Two Local Farmers Stand Against Selling Land, Tax Hike

            In the early 1940s, Kenneth and Gene Werling were born on the farm that to this day they still work. In 1938, their parents purchased the land that was handed down to them in 1965. Poor eyesight from birth kept the boys at home learning the trade of farming instead of heading into town to find a job and a pretty lady. 
“My eye sight has gotten better the older I’ve gotten,” Kenneth said. “I didn’t get my driver’s license until I was 30. Gene’s sight is worse. But we still plant and harvest every year.”
As housing developments encroach upon the farm from the east and the west, Kenneth and Gene stand firmly on the ground that raised them. Offers for the farm started 12 years ago when new development began on the north side of New Haven. But Kenneth isn’t selling.
“What am I going to do if I sell the farm?” Kenneth asked. “Are [the developers] going to give me a job?”
On that simple affirmation, Kenneth and Gene have continued to plant and harvest the corn and soy beans that help them earn their livelihood. Unfortunately, as big farms get bigger the smaller family farm is earning less and less.
“We make enough to get by,” Kenneth reported. “We have enough for bills and food and repairs, but we can’t afford anything new. If the tractor goes out, we wouldn’t be able to buy a new one.”
As the price of crops drop in the economic recession, Kenneth and Gene are feeling the drop in income even during a summer that has boded well for Indiana farmers. Though he can sympathize with East Allen County School’s economic situation, he can vote in favor of the tax referendum on the November ballot.
“We can’t afford that tax increase people are talking about,” Kenneth said. “It would just about break the bank no matter what the money is for.”

 

East Allen School Board Members Meet With City Residents

            Two school board members and the superintendent met with over 70 New Haven area residents Wednesday evening to discuss the financial challenges East Allen County Schools is currently facing. With the banquet room at Rack and Helen’s nearly packed, Alyssa Lewandowski and Janice Witte, the two New Haven representatives, along with Dr. Karyle Green, explained the financial crisis EACS is facing and the reasons why they are looking to restructure the district and raise taxes for the next seven years. The main goal of the meeting, however, was for school officials to learn what New Haven thinks.
“We are here to listen to what you like and hate about these plans,” Lewandowski said. “I am listening hard to what you have to say. You are my voice.”
During the discussion, residents expressed their concern about the recent referendum added to the November ballot that could raise property taxes for the entire district. Dr. Green expressed the district’s intent to place a tool on the EACS website that would help homeowners deduce what the referendum could cost them yearly. Other residents including Pat Anderson and City Councilman Tim Martin asked Dr. Green what the referendum could cost business owners. Still others questioned how the tax hike would affect them due to large acres of farmland. These questions as well as what the increased revenue would be used for largely went unanswered.
“The important thing to remember about referendum,” Dr. Green said, “is that we don’t have to take the full amount we’re asking for. If we find we don’t need to whole amount to offset cuts, then we don’t have take it.”
A second issue discussed at the town meeting were the five options for restructuring the district. Many residents and some school teachers were in favor of consolidating high schools, but many were still frustrated by the lack of answers for why New Haven Elementary was scheduled to close in all five plans. Parents and teachers alike pointed out the reasons for why New Haven Elementary should remain open: most cost efficient facility in the district, academically achieving, 87% percent capacity.
“We are not adopting one the five plans in totality,” Dr. Green said. “We’re going to put together one recommendation for the board to hash over based on important things like what we’ve heard about tonight.”
A third issue discussed with school officials was increasing academic achievement for our students. Many community members are concerned that the five options for redesign do not address curriculum at the high school level. Dr. Green and the school board members could not answer how curriculum would be improved by any of the options, and according to Dr. Green, curriculum will only be presented after a redesign option is chosen. Many residents and teachers are concerned at the level of education offered to EACS students. In some schools, like Woodlan for example, students have only five elective choices.
“We are doing a disservice to our students,” one EACS teacher said. “They don’t have options to learn about the things they are interested in. Many students at my school take FFA classes because that is their only option.”
Dr. Green will present the administration’s recommendation to the school board in early September and plans to tell tax payers how the increased tax revenues would be spent by October. The next school board meeting is August 17th at 6:30p.m. in the New Haven High School Auditeria.

 

 

Mayor’s Minute: New Haven Receives Piece of National History

            In 1925 the US Bureau of Public Roads mandated that highways named after people had to have their names changed so they could be identified with numbers. One such highway affected by this ruling was Lincoln Highway, the first transcontinental highway in the United States, and it became US 1, US 30, US 40, and US 50 as it rolled across the country. In 1928 just before it closed, the Lincoln Highway Association had 3,000 concrete markers made in dedication of the highway and its namesake, Abraham Lincoln. Over time, however, those markers have slowly disappeared to new road improvements, car accidents, and neglect. Of the 150 markers that were placed in Indiana, only 15 remain, and one now sits a few yards away from the road that residents still know by its original name at New Haven’s City Hall.
“It is fitting that the road is remembered and celebrated here in the city that has served as the eastern gateway on Indian’s portion of the Lincoln Highway since 1913,” said Jan Shupert-Arick, president of the Indiana Lincoln Highway Association (INLHA), at the dedication ceremony on July 14th. “Since New Haven is both a Lincoln Highway town and a canal town, once on the Wabash and Erie Canals, it is very fitting that this marker and plaque honor Lincoln here.”
The concrete marker that sits near the front entrance of City Hall once stood in downtown Fort Wayne before being one of two donated to the Lincoln Museum. When the museum closed in 2008, the marker in better condition was donated to the Indiana State Museum in Indianapolis and the one in disrepair to the INLHA. The association along with the City of New Haven worked to restore the marker with the help of local stone carver Timothy Doyle.
Doyle and city workers blended old and new concrete to restore the rundown marker to its original state. The hexagonal shaped post and rectangular head now feature the Lincoln Highway logo, bronze medallion, and arrow in their initial splendor.
“We are grateful to the Lincoln Highway Association for their asking the City of New Haven to host this wonderful treasure of an original 1928 Lincoln Highway Marker,” said Mayor Terry McDonald. “As Mayor, I would like to encourage our residents to visit the marker and learn about New Haven's close ties with the Lincoln Highway and celebrate our community as the Eastern Gateway of the Lincoln Highway.”
A plague is posted above the Lincoln Highway marker that succinctly explains its national and local historical significance.

 

 

 

Emanuel Lutheran VBS Zooms to New Planet

            Emanuel Lutheran Church hosted its annual summer Vacation Bible School (VBS) this past week. Forty parent and community volunteers taught 134 registered children about Christ through the fun and adventurous theme Zip, Zap, Zoom. Children at VBS pretended to be bumble bees who imitated God while they complete activities such as singing, story time, games, crafts, and snacks. The activities culminated in a song performance for parents and the release of balloons.

Jim Aumick captivates the kids during story time.

 

 

New Haven Library Offers Many Summer Programs

            New Haven residents are taking advantage of the New Haven branch public library’s summer programs. Since early June, the library has offered children and teens the opportunity to explore new worlds and ideas.
“New Haven is a really supportive community,” said Rachel King an assistant librarian currently in graduate school. “We appreciate the support. Many people are definitely coming in and not just for the programs. We do have a pretty good teen following, though, this summer.”
A special event this summer is the “Artists and Writers Gala Night” on Wednesday, July 28th at 7:00 p.m. This even features the art and writings of talented young residents who submitted their original pieces earlier this year. This year’s winners will be announced at the gala. Below is a list of the rest of the library’s summer programs through July. For more information, contact the library at 421-1345.

Mondays: Pokemon League from 3:30-4:30
Tuesdays: Children’s Programs beginning at 10:30
Wednesdays: Story Time beginning at 10:30
Thursdays: Teen Thursday from 3:30-4:30

 

 

 

Area Company Purchases Vacant Building on Lincoln Highway

            The old S&V Liquors building on the corner of Lincoln Highway and West Street was sold to SBW Fort Wayne, Inc. in early July. According to company representative, Vasant Patel, the building will be renovated into a pizza shop and hopefully a video rental store.
“With that building we are going to bring a Little Caesar’s Pizza,” Patel reported. “We are also looking to bring a video store. The pizza place is for sure, but we don’t have a commitment on the video store yet.”
The company is currently awaiting approval of the architectural drawings before renovations of the run-down property can begin. Patel is expecting approval early next week and renovations to begin soon afterward.
“If everything goes right, our goal is to have the Little Caesar’s open by the end of August,” said Patel.

 

 

25 Graduate from Fire Academy

            Twenty-five fire department recruits graduated from the Fire Academy Wednesday night at a ceremony in the auditorium in Park Hill. After 210 training hours, the graduates are formally allowed to wear their uniforms and received their badges. Training Captain David Bard welcomed the recruits and the crowd.
“We are here to celebrate a milestone in all these fire fighters’ careers,” Bard said to the audience.
The keynote speaker for the ceremony was Brian Yoh, an Adams Township Trustee and the director of the Planning Department in the City of New Haven. In his speech, Yoh commended the men and women for answering the call to serve “country, state, county, and community” and for sacrificing their time with family.
“We acknowledge the absolute dedication and passion these individuals have,” Yoh said at the ceremony. “Without question the members of this class will be directly responsible for saving lives. Nothing is nobler than that.”
“This has been an outstanding class,” Fire Chief John Bennett added. “We can now call them firefighters instead of probies.”
Congratulations to the graduates from NewHavenBulletin.com!

