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LIFE IN NATURE ON LAKE MICHIGAN
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2026
New Buffalo Times
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CHICAGO • LONG BEACH • MICHIANA SHORES • GRAND BEACH • NEW BUFFALO • UNION PIER • THREE OAKS • LAKESIDE • HARBERT • SAWYER issue 35, volume 85
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Thursday, September 3, 2026
The Pokagon Fund awards major accelerator grant to Railroad Museum PAGE 4 Quillbacks hire former major leaguer as manager PAGE 9
‘Paddle Battle’ raises funds for Japan PAGES 10-11
New Buffalo Yacht Club raises more than $8,000 for local organizations PAGE 18
VARSITY BLUES...
RAIDERS LOSE SEASON OPENER IN HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL — PAGE 8 —
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New Buffalo Times LOCAL INTELLIGENCE — SINCE 1942 —
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CPR saves life of dog overcome by smoke in house fire
La Porte man can thank emergency responders for saving the life of his beloved dog overcome by smoke inside his burning home on Friday, August 28. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation or CPR was being applied as the lifeless looking dog, “Flash,” regained consciousness. Aaron England said he lost everything in the fire, but what mattered to him the most was his 8-yearold dog that he brought home for his daughter as a puppy being alive. “I could care less about the contents of my house. He’s a family member. As long as he’s o.k., I’m glad about that,” he said before overcoming with emotion. Nobody was home at 604 Plain St. when the fire broke out before 9 a.m. England said his 12-year-old daughter was at school, and he had left for work about 30 minutes before firefighters arrived. Once notified about the fire by a neighbor, he returned home to find his American Pit Bull/Terrier mix outside on a leash looking and acting like his
BY STAN MADDUX
Eventually, Flash regained consciousness. “The dog is up and walking around,” Snyder said. A red-tailed boa constrictor snake belonging to England’s daughter was lifted from a large aquarium and carried outside to safety in a cardboard box.
normal self. La Porte Fire Chief Andy Snyder said the dog was unresponsive when carried out of the small, singe story home by a firefighter. He said the dog had a pulse, but it was so difficult for him to breathe he was on the verge of going into respiratory and cardiac arrest. The firefighter placed the dog on a picnic table in the front yard and began to repeatedly push on the dog’s chest while oxygen was administered by medics through a mask custom-made to fit over his mouth and face.
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nyder said the fire was contained to the kitchen and living room area, but there was heavy smoke and water damage throughout the structure. “It will not be inhabitable for a while until it gets repaired,” he said. Snyder said investigators were at the scene beginning the process of trying to determine what caused the fire. England also said the hardship from the fire comes not long after having his power knocked out for an extended period from the major Aug. 11 storm. “We made it through that. Didn’t have power for a week. This was not on my list of things that would happen for sure,” he said.
The moment you rise you inherit enemies. Success is not just admired, it is also criticized, usually because your rise reminds others of their slower growth. Do not be surprised when the applause goes silent. This is not betrayal; it’s the Tax every winner pays. As you keep improving, your circle Naturally shrinks. —Dino N. Fatouros
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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2026
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
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The Pokagon Fund awards major accelerator grant to Railroad Museum
lovingly curated and maintained he Board of Directors of the New Buffalo Railroad by Wilkinson’s great, great Museum, dba Harbor granddaughter, Nadra Robinson Country Museum of History Kissman and her husband, the late + Rail, are pleased to Al Kissman. In 2023, Nadra and announce an Impact Accelerator Grant Al donated the Wilkinson Heritage of $130,000 from The Pokagon Fund Museum collection in its entirety for its Wilkinson Heritage Museum to the Harbor Country Museum of Display Expansion project. History + Rail. The Wilkinson Heritage Museum The Pokagon Fund’s Impact Display Addition project will allow Accelerator Grant is the expansion of display the first lead gift of space by renovating “The Harbor Country this $320,077 Special the HCM’s unfinished Museum of History Projects campaign. It + Rail deeply basement to showcase will be followed by a thanks The Pokagon the entire collection of significant donation Fund,” said HCM the Wilkinson Heritage of a vacant land parcel Museum President Museum. Lakeside, located in the City of Todd Van Buskirk. now named so because “This exceptional New Buffalo before of its location on Lake support is much like the end of the year, Michigan, was originally the old fashioned which the museum called Wilkinson after ‘Good Housekeeping will sell and use its John Wesley Wilkinson, Seals of Approval’. proceeds as a second who built a pier and a These funds will go lead gift. The HCM will sawmill in the area in a long way toward be approaching other 1854. Formerly located supporting the government, foundation, in a former trading Museum’s next stage and business sources post built by John of growth.” for additional grants as Wesley Wilkinson, the well donations from its historic past Wilkinson Heritage Museum was individual donors as well as potential established in 1988 in Wilkinson’s individuals specifically for this old Trading Post Building, featuring purpose. Groundbreaking is projected artifacts from the Wilkinson family for September 2027. as well as Lakeside area history. “The Harbor Country Museum of The collection includes early photos History + Rail deeply thanks The of the area, books, furniture, Civil Pokagon Fund,” said HCM Museum War letters, period dolls, furniture, clothing, and jewelry. It was open President Todd Van Buskirk. “This to the public, free-of-charge and exceptional support is much like the
old fashioned ‘Good Housekeeping Seals of Approval’. These funds will go a long way toward supporting the Museum’s next stage of growth.” “Investments in local history are investments in community identity,” said Dan Petersen, executive director of The Pokagon Fund. “The expansion will provide a permanent home for the extraordinary Wilkinson collection and create new opportunities for residents to engage with the region’s heritage. Bringing this vision to completion will require broad community participation, and we look forward to seeing others join this effort.”
