Twelve young people from throughout Newaygo County participated in a special four week photography workshop at NCCA-Artsplace. The workshop first began in 2009 to honor Chris Caris, the son of Ted and Jeannie Caris, an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed the art of photography while a student at Fremont High School. The classes were funded by the Christopher R. Caris Memorial Fund at the Fremont Area Community Foundation and taught by Chris Rosenberg of Fremont.
Area art instructors and principals recommended students to participate in the class. Class participants included Sophie Kehr and Lissa Grover from White Cloud; Grace Jones from Cornerstone Christian; Shealynn Mc Clune and Alexis Vanderlinde from Fremont; Grace Boisvert from Fremont Christian; Eric Alvarez and Grace Painter from Newaygo; Trinity Flannery and Camila Kroepel from Hesperia; and Audree Cole and Riley Schwartz from Grant. Rosenberg provided specialized instruction to the budding photographers on 35 mm SLR cameras, composition, printing, and enlarging their own images. Photos from the class are on display in the NCCA-Artsplace Corridor Gallery through March 31. NCCA-Artsplace is located at 13 E. Main Street in downtown Fremont. Gallery hours are Monday – Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., with Thursday evenings until 8:00 p.m. and Saturday, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Running Partners
By Alexis Mercer The truth is that I have always been more of a loner when it comes to running. I enjoy the quiet, the peace and solitude. Even before I had kids of my own this was true. Being a teacher and coach by day, running has always been an escape; a way to relax after a day of noise, decision making, searching for answers and crowds of people. Often I seek routes with next to no traffic and definitely no other people. When my husband and I started dating, he was not a distance runner. He was a sprinter in track in high school. I’ve heard he was quite fast (not from him, mind you...he thankfully doesn’t relive the high school track days). And while I was a sprinter in high school track, too, I reverted back to distance running of my high school cross country days since I certainly wasn’t going to be an Olympic qualifier as an adult in the 400 meter dash and distance running provided more opportunity for amateur races. I quickly decided that getting him into distance running was a bad idea. I didn’t enjoy changing my pace to match his or at least being aware of a difference in pace. We worked well together in other areas of life, but certainly not in matching our pace in running. While I can give myself credit for getting him getting into distance running, I claim zero credit for his continuing that pursuit. I dropped him as a running partner like a hot potato. Ever since I have loved running on my own. Sometimes I listen to music and sometimes just the air around me. So when Lindsey and I started running together in January, I was quite nervous. I told her that I am not much for talking while I run. She said the same. I figured it would be alright and if it wasn’t then we would both probably know. Thankfully it worked right from the start. We have the same pace without having to work at matching each other. Sometimes one or the other of us is having a better day and we push each other at just the right times. We still don’t talk a ton. People who can talk non-stop when they are running are phenoms, I think. Just breathing is a feat for me. I realized a few weeks ago as we were running repeats on the track that all these years I was wrong. I am a person who enjoys running with a partner. I just hadn’t found the right partner yet. And I still enjoy running most days solo. It’s the only time I have during the day where I don’t have to answer to anyone at all. I have space in my head for just my voice. But on the days when we do run together, it’s a perfect match. This is how I came to sign up for the Kent City Ridge Run 15k last weekend. I never, ever, in one million billion years would have signed up on my own. Not that 15k is too far or that it would be too cold, but I have heard horror stories about the hills in the Ridge Run. It’s not just 9.3 miles. It’s 9.3 miles of hills. In March. But Lindsey wanted to sign up so we could use it as a stepping stone for our race coming up in May. I begrudgingly agreed. How could I tell my running partner no? I can’t say that any of the horror stories that I heard were completely false. It is a hard race. The hills. Goodness the hills. But that wasn’t really the worst of it. I actually don’t mind hilly courses as long