NAUGURAL DAY OF HONOR… Hartford Redwood Elementary celebrated our country’s very first National First Responders Day with a First Responders Lunch to show appreciation for the important work these individuals do. Van Buren County Sheriff Dan Abbot and Hartford Fire Chief Robbie Harting brought their crews along with representatives of the Michigan State Police, Pokagon Tribal Police and the Hartford Police Department. The U.S. Senate passed a resolution in June of 2019 designating October 28 as “Honoring the Nation’s First Responders Day.” Roughly 4.5 million career and volunteer firefighters, police, emergency medical technicians, and paramedic workers serve communities just like Hartford nationally, according to the Department of Homeland Security.

Coloma Public Library upgrades computer services for patron use

The Coloma Public Library has all new computers for the public as of November 4, 2019. When the doors opened on Monday patrons found ten computer stations with HP EliteDesk Mini PC’s with wireless mice. With this technology upgrade patrons will have access to the newest version of Microsoft Office Suite. The library has also purchased licensing to make Adobe Acrobat Pro available on one station. In addition to new computer stations, the library will offer a laptop for in-library use by the beginning of December. The laptop will provide patrons with the ability to work collaboratively as well as engage in online job interviews. A valid Coloma Public Library card will be required to use the laptop. The children’s area will receive upgrades as well. The desktop game computers will be replaced with four Playaway Launchpad tablets containing fun and educational programs for reading comprehension, math, geography, and critical thinking. The library’s collection already houses four Playaway Launchpads that patrons can check out for use at home. The computer upgrades were necessary to transition the library away from Windows 2007 products, which will no longer be supported as of January 2020. More information can be found about Coloma Public Library on the website, colomapubliclibrary.net or calling 269-468-3431.

Watervliet students conduct food drive

Watervliet High School Student Council is hosting a non-perishable food drive, along with North and South elementary schools, starting Monday, Nov. 11 and ending Friday, Nov. 22. Items collected will be donated to a local food pantry to help families right here in our community. Anyone who would like to donate can drop off items in the high school guidance office.

OFFICIAL CUT… A recent ribbon cutting was held for the new sidewalks located behind Laura Baker Park and also between Linda’s Antiques and Soulard’s in downtown Coloma. With the additional sidewalks and lighting it should help alleviate parking concerns and encourage people to use the 15 spaces behind the downtown. The project was paid for by the City of Coloma and the Coloma DDA. Pictured (from the left): DDA member Chris Seddon, Public Works Supervisor Rod Burkholder, Commissioner Julie Smith, DDA President Sandy Kraemer, Rob from C & H Concrete, Commissioner Fred Reeves, DDA Coordinator Marsha Hammond, DDA member Dave Scheuer, DDA Secretary Chana Kniebes and DDA Member Kandyce Hays.

Coloma Community Schools Calendar of Events

Friday, November 8 NO SCHOOL Monday, November 11 Veterans Day Annual Event with two 4th grade performances in High School Auditorium, 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.; Middle School Boys Basketball at Fennville, 5:00 p.m.; PTO Meeting, Coloma Intermediate, 6:00 p.m.; Board Meeting, Coloma Intermediate Media Center, 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, November 12 Academic Letter at 7 p.m. Wednesday, October 13 BCHD Hearing/Vision Screening; Middle School Boys Basketball vs. Saugatuck, 5:00 p.m. Thursday, October 14 BCHD Hearing/Vision Screening

W-A-Y Watervliet High School October Students of the Month

Kendall Molter The W-A-Y program at Watervliet High School is proud to announce their first student of the month for October 2019 is Kendall Molter. She joined W-A-Y in late August of this year and has already earned three credits! She comes to the lab two to three times a week and always gets work turned in. She presently is earning all A’s in her work as well! Kendall’s parents are Samantha and Pete Molter. After graduating high school, Kendall wants to attend college and major in pre-law with a goal of becoming a lawyer.

Dylan Joyner Dylan Joyner is their second student of the month. Dylan started at the W-A-Y program in September. Since joining, he has already earned 1.5 credits. He is great about coming to the lab almost every day and working hard while there. Dylan is the son of Tammy Joyner and the late Thomas Joyner. After he graduates from high school, he wants to get his own place and apply for college. He is undecided what he will major in yet. In his spare time, Dylan enjoys playing games and messing around with computers. He doesn’t have a paying job right now, but does help his family a lot with various jobs they need help with. He also helps his grandma by doing jobs she needs. Advice Dylan would give other students is to not overload themselves with too many projects at one time. And he said that a student should not be too much of a perfectionist. The best you can do is an A!

Alissa Nesbitt Alissa Nesbitt is their third student of the month for October. Alissa joined in August of this year also. In that amount of time, she has earned almost three credits and is well on her way to almost graduating! The staff of W-A-Y expects her to walk with their next graduating class.