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he museum is open seasonally, April through October, Saturdays and Sundays, from noon to 5 p.m. Eastern, with additional openings as announced. The physical address is 530 S. Whittaker Street, New Buffalo, while the mailing address is PO Box 3, New Buffalo, MI 49117. The Harbor Country Museum of History + Rail is a registered dba of The New Buffalo Railroad Museum, a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt charity, Federal Tax ID 38-2799536. For more information about Museum and the Wilkinson Heritage Museum Display Expansion project, email ask@harborcountrymuseum. org or call 202-669-4423. — STAFF REPORTS
Smart people focus on the right things. — Jensen Huang
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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2026
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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2026
What’s Happening, Hillary? YOUR CURATED GUIDE TO THE BEST IN NEW BUFFALO, AND BEYOND! LABOR DAY WEEKEND
• Outsiders Art Fair at Judith Racht Gallery | Harbert | Friday-Sunday [Tickets] • Barrel Aged Gin Release, Picnic Bar, & Farm Stand at Granor Farm | Three Oaks | Thursday-Sunday [Free] • Skip’s European Farmer’s Market | New Buffalo | Saturday & Sunday 9AM-3PM [Free] • Labor Day Mega Weekend at Round Barn Estate | Baroda | Friday-Monday [Cover Charge] • Michigan City Oktoberfest | Washington Park | Michigan City | Friday-Monday [Free] • Live Music Featuring Setting at Inner Freedom | Buchanan | Friday 7-9PM [Tickets] • iRock Jazz Festival at Lions Pavilion Park | New Buffalo | Saturday 11AM-9PM [Cover Charge] • Jens Jensen Preserve Hike with Harbor Country Hikers | Sawyer | Saturday 10AM [Free] • End of Summer Party at Watermark Brewing | Stevensville | Saturday 11AM-11PM [Free]
OTHER LIVE MUSIC LABOR DAY WEEKEND
• Friday at PostBoy 4PM, Lake Time Brewing 6PM, Union Pier Social 7PM, The Acorn 8PM, Live at the Lakefront Michigan City 8PM CT, Four Winds Casino New Buffalo 10PM • Saturday at Rolling Embers 2PM, Round Barn Tasting Room 3PM, Dewey Cannon Park 6:30PM, Union Pier Social 7PM, Lake Time Brewing 7PM, The Acorn 8PM, Live at the Lakefront Michigan City 8PM CT • Sunday at River St. Joe Buchanan 1PM, Solasta Winery 2PM, Shoreline Brewery 3PM CT, Zorn Brew Works 5PM CT, Live at the Lakefront 6PM CT • Monday at Solasta Winery 2PM, River St. Joe 5:30PM
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8
• Unpacking Odysseus: A Discussion About The Odyssey (Poem & Movie) at Bridgman Public Library | Bridgman | 6PM [Free]
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10 • Live Music at Barndogg | Union Pier | 6PM [Free]
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 11
• Roger Daltrey of The Who at Four Winds | New Buffalo | 8PM [Tickets] • Cars, Guitars & Cider at Peat’s Cider Social | Stevensville | 6PM [Free] • Sundown Shakedown at Round Barn Estate | Baroda | 7-9PM [Cover] • Live Music at Rolling Embers 4PM, Red Top Winery 5PM, The Acorn 8PM
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 12
• Fall Flora Botany Walk at Fernwood Botanical Garden | Buchanan | 10AM-12PM [Tickets] • Kilos for Kiki 5K at St. Mary of the Lake Catholic Church | New Buffalo | 11AM [Register] • The Beer:30 “Beer Country” Bicycle Tour starting & ending at Watermark Brewery | Stevensville | 9AM [Tickets] • GenX Takeover Comedy Tour at Four Winds | New Buffalo | 8PM [Tickets] • Live Music at Gravity Winery 12PM, Round Barn Estate at 12PM, St. Julian Winery 2PM, Round Barn Tasting Room 3PM, The Acorn 8PM, Burn ‘Em Brewing 7:30PM CT
SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 12
• Live Music at St. Julian Winery 2PM, Round Barn Estate 2:30PM, Shoreline Brewery 3PM CT, The Acorn 8PM
MARK YOUR CALENDAR:
• September Fall Festivals • Baroda Founders Grape Stomp September 12 • Three Oaks OAKtoberfest September 18-20 • Round Barn Public House Kolschfest September 19
Tickets are on sale for Jazz Fest
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oin the School of American Music for three incredible days of jazz, Sept. 18–20, in Three Oaks. This year’s festival features an exceptional lineup of nationally recognized, regional, and local jazz artists—and your ticket helps support SAM’s Scholarship Fund and its free community programming. Grammy-winning jazz vocalist Kurt Elling will return to Southwest Michigan for an extraordinary evening with pianist Ben Paterson at 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 18, at The Acorn Theater. Elling has performed in the area several times and has a strong following globally, particularly throughout Southwest Michigan and the Chicagoland area. VIP tickets are also available, including a special pre-show VIP reception. Saturday will be a huge opportunity to experience an entire day of incredible jazz—with one ticket. Your Saturday ticket gets you to all three performances at The Vickers Theatre. A performance by the Merrimans’ Playhouse Players’ core jazz musicians, joined throughout the show by drop-in artists, will be at 1 p.m. It’s an exciting and spontaneous afternoon celebrating the spirit of the jazz open mic. Patti Shaffner, with Leandro Lopez Varady and Buddy Pearson, will perform at 6 p.m. Born and raised in Gary, Indiana, Patti Shaffner is a dynamic and engaging performer who moves effortlessly among folk, blues, jazz, theater, and improvisational singing. She writes and performs her own music, both solo and collaboratively, and brings tremendous heart and soul to everything she sings. Her music reaches toward our shared