as there is equal “down time”, which there is in this race. But the wind on March 24 was like Mother Nature had decided she was going to blow us out of the race and perhaps into Lake Michigan (or maybe farther, honestly). We ran really quickly when the wind was at our backs. But that was in the first 4 miles of the race. The 2nd to last mile we were going up a massive hill and the wind was blowing so hard that I felt like I was standing still. Lindsay yelled out “turn the wind off already” and I knew she was over it. Mile 5 we passed a nice gentleman who we were encouraging to continue strong. He chatted with us for a minute and said “well, at least the wind is keeping us honest.” My response was muttered under my breath and was teeming with sarcasm, but luckily the deafening sound of the wind muted the words. It wasn’t the man who said it...I was just done with the wind. But we made it. And when we were done, enjoying a nice, warm baked potato with sour cream, cheese and butter all lopped on top (their food at the end of the race is legit), we agreed that it could have been worse. It could have been hilly, raining AND windy. She raced off to her daughter’s soccer game while I went home, found 14 blankets to pile on top of me to break the chill of the wind, and enjoy some March Madness. We had accomplished a big thing for a Saturday morning in March. 15k of hilly, windy running. I felt proud and strong. The truth is that I never would have crossed the start line if it weren’t for my running partner. By Ken DeLaat
Harper is 3. She is the youngest of my four precious and precocious grandchildren who each possess above average looks, remarkable levels of intelligence and exceptional personalities along with what one might describe as more than adequate table manners. And she is a dancer. H. began dancing for us just after she mastered walking and never stopped. A stint in a dance class helped whet an appetite for the art form that has not diminished in the least over time. I have personally witnessed performances that segue from ballet and a more modern theatrical style to yoga-inspired moves with occasional pilates tossed in. Despite or perhaps because of the shifting genres each of these mini recitals are wildly appealing. Before posing to her parents the possibility of bringing H. to see the upcoming “Wizard of Oz” ballet arriving at the Dogwood next month I wondered a bit about attention span (hers not mine though clarification is certainly warranted). Although we can play for hours on end with only a few toys and/or household items as props, I wasn’t sure how she might take to a theater show. And like I said, she’s three. Three is perhaps the most fun of all ages to be friends with. Three possesses a sense of wonder with the world and has a mind filled with questions while absent of any sense of filter and unburdened by any notion of time or protocol. And yet Three can be stubbornly difficult should it occur to them to do so. While pondering this I ran into my favorite banker, Rhonda Buter and recalled having included in an article the experience she had with her daughter at a ballet performance last year. (https://www.nearnorthnow.com/features-and-fun/review-sleeping-beauty-enchants) “By the way, when you took Charley to the ballet last year, how old was she?” “She was 3.” It was a go. Decision made, I confirmed with LSC Lil (a.k.a. “Grammy”) who approved with enthusiasm we then got the o.k. from Lesly and Casi and soon after they broke the news to H. Apparently the idea appeals to her since I have been asked numerous times ever since if tomorrow is the day we’re going to the ballet (it’s April 14) and whether she can show me one more time the recently purchased dress she is planning on wearing (it’s pink). I have watched dance moves that she feels certain will be part of the program and when I deliver my extensive series of Wizard of Oz impersonations she has been either most appreciative or exceptionally polite given her level of laughter. My idea was to secure a spot near the door in case a hasty exit might be needed. This idea was shot down by one much wiser with regard to such matters who proposed a seat up front where she can capture the show in all its glory. When Lesly and her brother were quite young we would take them to the Nutcracker at DeVos each year. I still recall the first time they saw it. We didn’t know how they might do so I got a set of seats in an upper loge in case frequent bathroom trips were required or should one of those firm, loud and somewhat threatening whispers become necessary. The fears soon became groundless. The show with all its splendor and majesty grabbed them and held on from overture to the grand finale. My daughter adored it and my son despite later emphasizing how much he didn’t like it barely moved while taking it in, a rare occurrence during those years if I recall. If you decide to go, do yourself a favor and bring along a young person. Sit with them as they feel the sense of wonder elicited by the art of dance and pay occasional attention to the sparkle in their eyes. You will have given them a gift they will long hold in their hearts. And if there’s a slight commotion in front that results in a spontaneous and unexpected addition to the cast? Check and see if she’s wearing pink. By N3 Entertainment Staff
