By Nancy Albright
On July 8th, John P. Warren, Chairman of the Pokégnek Bodéwadmik – Pokagon Band of Potawatomi – was joined by Tribal Council members, Hartford City and Township officials, and Mark Butterfield of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Eastern Office of Native American Programs to mark the opening of phase one of Hartford Édawat – the Pokagon Band’s Tribal Village at Hartford. Located one mile east of Four Winds Casino on Red Arrow Highway, the village currently consists of eight homes, and the group plans to build additional homes, a community center and a playground as development moves forward.
DRUM CIRCLE…Members of the Pokagon Drum Circle sit on the front porch of the duplex tribe member Junior Morris will live in. Junior said he is proud he will be living in the village and that, “This is a happy day. I can’t help but grin.”
Half of the homes will be inhabited by Tribal Elders and are designed to accommodate those with disabilities. The handicap-friendly homes feature wide doorways and large garages to accommodate wheelchairs and larger vehicles, and more electrical outlets in each master suite to charge medical equipment. Roll-in showers, lowered cooktops, counters and sinks, and under-counter microwaves will make everyday tasks easier for residents with disabilities. The homes are fully paid for by the Pokagon Band, as is the Tribal Village in Dowagiac which consists of 66 homes, a community center and an activity complex. Both villages are an example of the village that is tentatively planned for development in South Bend, Ind., where the Pokagon have a satellite office. According to Chairman Warren, the homes were built with “all natural resources, the dust of our elders, and the lives of our people.” He said the Pokagon philosophy is that they will “live here, work here and play here.” Mr. Warren said he is proud of the economic development of the Pokagon Band in the last 10 years. “The opening of Pokégnek Édawat Hartford is an important milestone in our efforts to provide affordable housing and a better quality of life to our citizens. We are proud to welcome the first residents and look forward to welcoming more families as we complete the next phases of development.” Hartford native Morris Lewis, Jr. (Junior) will be one of the first to take residence in the new development. Born in Hartford, Junior spent his early years in another rural community without the modern conveniences of running water, plumbing and electricity. He returned to Hartford and played basketball and baseball for the Hartford Indians, graduating from Hartford High School in 1965. Junior said he is proud he will be living in the village and that, “This is a happy day. I can’t help but grin.” Stan Morceau, Chairman of the Elders Council, was born in 1945 in the city hospital in Hartford, which was then referred to as “the poor man’s hospital.” Mr. Morceau left Hartford, spending 55 years in Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti, and said that the building of the village was “a coming home for me.” Hartford was “always tugging at my heart, I wanted to go home.” Mr. Morceau explained that his parents were migrant workers and as a kid he had run through these fields which then were full of strawberries and gladiolas. He commented that the development, which was just a field of corn stubble one year ago, has been “a long, hard struggle and a long time coming. It’s been a long road and took a lot of generations to get here. I’m happy to be part of the journey.” He hopes to pass the message of this achievement on to upcoming generations; that in seeking a better way of life and forgetting lingering animosities, they can fulfill their dreams. In closing, Stan Morceau told the story of one day finding his childhood friend Junior Lewis hopping down the road on one foot. Stan asked Junior if he had “lost a shoe.” Junior answered, “No, I found one!” Mayor Ted Johnson then addressed the group and said that, “We are glad to have your citizens, the housing development and the casino as part of our community.” He was met by smiles and applause from all in attendance, including Tribal Council members Judy Winchester, Steve Winchester, Becky Price, Kenny Rader and Andy Jackson; Elders Council Treasurer Clarence White; Secretary Mark Parrish; and Hartford City Manager Yemi Akinwale. Mr. Mark Butterfield of U.S. Housing and Urban Development then spoke of the Self Determination Act of 1996 which helps fund housing for Native American citizens. He said that this program is “beginning to bring people back to their homeland communities.” Mr. Butterfield also thanked and honored the Pokagon Tribal Police for protecting tribal elders and youth, and urged the Pokagon Band to thank themselves for all they have done to further their community and improve their way of life. Hartford Édawat is managed by the Pokagon Housing and Community Development Department, which offers assistance with home loans, lease-to-own opportunities and rentals. The group also operates a homeless prevention program. In addition to housing development services, the Pokagon Band also provides its approximately 5,000 citizens in Southwest Michigan and Northern Indiana with education, medical care, family services and cultural preservation. According to Chairman Warren, the purpose of Friday’s ceremony – which opened and closed with a drum circle and Pokagon Veterans Anthony Foerster, Kenny Rader and Roger Williams bearing the American Flag, the Pokagon Flag and the Pokagon Eagle Staff – was to show that “the Pokagon Band has come full circle.” Aptly named the main street in Hartford Édawat, called Byankik, which means “place where we have come from.” For more information visit the Pokagon Band’s website at www.PokagonBand-nsn.gov.
