At this meeting, we gathered to finish up the Senior Care Kits.

The Lakeshore Key Club Officers joined us for lunch and helped to assemble the kits. 

Mike is the 4th-generation owner of the farm. Adolph Hildebrand, who immigrated from Ukraine in 1912, started the farm with 40 acres on Garr Rd in Berrien Springs in 1927. Mike now grows apples, peaches, cherries, grapes, and strawberries on 250 acres. He joked that they are not an entertainment business. The back of his shirt said: No Hayride, no U-pick, no jams or jellies, no craft fair. He said, “We just produce the best quality fruit we can.” 

They have two locations. From Monday through Friday, from 8 AM to 4 PM, they are at their packing facility at 3255 E Shawnee Rd, Berrien Springs. On Saturdays (9-5:30) and Sundays (1-5), August through Thanksgiving, they have a stand at their home farm at 10267 Garr Rd, Berrien Springs. 

Giving comes in many forms. ISo, instead of a speaker, several Kiwanians arrived early and stayed late to assemble Senior Care Kits. Our task was to assemble the first-aid containers that will be part of a larger gift containing basic hygiene items like toothpaste and lotion, adult puzzle books, and candy.

The Senior Care Kits are then delivered to home-bound seniors by our friends at the Area Agency on Aging and Meals on Wheels. 

Thanks to Tom Nelson for guiding this service project! 

Our guest speaker was Chris Mason, co-owner of the Watermark Brewery Co. He and his partners, Jason Shull and David Cockel, shared a mutual interest in microbrewing and opened Watermark Brewing Co. in 2016.

Watermark is a community- and family-friendly business. It has recently been named the 3rd-best beer garden in the country by USA Today! 

In June of 2020, they opened the “Solarium”, a wedding event venue, situated behind the Brewery. In February 2025, they opened an indoor golf venue,” Depths Society Golf,” across the street from St. Paul’s church.

Watermark is involved with many non-profit organizations, including the “Polar Plunge” event in February each year. This event raises thousands of dollars for the Special Olympics. 

Our speakers were Danielle Grandholm and Sarah Kwak, who were inspired by her daughter, Sammie, who was born with a surprise diagnosis of Down Syndrome. In their journey to find support for individuals with Down Syndrome, they launched the Rising Kites bag program in 2021. It provides bags with resources and supplies to help those with Down Syndrome. and gave out over 3,300 bags in 2021, to families in 50 states and 22 countries.

Next, they started Rising Kites Coffee and Rising Kites Flowers to provide employment opportunities for those with Down Syndrome.  The Coffee Shop, which opened in May of 2024, has 13 employees.

The Rising Kites Flowers started in June 2025 and employs four individuals who provide flower subscriptions. 

Lt. Jovernor Jennifer Green shared that her goal for Division 13 in 2025-26 is “Connectiveness.” She would like us to be more cohesive as a division. “It’s a lofty goal,” she said. “But we can do it!” She will begin by sending out a monthly newsletter.

Jennifer also announced that there will be a meeting with Divisions 13 and 14 on Saturday, March 14th, 2026. It will be held in Ottawa County at the “Weaver House,” 15400 Polk St., West Olive, MI. More information to come. 

Jennifer then inducted our officers and board members for 2025-26: 

• Board members. Tom Nelson, Laurie Kelly, Mike Sinn, Jim Bartley, Kimberly Risk, Bruce Molineaux. 
• Treasurer. Dean Driscoll. 
• Secretary. Ashley Schulte. 
• Vice President. Jay Wojcik. 
• President Elect. Ray Russell. 
• President. Roger Bertsch. 
• Past President. Dave Miller. 

Thank you to all our officers and board members for your service and leadership! 

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Steve Ross, owner of the accounting firm, Stephen Ross & Company,  reviewed some of the tax changes that occurred with the recent passage of the “One Big, Beautiful Bill.” This bill mainly made the 2017 tax cuts, enacted in the 1st Trump Administration, permanent, with no change in tax rates. Four items addressed President Trump’s campaign promises, all of which phase out in 2028: 

• No taxes on tips. This is a deduction off the top with a limit of $25k. 
• No tax on overtime pay, up to 25k. 
• Tax deduction for Social Security income. $6K for a single, $12k couple. 
• Up to $10k deduction for loan interest on cars bought after 2024 with final assembly in the USA. 