Hang on folks, it is now well into Spring by 3-4 days at the least and the accompanying warmer weather has...well… it’s ‘in the mail’ as they say. Here at N3 World Headquarters we would like to point out that 2 shoe sightings have occurred the past couple of days. Heading out of Fremont just past 56th street on the right a brownish looking shoe likely of the dress variety while M-37 south of Newaygo just past Newaygo Fitness west side of the road another lost sole looking like a taller yet not quite a boot sort. I understand that with the depth of drama and goings on in our world today that it might become easy to lose sight of what’s really important so once again let us consider the proliferation of abandoned (or seemingly so) footwear and pose the collective question… “What does it mean?” LionHeart Productions “Junie B.Jones Is Not A Crook” has moved to the Dogwood’s Main Stage for performances at 2:00 pm on both Saturday, March 24, and Sunday, March 25. Tickets for Junie B. Jones can be purchased at the Dogwood Center Box Office, online line at www.dogwoodcenter.com, or by calling 231-924-8885. Ticket prices are $12 adult, $8 students and seniors (60+), and $5 children 10 years and under. Check out the article by Mike Gesler in our Features and Fun page about the play From 10am-1pm Saturday come visit the Annual Great Start Family Expo at the Newaygo Middle School. This is always a great time with lots of giveaways, door prizes,, snacks, games, crafts and a chance to learn about the many services provided to local families. Best of all? Free. Fremont is hosting their Home & Garden Show this Saturday at the Fremont Middle School from 9am-3pm.For more info give the Chamber folks a buzz at (231) 924-0770 Ever been to a Comiccon? Know what cosplay is? Then you’re already heading for the Holiday Inn at Muskegon Harbor who will host Muskecon 2.0 from 10am-6pm Saturday. This is a day filled with toys, comics, artists, authors, cosplayers, and fun. Tickets are $5 for adults, children 12 and under are FREE. Over 1000 attended last year’s gig and believe me if you’re looking for photo ops…..? Want a cure for the Monday Blues? How about a feel good listen to some mighty fine music played by the wealth of talent that inhabit our schools? The Annual Rotary Jazz Concert put on by the White Cloud Rotarians.is an outstanding evening of very cool music in a concert that features each of our area school jazz bands. At 10 bucks a ticket (students just a fin), with proceeds going to support the bands and a rich night of entertainment this is definitely a win, win, win, and Monday is a great evening to settle in with a little jazz music and maybe forget for awhile there are four more days in the work week. The concert is Monday March 26 at the Grant Fine Arts Center beginning at 7pm and the staff of N3WH has this one down as a ‘don’t miss’. Story and photos By Mike Gesler If you missed LionHeart Production’s latest show, “Junie B. Jones Is Not a Crook,” at the Grant Public Schools Fine Arts Center last weekend, you are in luck. LionHeart is taking the show to the Dogwood Center for Performing Arts this coming weekend, March 24 and 25. Barbara Park’s Junie B. Jones book series has become a popular read among young children over the past twenty-six years. Her antics and capriciousness have enthralled the imagination of both children and adults alike. In this story line something terrible has happened to Junie B. Jones at school. Someone has “stoled” her new furry mittens. Yet, at the same time, she faces an ethical dilemma when she finds a wonderful pen of many colors that she should be allowed to keep because “finders keepers, losers weepers.” Just to complicate matters, there is this new boy in kindergarten. The only thing is that both her best friends, Grace and Lucille, want him to be their boyfriend, and Junie B. already has a boyfriend, Ricardo, but is looking to “move on.” All of this leaves Junie B. in