Bainbridge Twp. Board responds to Pipestone Lake parking concerns
By Angela Stair
The Bainbridge Township Board of Trustees held their July meeting on Monday, the 11th. The Board approved the consent agenda and the check detail in the amount of $13,285.26 in bills, payroll in the amount of $7,711.33 and payroll taxes in the amount of $2,063.48 for a total of $23,060.07. Two members of the Zoning Board of Appeals were reappointed to serve another three year term. The Board unanimously approved the reappointment of Pete Zaluckyj, Trustee and Nancy Weber, Secretary. Both members were contacted prior to the meeting and had given their approval.
PIPESTONE LAKE ITEMS
A resident who lives on the shore of Pipestone Lake spoke to the Board about the problem of vehicles and trailers parked at the access road to the lake. He said one resident had to ask people to move so he could get onto his property. The resident said they needed some signage put up prohibiting parking and asked if that was possible. Township Supervisor Jerry Jollay asked Road Commissioner Bill Hodge, who attends the monthly meetings and knows the area well, if he could look into that possibility to relieve the parking problems at the Lake. Mr. Hodge said he would be glad to and will get back to the Board with the information. The resident also asked about the progress on the road work plan for Pipestone Lake. He said he is a resident that will be paying and did not want to miss the special meeting for it. Township Clerk Patty Hiler-Molter reported that she had just talked to the Township Attorney earlier in the day and was told by him that the entire tax roll is set up, so they will now be working on a meeting date.
WORLD WAR II MEMORIAL AND OTHER BUSINESS
Supervisor Jollay said they are still working on plans for the rededication of the World War II war memorial. They believe there are three veterans on the monument that are still alive and they would like to have them at the services. The service should be held soon. Treasurer Nancy Weber reported that taxes are starting to come in and she has collected approximately $8,000.00. She also reported that she was told foreclosures in the Township for 2013-2014 was up by 35%. Weber said this was not unusual for the area, as this has been so for the entire county. There were not current figures for 2015. The Board will be looking at the five year plan on road repairs they received from the Berrien County Road Commission.
Hartford Library News
Every Tuesday is “Lego Challenge Day”. Join us at 1pm and make a Lego creation. Every time you make a Lego creation on Tuesday, your name is entered in the Grand Lego Drawing on Tuesday, August 2nd.On Wednesday, July 13th it’s “Game Day” at the Hartford Public Library at 1pm. All children can participate in all kinds of outdoor and indoor games. On Thursday, July 14th we sidewalk chalk drawing and scratch board creations at 1pm. On Friday, July 15th at 1pm, we will be showing the movie “The Big Green” with popcorn and refreshment. The Hartford Library will be hosting “Mad Cap Puppets” on Monday, July 18th at 1pm. The performance will be “Monsters of Baseball”. Don’t miss these giant life-size puppets. On Tuesday, July 19th is our regular “Lego Challenge”. Test your creative abilities with one of our challenges and enter a drawing for Lego prizes. On Wednesday, July 20th, its “Game Day” at the library. All children can participate in challenging games both indoor and outdoor. On Thursday, July 21st children can make several art projects to take home at 1pm. On Friday, July 22nd we will be showing the movie “Zootopia” at 1pm with popcorn and refreshments.
WBA BUSINESS DECORATING CONTEST…winner goes to Tactical Tendencies LLC for there patriotic window, Owner Nick Quinn says “I’m very excited and thankful to win. I would also like to thank my mother, Pamela Quinn for painting my design on the window.” The WBA presented a $50 gift certificate to Quinn for his efforts in the first WBA July 4th Business Decorating Contest. Watervliet Business district was in full decoration for the annual festival thanks to the many businesses that participated. Tactical Tendencies LLC is located on Main Street in Watervliet and is open Wed.-Fri. from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and Sat. & Sun., from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (Amy Loshbough photo)
Comentarios