longing for connection, love and hope. An outstanding evening of jazz will bring Saturday’s programming to a close at 8 p.m. Sam Burckhardt, a native of Basel, Switzerland, brings decades of experience in the Chicago blues and jazz scene to the Vickers Theatre, joined by acclaimed Chicago pianist Jeremy Kahn and Jake Vinsel. A recipient of the Swiss Blues Award and runner-up for the Swiss Jazz Award, Burckhardt has performed and recorded with legendary artists including Sunnyland Slim, Hubert Sumlin, Zora Young and Maria Muldaur, as well as leading his own groups for more than two decades. Jeanne Franks will return for another special performance, joined by Mark Burnell and Josh Ramos, at 12:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 20, at Jazz Sunday Brunch at Commune + Market. Gather your friends, enjoy a delicious brunch, and spend your Sunday surrounded by wonderful live jazz. Brunch tickets must be purchased by Sept.11 so we can confirm catering numbers.
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azz Fest is SAM’s largest fundraiser of the year, and every ticket purchased helps support its mission. Your support helps provide scholarships to SAM students and makes free community programs possible, including Free Family Concerts, Harbor Country Singers Community Sing-Alongs, The Music Playground Youth Summer Music Camp, and River Valley Elementary School Music Enrichment Assemblies. Weekend Passes are available, or choose individual tickets for Friday, Saturday, or Sunday. For more information, visit www.schoolofamericanmusic.com.
— STAFF REPORTS
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Man convicted of strangling stepfather
man has been found guilty in the strangling of his stepfather in La Porte. Breon Ware, 37, was convicted by a La Porte Circuit Court jury on August 26 of murder, Level 3 felony aggravated battery and Level 4 felony serious violent felon in possession of a firearm, after about four hours of deliberation. According to prosecutors, the investigation shows the victim, Aaron Stingley, 58, complained to Ware about the volume of the music he was playing, which led to an argument inside a home last October in the 1400 block of Jefferson Ave.
BY STAN MADDUX
A key piece of evidence was the testimony of a 9-year-old boy, who reported hearing the two men arguing over speakers from his upstairs bedroom. The boy said he went downstairs and saw Ware punch the victim, who fell face down on a living room couch. He said the fighting resumed after Stingley stood back up and the two men were on the floor when Ware put his arm around his neck. The boy said he went back upstairs but soon returned to the main level with his brother to find Stingley lying motionless on the couch.
According to authorities, Ware went to his mother’s workplace at a nearby Wendy’s restaurant and insisted she return home to check on the man. She did and tried waking him up until discovering he didn’t have a pulse.
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a Porte County Prosecutor Sean Fagan said the death was believed from natural causes, initially, due to the victim being obese and having recent health related
issues. But Fagan said it wasn’t long before investigators taking a closer look noticed marks around Stingley’s neck that indicated
he was strangled, which was later confirmed during an autopsy. “Because of that, that’s what kind of got the ball rolling,” he said. According to police, a search of the home turned up a shotgun Ware was seen in possession of prior to the strangling. It was against the law for him to have a gun due to a prior conviction for dealing cocaine from 2013. Ware, who’s originally from Gary, could face anywhere from a 45- to 65-year sentence on the murder conviction alone. Sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 25.
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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2026
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Raiders lose season opener in high school football
he Red Arrow Raiders looked strong early but quickly collapsed against Bridgman during the season opener in high school football on Thursday, Aug. 28. The final score was 56-28. Bridgman started the game at River Valley High School by returning the opening kick-off for a touchdown. However, the Raiders on their first series of downs responded with a 63-yard touchdown run from junior Colten Lijewski and took the lead on a two-point conversion. The Bees on their next drive regained the lead on a 38-yard touchdown run from their fleet-footed, difficult to tackle quarterback Ty Adams.
BY STAN MADDUX
The Raiders stopped the Bees on a two-point conversion by a hard hit on the ball carrier from senior Travis James. On their next series of downs, the Raiders moved the ball 30 yards on a pass from Lijewski to senior Drew Bowen, but the drive stalled after Lijewski was sacked for a 17 yard loss and his next pass on fourth down was incomplete. The beginning of the end came on Bridgman’s next possession when Adams after a couple of first downs ran 22 yards for a touchdown. The Bees opened the second quarter by extending their lead to 24-8 on a short pass from mid-field caught and ran the distance into the end zone. The Raiders narrowed the lead on
a long pass to a wide-open August Johnson, who then ran the ball another 20 yards for a touchdown. A 76-yard touchdown run by Adams gave the Bees a 30-14 lead. The Raiders would not score again in the second quarter while the Bees put up another 22 points, including an interception run back for a touchdown in the final seconds of the period.