a moral quandary; is she a crook, or not? Junie B. Jones is played by Grant sixth grader, Ava Dewey. Dewey is the quintessential Junie B., and I would dare anyone who has read the books to say likewise. She marvelously endears herself with the audience all the while keeping up with the physical energy demanded from this role, and the abrupt emotional shifts that are so true-to-life of any six-year-old child. Addyson Gorby and Sophia Fries play the roles of Junie B.’s best friends, Grace and Lucille. Each possess traits that Junie B. secretly desires, and the two are as believable as Dewey. The three, Junie B., Grace, and Lucille, fight over Handsome Warren, played by Steven Sower, who has no desire for a “girlfriend.” Yet, the petty infighting is comical, if not true-to-life brought down to a kindergarten level, as Grace believes boys are attracted to sports and snakes, Lucille believes it is wealth and looks, and Junie B. struggles with being herself. Gorby, Fries, and Sower all play their roles beautifully against Dewey, and bring out their character’s personality so effectively you might wonder if these young thespians were type casted. The cast is rounded out with Lincoln Railing, playing Junie B.’s boyfriend, Ricardo, Evan McKnight who plays Meanie Jim, and Ella Shields as the Pink Fluffy Girl. Railing does a wonderful job playing the cute “kindergarten” crush which is nothing more than a friend, and if I didn’t know better, I would totally believe that McKnight IS the class bully who constantly finds ways to get Junie B.’s goat. Shields charmingly blends herself in as just another student with her important yet unassuming role. Siena Avendaño, Philicity Bass, Ella Brummel, Maggie Muir, Marcie Sower, and Liegha Winkler finish this young cast as a choir that mysteriously appears and performs during Junie B.’s daydreams.
It’s said that you should never act against children or animals, so the adults in this cast are unfortunately . . . or fortunately . . . relegated to supporting roles. Shelly Patterson plays the role of Mrs. Junie B.’s frustrated teacher, Jodie Railling is Junie’s caring and supportive mother, Jamie Evans plays the understanding Grandpa Frank, and a pair of Melissas, Brock and Bass, play the Grouchy Typing Lady and Principal. The production is a delight for kids and grown-ups alike. Even if you have never heard of the Junie B. Jones book series, and I admit I knew nothing, you will find yourself taken in by this delightful tale of kindergarten life. Shows times are 2:00 pm on both Saturday, March 24, and Sunday, March 25. Tickets for Junie B. Jones can be purchased at the Dogwood Center Box Office, online line at www.dogwoodcenter.com, or by calling 231-924-8885. Ticket prices are $12 adult, $8 students and seniors (60+), and $5 children 10 years and under. By Ken DeLaat
The Grand Rapids Symphony made their annual trek north to perform at the Dogwood Center last Wednesday and they did not disappoint It has long been a late winter treat to have this world class symphony arrive in our parts for an enchanted evening of euphonious entertainment. A bit of a musical respite from the slow crawl that is March. Conductor John Varineau is an engaging facilitator who weaves an interesting and often amusing anecdote involving each of the selections performed all the while artfully leading this talented orchestra. This year’s melodic journey began with a series of suites from Peer Gynt by Edvard Grieg. There was a familiarity to the music for even an untrained like mine, particularly when “In The Hall of the Mountain King” (featured in a recent cola commercial) was given such royal treatment by the group. They followed with music from Edward Elgar’s The Wand of Youth, light and lyrical numbers that were joined by some intriguing side trips. After intermission the orchestra returned to once again take quick hold of the crowd with a dynamic interpretation of a suite from the ballet “The Magic Toyshop” featuring music by Ottorino Respighi based on piano pieces from Gioachino Rossini. Once again this talented troupe has succeeded in providing concert-goers with the rare treat of seeing such a distinguished symphony performing in our backyard. Kudos are in order to the GRS, The Dogwood Center and NCCA-Artsplace for continuing this unique collaboration and a huge thank you is also delivered to the Fremont Area Community Foundation and Nestle/Gerber for their support of this annual gift to a grateful community. The story of "Nugget and Fang" comes to life in a colorful musical by national touring theater ArtsPower on the Dogwood Center's main stage on Sunday, April 8 at 3:00 