 

 

Mayor’s Minute: EACS “Facing the Future” Plans

            At the EACS school board meeting last Tuesday evening, Mayor Terry McDonald stood in front of the school board and voiced his worries and opinions concerning the district’s “Facing the Future” plans and the proposal to add a referendum to November 2 general election ballot to increase property taxes. Even after hearing similar opinions from other citizens, the school district decided to vote to add the referendum anyway. This action by the school board upset and disappointed the mayor.
Last Thursday, I sat down with him to discuss his concerns about the five current budget cut plans and his opinion about what plan of action he thinks the board should take.
To begin, we examined inconsistencies in all five plans. The first major point of concern is the discrepancies between 2008 and 2010 building capacity numbers. For example, in 2008 the building capacity of New Haven Middle School was reported as 643 students. In 2010 EACS changed the capacity to 809 students (a number close to the original capacity when NHMS first opened.) Mayor McDonald is questioning the inconsistency between these two numbers and wondering if EACS is using the original capacity to justify closing schools. (2008 numbers were provided by Dr. Kay Novotny and Kirby Stahly, the district’s CFO.)
“By using the original building capacity, the administration can make schools seem less efficient,” the mayor said. “What they haven’t taken into consideration is how some classrooms’ functions changed into media centers and libraries or teacher’s lounges. As we all know the older buildings are being used differently today than when first built.”
A second major concern is the district’s recommendation to close New Haven Elementary School in many of the plans. Though demographers are predicting a decline in student population in New Haven, the city is actually continuing to grow as evidenced through the seven new housing subdivisions. If New Haven Elementary is closed, students will be split between other area elementary schools.
“Where will the 415 students of New Haven Elementary School go?” the mayor asked the school board. “With room to absorb 324 additional students at Meadowbrook and Highland Terrace, that leaves 91 students on the bus to where? Imagine if you have one elementary student at Highland Terrace and another at Meadowbrook. [What happens] when both schools have special events?”
To make this a bigger issue, Highland Terrace is already overcrowded. In 2004 the district was approved for mobile classrooms (modular classrooms) by the city. They were renewed in 2006 and are still in use. Furthermore, when the economy rebounds and the housing additions begin to fill with new families, where will their children go to school? EACS is willing to close New Haven Elementary School now, only to have to reopen or build in the future.
“I think what we have to do is keep our elementary schools open,” Mayor McDonald revealed. “I believe so strongly in a strong elementary program. We have to teach the basics and instill a hunger for education.”
The third major concern is the missing numbers on the financial reports for each plan. If a building is to stay open, the financial plan doesn’t include the cost of maintaining and repairing the existing structure. Before the school board can make an informed decision, these numbers need to be provided and accurate.
“EACS needs to take inventory and evaluate the cost of operations—examine transportation, utilities, and administration positions,” Mayor McDonald pronounced. “They need to consolidate schools with three junior/senior high schools and ten elementary schools. The number of buildings needs to be reduced and overhead cut. Academics need to improve and they need to increase the number of classes offered. Classroom size needs to remain decent and not become exorbitant.”

 

 

Jury Pool Renovations Are Making Headway

            The construction traffic has begun and the demolition of the pool has started. Next week, the bathhouse and pump house will be demolished. The New Haven Parks Department understand people’s curiosity with what is happening in Jury Park, but parents have to realize how dangerous a construction area can be, and they encourage them to share those dangers with their children. All residents need to stay out of the park for their own safety.  The Parks Department hopes to have the project completed and the park open by Memorial Day 2011. For local tennis players who miss using the Jury tennis courts, there is good news. The tennis courts at the high school are now open for public use. They are available as long as the tennis team is not using them and they are taken care of. So if you use the courts please help keep them clean. (Artist completed photo below).

           

 

 

EACS School Board Meeting Further Explains Future Options

By: Deanna Quinn

            At the East Allen County Schools Board Meeting on Tuesday night, the five options for the “Facing Our Future: Options for Redesign” plan were further explained in detail to the board of trustees. No decisions were made at the three-hour meeting.
Presentations by committee members tasked with investigating the different options outlined the key points of each plan in more detail. In addition, presentations were made on the various Magnet Schools that could be implemented for Plan E, a plan the changes Paul Harding into a Magnet School. Presenters also wanted community members to know that these plans are not fixed and they are open to district suggestions.
Community members were afforded the opportunity to voice their concerns and opinions at the meeting. Again, numerous Monroeville residents voiced their concerns over the closure of Monroeville Elementary and expressed their frustration that all five plans closed the school.
“The closure of the school will be the death of Monroeville,” said Don Gerardot, a member of the Monroeville Town Council. “Property values will drop and there will be no new homes.”
In the face of school board criticism, board member Richard Allgeier spoke to the modest audience stating that by not consolidating in the past the school board was listening to the communities’ want to keep their schools. He also said it was the job of the board to figure out the best way to education our students with the funds we have.
In addition to the further explanation about future design plans, the school board also received a report by Jody Smith about a district change from trimesters to a six or seven period day. Based on his finding, Smith relayed that switching to seven period day would save the district money, offer students many opportunities for elective classes, and align the schools schedule with other educational institutions. On the other hand, it would decrease teacher moral, increase workload, decrease opportunity for remediation.
Last on the agenda was the re-swearing in of two school board members. Stephen Terry and Bill Hartman were reelected to their post on the board; Leland Etzler, vice president of the board, was not reelected in his district. At his last board meeting, Etzler had the last word:
“I hope the people of our school corporation will look at us as one corporation, not as five or eighteen entities. There is no other way out. We need to see education differently than what we’ve seen in the past.”

 

 

NHHS Gets New Bulldog Learning Center

By: Deanna Quinn

            In the fall of the 2010-2011 school year, New Haven High School will have a new Bulldog Learning Center to house the Credit Recovery Program. Initiated this spring trimester, this program is a second-chance opportunity for students to earn the required credits to graduate on time and with their class. Currently, 40-45 students are benefiting from this program this trimester.
“This program is really a blessing for these students,” said Dr. William Duke, facilitator of the Credit Recovery Program. “The students work with the computer program PLATO that teaches modules and then tests them. They also have offline projects as well.”
Currently located in the school’s library, the Credit Recovery Program can only serve 48 students each trimester. By moving into a renovated classroom on the main floor, the program will be able to reach 175 students per trimester in the future.
“I benefited from the PLATO program in many different ways,” said Haley Buckler, a student in the Credit Recovery Program. “I had to take two classes to earn [my diploma]. It was a good experience. I finished the classes at my own pace and learned on my own. I got the help I needed when I got stuck on a part.”
“With this class being completely on the computer,” added senior Nae Dailey, “I can just focus on those classes at school or at home, whenever I have free time.”
What makes this project even more impressive is that the classroom renovations are being completed by students in Mr. David Myer’s construction class. Thus, this project will not only benefit students in the Credit Recovery Program, it is benefiting students right now by providing job-related experience in the classroom.
“The students have been working really hard to get this classroom ready for the fall,” Mr. Myer said. “It’s been a great experience for the students.”
“We will be getting 25 refurbished computers,” Mr. Duke added. “This classroom will  allow students to have computer access as well as a quiet place to study.”

 

 

1st Annual Mayor’s Ride Successful

Click here for photos

Click here for "live" video

By: Deanna Quinn

            The first annual Mayor’s Ride welcomed over 200 motorcyclists to New Haven last Sunday to raise funds for the Veterans’ Memorial in Schnelker Park. The event was successful due to the efforts of many New Haven organizations and community volunteers.
“We wanted to do something to bring people to New Haven,” said Cheryl Sickles, who helped organize the event with her husband Frank. “We were looking to have 100 bikes, and we’re excited because we more than doubled that.”
“If the businesses downtown are welcoming, we’ll get 400 bikes the next year,” Frank added.
Every bike that rode in the Mayor’s Ride paid a $10 entry fee. Before the ride, stunt motorcyclist Kyle Sliger entertained the crowd by doing tricks that drew out gasps and awes from fellow riders. At 1:00 p.m., a mile-long line of motorcycles left New Haven High School and made a loop around New Haven on I-469 and I-69 before finishing the ride down Broadway Street in downtown New Haven. Once parked on Broadway, the Mayor’s Ride event drew tickets for door prizes donated by local businesses and awards were given for best in show, loudest pipes, and best in paint.
“I’m excited about the first annual Mayor’s Ride,” said Mayor Terry McDonald, who led the ride in a Corvette. “It will be an event every year, and the funds raised will go towards a community need. This year is the Veterans’ Memorial, but next year it will be something else.”
In addition the money raised for the memorial, New Haven High School athletes were able to raise funds for the athletic department by providing a concession stand for riders before the event began. Furthermore, the end of the ride brought many new faces to small business and restaurants in downtown.
“We are really going to encourage people to go to the businesses downtown,” Cheryl said. “Many of them are extending their hours to accommodate the riders. We expect them to be welcoming and the riders to come back next year.”

 

Relay for Life

by Bob Nelson

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            At about 5:00 p.m. on Saturday night, Relay for Life 2010 was in full swing. One could immediately sense that something very special was about to take place on the New Haven Track. Cancer survivors were lining up to take their ceremonial survivor lap. It's the moment when each cancer survivor, proudly wearing their purple survivor t-shirt, walks side by side around the track. As music played which included "I Can Fly" and "I'm Alive," it was difficult not to shed tears along with the crowd. As the survivors rounded their final turn, everyone stood and clapped to honor the survivors and the battle each has faced, some still continuing the fight.

            Cancer kills hundreds of thousands of people each and every year, and is one of the most feared diseases known to man. Relay for Life events are held in different cities and towns across North America to recognize those who were able to beat the disease, and to celebrate the lives of those who were not as lucky. In 2009 the State of Indiana had 31,320 cases of cancer with 12,820 of those being fatal.

            It's not too late for you to help call the American Cancer Society at 1-800 ACS-2345.           