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he rest of the scoring in the second half for the Raiders came after the Bees put into the game a lot of second stringers to give them playing time. Raiders Head Coach Matt Johnson said playing Bridgman, one of the elite programs in southwest Michigan, is
always a challenge. He blamed the second-quarter collapse partially on his players becoming tired from not being in good enough shape to withstand the more physical Bees and having a lot of new, inexperienced players on the offensive and defensive lines. “That’s a tall order when you play a team like Bridgman,” he said. Johnson said having to play Lijewski at linebacker to replace injured senior Keio Trimm didn’t help with his team’s stamina. Normally, Lijewski is on the sidelines preparing for the next series of downs as quarterback while defenders are on the field. “The less he has to play on defense, the fresher he is on offense,” he said.
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From the Bleachers COLUMN BY KURT MARGGRAF IN CHICAGO
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here were a couple of stories that captured my interest this week. While I am a lifelong Chicagoan, I did spend a year, right after graduating from college, living in Detroit. While there, I ran into this beautiful young lady who was in her final year at Marygrove which at that time was an all girls catholic college in the middle of the city. She was originally from Chicago so I was able to use that information to form a friendship with her. She used my love of sports to reciprocate, and before you knew it, we were attending Lions, Redwings, Tigers, and Pistons games. Soon afterwards, we got married and moved back to Chicago. I’m telling you this because in the last couple of weeks the fans in Chicago and Detroit have been in the news. In Chicago, a group of over zealous fans decided to start pummeling each other during a Cub/Sox game, while in Detroit, a lady spotted a young man sporting a Joe Dumars jersey at a Lions game. Right city, wrong sport, and some fans were giving the young man a hard time. Another fan asked him why he was wearing the Dumars jersey and he said it was the only Detroit jersey he owned. She asked him who his favorite Lions player was and he said Gibbs so she asked her husband to get the young man a Gibbs jersey and proceeded to gift him with it. I know it’s a minuscule sample size, and I’m embarrassed to admit it, but I hope Chicago sports fans can learn a little something about
sportsmanship from Detroit fans. Some people I know are long time baseball fans and scoff at most of the new rules changes. I guess they would call themselves purists and want the game to be played, and judged the same as it always was. One of the gripes I’ve heard is about the Savanna Bananas is that they are entertainers, kind of like the Harlem Globetrotters. Well of course they are entertainers. What’s wrong with being entertained while watching a baseball game. But saying they are entertainers suggests they are not ball players and one of the White Sox outfielders, all star Tristan Peters, begs to differ. Peter’s played for the Bananas a few years back when they weren’t nearly as famous. The fact that Peter’s played for them didn’t surface until recently, when he hit homers in five straight games, tying a White Sox record. Although Peter’s is the most accomplished, a total of seven Bananas have played in the majors. I’m saddened by the loss of Dolly Parton. Dolly embodied kindness. We would be a better place if more people followed her example. “If you want the rainbow, you’ve got to put up with the rain.” That’s not a quote from Aristotle, Angelou, or whichever great philosopher you may think of. No, it’s a quote from Dolly Parton. Bless your heart Dolly, R.I.P.. Be kind . Talk to you next week. Peace, love, and happiness.
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Quillbacks hire former major leaguer as manager
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BY STAN MADDUX
former World Series champion with the Los Angeles Dodgers has been chosen as manager of the new team of major league baseball hopefuls in New Buffalo. Tracy Woodson played five years in the major leagues before going on to coach in the minor leagues and other places like Valparaiso University from 2007 to 2013. Woodson, a member of the Dodgers when they won the World Series in 1988, hasn’t coached in three years but was looking to return to the game when he learned about the job opening. His ties to Valparaiso, including a sister-in law and her husband being teachers in that community, were factors in wanting to pursue the manager’s job here. “This was the perfect place,” he said. Woodson, who lives in Waco, Texas, said his son, TJ, a red-shirt freshman shortstop at Baylor University, will be on the roster of the team called the Dune Coast Quillbacks. It took just a few conversations on the phone with Woodson for the team’s primary owners, Tom Rowland and Brian Williams, both of New Buffalo, to offer him the job over many others nationwide interested in the position. “It became clear quickly this was our guy,” Rowland said. Williams, a scout for the Texas Rangers, credited Woodson with turning around the baseball program at Valparaiso University where five of his players were drafted by major league teams. Woodson, primarily a third baseman during his major league career, said a
half dozen or so college players seem close to signing contracts to play for the Quillbacks in the Northwoods League. The league featuring well over 20 teams from states like Michigan, Indiana, Wisconsin and Ohio consists of all college players hoping to catch the eye of major league scouts. Over 400 players in the league have made it to the major leagues over roughly the past 30 years. Williams said the Quillbacks will play 72 games with half of them at the new baseball field at New Buffalo High School from late May until mid-August. The team is hoping to draw fans from as far north as Benton Harbor and St. Joseph and into Indiana in cities like La Porte, Michigan City, Chesterton and Valparaiso.