p.m. The musical is geared toward grades pre-K to three, and is adapted from Tammi Sauer’s 2013 book.] Fang is a shark, Nugget is a minnow and they tell an endearing story of unlikely friendship. At Nugget’s first day of school he learns that minnows are supposed to be afraid of sharks. Fang takes desperate measures to prove his friendship, but nothing goes as planned, until Nugget and his classmates find themselves in troubled waters. Author Tammi Sauer’s big-hearted characters are brought to life by actors with Broadway credentials. All of the music is original, written and created by the people at Artspower, and the show is put together by a traveling tour group of five actors. The national touring theater ArtsPower has been around since 1985, and has premiered 30 new musicals and dramas for children and families, led by founding co-directors and identical twin brothers Gary and Mark Blackman. Tickets are $12.50 for adults, $5 for children 18 and under and are available through the Dogwood Center Box Office, NCCA-Artsplace in downtown Fremont, or on-line at www.dogwoodcenter.com. For information, phone 231.924.8885. The Dogwood Center is located one mile east of downtown Fremont. By N3 Entertainment Team
We are literally calendar-wise on the very cusp of Spring ladies and gentlemen and we at N3 World Headquarters are pretty pumped about the whole thing. Grilling without gloves, a walk without layering, perhaps even holding an implement of outdoor maintenance that is not a snow shovel looms ahead. It’s even looking to be a tolerable weekend weather-wise. By now you should know if your bracket has been busted and if you’re a Michigan fan they won’t be playing until about 10 pm Saturday with State (should they advance as expected) not likely to be taking the court until later in the day Sunday. So….. Friday and Saturday LionHeart Productions will be putting on Junie B. Jones Is Not A Crook at the Grant Fine Arts Center with shows at 7pm Friday and 3pm and 7pm Saturday. The characters created by Barbara Park in her kid-friendly book series come to life in this imaginative and fun for the family production. They will be repeating their performance at the Dogwood Center next week as well with shows on Saturday and Sunday at 2pm. Haven’t been to one of the nearly world famous Lenten Fish Frys at St. Bart’s or All Saints yet? Not many Fish Fry Fridays remain since Easter is on the horizon so don’t delay. This weekend it is indeed St. Patrick’s Day and a Saturday as well. This means celebrations will be considerably ramped up and hopefully each and everyone of you out there who are looking to be involved in some level of imbibing will have a designated driver or live within stumbling distance of home. If you’ve no other reasonable options other than sleeping in your car there is a local cab service known as JC’s Subercab. You can call them at 231.519.9072……….or you can call your lawyer at 2 a.m. and prepare for months of melancholia along with mounds of monetary misplacement.N3 cares about our readers and wish them good health as well as limited legal entanglements so plan ahead people. We love the Irish Music Fest It’s so very cool in so many ways particularly the volunteers who create a most welcoming atmosphere in a near-perfect setting.The Festival Folks are holding a party at Bella Maria’s Ristorante and Event Center, 513 W. Pontaluna Road, on Friday and Saturday, March 16-17.The music should be outstanding and proceeds benefit the Festival. See the story in our feature page. Parade? Who doesn’t love a parade? In Muskegon the St. Patrick's Day Parade will step-off from Fourth Street and Clay Avenue at 11am and travel four blocks down Clay to Hennessy's Pub & Whiskey Bar at the corner of Clay and Jefferson Street. Shorter parade in mind? Try the Conklin St Pat’s Parade that begins at 10:55am and ends at 11am at the Conklin Bar where there will be will be Irish Music flowing all day beginning at parade’s end. And Sunday is Free Admission Day at the Grand Rapids Public Museum. Check out the story on the home page. Lots to do in the coming weeks so shake loose a little of that hibernation mode folks. Spring will be coming round that lake-effect corner any day now. By Alexis Mercer It has been an uncharacteristically long time since I wrote my last book review. I have two excuses. The first is most significant. The Olympics. I am an Olympic Junky. Everyone in my family will tell you it is true. And I know curling is all the rage right now, but I was a curling fan before it was cool. So now that CNBC covers it basically 24 hours a day during the Olympics, I can’t stop. All the