 

 

Bulldogs Shut Out Concordia in Baseball Sectional
By: Deanna Quinn

            The New Haven Bulldogs shut out Concordia Lutheran in the first round of Sectionals Wednesday night. Brandon Pease pitched a great six innings for the Bulldogs and, with some help from his defense, kept the Cadets from crossing home plate.
The Bulldogs got on the scoreboard early by scoring a run in the first inning. The Dogs got the bats going again in the third inning and scored three more runs off a notable double by Lucas Salerno and single up the middle by Trevor Waidelich. The defense of the Dogs also stepped it up by turning a double play to end the inning before Concordia could score.
In the fourth inning, New Haven failed to score, but Pease kept the game out of reach for Concordia by striking out the first batter, getting the second to ground out to Salerno at short stop, and striking out the third batter in three pitches.
Building from this defensive momentum, the Bulldog bats gravitated toward the ball in the fifth inning. After  base hits from Pease, Ferguson, Miller, and Baker, as well as nice bunts by Sovine, Waidelich, and Brown, New Haven added four more runs to their score, taking a commanding lead at 8-0.
Justin Miller came in to relieve Pease in the seventh inning after the Bulldogs managed to score one more run. Miller pitched well and retired the side in three batters with one strike out. The Bulldogs won the game 9-0 and will face Bishop Dwenger in the second round of the tournament on Monday, May 31st at 10:00 a.m. If New Haven wins, they will play again on Monday at 5:00 p.m.

 

 

3 Teachers Retiring from St. John’s At End of School Year
By: Deanna Quinn

            Three teachers will retire from St. John’s New Haven at the end of the 2009-2010 school year. Mrs. Sue Hengl, Mrs. Joan Bartholomew, and Mrs. Beth Lonis will all move on to another chapter in their lives after over a decade of service each at St. John’s.
Mrs. Bartholomew began her teaching career in 1970 in Angola but has spent the last 11 years teaching in the 3 year old pre-school classroom at St. John’s.  For three years prior to being the teacher, Mrs. Bartholomew was a teacher’s aide. All 14 years spent with this age group have been rewarding for her.
“I love the kids,” Mrs. Bartholomew said with a spreading smile. “They’re so honest and so full of energy. Once they get past the first couple of weeks when they ‘want my mommy,’ they love learning.”
Mrs. Lonis is also an early-childhood teacher. Her career began in 1973 at St. Patrick’s in Fort Wayne. From there she taught at St. Joseph Hessen Cassel before coming to St. John’s to teach four year old  pre-school in the morning and the afternoon. Like Mrs. Bartholomew, Mrs. Lonis finds the children to be the most rewarding part of her job.
“On a daily basis we hear ‘I love you,’” Mrs. Lonis said. “They’re so funny. I built a rainforest in the corner of the classroom with stuffed animals. It was the hokiest thing I’ve ever seen, but they loved it.”
Like these two teachers, Mrs. Hengl loves teaching children, but she has more of an affinity for older students. Though she has taught many grades at St. John’s, she currently teaches 5/6th grade math and 6/7/8th grade language arts, spelling, and vocabulary. One thing that has never changed is her love of Reese’s peanut butter cups specifically and chocolate generally.
Mrs. Hengl began her teaching career in 1981 at St. Joseph’s on Brooklyn Street in Fort Wayne. From there, she spent eight years at St. Patrick’s before coming to St. John’s. In addition to teaching, Mrs. Hengl also currently serves as the school’s assistant principal.
“As teachers we have to miss the kids,” Mrs. Hengl said as Mrs. Lonis and Mrs. Bartholomew nodded in agreement. “That’s what our lives have been about all these years.”
Although these three wonderful women will miss their students, past and present, they will also really miss the Friday carry-in for lunch.
“The Friday lunch is a close second to missing the kids,” Mrs. Hengl said laughing.
“You really hate to have a sub on Fridays,” added Mrs. Lonis. “They get to eat all the good food other teachers bring in.”
Though they will miss many things about teaching, they are looking forward to more time with family and grandchildren and to not have to rise from the beeping of an alarm clock in the wee hours of the morning.
“I’m looking forward to doing whatever I want,” Mrs. Hengl said. “Next summer, I hope to go on an Alaskan cruise and go out to Kansas to see my best friend.”
No matter what these three women do and no matter where they go, they will always be in the hearts of the students whose lives they’ve touched.

 

 

Meadowbrook Baseball Field Renovated and Dedicated

By: Deanna Quinn

            Community volunteers hosted a dedication ceremony and luau last Saturday afternoon for the Meadowbrook Baseball field. The ceremony took place after a winter of hard work from New Haven community members with the support of local businesses, the Parks Department, and the city.
“The renovations for the park totaled around $50,000 worth of work and materials,” said Mike Clendenen, superintendent of the New Haven –Adams Township Parks Department. “Community volunteers headed by Ric Rudolph and Brian Yoh donated their time and money to complete this project without spending any tax payers’ dollars.”
Looking around the baseball diamond, the improvements are clearly evident. Where old, rickety benches were placed for players to sit on, there are now concrete-floored dug outs. Where a broken down, vandalized storage shed once stood, there is now a completely renovated pavilion with a storage area, concession stand, and bathroom.  Where an all dirt infield once was, there is now lush green grass.
“It took a lot of work to get the grass infield ready,” said Ric Rudolph, a community volunteer that helped renovate the field so his son’s travel team had a place to play. “I was here encouraging the grass every step of the way.”
Though the volunteers did spend a lot of time and money on this renovation, they also received a lot of help from local business and the Parks Department. Bill Fritcha of Fritcha Construction donated time and equipment for the project. Taylor Rental loaned equipment they had available. Steve Nash Trucking purchased all the food needed to get the concessions stand started.
“There were a number of businesses that helped us renovate the field,” Rudolph said. “Even if they couldn't help with the actual project, they donated money because they just wanted to help out.”
The Meadowbrook baseball field was set for demolition in 2008 but was postponed the last couple of years due to requests from travel leagues to use the field. Then in August of 2009, Rudolph and Yoh asked the Parks Department for permission to renovate it, and without hesitation, the Parks Department agreed.
“The park board thought ‘why not,’” Clendenen said. “For Brian and Ric, this whole project has been about passion. “
In addition to the renovations, the dedication ceremony gave the Meadowbrook baseball field a new name. It has been named “Nate’s Field” in honor of Nate Savieo who passed away last January from a strep infection in his blood.
“It just made sense to honor Nate with the field,” Clendenen added. “Nate went through the baseball youth program and was a passionate athlete. He was a big part of our community and an example for our young athletes who play here.”
Mayor Terry McDonald was on hand at the ceremony to say a few words.
"Great things happen when individuals step up to the plate and give back to the community,” Mayor McDonald said. “The City of New Haven is proud of the volunteers who have made this project a reality.  It is our hope that this model of volunteerism and investment will be replicated by others in the community to improve our facilities making New Haven an even better place to live."

PHOTOS CLICK HERE

 

 

Mrs. Pam Moore Retires From NHHS after School Year

By: Deanna Quinn

            After 21 years in East Allen County Schools, Mrs. Pam Moore will retire at the end of the 2009-2010 school year. Over the course of those 21 years, Mrs. Moore taught at three different high schools in EACS. She began her teaching career at Heritage High School where she taught for five years. After taking time off to raise her children, she spent four years teaching physical education and health at Woodlan High School. She has spent the last 12 years of her career teaching at New Haven High School.
“I have really enjoyed teaching over the years,” Mrs. Moore said. “I will miss the kids and their enthusiasm that has kept me teaching for so many years.”
Over the course of her 21 years, Mrs. Moore has taught physical education, health and aerobics at the various schools. In addition to teaching, she coached volleyball, basketball, softball, and track. She was also a cheerleading sponsor.
“I coached before Title 9 was enacted,” she said with a smile. “I coached all those sports and sponsored the cheerleading squad for $250 total—that’s $50 a program. The other girls’ coaches and I did because we loved the kids and the sports. I remember coaching in the first girls’ sectional basketball tournament at Heritage. We won.”
Though the times have changed over the course of Mrs. Moore’s teaching career, there have been a few constants over the 21 years.
“I really enjoyed the change of the students each semester. It gave me a chance to meet new kids. The one thing I won’t miss, however,” Mrs. Moore said with a laugh, “is Monday morning alarm clocks.”
Mrs. Moore decided to retire due to recent turmoil and budget cuts in the school system. When the EACS administration offered a retirement package for teachers, she saw it as a sign to close the door on her teaching career and be open for more opportunities to spend time with her family and grandchildren.
“I have four grandchildren that I’m going to enjoy spoiling and sending home,” said Mrs. Moore with a chuckle. “My mom is still alive and well, so I’ll have more time with her too. My husband and I will also spend Mondays at the lake.”
Like most endings, this one is also bitter-sweet. While spending more time with loved ones is a welcome opportunity, it is still difficult to leave her passion after 21 years.
“I have enjoyed teaching in East Allen,” Mrs. Moore added. “I’ll miss a number of the teachers; I’ll miss the students. But it’s time two walk away, and I’m happy with my decision.”

 

Mr. Campus Life: Ryan Giese

            Ryan Giese of New Haven High School, has been named Mr. Campus Life. Ryan earned the title by participating in the male pageant show and out shining six other contestants. The pageant consisted of four competitions. For the first part, the contestants strutted their stuff  in the swim wear portion that followed by the formal wear part where they tried to look dashingly handsome. Third, these young men did their best to answer the tough questions, and finally, they dazzled the crowd during the talent contest. Ryan was able to come out on top partly because of his very talented singing voice that he showcased with Journey’s “Don’t stop Believing.”
On Monday, Ryan will compete against the Mr. Campus Life winners from area schools including Carroll, Woodlan, Homestead, Churubusco, and Leo. Good luck Ryan!

 

 

Autism Awareness Month

By: Deanna Quinn

            Though the month has almost passed, it’s not too late to recognize April as National Autism Awareness Month. According to the Autism Society, National Autism Awareness Month was celebrated in the 1970s to “highlight the growing need for concern and awareness about autism. The United States recognizes April as a special opportunity for everyone to educate the public about autism and issues.” To help educate our readers about Autism, I contacted Kelly Blair, a special education teacher at New Haven High School.
“Autism Awareness is important because individuals labeled with Autism have grown immensely in recent years,” Blair said. “The reasoning of ‘why’ hasn’t been fully explained yet. Awareness is needed so others have a better understanding of what life with Autism is all about.”
Though we don’t know exactly why Autism is on the rise, it is still important to be aware of what Autism is and how it affects our community. According to the Autism Society, Autism is “a complex development disability that typically appears during the first three years of life and affect a person’s ability to communicate and interact with others.” Unfortunately, Autism is a “spectrum disorder” meaning that it affects individuals in different ways and in varying degrees. Occurrences of Autism in the United States had risen to 1 in every 110 births. Though autism is not curable, early detection can improve the outcomes of the disease. Below are the warning signs of Autism to look for in children.