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igh-quality lights were recently installed at the field, which will have about 600 grandstand seats behind the home plate along with bleachers and picnic tables for people to sit, Rowland said. There will also be a “party patio” for fans along the first base line, he said. Woodson said he’s already come up with ideas for making the games even more enjoyable for fans, especially youth. He said the many possibilities include autograph sessions with the players and a few players running the bases with children between innings. “This is how we want to involve them in the community. I think that’s the first thing we do to get the excitement going in New Buffalo and all of the surrounding areas,” he said.
The best way to learn is by doing. The only way to build a strong work ethic is getting your hands dirty. — Alex Spanos
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‘Paddle Battle’ raises funds for Japan
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BY FRANCESCA SAGAL
unds raised from last weekend’s premiere Harbor Country Paddle Battle will allow students to take in the sights and sounds of Japan next spring. The battle, which took place at the pickleball court in New Buffalo Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 29-30, raised money for students in New Buffalo High School’s World Travel Club. Kurt Raducha, who founded the Travel Club with Leanne Lamport, said that around 21 students will be taking the Japan excursion. Last year, they went to Italy. Raducha said New Buffalo Community Education Foundation sponsored the Harbor Country Paddle Battle after he reached out and asked if they could come up with ideas for a fundraiser. “Tom Rowland and Brian Williams (from the Foundation) were playing a pickleball tournament and spoke with Sally McDonald and Karen Harty (who previously organized the pickleball tournament in Michiana) who were running it and said, ‘Would you be willing to run a pickleball tournament as a fundraiser?’” he said. Local businesses that made the twoday tournament possible were Swells - A Dive Bar, Red Arrow Roadhouse, David’s Delicatessen and Coffee, Flourish Books & Plants, Café Gulistan, Kerhoulas Insurance Agency, Tom Rossman State Farm Insurance, A Clean Getaway, Nesci Design & Build, Horizon Bank, Goldberry Woods, A Hot Place to Chill, and Pristine Pool & Spa. “Really huge shout out and thank you to them for donating some different items for blind bids, some of them just donated money to the club directly,” Raducha said. He said they had 161 players between the two days. He added that Allan Laskey Jazz was playing, and food was provided by Wood, Stock and Grill.
Students also assisted with visiting businesses and asking them to post flyers and spread the word about the club. They also assisted with setup and rotated working in the three shifts on the days of the tournament. During the students’ 10 days in Japan, they’ll be touring Matsusaka, Kyoto and Tokyo. Raducha said the fundraiser is mainly raising funds for an optional excursion to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, which isn’t part of the paid itinerary and will cost $275 per person. They hope to establish a scholarship fund, which could include fully paid or half paid scholarships. “Our plan is to have this tournament every year and take a look at financial needs and other factors - maybe there’re students who’d like to do the trip but financially can’t afford it and now we’d start to create a fund from this tournament that we can offer different scholarships,” Raducha said. In Venice, Raducha said the club had some money in their account that allowed students to do a gondola ride. They also were able to do a boat tour around the Island of Capri. Senior Tony Dominguez, who said his favorite part of Italy was the boat tour, looks forward to exploring Japan. “Just to explore the world and basically just have fun exploring more things” is why he joined the club.
Women play in the women’s double bracket
Men compete in the men’s doubles bracket
Evelyn Ixtepan, Jackson Saunders, Charlie Hart, Tony Dominguez and Lucas Thun from the World Travel Club
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he battle attracted devoted pickleball players from New Buffalo and the surrounding area. Nicolette Huber said she and her husband Brian, of Portage, Indiana, were introduced to the game by their son. “Now we play with him, and he wished he hadn’t introduced us because now he says we’re better,” she said, adding that it’s “great camaraderie and we like to be active.”
Karen Harty strategizes with the men
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mwww.newbuffalotimes.com erry Marks said he’s part of a group of players who descend on the New Buffalo court every morning. Like many of the players, he said he migrated from tennis. “It’s a very different game both in the intensity because tennis is drawn out more and mainly the sociability is so much better because you’re playing close so you’re talking and the next game, your partner can be your opponent,” Marks said. Winners for each bracket were: Women’s 3.0 - Gold: Linda Bowles and Pam Sissons, Silver: Betsy Kohn and Laura Childs and Bronze: Michele Parnell and Nicolette Huber; Men’s 3.0 - Gold: Dan and Alex Flagstad, Silver: Nicolas Spagnola and Andrew Valdez and Bronze: Bill James and Fred Tompkins; Women’s 3.5/4.0 merged bracket - Gold: Sarah Shillington and Cea Correnti, Silver: Beverly Robbins and Kathleen Wolf and Bronze: Elizabeth Diskin and
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2026 11 Mary Kay Brendza; Men’s 4.0/4.5 merged bracket - Gold: Timothy Barlow and Bradley Foster, Silver: Kyle Johnson and Ricky Larson and Bronze: Tom Rowland & Justus Rowland; Mixed Doubles 3.0 - 3.0 Gold: Michelle Braun and Joe Braun, 3.0 Silver: Linda Bowles and Richard Eichholz and 3.0 Bronze: Shelly Montgomery and Douglas Gustafson and Mixed Doubles 3.5 - 3.5 Gold: Dawn Bell and Joseph Arias, 3.5 Silver: Kelli Ann Cook and Ron Cook and 3.5 Bronze: Camill Alempijevic and Michael Kramer.
