Truth Photo By J. Tyler Klassen

An Interurban Trolley driver waits outside a trolley at Franklin and Second streets in Elkhart on Feb. 16.

Interurban Trolley changes begin April 2 because of reduced funds.

Tim Vandenacktvandenack@etruth.com

SOUTH BEND — Change will be com-

ing to the Interurban Trolley routes and

schedules in Elkhart County, as proposed.

The Michiana Area Council of Govern-

ments Policy Board on Wednesday ap-

proved the proposed tweaks to the public

transit system, paving the way for their

implementation on April 2.

Now, new schedules are to be printed,

outlining the changes for users, according

to Sandra Seanor, executive director of

MACOG, the quasi-governmental South

Bend-based body that helps manage the

network. They should be ready ahead of

the April 2 changeover.

The route and schedule changes stem

from a reduction in funding from Concord

Township, which has historically been one

of the main Interurban Trolley funding

sources. Seanor said the public transit sys-

tem should be OK for 2012, per the shifts

approved Wednesday, but she’s not so sure

about 2013 and beyond.

“There are question marks right now

about funding on the federal level,” she

said.

The new route system doesn’t stray too

much from the existing network. Service

is removed along Harrison Street in south

central Elkhart and along a segment of

Toledo Road in eastern Elkhart. But other

changes — including new stops at Faith

Mission and increased stops at Ivy Tech

Community College at C.R. 18 and Old

C.R. 17 — make for what MACOG says is

improved service.

Concord Township officials reduced

their share of trolley funding, arguing

that the township was providing an inor-

dinate amount of money for the service.

Officials in Elkhart, Goshen and Elkhart,

and Cleveland and Osolo townships sub-

sequently increased their contributions,

though the hikes don’t totally compensate

for the loss of Concord Township money.

The trolley system’s 2011 budget, in-

cluding funding for two smaller demand-

response transit systems in Elkhart and

Goshen, totaled $2.63 million and rider-

ship for 2011 reached 378,107. The trol-

leys also stretch into St. Joseph County,

linking with the Transpo bus system there.

New routes coming for trolley

Zina kumokzkumok@etruth.com

ELKHART — The Lerner Theatre has been open since June, and so far, it’s exceeding expectations. But it is a work in progress.

When asked about projections for 2012, general manager David Smith said that with only nine months of experience behind him, he could only speculate as to their future suc-cess.

“From a projections standpoint, I can confidently say that our current booking pace exceeds our expecta-tions,” he said.

Former Lerner project manager Jack Cittadine said he thinks the space has been utilized much more than he originally anticipated. But he also expects that it will take another year to work out all the kinks.

“I’ve always said it will take two years to figure out how to run the theater,” he said.

Cittadine said that he thinks the Lerner’s events have also helped downtown restaurants, especially on slower weekday nights. He hopes their success inspires other small businesses to come and invest in downtown Elkhart.

“It’s become a focal point for the downtown, which is exactly what we hoped it would do,” he said.

The Lerner Theatre Board dis-cussed changing some rates of their

facilities at Wednesday’s monthly meeting, but made no final deci-sions. They gave Gary Boyn, presi-dent of the Lerner Theatre Board, final approval for the proposed changes as well as an event contract for promoters.

Before the meeting, Boyn said that when the Lerner Theatre opened, there was an understanding that they would re-evaluate rates within six to 12 months.

Some of the proposed changes will include increasing rates for staging equipment. Currently stage man-

ager rates go for $22/hour for not-for-profit events and $23 for miscel-laneous and commercial events. The proposed changes would bump them up to $26 for not-for-profit and $27 for the others.

“The staff looked at it and decided we were being very, very generous,” Boyn said.

Boyn, in his second term as presi-dent of the Lerner Theatre Board, said he does not think that increased rates will have any impact on ticket

‘A focal point for downtown’

Truth Photo By Delayna Earley

Dr. Jill Windy and Steve Bowers practice before performing the waltz in the Still Dancing in Elkhart competition at the Lerner Theatre’s Crystal Ballroom in 2011. The Lerner has hosted more than 200 events since its opening in June.

Lerner Theatre’s busy first year is exceeding expectations.

Truth Photo By Elizabeth Frantz

Audience members wait for the curtain to rise on “The Music Man,” Premier Arts’ first full-length production at the Lerner Theatre, on July 15, 2011.

Truth Photo By Delayna Earley

daylight savoringKimberly McChristian fishes for catfish with her dog, Polo, on the St. Joseph River at McNaughton Park on Wednes-day. The high temperature of 81 degrees broke a record Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service. The previous high mark for March 14 was 76 degrees, set in 1990 and matched in 1995.

Anti-smoking advocates and some local leaders worried new law isn’t strict enough.

marilyn odendahlmodendahl@etruth.com

ELKHART — Although the Indiana General Assembly did pass a statewide smoking ban during the waning hours of its 2012 session, one strong anti-smoking advocate in Elkhart County said he is disappointed with the result and sees little chance of the current bill being changed.

Mark Potuck, project director for Tobacco Control of Elkhart County, attended an Indiana Senate hearing on the ban and watched the live stream of the floor debates

on his computer. At times he was amused and other times he was scared as the Legis-lature considered amend-ments that would have added even more exemp-tions to the ban.

The final bill that landed on the governor’s desk is not going to clear the air in as many places as Potuck had wanted. In particular, he would have like the ban to cover bars and casinos.

“I’m very disappointed,” he said. “It just really bothers me that certain people are worthy of being protected from secondhand smoke and others are not.”

The Indiana ban prohibits smoking in most workplaces with the exceptions of cigar and hookah bars, retail tobacco stores, nonprofit private clubs and fraternal organizations as well as bars and tav-erns that do not allow anyone younger than 21 to enter.

Even if the hospitality workers in a bar or casino smoke themselves, Potuck said the exemption doubles or even triples the threat to their health because they are still being exposed to the toxins in secondhand smoke.

State smoking ban draws local disappointment

“I’m very disappointed. ... It just really bothers me that certain people are worthy of being protected from secondhand smoke and others are not.”

Mark Potuck, project director for Tobacco Control of Elkhart County

PLeAse see Ban, a7

PLeAse see lerner, a7

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