In addition, Steve mentioned “Trump Accounts” that will deposit $ 1,000 into accounts for children born from January 1, 2025, through the end of 2028. Parents can add up to $5K/ yr. It can’t be withdrawn until the child turns 18. 

Kristen talked about the Bond Proposal coming up on the November 4^th ballot. The proposal will keep the District’s tax rate at 3.7 mills, the same as it has been since 2020, and will fund improvements such as safety and security, addressing infrastructure needs, and upgrading learning environments.

She also shared that the District is offering “Coffee Chats” to allow the public to discuss the proposal.

Pictured with Ms. Bawks are other school administrators and Ren Baldwin, longtime educator and “legend” at St Joe Schools. 

Steve Neubecker, Public Safety Director for SJ, and Emily Hackworth, City Manager for SJ, spoke on October 9, 2025. Steve told us that they now have a full Public Safety Department- every member is trained in fire and public safety. He also said that having two lines heading to Silver Beach seemed to work this summer. 

Emily said that one of the biggest challenges was trying to implement a new parking program. We have decided only to proceed if we do it right and it works for everyone.

She talked about the proposed new housing development, the “Marquette”, at the old YWCA site. There will be underground parking. The 1st floor will be commercial, with the next three floors apartments, and the top 3 condos. They are in the process of getting permission for a building height of 80 feet. Emily says the developers are keen on making this development work well for the community. Most of the apartments will only be available to locals with moderate incomes. 

Scott Sanford has been with the Public Defender’s Office since its inception in 2017. He was named the Chief in March of 2023. Currently, he supervises 27 attorneys in his office. He would like to have 33 attorneys, but it has been tough to hire a full quota. One of the reasons for that is a shortage of attorneys throughout Michigan. Another reason, particularly for his office, is that he can’t pay his attorneys an attractive salary.

The County Board sets the pay scale, and for some reason, the lawyers in the Prosecutor’s Office get paid more than they do in the Defender’s Office! Scott says this isn’t for economic reasons, it’s for policy reasons. The state would pay a higher salary, but the county doesn’t ask for it. “It’s just not a sustainable system,” says Scott.

Marcy is the Executive Director of “Visit Southwest Michigan.” The majority of members are Hotel owners and other business owners who focus on tourism with a targeted market on outdoor recreation and adventure, arts & cultural heritage, agritourism food & shopping, small meetings, and sports.

The Events Page on the website has details for many of their programs such as the Senior PGA, Summer Trolly Program, a three-day event at Point of Woods, and Spooktacular in Downtown St. Joseph.

CEO and co-founder James Gutner shared that the organization empowers men to thrive through community, education, and resources. James emphasized the importance of Dad being present for a stable family, as 39% of kids do not live with a father figure in their household. This leads to more poverty, school dropouts, more drug use, etc. 

Notably, James informed us that he had been a member of the Key Club at Benton Harbor High School, which had a significant impact on his life. Ron Lyness, our former Kiwanis member, was a mentor to many of the kids in the BH Key Club.

Dr. Prudy Barrett Nelson, Tom’s wife, talked about her and Tom’s 501 (c) (3) organization, “Helping Hands for Vulnerable Children (HHVC)” in Uganda. It is home to many refugees since countries at war surround it. Living situations are bleak, most houses are made of dirt and dung, AIDs is rampant, the average woman has five children, literacy is low, and malnutrition is high.

Lainie Adams, shown above with President Dave, is the Director of Corporate Partnerships for LOGAN Community Services, Inc.

LOGAN is a non-profit organization, based in the Michiana area, that supports people with intellectual and developmental disabilities so they and their families may achieve their desired quality of life.” 

Kiya Hudson, Welch Center Manager, was our host and guide on August 5, 2025. Kiya grew up in Van Buren County and received a degree from Lake Michigan College (LMC) in Wine and Viticulture in 2020.

She shared that Lake Michigan Vintners and LMC started the 1st commercial teaching winery in the Midwest in 2015. Students can receive an associate’s degree in Wine & Viticulture Technology. After the tour, a few of our members stayed to enjoy a wine tasting in the tasting room. For more information, call 269-927-4731. 