Watervliet Public Schools Calendar of Events

Thursday, November 7 Playgroup in South School Gym, 9:30 a.m.; District Volleyball Final at Watervliet, 6:30 p.m. Friday, November 8 Spirit Day at South School Monday, November 11 PTO Scholastic Book Fair Monday – Friday, Elementary Buildings; Veterans Day Luncheon, North School; MS Boys Maroon Basketball at Saugatuck, 5:00 & 6:00 p.m.; Board of Education Meeting, HS Media Center, 6:00 p.m. Wednesday, November 13 MS Boys White Basketball, Home vs. Lawton, MS Gym, 5:00 & 6:00 p.m. Friday, November 15 MS Boys White Basketball at New Buffalo, 5:30 & 6:30 p.m.

Community Calendar

Thursday, Nov. 7, 6:30 p.m. “TWO RIVERS COALITION ANNUAL MEETING” at the Van Buren Conference Center, Lawrence, located at 490 S. Paw Paw Street. For more information, go to www.tworiverscoalition.org. November 7 & 8 “RAKE A DIFFERENCE: DAY OF ACTION FOR SENIORS” United Way of Southwest Michigan organized event for assisting senior residents of Berrien, Cass & Van Buren counties with fall yard work. Volunteers sign up at uwsm.org/rakeadifference by October 11. Seniors sign up by calling 211 or 844-875-9211 by October 17. Saturday, Nov. 9, 8-9 a.m. “CHRISTIAN MEN’S BREAKFAST” at Hartford Bible Church, 65418 Red Arrow Hwy, Hartford. RSVP to hartfordbible@gmail.com or 621-4521 Sunday, Nov. 10, 2 p.m. “VETERANS DAY PATRIOTIC CONCERT” performed by Southshore Concert Band at Lake Michigan College Mendel Center hosted by Lest We Forget. Tickets from Stevensville & St. Joe Martin’s Supermarkets and LWF members are $10. Tickets from LMC Box Office are $12. Children 17 and under are free. Sunday, Nov. 10, 6 p.m. “MARINE CORPS BIRTHDAY BASH” for all local Marines at T’s Tap in Coloma. Proceeds from raffles of Kabar knife and Marine sword going to Toys for Tots Monday, Nov. 11, 11 a.m. “VETERANS DAY SERVICE” hosted by Coloma American Legion Post 362 in Baker Park, downtown Coloma followed by lunch at Post 362 Monday, Nov. 11, noon “VETERANS DAY SERVICE” held at Watervliet VFW Post 1137 on Red Arrow Hwy followed by light refreshments Monday, Nov. 11, 5-6:30 p.m. “VETERANS DAY DINNER & PROGRAM” sponsored by Southwest Michigan Veterans Support Group at Eau Claire High School. Dinner for veterans and one guest followed by free program open to the public. Call Jo at (269) 782-8796 or Ted at (269) 461-3570/ cell (269) 635-9508. Monday, Nov. 11, 6:30-8 p.m. “AUTHOR VISIT & BOOK SIGNING” by Rosanne Bittner at Watervliet District Library Nov. 11-22 “FOOD DRIVE” held by Watervliet High School Student Council and North & South schools. Items collected will be donated to a local food pantry to help families right here in our community. Anyone who would like to donate can drop off items in the high school guidance office. Wednesday, Nov. 13, 5:30-7:30 p.m. “BURGER NIGHT” at Coloma American Legion Post 362, 351 E. Saint Joseph St. Serving hamburgers, cheeseburgers and French fries. Thursday, Nov. 14, 5-8 p.m. “AUTHOR VISIT & BOOK SIGNING” by Rosanne Bittner at Coloma Public Library Saturday, Nov. 16, 1-5 p.m. “WORK DAY” at Sarett Nature Center, 2300 Benton Center Rd., Benton Harbor. Volunteers need to bring work gloves and a shovel. Thursday, Nov. 21, 7 a.m.-4 p.m. “LINEN SALE” at Lakeland Hospital, Watervliet sponsored by Hospital Auxiliary. Profits go to auxiliary projects at Lakeland Hospital, Watervliet. Thursday, Nov. 21, noon “TREE OF LOVE LIGHTING CEREMONY” at Lakeland Hospital, Watervliet Lobby. Entertainment & refreshments available; angels & ornaments are available for purchase at the hospital. Saturday, Nov. 23, 9 a.m. “PANCAKE BREAKFAST & BAKE SALE” at Twelve Corners Community Church, 3902 Hicks Ave., Benton Harbor. Cost by donation. Proceeds benefit church building fund. Saturday, Nov. 23, 3 p.m. “MISS TEEN COLOMA PAGEANT” at Coloma High School Auditorium, 300 W. St. Joseph St., Coloma Saturday, Nov. 30, 1-3 p.m. “AUTHOR VISIT & BOOK SIGNING” by Rosanne Bittner at Back on the Rack, 7746 Red Arrow Hwy., Watervliet