P
eople can search Harbor Country Paddle Battle on Facebook to view the events page or on pickleballtournaments.com for full tournament results. The mission of the World Travel Club is to give students confidence and experience to become globally minded citizens.
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Winners in the mixed doubles bracket
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12 THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2026
Electrocution ruled in deaths on farm
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husband and wife found dead at their La Porte County farm were both electrocuted. That’s the official ruling in the deaths of Todd and Patricia Open Thursday-Monday Rosenbaum, both 60, and fourththefalsefrontbar.com generation owners of Circle R Farm. La Porte County Coroner Lynn Swanson said the ruling was made following autopsies Monday on each of the bodies. Swanson said the investigation shows Mr. Rosenbaum on Saturday was using a sump pump to transfer water from a creek into a large man-made pond. She said the pond was for a cabin the Rosenbaum’s planned to have constructed to use as a vacation rental on their property. Swanson said the pump was plugged into a large electrical box about 25 feet from the creek. The investigation shows Mr. Rosenbaum was in the creek handling the sump pump when his wife sat down along the edge of the creek and put her feet into the water. It wasn’t long before the current powering the pump somehow leaked out, electrifying the water and the Rosenbaum’s. “When it happened, it got them both,”
she said. Swanson said one of the daughters of the victims unable to reach her parents on their phones went out to the property and discovered the bodies. Police were unable to locate any exposed wires on the pump, which continues to be examined to see if there might have been a broken seal that would have allowed the electrical current to make contact with the water, she said. Swanson said emergency responders had the power turned off before retrieving the bodies.
B
ill Field, a veteran farm safety expert at Purdue University, said one way the seals can break is if the pumps are dropped. He said electrocution can also occur if extension cords submerged in water are used to supply power to pumps. Field said just a hairline gap between where the plugs on cords fasten together can allow electricity to lake out into the water. “Electricity doesn’t need much space if it gets moist,” he said. Circle R Farm is a small family owned operation raising corn, soybeans, hogs, beef cattle and eggs.
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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2026 13
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14 THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2026
A Writer’s Life...
From the Dish Pit...
A HIGHSCHOOLER’S TAKE ON REAL LIFE TOPICS
F
BY SYLVIE DARLING ootprints in the Sand Of swishing blades The scene is all too familiar. My fingers were Summer is dying, but you the sea glass refuse to accept it. You hang My dress a drape onto one last beach day, one of waves last sunset dip, one last ice cream run. My heart was of the water oak You convince yourself that maybe, just My bones breathed of the sand maybe, summer will last forever. Then My eyes shone in the sunrise you hear it: the distant honking of geese To see the stretching lands flying South. Their song is the signal of Wherever I have been Fall, reminding you that your carefree Wherever I belong days are over, responsibilities are upon I’ve never been so close – and far you, and it’s finally time to grow up. From feeling like I’m home I remember coming to this realization I’m as old as I have ever been one year as I walked down my As young as I’ll ever be childhood beach. It was one of those Standing on the same seashore in-between days when the sun was And feeling almost free. still bright enough to keep me warm, At twelve, I identified this feeling but the breeze had lost its comforting as “longing.” I longed to return to the thickness. Seventh grade would begin in person I once was and I longed to a couple of weeks, which, to me, meant become the person I was meant to be. harder classes, stricter schedules, and Summer had left me suspended between expectations I wasn’t sure I could meet. the two, and I was scared to pick a side. As I walked, I thought back to the But footprints don’t disappear just countless times I had wandered this because they’re buried, and the little girl beach as a child, etching footprints into who played inside the dune grass and the sand that would eventually build me collected sea glass beside the shore isn’t into the person I am. Now, they were gone forever. She is simply a footprint buried beneath it – gone, but not really. along the pattern of my life, and I can A bittersweet ache seized my chest, and I couldn’t quite decide what it meant. So carry her into every season I encounter. As I listen to the geese retreating I wrote a poem about it. overhead, I feel the familiar ache Almost Free of knowing that summertime ends, Footprints in the sand childhood ends, and nothing stays Echoed and erased quite the same. But maybe growing A thousand hidden patterns up isn’t about leaving our old selves Lost in timeless face behind. Maybe it’s about carrying their I ambled past the same soft grass footprints with us into whatever comes A field of yellow and green next. The geese are honking. Fall is Once a secret fortress Now a buried dream coming. And this time, I’m ready to I was born in that cradle follow.