Greg, pictured with President Dave, graduated from Hope College and pursued graduate studies at WMU and UM. He was at Zeeland West High School for 17 years, finishing there as the principal. He took over the job as superintendent of Lakeshore Schools in the summer of 2021.

Greg commented on Zeeland West and its similarities to Lakeshore. The schools are the same size as Lakeshore and St.Joe, and also have a fierce rivalry. During his tenure at Lakeshore, his primary emphasis has been on climate and culture. “If you have a good climate and culture for students, teachers, administrators, and parents, things will work out,” he said. 

Pam Klyn, President of the Whirlpool Foundation, reviewed many of the Whirlpool Foundation’s activities. She said that the Foundation uses a House and Home framework to guide its global giving. House means enabling comfortable, nurturing places to live, and Home, supporting resilient, thriving, and sustainable communities.

Jim is the Owner and President of Green Earth Electronics Recycling on 4200 Niles Rd in St. Joseph. He also owns Maverick Asset Solutions in Baroda.

At Green Earth, they recycle all electronics (anything with a plug, cord, or battery). They only charge a minimum ($20) for TVs and $10 for display monitors, dehumidifiers, or anything with freon. They are open Monday through Friday from 7 AM to 3 PM. They also offer pick up and data storage shredding. Jim said, “The best way to recycle something is to reuse it. This keeps it out of landfills, and that is what we focus on.” 

Tess Ulery, a St. Joseph City Commissioner, and Kate Ulery, Tessa’s mom, have both been integral to resuming the popular North Pier Lighthouse tours since the Heritage Museum closed. St. Joseph Today has now taken over that task and is now offering tours on Saturdays from 10 AM to 7 PM.

The ladies spoke about the fascinating history of the St. Joseph Lighthouse. The original lighthouse was established in 1832. A lighthouse was needed due to our shallow harbor and the need to transport the area’s fruits, vegetables, and lumber.

In 2009-2010, the city’s emergency manager merged the Police and Fire Departments, causing Police Officers and Fire Fighters to become cross-trained. However, the fire school available at the time was subpar. So, Benton Harbor developed its fire school, creating a top-notch school that is highly respected.

Dan is very proud of his department. “We are 100% not-woke. We just do things as they are supposed to be done.” He added, “Police work is 100% about relationships. We’ve worked hard to establish trust and communication with our citizens.” 

Edgewater Resources is a global, full-service engineering company specializing in coastal and marina engineering, established in 2010. Greg states that, as they attempt to solve engineering problems for their customers, they also consider the community’s needs and ecological concerns. Greg reviewed some of the projects they have been involved in, ranging from the Caribbean to South America, Bermuda, and Chicago, as well as our local area. 

Greg and Mike are at the local office at 518 Broad Street in St. Joseph. They also have offices in Wisconsin, North Carolina, and Argentina. 

Laurie grew up in the Sister Lakes area and worked as an electrical engineer for Zenith for 27 years. Upon her retirement, she took on the role of Executive Director at Curious Kids and has been in that position for 13 years. When the Pandemic hit, Curious Kids was closed for 15 months.

Then, 11 months after reopening, fire struck the building on Lake Blvd. Luckily, the Heritage Museum, on Main St., came up for sale. After obtaining several variances in the building codes, they are ready to launch a Capital Campaign with an anticipated grand opening in early 2027.

Larry was drafted into the army in 1969 and enlisted for a three-year term as a cook. He went to Vietnam in May of 1971 as a 2nd Lieutenant. After Vietnam, he was in the reserves for a time and then forgot all about the military until he was contacted by Don Alsbro about joining “Lest We Forget.” Don started “Lest We Forget” in 2006. Don passed away last year, and now Larry is the President. 

Larry reviewed many of the things that “Lest We Forget” does, including monthly meetings at the airport, educational programs, veterans’ patriotic concerts, American Legion visitations, attending veterans’ funerals, and participating in several parades with veterans, among other activities. Larry said,” We want to remind people about the sacrifices our veterans made to secure our freedoms and blessings.” Their motto is, “We Brighten the Future by Illuminating the Past.” 

Visit www.lestweforgetusa.org for more information.

Luke reviewed the purpose of SWMAR, which includes being an advocate for realtors, providing education, offering training, and ensuring oversight. He provided a review of recent national trends and then presented some local statistics. One interesting statistic is that the median age for a first-time home buyer is 38 years old, much higher than in previous years.

