night. The night the creature lived! The towns people came with torches.

PISCES FEBRUARY 19—MARCH 20

Your feet will grow extremely large and will not fit any of your shoes. Your face will turn white and an unusual smile will caress your lips. Your car will become extremely small but will hold more people than you can imagine. The mere presence of you will make babies puke.

True friends are like diamonds – bright, beautiful, valuable, and always in style. — Nicole Richie

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2026 19

20 THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2026

THE POKAGON FUND SEEKING APPLICANTS FOR BOARD POSITION

815 E Buffalo New Buffalo, MI 49117 Bus: 269-469-4442 Toll Free: 866-848-5266 www.tomrossman.net State Farm, Bloomington, IL 1211999

he Pokagon Fund is seeking applications from those who are interested in serving as a director on its seven-person board. The Pokagon Fund (TPF) is an independent, private foundation whose philanthropic activities aim to improve the quality of life for residents of the Greater New Buffalo Region and in communities surrounding the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians’ trust lands. The term is a partial one that will run from the date of appointment through approximately April 2028. The selected individual will be eligible to be re-appointed for a full three-year term when his or her partial term ends. “The Pokagon Fund’s work is guided by community leaders who care deeply about the future of our region and are willing to roll up their sleeves to make a difference,” said the Fund’s executive director, Dan Petersen. “Serving on the Board is a unique opportunity to help shape the Fund’s vision, steward resources that strengthen our communities, and support initiatives that improve quality of life throughout our service area. We encourage individuals who are passionate about our communities and committed to thoughtful leadership to apply.” Interested individuals can obtain a candidate profile and application by emailing Petersen at dpetersen@pokagonfund.org. Completed applications must be returned to TPF’s offices by Nov. 30. Questions and inquiries about this opportunity can be directed to Petersen through email or 269-469-9322. — STAFF REPORTS

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To Your Health COLUMN BY KAREN EDWARDS ND

MIND OVER STRESS

for 7 seconds, and exhale completely through your think that we can all agree, mouth for 8 we are living in a timedefined the cost-effective alternative seconds. Repeating this just by endless notifications, to new housing four times can act as a natural algorithm feeds, and the tranquilizer, lowering blood constant stress of digital pressure and centering your mind. noise. Our minds are rarely allowed Scrolling social media offers a to rest. Many reach for their phones quick dopamine hit, but it also before theirfeet hit the floor in the leaves you feeling empty, fatigued morning. In the evening, scrolling and agitated. Try replacing their phones until their eyes mindless swiping with a hobby that are blurred and their minds are cluttered. demandsyour physical presence. It seems more and more people Walking, getting into nature, are becoming digitally chained. reading a book, a crossword or This keeps our nervous systems in jigsaw puzzle, or learn a new skill. johnrtaylor1953@gmail.com a constant state of fight-or-flight, They shift your nervous system from draining our focus and feeding high alert… to calm. Residential Builder anxiety. In fact, many ideas are no Trading screen reading for a MI License No. 2102222731 longer our own.Reclaiming your physical book can be rewarding. peace does not require a silent Turning physical pages is beneficial retreat in the mountains, but it does to your imagination. Also, you require new habits that you can are not getting the blue light that apply every day. stresses your nervous system and Here are some beneficial disrupts melatonin. Your sleep techniques that can bring you hormone. Reading a real book can back to center. When stress feels actually make you tired and prepare overwhelming, it is because your for good sleep. mind is often caught in future When a stressful thought worries or past regrets. Grounding arises, ask yourself: Is this really can help pull you back to present. happening, or is this in my mind? Try the 5-4-3-2-1 sensory method. Allow yourself pauses throughout Identify five things you can see, the day. Sit mindless for 60 seconds. four you can physically feel, three Silence. you can hear, two you can smell, Overcoming stress is not about and one you can taste. This helps adding more tasks, it is about redirect brain activity away from the removing them. By swapping 1942 — emotional state, back into the logical out scrolling for more grounding state, instantly slowing a racing practices like listed above, you mind and pulse. build an anchor against the storms The following technique is my of this modern life. Your mind favorite therapy to recommend to should be your safe place. We have anyone that is in a panic attack, to choose what we put into it, and anxiety is reeling, or just feeling how to decompress it. overwhelmed. Your method of breathing controls your nervous system. When stressed, we tend to Disclaimer: Everything here is for take short, shallow chest breaths. nutritional education and is not This signalsdanger to the brain. We meant to diagnose, treat prevent or have to intentionally recognize this cure. See your doctor when you have to make change. Inhale through your questions. nose for 4 seconds, hold your breath

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22 THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2026