LOCAL INTELLIGENCE
New Buffalo Times
— SINCE 1942 —
DURING THE GOLDEN AGE OF TELEVISION ANIMATION
T
BY JACK OLESKER
he loan-out For those who haven’t labored in the television industry, it’s hard to appreciate what it means for a story editor to get a script delivery from one of their writers, which is what I’d gotten from Phil Harnage when he delivered his Lady Lovely Locks and the Pixietails script to me. Simply put, it’s a joy! Good script writers, and Phil was definitely a good writer, make it easier on a story editor by delivering quality scripts on time. I still had a few T’s to cross and I’s to dot to finish up the series. Lori would have some notes on the scripts I’d mailed while on my cruise. And I had to read Phil’s script. But the bottom line was I’d be finished with Lady Lovely Locks and the Pixietails in a day or two, ready for my next assignment. Sitting in Lori’s office, I wondered what it would be. I hadn’t been back long enough to pick up any buzz about new series in the pipeline, but I figured I’d find out what it was soon enough. To my surprise, Andy appeared in the doorway of Lori’s office with, “Welcome back, Jacky. You ready to get to work?” I brightened and honestly and enthusiastically answered, “For sure!” Andy turned to Lori, and, catching her off guard, said, “I’m stealing him from you.” Andy turned back to me and said, “You’re going on a loan-out…to my father.” I was right that it would take a couple of days to finalize Lady Lovely Locks and the Pixietails. I input the few comments Lori had on my scripts in an afternoon. I was also right that Phil’s script didn’t require a lot of story editing. All that remained was for me to submit the final script invoices – Phil’s and mine – to Lori, which I did in the morning of my
second day back. Later that afternoon, I grinned as I drove through Century City, thinking about how I’d only been back two days and here I was temporarily leaving DIC on a loan-out. The concept of a ‘loan-out’ was popular during the heyday of Hollywood’s studio system, between the 1920s and the 1960s, when the film industry was dominated by a handful of studios like MGM and Twentieth Century Fox. Back then, the powerful studio heads knew each other. Sometimes they were on good terms. Other times they were fierce adversaries. When they were on good terms, loan-outs frequently occurred. A loanout was an arrangement in which one studio would loan out one its employees who had signed long term contracts to another studio for a fee. It was often the case when one studio wanted another studio’s star to be in one of their films. Sometimes there were loan-outs of producers and directors, and on occasion writers were loaned out. In those days the actors, directors, producers and writers had little say when it came to loan-outs. They did their job for another studio and were grateful they kept receiving their regular salary, not expecting anything extra. But in my case, Andy was very generous. Not only would I be paid a healthy fee by the production I was being loaded to, but I’d continue to receive my DIC salary. Andy told me he was lending me to his dad and Barry & Enright Productions because they’d “asked for the best writer DIC had.” High praise that really made me feel good. I’d feel even better when I learned about the project I’d be working on.
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HOROSCOPE SEPTEMBER 3-9, 2026
AS INTERPRETED BY SANDY “STAR” BENDT ARIES MARCH 21—APRIL 19
LEO JULY 23—AUGUST 22
SAGITTARIUS NOVEMBER22—DECEMBER21
This week the energy is all about investigating information and looking for deeper connections within your family. The opportunity will present itself to communicate your stance on things in a clear and obvious manner. Know that your words will hit the mark with people.
This will be a great weekend to gather with people and talk about common interests and goals. This is the time when you will have the opportunity to have ideas reflected back at you that will help you to understand what has blocked you from completing things or moving to the next level.
There will be a push to partner up or collaborate with someone because of the opportunity it will bring you to be in a more dominant position with less liability. This is about joining forces to share the load, while at the same time increasing the amount of returns the both of you will receive.
TAURUS APRIL 20—MAY 20
VIRGO AUGUST 23—SEPTEMBER 22
CAPRICORN DECEMBER22—JANUARY19
You will have a knack for recognizing what is valuable and worth investing in this week. Learn to trust the way in which things make you feel when you hold them. Take time to really listen to your own reactions and wait for your understanding to unfold before discarding things or walking away.
The energy coming your way this week is all about going public or engaging with people in a more professional way. This is the time to start something on social media or advertise for your skills in some way. It’s all about creating an image that reflects who and what you do more accurately.
This is the week to really dig into things and get them organized, sorted or discarded. Look for opportunities to change or update clothing and furniture. This is all about making things feel more fluid and removing blocks or getting rid of things that don’t jive with your current situation or image.
GEMINI MAY 21—JUNE 21
LIBRA SEPTEMBER 23—OCTOBER 22 The path forward will be illuminated this week. Now is the time to make decisions and take charge of the situation. Follow through with your ideas and talk to people when you have the chance. This is your opportunity to connect with the right partner, collaborator and critic, and put your ideas on display.
AQUARIUS JANUARY 20—FEBRUARY 18
CANCER JUNE 22—JULY 22
SCORPIO OCTOBER 23—NOVEMBER21 The energy around you is getting really amped up and there will be a lot of pressure on you to perform or present new ideas. Take any opportunity to show off your hard work or new ideas and they will expand. Now is the time to be more dynamic, that is what will give you the edge over competitors.
Embrace your inner gambler or scientist and begin looking more deeply into how things operate. This is a very auspicious time for speculating and starting new projects. This is not the time to hold onto out dated stats. This is the time for making a fresh start by breaking through previous concepts or barriers. The stars are bringing you psychic boost now. So, Pay attention to your intuitions and hunches this week as they will be a good guide to successful outcomes. Follow through when things feel right and you will come to see the value of your hidden talents. Trust the force and you will see rewards.
There is a very excitable energy to the week ahead. It is important to focus this energy into making adjustments and maneuvering around blockages. It is by communicating on all levels, even the psychic ones, that will give you the edge and open up opportunities to connect with a partner/ co-designer.
PISCES FEBRUARY 19—MARCH 20
Any thing you can do to improve your home and family life will be easily done this week. The energy is available to help you increase the value of the things you have by doing some simple maintenance. This is the the time to take care of the things you have and by doing the hard work you will make them valuable.