• Lack of or delay in spoken language
• Repetitive use of language and/or motor mannerisms (for example, hand-flapping, twirling objects)
• Little or no eye contact
• Lack of interest in peer relationships
• Lack of interest in peer relationships
• Lack of spontaneous or make-believe play
• Persistent fixation on parts of objects

 

Superior Service & Customer Satisfaction Earns O’Daniel National Award By Ford

O’Daniel Ford is among an elite group of Ford dealerships to be recognized with The 2009 President’s Award by Ford Motor Company. This prestigious award honors dealerships that have excelled in automotive retailing in 2009, by providing exceptional customer service and satisfaction.

“Earning this award is a reflection of our entire staff’s commitment to delivering the best customer experience possible,” says O’Daniel Ford owner, Jeff O’Daniel. “I couldn’t be more proud to receive this recognition, especially since it comes from the people we value most – our customers. They’re the reason we were able to achieve this award.”

O’Daniel was 1 of only 5 dealers recognized in Indiana for delivering a superior customer experience in sales, service and overall ownership of their Ford, Lincoln, or Mercury vehicle.

This is the fifth time O’Daniel Ford has been recognized with this award.

 

 

The Death of Lee “Cheese” Minnick Shocks New Haven
By: Deanna Quinn

            In front of the second seat near the end of the bar, a tribute to a wonderful man sits in his place. The rocks glass of Canadian Club and Seven and a candle stand to honor Lee “Cheese” Minnick, who suddenly passed away from a blood clot Tuesday night. He would have turned 32 in six days.
“That was Cheese’s place,” said Pat Anderson, owner of Rack and Helen’s where Cheese worked. “No one will sit in his place until after the funeral. He was a great person.”
“It’s not sinking in,” added Wes Anderson. “He was more than an employee; he was a friend and would do anything for you. He was a stranger to no one, and we’re going to miss him.”
After learning of his death, the employees met at Rack’s to remember and pay tribute to their one-of-a-kind friend. They shared their favorite Cheese stories; they laughed and cried. Friends remembered Cheese as a “character” who would be there for anyone who needed him. He was a prankster and always made those around him laugh as he sat with rosy cheeks in that second seat from the end smoking a Marlboro and ordering a shot of Rumplemintz.  
Remembering a trip he took to Las Vegas with Cheese, Wes laughed as he recalled how Cheese walked past a roulette table and placed $500 on a number.
“He lived life and had a larger-than-life personality,” Wes recalled. “He had no regrets.”
“Cheese was a very generous guy,” added Hannah Hoeppner, a long-time, close friend. “He was a phenomenal cook and a sweetheart. He had a heart of gold.”
A showing will be held at E. Harper & Son Funeral Home on Sunday from 12:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m. The funeral will be held at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church on Monday at 11:00 a.m. Rack’s will be closed on Monday until 3:30 p.m. so the Rack’s family can attend the funeral.
Until then, stop in at Racks and as Cheese always said with a big smile “have just one more” in memory of him.

 

Sandi Herman Set to Retire after 37 Years at CLS
By: Deanna Quinn

            After 37 years in the classrooms at Central Lutheran School, Sandi Herman will retire at the end of the school year. In her time, Herman taught every grade level except for kindergarten and third grade. For the middle school grades, she taught literature; she has even served as the school librarian. CLS is holding a retirement party for Herman at Goeglein’s on Sunday.
“I’m going to miss the interaction with the kids,” Herman said. “I’ll miss the cheery good mornings and watching kids grow throughout the year. My biggest fear about retirement is that I’m going to get bored. How am I going to fill my time?”
Though Herman will miss teaching, she has already begun to think of a way to fill her time. This summer, she plans to spend time with her grandchildren in Indianapolis and North Carolina. She also plans to attend more concerts and events, read more books, quilt more blankets, and “hopefully” travel.
“I want to leave teaching while I’m still young and can discover new things,” Herman revealed.
Herman came to Central Lutheran in 1969 after graduating college in Nebraska. When she received her assignment, she was not thrilled to be coming to another “cow town” like the hometown she left in Iowa. As fate would have it though, Central Lutheran and New Haven provided Herman with a space to develop her passion for teaching and also to find her husband Keith. Now her two children are grown, and she has eight “wonderful” grandchildren to get to know better.
“I don’t know where God’s going to lead me,” Herman said. “But I know there will be a new direction in my life.”

 

Whispering Creek Golf Club Ready to Tee Off
By: Deanna Quinn

            With the spring break in the rearview mirror, it finally feels as though it has really arrived, and with spring comes the expectation of outdoor events such as outings to the lake, family cookouts, and, most importantly for some, trips to the golf course. Luckily for New Haven residents, we don’t have to go far for a great round of golf. Whispering Creek Golf Club is open and ready for golfers to tee off.
“The golf course opened for play in early March,” reports Gary Whitacre, the PGA-certified golf pro at Whispering Creek. “Thanks to drainage improvements, the entire golf course is open, and conditions improve daily.”
Whispering Creek offers its members and the public a full range of services. In addition to an improved 6,593 yards of lush grounds, the club offers a fully stocked golf shop, a full-service lounge, golf instructional programs, individual lessons, a hitting area, and a practice chipping and putting green. Furthermore, though it’s located on the north end of the city, Whispering Creek offers golfers a quiet spot to play 18 holes. “You aren't playing through a housing addition, and as for its proximity to the city, it still provides a nice, secluded area without a lot of noisy distractions.” Whitacre adds, “Whispering Creek is unique because it is a classic, old-style golf course. This makes the course a great place to walk and play because there isn't a great distance from green to tee, and although there are some elevation changes, it is fairly flat.”
To enhance these great assets of the golf club, Whispering Creek also offers golfers great values. On weekdays, golfers can walk 9 holes for $14 or drive a cart for $19. For those wanting to play 18 holes, they can walk for $20 or ride for $27. On the weekends, the rates increase $4-$5. Seniors 62 and older can play at a reduced cost. In addition to providing values to the individual golfers, Whispering Creek also wants to add value to New Haven.
“One of the stated goals of the new ownership group was to make this golf course a community asset, as well as to gain the acceptance of the golfing community,” Whitacre says.  “Now, we have the New Haven High School boys and girls team playing here again, as well as the Indiana Tech boys and girls teams. The Chamber of Commerce has moved their outing back here. Whispering Creek has already hosted numerous charity outings, including the hugely successful New Haven High School Athletics fundraiser. All of us at the new Whispering Creek Golf Club want to be what you think of when you think about golf in this area, and we want to make it a place where all golfers can be proud to say they have played again and again.”

 

I Have Joined Carl’s Wall of Flame

By: Deanna Quinn

            After learning about the Wall of Flame at Carl’s Tavern (433 Broadway Street), this ace reporter for NewHavenBulletin.com decided to give you, the readers, a firsthand account of how hot “the hottest wings in town” actually are. After all, it is my duty to report the news; it has nothing to do with my competitive spirit at all. I promise!
In anticipation of the Seriously, Ridiculously, Over-the-Top, XXX hot sauce, I decided a pre-competition warm up was needed. Before I drove to Carl’s, I ate a couple pieces of bread and drank a glass of milk to coat my stomach with food that would dull the heat. Then I put band-aids on my pointer finger and thumb where I have paper cuts to prevent the sauce from burning the wounds. Confident that my stomach was coated and fingers secure, I headed to Carl’s.
Upon arrival, I looked longingly at the photos on the Wall of Flame and knew my picture would hang there soon. After my witness and I signed the waiver form, David Byrd, the manager, brought me a basket of 10 wings doused in the piping hot sauce. The bartender set a cup of water and the submission bell in front of me. They sat there taunting me, as I knew I would not let myself touch either until all 10 wings were gone.
Right as I took my first bite, the timer began its 5-minute countdown. I needed to eat a wing every 30 seconds in order to defeat the heat. As I chomped down wing after wing, I bared my teeth to keep my lips away from the burning sauce. My fingers were covered in the fiery red liquid that had kissed the corners of my mouth. My eyes watered down my cheeks that flushed against the heat inside. My nose cried. With 25 seconds left, I shoved the last wing in my mouth and chewed furiously to send that wing into the abyss of my stomach with its nine defeated brethren. I was victorious! And I earned my spot on the Wall of Flame. As a reward, I received a tiny trophy and a plastic firefighter helmet so I could proudly display my dominance.
Though I prevailed and devoured the drumsticks, their memory continued to burn in my mouth. With every breath, the heat flared forcing me to gulp more water, eat more crackers. For 20 minutes, my mouth was an inferno and my stomach the fiery pit of hell. A handful of antacids and four glasses of water later, the fire dwindled from a roar to a flicker. Though I doubted my decision to participate that night, I will have the last laugh every time I venture into Carl’s to see my picture on the Wall of Flame.

 

 

New Haven United Methodist Church Cross Walk

By: Deanna Quinn

Each year, when Lent arrives on the Church calendar, New Haven United Methodist Church displays 40 wooden crosses on the front and side lawns as a visual reminder to Christians of the sacrifice Jesus endured during those 40 days leading up to Easter Sunday. Congregation members and community members are welcome to make the "Cross Walk," in which participants walk and reflect at each cross with the aid of the booklet provided at the beginning.
The first 10 crosses represent Stations of the Cross and are plainly decorated with a purple-stripe boarder. According to the booklet, these crosses are plain so that walkers "can solemnly reflect on Jesus' struggle as a man and His unwavering obedience to His Father's will." The eleventh cross is embellished with bounds of flowers, signifying Christ's Resurrection. The other 29 crosses were designed by parishioners from New Haven United Methodist Church, Martini Lutheran Church, and St. John's Catholic Church.
In the booklet, participants will find information about all 40 crosses. As they turn the pages, they will learn the title and designer of the cross that is planted in front of them. They will also see a passage from the Bible that pertains to the title of the cross; after the passage, a few paragraphs of devotion are presented. Through this booklet, participants in the "Cross Walk" are able to "come away enriched and inspired" for the 40 days of Lent.