Board candidates have their say at forum

ommunity members had the chance to hear the views of three candidates competing for two seats on the New Buffalo Area Schools Board of Education at a forum in the Performing Arts Center Thursday, Oct. 22. Hosted by the New Buffalo Education Association, the forum featured students asking the candidates questions. Running for two seats, each one carrying a six-year term, on the New Buffalo Area Schools Board of Education are Sarah A. Biggs, incumbent Jennifer Summers and Steven McNay. Summers said she became interested in becoming a member “at a time where there were political groups wanting to push their agenda onto the school board.” “I want to focus on what’s the best interests for students and the community as a whole and I hope whoever’s ever elected will keep that focus on the students and community,” she said. McNay, who has three children in the district, said he’s been involved with sports and the PTO but he’s running for a board seat because he wants “to be a part of something more meaningful.” “My kids are young and I want to be a part of that next growth, that next opportunity for the next six years,” he said. Biggs, who has a daughter in the district, said she wants to “make a difference and give back.” When asked how she’d support the district’s mission statement, “Every Student Every Day,” Summers said she’d focus “on what every child needs.”

BY FRANCESCA SAGALA

Sarah Biggs, Steven McNay and Jennifer Summers speak during a forum

“I think as a board we oversee everything and we get presentations on everything so we can keep in touch with what the school, staff and students are needing so we can give every student what they need to succeed,” she said. McNay said he believes in reducing some technology usage in the classroom and reintroducing “more education based, hands on material.” “Increasing technology also shows a trend where we’re not listening to students, we’re not letting them think about what’s going on in the real world they’re just tuning out so I want to be able to have a voice in that,” he said. Noting the importance of “meeting students where they’re at,” Biggs said she attended a Title One and Spanish Night that showed how teachers are using data from test scores to tailor lessons to students. “I want to maintain those types of things where we’re meeting all our students where they need to be met,”

she said. Regarding the top issues facing students today, McNay said mental stress and the importance of parents guiding students “into making right decisions” in the face of technology such as social media is a challenge. He also listed the population of students not heading to college having a lack of post-secondary opportunities and increasing trade opportunities or “working with those students to think about their future.”

oting how the world is “moving fast,” Biggs also listed technology as a challenge and ensuring that students know how to handle the increasing use of AI in the job market and how to use it “ethically and responsibly.” Summers echoed the AI concerns and what it’ll mean for the job market as well as ensuring students are studying for careers that will be there when they graduate.

“As a board member, you’re looking at those kinds of trends in the job market and where things are going and addressing them so we can structure our curriculum to address those needs or those new technologies or new job opportunities coming up,” she said. When asked what strategies he’d support to ensure the district offers compensation and benefit packages that attract and retain high-quality staff while maintaining long term financial responsibility, McNay, noting the median income in New Buffalo Township is $64,000, said he would “work with city officials, work with county officials and work with state officials to make sure the cost is more meaningful.” To lower the cost of living, he would advocate for a tax break or tax-differed loan payments. Noting that theirs is an out of formula district largely funded by non-homestead property taxes, second homeowners and businesses, Biggs said it’s important the board is “stewards to make sure we are using money responsibly and not frivolously in other areas, so we can’t afford to compensate our teachers and admins and such adequately.” Summers said she feels they’re “pretty high up there if you compare us to other schools in Michigan – we strive to continue providing good pay for our staff.” She said the cost of living is high here, noting that affordable housing is common discussion item of the board. “I think part of our Building Trades program is part of that - can we get teachers and other family in affordable houses,” she said. For more information on the General Election, see page 3.

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2026 23

MEET THE NEED Meet Phillip, Marcie and Karen — three Neighbor by Neighbor clients whose stories are very different, but who share something important: courage, determination and resilience. Over the past year, we’ve seen a significant increase in need throughout our community. People like Phillip, Marcie and Karen are facing crises that can be complex, overwhelming and devastating. In 2026, client visits are up 200%, with more of our neighbors seeking help with housing and utilities. Our food and hygiene pantry traffic has increased 300%. For the first time in our history, we’ve created a dedicated budget for purchasing food to keep our pantry stocked.

www.neighborbyneighbor.org

Fortunately, Neighbor by Neighbor is here to help—and we’re able to meet this growing need because of the incredible generosity of our community.

We receive no state or federal funding. We rely entirely on the generosity of neighbors like you to provide help when it is needed most. This holiday season, please consider helping us meet the growing need in our community. Learn more about Phillip’s, Marcie’s and Karen’s stories at neighborbyneighbor.org/ stories. Please donate today at neighborbyneighbor.org/donate. Thank you for helping make sure our neighbors don’t have to face a crisis alone. I’ll see you around town.

Bob Murphy Executive Director Neighbor by Neighbor

24 THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2026