By By JAMES COLLINS / Niles Daily Star
NILES -- For everyone tired of giving chocolates and flowers to their sweethearts for Valentine's Day, the River Bend Chorus is offering a unique gift for this year's holiday.
The chorus, Michiana's chapter of Sweet Adelines International, will be going door to door providing singing valentines.
The valentines will be delivered from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m on Friday, Feb. 13 and from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 14.
For $30, customers will receive a personalized Valentine's Day card and a fresh carnation, in addition to the song.
The chorus will break up into a number of quartets to serve a 30 mile radius of South Bend.
The quartets will be performing classics like "Let Me Call You Sweetheart," "I Love You Truly" and "Cuddle Up a Little Closer."
Bradtke's favorite part of performing the singing valentines is the response she gets from the unsuspecting customers.
Suprisingly, there are always a lot of men who receive the valentines.
Bradtke said they are usually really embarrassed when the quartet shows up at the front door or at their place of work.
The singing valentines program has been a part of the River Bend Chorus for as long as Bradtke has been a member, which is now going on 20 years.
Bradtke said the program is one of the chorus' major fundraisers every year.
The River Bend Chorus originated in South Bend in 1977 and currently has 21 members.
The group performs at civic events, charitable functions and even celebrations like birthdays and anniversaries.
Bradtke said this is also a nice gift because unlike chocolate, the singing valentines don't have any calories.
To reserve your valentine, call Jan Bradtke at (269) 683-3181.