 

Dawg PAC Overruns NHHS

By: Deanna Quinn

            To get parents and community members more involved in the education of students, Greg Mohler, principal of New Haven High School, contacted parents to help create the Dawg PAC. PAC stands for "parents and community," and the group aims to make a difference in the high school for not only students, but faculty and staff as well. Bill Walls has been named the president of the group.
"We're trying to make sure the number one goal of our school is the education of our kids," Walls said. "A big push right now is to make sure that parents, alumni, and community members know they have a voice in this school. We're also trying to get feedback from teachers and students."
The Dawg PAC has held 4 meetings and currently has 114 members, representing roughly 10 percent of the student body. The next meeting is March 22 at 6 p.m. at the high school.
"One of the things we're trying to promote is that members don't have to come to every meeting—they don't have to come to any meetings," Walls reveals. "If they want to be an active person in our group, all they have to do is be active. If they can't attend a meeting, they're still going to get a break down of the project list, and they can find out what they can do, whether it's making a poster or brownies or helping out with an event."
Another goal of the Dawg PAC is to facilitate collaboration among all the schools in the community. Walls eventually would like to coordinate events at the schools so that each has the opportunity to fully benefit from the community.
"If Highland Terrace was holding an event, for example," Bill clarifies, "we would try to ensure no other schools would on the same day so people wouldn't have to choose; Highland Terrace wouldn't be competeing with another school."
Though this group is just starting out, they are already working to improve academic growth and school morale. For the third trimester, the Dawg PAC is conducting a contest in which the class (freshmen, sophomore, junior, or senior) that raises their GPA the most will get to attend an ice cream social. In addition, the group has initiated the "Above and Beyond" program.
"It started with Mr. Mohler giving a student and faculty member a candy bar for doing a great job," Walls explained. "In this interactive program, students and staff are rewarded for going 'above and beyond' normal actions to help New Haven High School become a top school in the state. This chain will continue unbroken with students selecting staff and staff selecting students.  Currently all recipients are given a king-size candy bar with a thank you card."  
The Dawg PAC is currently comprised of 5 subgroups, each with a specific mission and key contact. They are as follows:
Academics:  This group's mission is to facilitate academic improvement of the whole student body. The key contact for this group is Julie Workman.

Clubs/Athletics: This group's mission is to bring awareness of athletic teams, groups, clubs, and activities within New Haven High School community to the students. By   bringing awareness, this group will strive to increase extra-curricular involvement by the student body. The key contact for this group is Michelle DeCamp.
Fund Raising: This group's mission is to bring fund raising dollars into our organization to fund the projects of this group. Another focus for the group will assisting groups within the school on their fund raising efforts. The key contact for this group is Joan Burnett.

            Marketing: This group's mission is to bring awareness of the activities of this group, as well as, any school club, activity, event, or function to the community. This group will also focus on increasing membership enrollment in the Dawg PAC. The key contact for this group is Bill Walls.

            Staff Support: This group's mission is to support the faculty and staff of New Haven High School and to foster a better environment for learning and student development. The key contact for this group is Mary Jones.

The PAC is currenlty in need of 10-20 chaperones for the Student Council Dance Marathon benefiting Riley Hospital on March 5th.  Chaperones are needed from 6 pm-12 am.  If you are willing to chaperone this event please contact Bill Walls at bill.walls@recruitzone.com or call               (260) 385-4833         (260) 385-4833.
Originally known at the Parents-In-Touch (PIT) Crew, the group's name was changed since the band was already using it. Anyone interested in joining or supporting this program, can contact Bill Walls (see above) or attend the meeting on March 22 in the high school at 6 p.m.

 

 

EACS Cutting $4 Million from Budget

By: Deanna Quinn

            In the State of the District address, Dr. Karyle Green announced to the staff of New Haven High School that East Allen County Schools must cut $4 million from the district budget for next year. Accompanying her with the address was Assistant Superintendent of Administrative Services Kirby Stahly. In their joint report, Dr. Green and Mr. Stahly provided the staff and community members of New Haven with reasons for the cuts, as well as some possible solutions for the budget. On March 30th, EACS administration will present their recommendations for cuts to the School Board.  Reasons for the budget cut stem from a combination of local, state, and federal issues that are affecting the school district. On a local level, EACS is affected by the decrease in the economic level over the last 15 years. This economic decrease has resulted in an increase in the number of students in EACS using the free/reduced lunch program. Currently, EACS has 46 percent of its student population using this program, nearly doubled the 1995 number of 25 percent. Additionally, the economic downturn has resulted in a decrease in the number of families that can afford the textbook rentals and the consumable materials fee. (Consumable materials include workbooks, art supplies, and paper, among other things.) EACS is only receiving 70 percent of those fees. Lastly, changes in area tax codes have lead to a $1.4 million (16 percent) decrease in the net assessed value of EACS.
EACS is also affected by the issues on the state level. Indiana disperses money to school districts based on enrollment, the total number of students in the district. In recent years, EACS received 97-98 percent tuition reimbursement from the state; this year, the district will receive only 70 percent. This is due to the state revenue shortfalls of approximately $300 million per quarter or $1.2 billion for the year. Dr. Green has confirmed that the budget cuts will include eliminating two custodian positions and cutting back on supplies for the schools. She also admitted that there will be fewer teaching positions available next year, but rather than cutting teachers, Dr. Green and the Board are discussing retirement incentives for older teachers who are eligible for retirement. Dr. Green also verified that closing schools is not currently on table for budget cuts.
The East Allen administration has posted information about budget cuts on the district’s website at www.eacs.k12.in.us. On the website, you can find information pertaining to the budget on the Business Office pages. Posted for your review are a Budget Reduction Option booklet and suggestions posted by EACS employees, parents, and community members. If interested in making a recommendation for budget cuts, you can go to the district’s homepage and submit your suggestion.

The EACS Board of Trustees will host another 'special work session' related to the cost reductions the district is facing. The meeting is March 23 - 4:00 pm.  The meeting will be held at the Administration Building - Board Room.  The public is welcome.

Tell us what you think…   info@newhavenbulletin.com

O’Daniel Ford Mitsubishi: Moving Up in the Race

By: Deanna Quinn

Consumers, upset with General Motors and Chrysler’s government bailouts and doubtful of Toyota’s reliability due to recent recalls, are beginning to get on board with Ford.   
According to Jeff O’Daniel, co-owner of O’Daniel Ford Mitsubishi in New Haven, Ford has nationally moved up in the automotive market.
“Surveys on ‘Consideration for Purchase,’ last year alone, went up 15 percent,” O’Daniel revealed. “Most companies hope to see a three-to-four percent yearly increase. Ford is one of the only manufacturers to increase their market share in 2009. That’s going to keep improving.”
But, are these national trends reaching the dealership in New Haven?
“Yes, our sales have been consistent,” O’Daniel says. “They’ve fallen off with the overall market, but we’re still outperforming the market’s average. We’re not as bad as the national numbers. We had a good fourth quarter, though things are getting a little tough again. Still, we get a lot people coming in everyday and more businesses are interested in Fords.”
In addition to an improved national image, Ford also won some prestigious awards. The Ford Fusion Hybrid was named Motor Trend’s 2010 Car of the Year because, according to editor-in-chief of Motor Trend Angus MacKenzie, “it best met the key criteria: design advancement, engineering excellence, performance of intended function, efficiency, safety, and value.” In addition, the Ford Transit Connect won the 2010 North American International Auto Show’s Truck of the Year award.
“We have the right products coming down the pipeline,” O’Daniel says. “Dealers feel pretty good with Ford’s plan.”

 

Senior Night Win for Bulldogs

By: Deanna Quinn

Click here for photos

            For Senior Night, the New Haven Boys’ Basketball Team (11-8) took on Adam’s Central (8-11) at Armstrong Arena Friday, Feb. 26th.  The Bulldogs have three seniors that were honored before tip-off: Corbin Blair, Logan Blair, and Joe Zumwalt. These three seniors, along with juniors Justin Miller and Tyler Clendenen started the game for the ‘Dogs.
New Haven pulled down the opening tip and scored on their opening possession when Miller drained a three-point shot. But Adam's Central answered back with a field goal. After turning the ball over, the Bulldogs fouled, and the Flying Jets took the lead after making two foul shots. But the ‘Dogs stormed back and Miller hit another three, giving the New Haven a one point lead. The teams played pretty evenly the rest of the quarter; New Haven had only a slight edge at the end of the first quarter. The score was 18-14.
For the first two minutes of the second quarter, neither team was able to score a point. With 6 minutes to go, Adams Central was finally able to score by hitting a three. They added two more points and took the lead after a New Haven foul. The Jets continued their 9-2 scoring run to lead the Bulldogs 25-20. The Bulldogs did not give up, however, and began to make their own run as the second quarter was nearing the end. Kyle Sovine’s tip-in basket at the buzzer gave the ‘Dogs a one point lead at half-time. The score was 28-27.
New Haven started the third quarter with the ball, a bucket, and two steals. With the defensive pressure turned up, Adam’s Central found it difficult to score but finally made it to the foul line with 5:50 left in the quarter. Answering back with another field goal, the Bulldogs kept the pressure on Adam’s Central to play a high-paced game. Building momentum from their defense, New Haven outscored the Jets 19-9 to hold an eleven point lead at the end of the third quarter.
Not willing to lose on Senior Night, the Bulldogs kept the momentum and defensive pressure high for the fourth quarter. Again, the ‘Dogs outscored the Jets; this time scoring 21 points to the Jet’s 15. The seniors left the court with 1:20 left in the game to a standing ovation from parents and fellow students. New Haven defeated Adam’s Central by the score of 68-51.
For these three seniors, they walked off the court victorious, feeling the benefits of four years of hard work. Corbin and Logan Blair have played three years at the varsity level and have been captains the last two seasons. Zumwalt has been a two-year varsity starter and has stepped up to be a great defensive player for the Bulldogs this year. This senior class has won more than 30 games in their career, a feat that has not been accomplished at New Haven in a long time.
“Senior Night’s always a fun night for the kids,” said Head Coach Kurt Dagar. “After four years of hard work, having this kind of crowd made it a neat night for those boys. They’ve been great leaders; they put in a lot of time and effort into New Haven basketball, and we’re going to miss them. Luckily, in the second half we turned up the defensive pressure a notch and were able to truly celebrate Senior Night.”
For Corbin, Logan, and Joe, winning on Senior Night was a perfect ending to four years of great games in Armstrong Arena. Like they will be missed by the team, these three seniors will also miss their teammates and coaches who have been like family to the boys. During the past four years, they have grown into young men that have learned the value of hard work and team work—on and off the court—that they can carry with them into their futures.

