OKTOBERFEST PROCEEDS GO TO NORTH BERRIEN FOOD PANTRY… Jeanette Winkel from Salem Lutheran Church presents Carol Sternaman from North Berrien Food Pantry a check for $1038. This money was raised during the church’s annual Oktoberfest held on October 8, 2016 at the Coloma FOP. Many thanks to all the businesses and people who donated for the raffles and silent auction. Brats, sauerkraut, and German potato salad were enjoyed by all who at-tended.

Craft Fair fundraiser for Amanda Goss, December 3

  The public is invited to a Craft Fair this Saturday, December 3 from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the Watervliet Middle School, 450 E. Red Arrow Hwy. to benefit Amanda Goss and her family.

Shop a variety of local vendors and homemade crafts and goods! There will be a silent auction for many donated items, artwork, gift baskets and gift certificates. Raffle tickets can be purchased to win prizes with various vendors in the craft fair. T-shirts are available for purchase to show support for Amanda.

Be sure to eat lunch at the food table then buy dessert from the homemade baked goods sale!

The goal of this fundraiser is to benefit the Goss family. Together with her wonderful husband, Tristan, and her two beautiful daughters, Amanda began her fight with breast cancer in October 2014, at the young age of 24. After undergoing three surgeries and 10 rounds of chemo, Amanda was told she was cancer-free in August 2015. One year later, upon visiting the University of Michigan in August of 2016, Amanda was devastated to hear that she now has stage 4 cancer (Invasive Ductile Carcinoma and Osseous Metastatic Disease.) She immediately began aggressive chemo treatments, which she will receive weekly until the tumors are gone. Then, she will continue with chemo every three weeks, for the rest of her life. Amanda’s family faces many expenses associated with her chemo including travel expenses and uncovered medical expenses. In addition to those added expenses, Amanda is unable to work at least until the aggressive chemo treatments are over. Please come out on December 3 and help support Amanda and her family as she fights to “Nail” cancer once again!

Thank you to the many businesses and individuals who donated items for the food table, bake sale, raffle prizes and silent auction.

Please contact Connie Hayes at 269-208-5089 or conniehayes3@yahoo.com with questions or for more information.

Committee appointments made at the Coloma City Commission meeting

By Christina Gelder

With the changeover in commissioners following the election it was time for new committee appointments. This was done at the Monday, November 28 meeting.

Mayor Polashak read the following assignments and they were unanimously approved:

Administration: Clerk Martha Darling, Commissioners Linda Freitag, and Kent Churchill; Finance: Commissioners Churchill, Freitag, and Jason Hicks; Ordinance: Commissioners Hicks, Nate Clements, and Julie Smith; Police: Commissioners Clements, Freitag, and Hicks; Public Relations: Commissioners Smith and Clements; Public Works: Commissioners Marsha Hammond and Churchill; Water Services Advisory Board: Commissioners Hammond and Clements; Fire Board: Commissioner Hammond.

The first person listed on each committee is the chairperson, with the exception of water advisory and fire board appointments. The second fire board spot is being temporarily filled by Mayor Polashak while the search for a new chief takes place.

December meeting change

 Due to the second meeting in December falling the day after Christmas it has been rescheduled. There was talk of skipping it but according to the City charter they must hold two meetings a month. Instead of Monday, December 26 it was voted to hold the last meeting of 2016 on Wednesday, December 28. It will be held at 7:30 p.m. in City Hall.

Christmas bonuses approved

 Every year the mayor and commissioners typically approve a bonus for their employees. This year was no different and it was approved to present them with gift cards that can be used at local merchants. The vote was to match last year’s gift which was thought to be $100 each.

Santa is coming to town

 Along that same line, Santa will be coming to town next week. He will arrive by fire truck to Baker Park at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 6 and stay to meet with children until 7:00 p.m. This will be his 38th year visiting the City of Coloma.

Street project update

 According to Public Works Supervisor Rod Burkholder, the St. Joseph Street project is still making progress. He reported that several more water hookups have been completed and that they are hoping to be ready for winter in the next two weeks. Everything is weather dependent but the plan is to have the first covering on so that residents can drive on it through the winter and then it will be completed in the spring.

He also said that leaf pickup has been slower this fall because manpower has been needed at the construction site and that takes priority. As long as it does not rain or snow they will continue to run one leaf truck a day. They are currently averaging about five loads a day.

Commissioner Marsha Hammond announced that Stuart Thurlow has been volunteering several hours a week to assist the Department of Public Works and it has been much needed. She says that they have all appreciated his assistance but feel they are beginning to take advantage of his generosity. She made a motion to pay him $8.50/hour. He would be contract labor so that would be straight hourly and would not include any type of benefits. The rate is the same as that of the additional help that is hired in the summer. He is currently working between 20 and 25 hours a week. The motion passed with Commissioners Hicks and Smith abstaining.

In other news Berrien County Commissioner Bill Smith attended the meeting and reminded them that December 15 would be the final hearing on the new animal control ordinance. He encouraged attendance and comments. The meeting will be at the Berrien County Administration building at 10:30 a.m.