PARCOURSE DONATION… Paw Paw Lake Rotary Club presents a $1,500 check to Mark Libs, Development Officer of Spectrum Lakeland Foundations. Pictured are (from the left): Penny Moss, Dan Schofield, Mark Libs, Jordan Ness, and Brian Smith. (Photo courtesy of Tammy Yeager)

Rotary Club’s 18th annual Silent Auction held during G-P Festival

With the Glad-Peach Festival Aug. 2-4 the Paw Paw Lake Rotary Club serving the communities of Coloma, Hartford and Watervliet will be celebrating the 18th year of its popular Silent Auction. With everything from Potting Tables to collectible knives there is something for everyone to place bids and hope at the end of Sunday their last bid will prevail. All of the items displayed at their booth come from local businesses and individuals. Funds raised will benefit a number of activities. The Paw Paw Lake Rotary Club is the major sponsor for “The Miracle League” baseball program at Washington Park in Coloma where special needs children have an opportunity to play ball like other kids. They also sponsor after prom parties at the area high schools and fund students to attend the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards weekend. Also they sponsor an Interact Club at Watervliet High School. Rotary is thrilled to be a part of these programs.

Rotary PARCOURSE update Recently their focus has been to help renovate the parcourse on the Lakeland Hospital, Watervliet campus. These two quarter mile tracks, each with four exercise modules will help improve the health of this entire service community and beyond. The course will be open from dawn to dusk for use by hospital rehabilitation patients, various school sport and fitness programs or the general public. Paw Paw Lake Rotary has been involved with the course from its inception donating significant dollars and physical labor. This year, to help cap off the final push to complete course funding, Rotary donated $1,500 (which was matched by a state grant). Rotary is proud to put their logo on all signage for the parcourse recently named for George and Janet Lane. During this year’s Glad-Peach Festival in Coloma look for the Rotary’s display in front of the new ice cream and sandwich shop (formerly Shingle Diggings Restaurant). Club members are grateful to Francisco and John Romero and their family for allowing them to “set up shop” on this central location. Festival goers should browse their space and be sure to talk to a Rotarian about the ideals and focus of Rotary worldwide.

THIS KUTE MERMAID IS… Ava Brielle Thomas, turning double digits on July 25. She is the daughter of Dennis Jr. and Kassie Thomas. Ava is going into 4th grade at Watervliet North Elementary school. She loves playing softball, basketball, hunting and being involved in two 4-H groups. Happy 10th Birthday Ava! Photo by Shots By Josh Photography, Josh Fairbanks.

N.B.H. Museum to host program for educators, August 12

The North Berrien Historical Society is excited to announce a professional development program for all area elementary teachers. State Continuing Education Clock Hours (SCECHs) will be available. On Monday, August 12 from 8:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m., three representatives of the Society’s Museum Educational Outreach Committee will detail the contents of six traveling trunks. These trunks, which contain supplemental hands-on educational materials covering different historical topics in the curriculum, are available for educators to check out of the Museum to utilize in their classrooms. The traveling trunks are geared towards children ages 6–12 and therefore this opportunity is recommended primarily for elementary teachers. However, registration is not limited to elementary teachers, nor is this event limited to teachers in general; anyone interested in learning more about the traveling trunks and how to utilize the materials inside may attend by registering in advance. For a $25.00 program fee, participants will learn about the contents of the trunks. For an additional $5.00 SCECH fee, participants can receive 5.5 SCECHs. Lunch will be provided by the Museum. The deadline to register is Tuesday, August 6 by 4:00 p.m. For details on how to reserve your place, please contact Peter Cook at peter@northberrienhistory.org or (269) 468-3330. The North Berrien Historical Museum is located at 300 Coloma Avenue in Coloma.

HOPE Resources preparing to move

HOPE Resources is on the move, they have acquired a larger space at 262 N. Paw Paw Street in Coloma. Besides their ongoing food pantry, they will be adding a clothing closet and expanding their programs into classes on nutrition, budgeting, sewing, and food prep on a budget. The staff of HOPE Resources needs the help of the community to make these programs the best they can be. As they are preparing the building for their move please consider donating time or resources by contacting Pam Quinn at 269-208-2415.

Senior Services

Hartford United Methodist Church, 425 E. Main St. OPEN: Mondays, Tuesdays & Fridays, 10:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Monday, July 29 Coffee and Conversation, 10:00-11:30 a.m.; LUNCH served at 12:30 p.m.; Bingo – Cards/ Euchre/ Dominoes – Knitting/ Crochet/ Quilt Group, 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 30 Coffee and Conversation, 10:00-11:30 a.m.; Tai Chi, 11:30 a.m.; LUNCH served at 12:30 p.m.; Computer with Emma, 1 p.m.; Quilting/ Knitting/ Crochet – Cards/ Euchre/ Hand & Foot, 1:30 p.m. Friday, August 2 Coffee and Conversation, 10:00-11:30 a.m.; LUNCH served at 12:30 p.m.; Cards/ Dominoes/ Games, 1:30 p.m. Any questions or comments, please contact Senior Services, Senior City on 76th Street at 269-637-3607 or Senior Services Paw Paw office at 269-655-8000. Rides are available through Van Buren Public Transit with no less than 24-hour notice at (269) 427-7921.

Free class… Learn to live well with heart failure

Spectrum Health Lakeland will offer “Living Well with Heart Failure,” a free class for community members about congestive heart failure (CHF), a chronic condition characterized by the heart’s inability to meet the blood flow needs of the body. The program will take place on Tuesday, August 6, from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. in Classroom B at Lakeland Hospital Watervliet, located at 400 Medical Park Drive. Participants will learn to identify common causes and symptoms of heart failure, as well as new daily routines that can dramatically improve one’s quality of life. Preregistration for the class is required; call (269) 556-2808.