 

 

New Haven Task Force for Education

By: Deanna Quinn

At the beginning of 2010, Mayor Terry McDonald created the New Haven Task Force for Education that consists of seven citizens evaluating the current state of education in East Allen County Schools (EACS). The Task Force is designed to improve the quality of education for all students in the school district and to make the city of New Haven a more desirable place to live and raise a family.

Below is a copy of the letter that the Task Force gave to each School Board member at the Feb. 16th school board meeting. If you have any questions or feedback concerning this issue, send an email to nhinfo@newhavenin.org to voice your opinion.

 The New Haven Mayor’s Task Force on Education
 1. We’re concerned about the following (though we don’t pretend to have the final answers yet):
            a. Tax rates and the mounting financial pressure on EACS families.  A family in EACS who has a combined income of $50K+ pays ~15% in federal income tax, 3% in state tax, 1% in county tax, 7% in sales tax (use, not income), ~$1,500 in property tax (depending on their house), a few hundred dollars/year in excise tax (depending on their vehicles), plus other taxes. 
b. Economic development.  We observe the new housing construction in NWAC, SWAC, and even the Leo community and contrast it to recent new housing developments in New Haven and EACS.  There is little comparison.  Why?  We believe it is the school system that attracts and/or repels families from building new homes in any part of the county.  There is little commercial economic development in any of those same districts; there are, however, excellent school facilities producing better students than EACS.  Without excellent schools, the taxpayers of EACS should expect continued lackluster economic development, both residential and commercial.
2. Solutions?  We’re not sure what solutions exist or when and how they should be implemented.  We do believe, however, that changes must occur in the following areas lest our facilities continue to lag other districts in the county; our ISTEP scores continue to slip; and families continue to leave our communities in favor of others offering better schools.  That said, the goal is not merely to be as good as or better than other districts in Allen County or even Indiana.  Our goal in EACS should be to produce students who can compete nationally and internationally, recognizing our economy is becoming increasingly international and complex every day that passes.
      Academic offerings (quantity and quality) must rival or exceed those offered by other Indiana districts.  We cannot continue to deprive all students in our district of the same offerings enjoyed by other students in the state.
      State-of-the-art facilities must become the norm—rather than the exception—in EACS.  Maintenance problems abound in many areas within our schools, but even if they didn’t—i.e., the basics were all addressed immediately—the broader issue is the lack of cutting-edge and state-of-the-art science, industrial arts, and other facilities.
      Long-term financial position of our district must be addressed and improved.  Our task force has been unable to ascertain the current and comprehensive financial state of our district; accordingly, we’re unsure if we’re close to running out of money or when.  We’re unsure of the amount of money required to bring our current facilities up to state-of-the-art conditions, or whether it would be better to demolish some/all in favor of fewer, newer facilities.  We’re unsure of whether tax increases are in our future if we do nothing…or if we make changes.  We just don’t know because the district has lacked transparency in these areas.
Finally, the New Haven Mayor’s Task Force on Education wants to be part of the solution, rather than merely another voice in a long-standing, loud choir of complainers on this subject.  We seek to support Dr. Green and the entire Board in resolving these problems to the extent Dr. Green and the Board are willing to make hard decisions.  We believe the reason these issues have not been addressed (no less resolved) over the past 30 years is because our district has lacked the leadership to make hard choices.  Re-election cannot be a consideration.  It’s well-established that our five communities are polarized and that polarization has contributed to a divided district politically the past 30+ years.  Hard decisions by today’s Board and Superintendent are the only way we will improve our district and our students’ academic hopes long-term. 
This task force stands ready and willing to contribute to the solutions by aiding with those hard decisions.  We eagerly await your proposals and requests for how we can help.

 

Play Ball

New Haven Baseball Association Preparing for 20th Season
By: Deanna Quinn

Even though the snow is still falling outside, the New Haven Baseball Association (NHBA) is preparing for its twentieth season in the New Haven area. With registration beginning this month, Mike Jones, president of the NHBA, is gearing up for another summer of baseball.

“It’s going to be a great season,” said Jones. “We’re looking forward to our league getting stronger and more competitive, and it’s great to see the kids having fun and enjoying baseball.”

Last year, coaches and parents watched around 370 kids from ages 5-14 play in the association’s five leagues that include Tee Ball, Prep, Minors, Majors, and Koufax.

“We have a good, strong interest in our program,” Jones said, “which brings more kids in that get to experience baseball. Our objective is for the kids to go out and have fun while learning individual skills and improving for the next level.”

With no baseball programs in place at elementary or middle schools in the area, children interested in playing baseball in high school usually get their training through the NHBA. On last year’s varsity baseball team at New Haven High School, all players except for one come through this baseball program.

“We teach them the basics and give them a foundation to play at the high school level,” Jones explained. “We are the feeder system for the high school, and so we try to prepare them for what they’re going to face at that level.”

The NHBA was established in May of 1990 after the merger of the East Suburban Little League and Adams Township Baseball. In late 1999, NHBA became independent after leaving the national Little League Organization due to tensions resulting from the scheduling and playing of the regular season.

“Little League tends to put more importance on getting through the regular season fast and getting to the All-Star season,” Jones revealed. “We, as a league, felt it was more important to let all the kids play longer into the summer.”

For this reason, the New Haven regular season runs until mid-July every year instead of early June. Although NHBA players will never be seen on ESPN for the Little League World Series, they will play other independent leagues in Northeast Indiana, Southern Michigan, and Southwest Ohio for an All-Star season.

“New Haven really is competitive in the tournaments,” Jones explained. “We do well year in and year out when we go to All-Star tournaments. That’s a good indication the kids are getting quality teaching, and that there is an interest and level in New Haven that not all youth leagues have.”

Registration for this season will be held on Feb. 20th and 27th from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the New Haven Park Office or online at www.eteamz.com/nhba/. Tryouts are March 13th at the New Haven High School gym beginning at 1:30 p.m. or March 17th at the Park Hill gym beginning at 6:30 p.m. Opening day is May 1st.

In order to raise funds for this season, the NHBA will be conducting its annual league-wide Mike’s Carwash Fundraiser. Each player will be selling Mike’s Carwash tickets for $8 in March. This fundraiser allows the league to purchase equipment for all levels and to keep league fees as low as possible.

The NHBA is still looking for sponsors of the little league teams. If interested, please contact Mike Jones by email at nhbamike@gmail.com.

 

 

New Haven Boys’ Basketball Defeats Heritage

By: Deanna Quinn

The New Haven Bulldogs defeated the Heritage Patriots 51-37 Saturday in Monroeville. 

The Bulldogs won the opening tip and scored quickly when Justin Miller laid it in after a backdoor cut. Heritage came right back, however, and scored two points of their own.  New Haven’s press defense and patience on offence gained them a small lead half way through the first quarter, but with 3:13 left, Heritage took lead by one. New Haven went on a 7-3 run to regain the lead at 17-14 by the end of the quarter. 

In the second quarter, the Patriots took the lead by one with 6:50 left in the quarter. Neither team scored for more than three minutes when Heritage’s Wil Knapke hit a free throw. New Haven was now down by two. With 2:40 left in the quarter, New Haven finally made a field goal to tie the game at 19. Both teams score one more field goal and headed into the locker room tied at 21.

New Haven began the third quarter with the ball but missed the three-point shot. Again, both teams had trouble getting a bucket, but New Haven was the first to strike, taking a two-point lead with 6:30 left. New Haven gathered some momentum and went on an 8-2 run to lead the game 29-23. The Pats tacked on two more, but the ‘Dogs scored eight more and were winning 37-26.

Heritage coach, Nick Ankenbruck, yelled to get his team fired up before the start of the fourth quarter. At the other bench, New Haven coach, Kurt Dagar, kept the team’s momentum rolling by drawing up plays and encouraging the players to keep driving. Early in the fourth quarter, the Patriots hit two free-throws that were shortly followed by two from New Haven. As the quarter wore on, fans for both teams became boisterous about the officiating, especially as the game grew more physical. But New Haven kept the momentum and outscored Heritage 14 to 11 in the fourth to win the game.

	Qtr 1	Qtr 2		Qtr3		Qtr 4	Total
New Haven	17	4		16		14	51
Heritage	14	7		5		11	37
Player			Points		Rebounds			Steals	Assists
#12 Corbin Blair			2		2			2	1
#20 Logan Blair			8		3			1	4
#22 Justin Miller			13		1			2	0
#30 Randell Metzger			15		5			0	0
#34 Tyler Clendenen			4		6			1	1
#42 Joe Zumwalt			2		4			3	1
#54 Kyle Sovine			7		5			0	0

 

 

New Haven Wrestling Sends Three to Semi-State

By: Deanna Quinn

Of the eleven New Haven wrestlers at Regional's, three have advanced to the Semi-State competition. Nate Bloomfield advanced in the 140-pound weight class; Levy Francois advanced in the 145-pound weight class; and Zack Zurbrugg advanced in the 152-pound weight class.