In strategy it is important to see distant things as if they were close and to take a distanced view of close things. — Miyamoto Musashi
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2026 15
16 THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2026
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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2026 17
To Your Health COLUMN BY KAREN EDWARDS ND
Heavy metals BECOME A build up in organs Modular Homeover time, causing LABEL READER Construction kidney damage
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PET OF THE WEEK
and neurological issues. High levels the cost-effective alternative hemicals are everywhere of mercury accumulate in large fish, new into the food thathousing you eat. Chemical preservatives
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To make informed choices at the acidic foods, these leach directly into grocery store, youshould educate what we consume. yourself on the many chemicals Once inside the body, bisphenols and phthalates mimic natural added to foods, and be a strict label johnrtaylor1953@gmail.com hormones like estrogen. This reader. Grocery stores are set up with disruption is linked to reproductive the produce at the entry of the stores, Residential Builder and thyroid issues, and risk of obesity. and processed foods in the middle MI License No. 2102222731 ‘Forever chemicals’ known as PFAS, aisles. This is the danger area for are often used in grease-resistant the most chemicals. Fresh foods are fast-food packaging and microwave usually pretty safe from the food dyes popcorn bags. These remain in and chemical preservatives, but you human tissue and the environment for still have to be aware that many are decades. sprayed with pesticides and other Nitrates and nitrites, commonly toxins. These can be washed off easy added to processed meats like bacon enough, whereas the packaged foods and hot dogs, form nitrosamines are permanently in their ingredients. when exposed to high heat. These are Ultra-Processed additives and known carcinogens linked to higher artificial flavorings relyheavily on rates of colorectal cancer. chemical additives to extend shelf Learn how to protect your health life, enhance flavor, and improve in an unhealthy world. Learn about texture. Synthetic dyes, such as Red chemical dangers and be a label 40 and Yellow 5, are widely used in reader. Knowledge is power. If you cereals, candies, and beverages. can’t pronounce it, it is probably a Studies link these artificial colors to chemical additive. behavioral changes and hyperactivity Choose whole, minimally in many children. processed foods over packaged 1942Artificial — preservatives like BHA foods. Wash fresh fruits and (butylated hydroxyanisole) and BHT vegetables thoroughly, or opt for (butylated hydroxytoluene) keep fats organic versions of produce. Cook at from going rancid. Research informs home to know what you are eating. us that these synthetic antioxidants Store and reheat food in glass, can act as endocrine disruptors, ceramic, or stainless steel rather than interfering with natural hormone plastic containers. Limit consumption regulation and canincrease the risk of of processed meats and ultrametabolic problems over long-term processed snacks. exposure. Conventional crops are frequently treated with chemical pesticides like glyphosate. Regular consumption of Disclaimer: Everything here is for these foods can cause a gut microflora nutritional education and is not meant to diagnose, treat prevent or cure. See imbalance, chronic inflammation, and your doctor when you have questions. autoimmune issues.
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LOCAL INTELLIGENCE
New Buffalo Times — SINCE 1942 —
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18 THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2026
Brian Campbell, treasurer, Joey DiMaggio, commodore, Linda Tinsely, Meals on Wheels, Bunny Corner, rear commodore and Alexis Piscitelli, vice commodore
C
Yacht Club members compete in the Rock the Dock event
Alexis Piscitelli, vice commodore, Tyanna Essig, Berrien County Cancer Service and Chad Barclay
New Buffalo Yacht Club raises more than $8,000 for local organizations
ommunity fundraising and engagement have become a growing focus at the New Buffalo Yacht Club in recent years. Commodore Joey DiMaggio, Vice Commodore of Sail Alexis Piscitelli, General Manager Rodney Fields, and the club’s board have worked together to expand those efforts, with strong participation and support from NBYC members. This summer, two of the club’s annual events raised more than $8,000 for local organizations. The second annual Rock the Dock generated more than $3,000
for Meals on Wheels of Southwest Michigan through proceeds from the event and a portion of merchandise sales. Members also hosted a potluck funded entirely by the membership to provide additional support. Executive Director Linda Tinsley leads the organization, which provides meals and personal connections to seniors throughout Berrien and Van Buren counties, helping them remain independent in their homes. The third annual Dinghy Harbor Hunt raised more than $5,000 for Berrien County Cancer Service. Piscitelli created the Harbor Hunt three years ago, combining a day of
Patrick Thomas performs at the Rock the Dock event
fun and competition on the water with an opportunity to give back. The event has grown each year, with this summer’s being the largest to date. Led by Chief Executive Officer Tyanna Essig, the organization has served the area since 1948 and provides skilled in-home nursing care, medical equipment, supplies, wigs, support groups, and other resources for people affected by cancer.
T
hese events are part of a larger commitment by NBYC to Harbor Country and the surrounding area. The club also
supports Neighbor by Neighbor through its children’s Christmas wish list and back to school backpack programs, with members providing gifts and school supplies for local children and families. NBYC supports numerous other charities, nonprofit organizations, and community initiatives throughout the year as well. For the New Buffalo Yacht Club, time on the water and camaraderie among members remain at the heart of the club, while giving back has become an equally meaningful part of its role in the community. — STAFF REPORTS
Yacht Club members gather at the Rock the Dock event
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