Dan reviewed all the activities needed for maintaining the St. Joseph Harbor and River, ensuring they remain open for both commercial and recreational boating. The Corps of Engineers is responsible for maintaining the Inner and Outer Harbors by keeping them dredged for commercial traffic. The Bicentennial Bridge separates the two harbors. The Outer Harbor is relatively uncontaminated, and the cost to dredge is significantly less than that of the Inner Harbor, as the silt from the Inner Harbor must be trucked out to the Airport.

That dump area will be filled up soon, but no one has had the authority to find a new spot. To remedy this problem and, in addition, to handle dredging for recreational boating from the inner harbor to the Napier Bridge, the St Joe Harbor Authority was created. It consists of Benton Harbor, St. Joe Township, and St. Joseph, with Berrien County as the Administrator. This body has the authority to identify a new fill site for the Inner Harbor and to manage the dredging of the St. Joseph River, up to the Napier Bridge.

Marla is the new President and CEO of Cornerstone Alliance. She shared that Cornerstone’s goals for the next year are: 

• Economic Development. 
• Community Development. 
• Sites and Assets Development. 
• Building a Housing Resource for Berrien County. 

Amy discussed the workings of the Prosecutor’s Office, which cover: 

• 20 attorneys/20 support staff. 18 attys. In St. Joe and 2 in Niles. 
• Divisions: Family, Criminal, and Appellate. 
• One canine advocate: Zoey. 
• Duties: Over 250 Statutory Duties. 
• Prosecutor’s Priorities: Gun violence, Drug trafficking, Community Engagement, Prosecutor and Law Enforcement training, Prosecutor retention. 

Katie Woodard, Lakeshore Key Club Advisor, welcomed us to lunch at the High School. Then the Key Club Officers gave a PowerPoint presentation of their activities throughout the year: 

• In the summer, the Board members discussed the upcoming service year and their goals. They also attended a Division 8 Officer training conference at Kiwanis Park. 
• At the beginning of the year, the club had grown to over 200 members. 
• They held blood drives monthly. 

Mick gave us a review of Holtec’s history with the Palisades Nuclear Plant. In 2022, Holtec bought Pallisades with the aim of decommissioning it. With the shift in political winds and the desire for clean energy, Holtec instead decided to attempt to re-commission Palisades, even though the nuclear fuel had already been removed. The owner of Holtec came up with $400 million, and the government gave him a $1.52 billion loan! So, for a little more than $2 billion, Pallisades will reopen! (A new nuclear plant proposed for Georgia is being built for $30 billion consortium in Michigan to promise to buy the energy produced over the next 25-30 years. The change in administrations has not altered the desire for clean energy and job opportunities.

Donna was recently appointed as the Director. WSG is a school, studio, and gallery dedicated to the fine arts of glass and metal. “We are mainly a school,” said Donna. “We have a gallery, but the sale of our artwork mainly supports our school and its operations.” 

Jordan talked about the “Fired Up!” teen after-school program. It is an award-winning program that combines art making with entrepreneurship. Teens learn teamwork, focus, patience, and trust, and develop a positive outlook on their future. The “Fired Up” students get the chance to sell their artwork at various regional exhibitions, including the Krasl Art Fair. They have the opportunity to participate in field trips/programs across the country. They also have the opportunity to work with visiting artists. Some of the teen participants have returned to be instructors in the “Fired Up” program. 

Rhiannon has served as Director of the BHCA for the past five years. She informed us that BHCA is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization, operating under the direction of the County. Its mission is “to collect and preserve artifacts related to Berrien County history through exhibits, publications, research activities, educational opportunities, and community outreach programs.” It is located in the “History Center at Courthouse Square,” the site of the oldest County Courthouse in Michigan, in Berrien Springs.  

The BHCA has been in existence for 58 years. There are eight buildings at Courthouse Square, all of which are open to the public. Since 2019, extensive renovations have been undertaken on the buildings and archives. 