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Senior Nate Bloomfield (31-8) defeated Churubusco’s A.J. Herron (21-7) in the opening round of the 140-pound bracket. In the semi-final round, Bloomfield faced Wade Thiel of North Side (30-3). Early in the match, Bloomfield found himself down 0-4 and managed to not let the near fall become a pin. After an escape, Bloomfield got a takedown before the end of the first period to bring the score to 3-4. To begin the second period, Bloomfield was allowed an escape and a point by Thiel, tying the score at 4, and with 1:07 left in the period, Bloomfield got a takedown and took the lead 6-4. Thiel managed an escape, and the second period ended with the score 6-5. Bloomfield started the third period on top and was working the upper body, but Thiel got a reversal that almost put Bloomfield on his back. The two reversal points and two near fall points gave Thiel the win at 6-9.

In the third place match, Bloomfield faced Garrett’s Shea Novy (32-5). At the opening whistle, Bloomfield went straight for Novy, getting a quick takedown and two near fall points. He held the lead 4-0. Another takedown by Bloomfield in the third period gave him a 6-0 win and third place at Regional's.

Junior Levy Francios (26-5) beat Jeremy Bailey (13-10) of Columbia City in the opening round of the 145-pound bracket. For the semi-finals, Francios faced Carroll’s Reece Lefever (29-2). Early in the match, Francios got a takedown but let Lefever up; the score was 2-1. From there Lefever took over and defeated Francios 2-5. In the third place match, Francios got pinned in the second period. He placed fourth at Regionals.

In the opening round of the 152-pound bracket, junior Zack Zurbrugg (27-10) defeated Whitko’s Cord Feasby (26-11) to advance to the semi-finals. There, he faced Carroll’s Jon Timmerman (25-8). In the first period, the wrestlers circled the mat, trying for takedowns. None were successful and no points were scored. To start the second period, Timmerman chose down, and at 1:06 in the period, he get an escape that is followed by quick takedown. Timmerman lead 3-0. As Timmerman worked the upper body, Zurbrugg got a reversal that Timmerman immediately countered with his own reversal. The score was 5-2. In the third period, Zurbrugg gets another reversal, and with 1:34 to go in the match, he gets two near fall points to take the lead, 5-6. With 53 seconds left, Timmerman escaped and tied the score at 6. Zurbrugg and Timmerman grappled and circled the mat. With 39 seconds to go, Zurbrugg shot to get a takedown and the lead at 6-8. With a few ticks left, Timmerman escaped, but time expired and Zurbrugg advanced to the finals by defeating Timmerman 7-8.

Zurbrugg faced Leo’s Garrett Weber (28-5) in the final match. Zurbrugg was aggressive at the opening whistle and got an early takedown and the lead at 2-0. Weber fought back and managed to escape. Zurbrugg got another takedown and, with 39 seconds left in the first, almost pinned Weber, earning three near fall points. At the end of the first, the score was 7-1. To begin the second period, Zurbrugg chose down and escaped for another point. Circling the mat, Weber got a clean shot and a takedown with 1:18 left. This time, Weber almost put Zurbrugg on his back and earned three near fall points. The score was 8-6. After a restart with 55 seconds left, Zurbrugg escaped and, with 15 seconds left, got a takedown to extend his lead. At the end of two, the score was 11-6. In the third period, Weber chose down. Zurbrugg immediately went to work on the upper body looking for a pin. Unfortunately, he got too high, and Weber reversed and pinned Zurbrugg at 1:19 in the third. Zurbrugg placed second at Regionals.

Semi-State begins Saturday, Feb. 13th, at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum in Fort Wayne. The meet begins at 9 a.m. and includes the top four wrestlers from the Carroll, Goshen, Jay County, and Peru Regionals.

 

Lady ‘Dogs Lose in Overtime on Senior Night

By: Deanna Quinn

On Friday, Feb. 5th, the New Haven Lady Bulldogs (10-9) hosted the Woodlan Lady Warriors (9-10) for Senior Night. Armstrong Arena was decorated with purple and gold signs honoring the four seniors: Madison Perkins, Ashley Perry, Abby Smith, and Kelsey Yoder. Just before tip-off, each player was escorted to center court by family members and introduced to the large crowd of students, family, and spectators. They received gifts, flowers, and balloons from the team and hugs from teammates. Though the girls were smiling, the moment was bitter-sweet as they were announced in the starting lineup for the last time at home. It was game time.

Woodlan won the opening tip and hit a three pointer on their first possession of the game. New Haven responded with a two-point bucket. The teams traded a couple more baskets, but the Bulldogs were getting out rebounded and out muscled under the basket. Their half-court trap produced some steals, and the Lady ‘Dogs stayed in the game by capitalizing on those turnovers. At the end of the first quarter Woodlan was leading 17-15.

In the second quarter, Woodlan continued to dominate on the boards and went on an 8-2 scoring run. Coach Gary Cobb called a time out with 4:42 left in the half and got his players fired up. The Bulldogs came out of the huddle and got a couple of quick baskets, but Woodlan changed the momentum by hitting a three-point shot and a lay-up to extend their lead their to seven. At half time the score was 30-23.

The Bulldogs came out the second half more physical on the boards and more relaxed with their offense. They outscored the Lady Warriors 13-6 and tied the game at 36 to end the third quarter.

As the fourth quarter started, tension rose in the players and the stands. Both crowds grew louder as time wound down. With 6:59 left in the game, Woodlan’s coach, Tonya Burns-Cohrs, received a technical foul after her player was called for a blocking foul when Kelsey Yoder drove to the basket. Woodlan fans erupted with boos and critical remarks as New Haven took the ball out of bounds after making two of four free-throws. Mid-way through the quarter, New Haven was on a 7-2 scoring run, but they couldn’t pull away with the lead. With 2:40 left, Woodlan hit two free-throws to pull within one, and Coach Cobb paced in front of the bench. Woodlan hit another free-throw with 1:11 left to tie the game at 43. After New Haven mishandled the rebound of the second free-throw, Woodlan had the ball and stalled to take the lost shot. New Haven’s Ashley Perry almost ran away with a steal with about seven seconds left, but a scramble for the loose ball ended in pileup at center court. Possession arrow went to Woodlan, and they had four seconds for a final shot. It did not fall, and the game headed to overtime with the scored tied at 43.

In overtime, nerves got to the Lady Bulldogs allowing Woodlan to go on a 9-2 scoring run. The Warriors never looked back and beat the Bulldogs on Senior Night 59-49.

 “I think that we played really hard,” said senior Madison Perkins. “We couldn’t have asked for anything more from the other girls. Tonight our shots didn’t fall, especially during the end of the game. It just felt like there was a lid on the basket.”

“We were kind of nervous starting off,” added senior Ashley Perry. “But we fought hard and at the end, we didn’t give up; it just didn’t happen.”

The game ended with players in tears as the seniors lost their last home game as a New Haven Bulldog.

“We’re not very happy with the outcome,” senior Kelsey Yoder said. “We should’ve played better and beat them. Shots just weren’t falling tonight, but we’re always there 100 percent.”

The Bulldogs are now looking forward to their sectional game Feb. 10th at 7:30 p.m. against Angola. The game will be played at Leo.

“All year long, everything we’ve done has pointed toward the sectional,” said Coach Cobb. “It’s a new season; Monday night we come into practice and start over. That’s where we are, and we’re looking forward to it. I think we can make a good run in the sectional. We match up very well against [Angola].”

Though they are looking forward toward the sectional tournament, senior night offered these four seniors and Coach Cobb a chance to reflect on their impact at New Haven.

“We’ve grown the past three years as a team with coach,” Yoder said. “It’s more than basketball. You make a lot of friends on this team.”

“We love Coach Cobb a lot,” added senior Abby Smith. “We think very highly of him.”

“These seniors mean so much,” said Coach Cobb. “They’ve really worked hard and dedicated themselves to making this program better. The program is now respected in the area, and they’re winning some games and playing some really good competition close. [The seniors] played a big part in that with their leadership and their work ethic. They’ve been great; they’re really going to be missed.”

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New Haven Girls Varsity Basketball Team

 

NHHS Band in Need of Community Support, Funding

By: Deanna Quinn

Band Director Joseph Godfrey conducted an emergency band meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 2nd at New Haven High School to raise awareness in the community about the hardships the band is currently facing. Mr. Godfrey called this meeting because every school day he is surrounded by students who work extremely hard all year round to be competitive against bands four-times their size in Class B events.

“The most important part about this is these kids, and they love this activity,” said Mr. Godfrey, who is in his seventh year as band director. “But it takes money to run a band, and the last two years we’ve lost money that had to be recovered by emergency fundraisers. Last year we barely made it.  This year, it still wasn’t enough.”

The basic needs the band is raising money for this year include new music, instruments, and uniforms.

“We have damaged or unusable instruments in stock,” Mr. Godfrey said, “and we need help replacing and repairing these instruments. The band’s uniforms are falling apart and we need funding to replace those too. In order for us to have these tools to be successful, we have to spend some money, but there’s no money to be had right now.”

These instruments include cymbals, drums, oboes, and clarinets that are an average of 40 years old. Additionally, the band still uses a set of chimes from the 1930s. The uniforms are 10 years old, have begun to mold and mildew from hours of wear, and have been refitted so many times that they have started to sag and come apart at the seams.

Though much of the meeting was centered on raising money, Mr. Godfrey also spent a fair amount of time trying to raise support for the students in the band.

“Right now they don’t feel like they matter because a lot of what they hear, except for whatever happens in the band room, is that they don’t matter,” Mr. Godfrey said. “There are numerous times at football games the kids come off the field and, it’s always the freshmen, every year, who say, ‘Mr. Godfrey they didn’t even listen to us.’ They could hear the crowd talking over their playing, and it eats them up.”

Two such students marching off the field at those football games are juniors Matthew Thena and Wendey Bradtmueller, who are looking forward to their senior years. Unfortunately, they are looking into a band season in which they will be wearing the 10-year-old uniforms that are molding and fraying; in which they will practice when fellow band members don’t have instruments to play because their family can’t afford one and the school can’t provide one; in which they will again march into competition with only 6 to 7 families in the stands cheering them on.