sports get me. My oldest son has caught on to the Olympic fever. We would sit there for hours (I swear this is the only time the kids are allowed to watch tv for endless hours) cheering relentlessly for the USA. I realized I may have spurred an unhealthy perspective when Lindsey Vonn failed to get the gold and Jack ran to his room devastated. But I turned it around by discussing just how amazing her bronze was and that being on the podium was a true honor. She is like the grandma of downhill skiing after all. So while one or two days I did try to pick up a book and read, I realized my efforts were futile. If I knew there was a sport being covered, I had to watch. It was enough that I had to work during the day and missed all that time! My second reason, which is not nearly as fun, is the other book I was attempting to read for a review. It was Fire and Fury. I had been asked to write a review for it being that it was a hot off the press topic. But I couldn’t do it. Even after the Olympics were over. I tried and tried to get into it. All of my own political beliefs aside, I had a hard time with such a negative book. It was Ken DeLaat in one of our meetings to discuss Near North Now and its happenings who suggested that I set the book down and let it go. After I picked myself up off the floor (I am one of those who will read to the bitter end of a book I really don’t like just because I feel it’s a tragedy to let a book go in the middle), I realized that his advice was gold. He suggested that because I read for pleasure, forcing myself to read a book that was bringing me down would defeat the purpose of the task. He’s a wise man. Because two days later I picked up Bear Town by Fredrik Backman and couldn’t set it down. My love of literature had returned. Bear Town is the name of the tiny little village in the forest that has seen better days. People are moving away, factory jobs are shutting down, and winter is present ¾ of the year, allowing very little sunlight to warm the town’s thoughts and bodies. The only thing it has going for it is its junior hockey team. The team has the weight of the town riding on the shoulders of the 16 and 17 year olds who play for it. Win the national finals and the town can be rebuilt around a new hockey rink, school and winning team. Lose and the whole town may collapse. “Late one evening toward the end of March, a teenager picked up a double-barreled shotgun, walked into the forest, put the gun to someone else’s forehead, and pulled the trigger. Page 1. As if I could set it down when those words echo throughout my brain on page one.
The characters, though there are many of them and every once in a while I had to go back to remind myself who someone was, are vibrant and realistic. Every word and action of each character I believed as not only what that person would do in the book, but what a person could do in those situations in real life. They were startlingly realistic. Bear Town was just what I needed: a truly fascinating tale with ups, downs, twists, turns, raw emotion and genuine characters. A novel that would transport me to another time and place through its carefully selected word choice and attention to detail. If you do choose this book to read, be prepared to lose sleep. You won’t be able to set it down. And in another two years when the summer Olympics come around and you haven’t seen a book review for 18 days or more, you’ll know why. 6th Annual Newaygo County Schools Jazz Band Concert
A special evening featuring the jazz bands from all Newaygo County high schools is being held on Monday, March 26 at 7:00 pm at the Grant Fine Arts Center. It’s the 6th Annual Newaygo County Schools Jazz Band Concert hosted by the White Cloud Rotary Club. The evening will kick-off with a performance by the Hesperia High School Jazz Band, followed by White Cloud, Fremont, Newaygo, and Grant high school performances. Proceeds from the evening will support these exceptional band programs and the White Cloud Rotary Club’s good works, including a student scholarship fund, life leadership youth training, and other community projects. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for people 18 years of age and under. They are available for purchase from all high school band students or any member of the White Cloud Rotary Club. While it is recommended purchasing your tickets in advance, tickets will be available at the event, Grant Fine Arts Center, 331 E State Rd, Grant, Michigan. Don't miss this opportunity to hear a wonderful night of jazz. The talent of our students in this County is amazing! |
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