Glenn is the newly elected Lincoln Township Supervisor. He plans to be responsive to all the citizens of the townships. He reviewed the current state of the Township’s: 

• Housing Units. 6,273 total. 91.3% Occupied. 19.79% Renter-occupied. 
• Population. 14,929 in 2020. It is the largest Township by population in Berrien County. 
• New Residential Construction. There is a slow rise currently. A new development is set to begin soon at the site of the former Snowflake Hotel. It will have 200 rental units and 100 residential units. 
• High Risk Erosion Zoning. The coastline is both an asset and a curse. Currently, the water level is low, and people are happy. 
• Land Use. Total 10.77 acres. 32.1% agricultural. Commercial 3.2%. Residential 47.3%. Industrial 2.3%. Public 14.9%. 
• Public Safety. Chief of Police Soper and 11 full-time officers. One school resource officer. The Fire Department has a full-time Chief and 12 part-time firefighters. Average 180-230 calls per year. 
• Millage Rates. Glenn said that Lincoln Township has very reasonable tax rates. “I found out that the Township is very frugal,” he said 
• Area Schools. The Township has several outstanding schools, including Upton Middle School! 
• Lincoln Township Library. “This is the jewel of the Township,” Glenn said. “They have just finished a 1 ½ million-dollar renovation. It is beautiful!” 
• Parks. The township has many beautiful parks. “We are probably all set with the number of parks that we have and need to maintain,” he said. 
• Resident Survey. A recent survey shows that more sit-down restaurants, entertainment venues, and retail stores are desired by residents. 
• Master Plan Goals. Preserve agricultural areas. Encourage low-density residential development in most areas of the township. Residential areas should be walkable and/or non-motorized. Neighborhoods will be well-maintained 

Cathy took over the job as Supervisor in 2019. She discovered that the agreement with St. Joe for sewer treatment was set to expire in 2020. What resulted was an $8 million, 5-year Benton Township project to build their sewer pipeline to the St. Joe-Benton Harbor Sewer Treatment Center. The pipeline will be installed under the St. Joe River and is expected to be completed by the end of this year. Riverview Drive will be blocked off for most of this year. 

Brian has been the B.C Administrator since 2020. Previously, he served as the City Manager of South Haven for 20 years. During the pandemic, they recognized the need to update the county’s infrastructure. One area that they focused on was the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) in Benton Harbor on Empire Avenue. Since it was built 20 years ago, the number of dispatchers for the 911 call system has increased, along with the technical needs.

Sen. Kim LaSata worked with the county to secure $5 million for the project, and it was built in Buchanan. Now the whole county will be on the 800-megahertz system.

Chris is the Managing Director of Harbor Shores Community Development. Currently, development in the Benton Harbor Parcels includes 137 homes and apartments. That accounts for $ 22 million in taxable value and $565,000 in property taxes, plus city income tax revenue. In St. Joseph, the total of residential units is 99. Benton Township has 53. 

Chris also talked about the new Riverfront Plaza. This is a $2 million project that will be built next to Riverview Drive, near Emma Jean Hull Flats, and managed by Harbor Shores. There will be a water taxi dock, performance seating, fire pits, a dog park, etc. Construction has already begun. 

Bonita Mitchell is the Executive Director of “I’m Saving Myself (ISM)”, and Iris Watts is the BH Supervisor of ISM. Bonita started a program in 2001 called “I’m Saving Myself (ISM)” after an Eau Claire student committed suicide. ISM is a program for Berrien County under the parent program, THR.

Iris told us that they use “Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) in schools to teach self-awareness and self-management to learn how to manage their feelings”. We use music and the arts to address mental health problems. We try to prevent suicide, sexual activity, bullying, low self-esteem, and substance abuse.”

Al is the Vice President of Enrollment, Marketing, and Government Relations at Lake Michigan College (LMC). He told us that there are “lots of exciting things happening at LMC,” and proudly said to us that LMC was recently ranked as the best junior college in Michigan by a firm called “Smart Assets” out of New York. They were ranked #1 due to their excellent student-to-teacher ratio, their 79% retention rate, and the low cost of attendance. Most attendees pay no tuition and have their books paid for as well! 

On a slightly different subject, Al spoke about the Berrien Talent Collaborative. This is an apprenticeship program designed to help Berrien County employers access a pool of skilled workers. This program will help fill that gap, benefiting students, employers, and the community. A partnership of Berrien Resa, LMC, the Southwest Regional Chamber, and the Greater Niles Chamber of Commerce runs it.