“We’re not just looking for money,” said Bradtmueller, who started playing the trombone in fourth grade. “We’re also looking for support.”

 “At competition a lot of other bands have a cheer block sitting up in the stands,” elaborated Thena, who began playing saxophone in fifth grade. “That’s what we’ve been missing. There are other bands that have 50 to 60 families sitting in the stands, all in a group. So we’re definitely looking for support from the community for that. It not only makes us feel better, but it shows us that we can do this.”

If the band is unable to successfully raise funds, they will have to make budget cuts which will reduce the number of parades the band will march in, the number of evening activities at band camp, and the number of competitions during the school year.

“Don’t get me wrong, we’ll have the band,” Mr. Godfrey said with conviction. “We’ll do what we have to. These kids love this band.”

If you would like to donate your time or money to the high school band, contact Mr. Godfrey at jgodfrey@eacs.k12.in.us or (260) 446-0220 ext. 7238.

Below are different ways the community can help.

Individuals/Families
-Band Boosters: $5/year and giving time to band
-Donations of old instruments
-Time Donations
-Monetary donations for a scholarship fund for students who cannot afford band fees
-Service Projects: Make donations in exchange for service projects

Corporations/Businesses (Advertisements given in return)
-Sponsor a competition: $3,000
-Sponsor half a competition: $1,500
-Sponsor part of a competition: $500

 

 

New Haven Citizens’ Academy Met for First Time

By: Deanna Quinn

The New Haven Citizen’s Academy met for the first time last night in the police training room at City Hall. This was the first of four sessions that will be conducted at City Hall in an effort to provide area citizens with a better understanding of city government and its departments and functions.

Last night’s participants were greeted by Mayor Terry McDonald, who was followed by Police Chief Michael Sweet, Fire Chief John Bennett, and Code Enforcer Tim Fox. These three city officials gave power point presentations that explained the functions, funding, and activities of their departments. After each presentation, the registered participants had an opportunity to ask each speaker nonpolitical questions.

Police Chief Michael Sweet addresses the large crowd

“I’ve lived in New Haven for close to twenty years,” said participant Rachel McNett. “I signed up because I wanted an opportunity to know the community better. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but this evening has far exceeded that.”

In addition to the interested citizens, many participants were neighborhood association presidents, who were encouraged to attend the academy at the mayor’s Neighborhood Association Presidents Meeting.

Mr. Doug Geller MC's the event

“I want to know more about the city’s policies and procedures,” said Robert Ritz, president of the Canal Ridge Association, “—to know who to talk to about neighborhood problems.”

After the session concluded, Police Chief Sweet took participants on a tour of City Hall.

“I think the evening went pretty well,” volunteer coordinator Doug Geller said. “It’s [the city’s] first attempt. I’m sure we’ll refine it. The participants really enjoyed it.”

Fire Chief John Bennett explains the free smoke detector program

The next three sessions for registered participants in the Citizens’ Academy are Feb. 16th, March 2nd, and March 16th. All sessions begin at 6:30 p.m. and are held in the police training room in City Hall.

Citizens tour the police firing range during their facility tour

If you are interested in participating in the fall sessions of the Citizens’ Academy, contact Deb Anne Smith in the Mayor’s Office at (260) 748-7070.

 

 

City Council Meeting: January 26, 2010

By: Deanna Quinn

Adams Center Road Reconstruction and Widening Project
The big topic on Tuesday night’s agenda at the City Council meeting was the Adams Center Road Reconstruction and Widening Project. Director of Engineering Keith Schlegel made a presentation to the board that explained the roadway development. A proposed agreement drafted by the City of Fort Wayne (the leading party on the project) states that Adams Center Road between I 469 and SR 930 needs improvements that include “the reconstruction and widening of the existing roadway to heavy industrial standards, bridges across a railroad track and across the Trier Ditch and a section of the new Six Mile Creek Trail.”
In his presentation, Schlegel stated that the preliminary analysis of the soil and pavement along the road has exposed that current conditions cannot support the type of industries that may be looking to build along Adams Center. Schlegel revealed that an intermodal transportation service company has interest in the area near the railroad tracks. If Adams Center was improved to the “heavy industrial standards,” this type of company is feasible and could possibly bring other development to the area.
In the meantime, the project committee is waiting to learn if the TIGER Discretionary Grant they applied for has been accepted by the federal government. Schlegel is optimistic it will be approved.
If the grant is not approved, New Haven will be responsible for 31 percent of the project’s estimated cost. Work could begin on Adams Center Road as early as 2013 or 2014.
Citizens Academy
New Haven is offering a four-part seminar called the Citizens Academy in February and March. The seminar is designed to give citizens nonpolitical information about the functions of city government. People interested in attending the seminar can obtain a registration form from the Mayor’s Office or download one from the city’s homepage (www.newhavenin.org) under the “Press Releases” heading.
According to Doug Geller, the city volunteer coordinator, department heads will attend the seminars to share information about their division of city government. Thirty-one participants have already enrolled. The seminars will take place on Feb. 2, Feb. 16, Mar. 2, and Mar. 16. Each session begins at 6:30 p.m. and will last two hours.

 

Staying in New Haven: How Colts Fans

Watched the AFC Title Game

By: Deanna Quinn

Click here for more pictures

As fans in Indianapolis were funneled through the corridors to their seats in Lucas Oil Stadium, Colts fans in New Haven opened the door to their favorite town bars to find a great seat in front of a big screen to watch the showdown with the New York Jets.
Walking into 469 Sports and Spirits (1324 Minnich Road), Colts fans found themselves in the midst of Sunday pool league where pool sticks stood up as proudly as they did in their blue and white Colts gear. Some of these fans bellied up to the bar, while others found their seat at a table in front of the four big screen TVs hung on the front wall of the bar. All four TVs showed the same scene: The AFC Championship game.  The jukebox was off, and from their seats 134 miles from Indy, they could hear Peyton Manning make his calls from the field.  Even though they were not a rowdy group, they were on the edge of their seats as the Colts failed to score a touchdown at the end of the first quarter. The score was 0-0.
As fans in Lucas Oil Stadium paid $7 for a 16 oz. draft beer, New Haven Colts fans found a far better deal at Carl’s Tavern (433 Broadway Street). Here, they could pay just $2 for the same beer, keep the Colts glass, get a refill for a buck, and share a beer with fellow fanatics in the cozy atmosphere of the small bar.  This crowd of 18 strong hooped and hollered along with the 63,000 fans in the Luke. The two men rooting for New York cheered in good fun as the Jets went into half-time with a lead over the Colts. The score was 13-17.
As people lined up to buy high-priced nachos and popcorn at the stadium, New Haven fans took advantage of the free buffet at Across the Tracks (615 Broadway Street). Football fans could fill their bellies with cheese and crackers, chips and dip, and cold meat sandwiches. The intimate groups of regular patrons sat shoulder-to-shoulder and cheered as the Colts took the lead in the third quarter. The score was 20-17.
As fans moved from vendor to vendor and stood in line at the Luke, missing snippets of the game, Colts fans at Rack & Helen’s (525 Broadway Street) didn’t miss a moment as food and drinks were brought to their tables by the fast and friendly staff. The dimly lit space provided a great view of the game from 14 big screens hung throughout the bar. Jeers and laughter filled the room as the Colts continued to build their lead by adding 10 more points to the scoreboard. After Kelvin Hayden picked off the Jet’s quarterback, Mark Sanchez, fans celebrated with pats on the back and high fives, knowing the Colts are going to the Super Bowl. As the fourth quarter ended and confetti fell on the fans at Lucas Oil Stadium, fans in New Haven celebrated the AFC Champions, paid their tabs, and made the short journey home. The final score was 30-17.

 

 

Bulldogs Just Short of Upset over Top-Ranked Knights
By: Deanna Quinn

The New Haven Lady Bulldogs fell a field goal short of defeating the Norwell Lady Knights, the class 3A top-ranked team.
The Knights came into Armstrong Area 15-0 looking to stay undefeated, while the Bulldogs were looking to improve on their 10-5 record. New Haven played a controlled first quarter from the opening tip by scoring on their first possession and pushing the ball in transition.  They committed no fouls, made 4 out of 4 free throws and out rebounded the Knights at both ends of the floor. At the end of the first quarter, the score was 12-8, with the Bulldogs holding a four point lead.
Even though three of their first six possessions of the second quarter were turnovers, New Haven went on a run and extended their lead to nine. Again, the Bulldogs were dominant on the boards, but the physical play had the ‘Dogs diving on loose balls, chasing down passes and grappling for jump balls on the floor. Mid-way through the quarter, the Knights marched back, and with the help of seven New Haven fouls, cut the lead to three by half time. The score was 26-23.
In the third quarter, Norwell struck first cutting the lead to one, but New Haven answered back with two free-throws. Norwell then went on a 13-6 run, swinging the momentum and gaining the lead at 38-34 to end the third quarter.
The two teams traded baskets early in the fourth quarter. With less than three minutes to play, New Haven cut Norwell’s lead to one, and Eric Thornton, coach of the Lady Knights, had to bring in Jessica Rupright, their 6’2” sophomore center. Rupright sat out the rest of the game due to a hamstring injury. On Norwell’s first possession with Rupright in the game, New Haven fouled her on the shot, and she made the first of two. New Haven was down by only two points. On an ensuing possession, the Bulldogs make one of two free-throws and were again down by one.
The teams traded baskets near the end, and with 15.5 seconds left in the game New Haven immediately fouled on Norwell’s in-bound pass to stop the clock. Norwell’s Jenelle Wilson headed to foul line with a one-and-one.  On her front-end miss, New Haven rebounded the ball and drove down the floor.  After a couple of passes at the top of the key, New Haven’s Richelle Moyer drove right and got a good shot off from just above the block with less than two seconds left in the game. That shot just didn’t fall, and with Norwell’s rebound, the Lady Bulldogs lost a heartbreaker at home 48-47.

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