 Concert to feature an Irish band, the GRAE & more
Few things can match an afternoon of outdoor musical entertainment. In that spirit Family of God Community Church is sponsoring a concert in Brooks Park on August 6th from 12-4 pm. There will be four performances to enjoy. The Grand Rapids Accordion Ensemble, back for the tenth time, will perform from 12-1 pm. The Leprocons, an Irish band will entertain from 1-2. Andy Paul, soloist, will perform from 2-3 pm. Our own Newaygo connection duo, Sawyer Crow and Hannah Postma, finish the afternoon from 3-4 pm. There will be seating but feel free to bring your own comfortable chair. Come spend a fun afternoon and enjoy the magic of music.
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 Cozy surroundings and a bar in back A stop at the Eleven Seventeen Lounge By Ken DeLaat LSC (Lifetime Spousal Companion) Lil and I took off from N3 World Headquarters & Monarch Maternity Ministry the other day, venturing out with no real goal in mind other than a drive to Spring Lake to score a 6 pack of what are arguably the best scones in the region. While there it seemed wrong not to avail ourselves of one of the Village Bakery’s bodacious breakfasts so we lingered a while before heading onward. This subsequent mini road trip took us traveling north near the lakeshore for a bit where we wandered through a few shops, stopped at a favorite bookstore and generally poked about with more of an intent on perusal than purchasing. Several stops later it was mid afternoon and as we were on the way home (seemingly eons away from breakfast} I suggested we stop in at the Harrington Inn in Fremont having heard rumor they had recently opened up a lounge where eats were available. With homemade pizza on the menu at N3WH&MMM for later that evening what was required was not so much a meal, but a little in-between filler. Something to tide us over now that the rigorous hours of retail exploration were behind us. We found our way into the lounge (short left soon after entering the building) and found a pleasant table near a window. A bit of investigation revealed a second room with 2 easy chairs facing a large television airing sports and an inviting looking bar. However, given my propensity to be significantly less communicative when embracing a combination of easy chairs and a bit of sports on TV we remained at our original choice. Rachel was our server and she proved to be informative and efficient delivering our drinks, including a draught beer in a frosty glass that fit the bill perfectly on a hot steamy day. As stated we were searching for some small plate items and decided on the Spanakopita, a set of miniature versions of the Greek spinach pies and the French Fry Flight, three groups of seasoned fries each paired with a different dipping sauce. Being a lifetime aficionado of fries (the best in the world are at the V. I. Grill & Pub in Suttons Bay) this was going to be a bit of a litmus test for the eatery. And it passed with flying colors. The little pie pieces were savory and brought memories of satisfying encounters with larger versions at the Pegasus Taverna in Greektown. And the fries were fabulous. Each grouping was seasoned perfectly as Garlic Parmasen, Black Pepper and Spicy Cajun varieties each had more than adequate representation and the sauces matched seamlessly. We both liked the atmosphere as well as the food and a glance at the menu revealed an enticing selection of paninis, a few salads and even a few items for the kiddos. We asked Rachel about dessert options and their origin (mere curiosity of course) but decided to opt out because as I mentioned there was to be homemade pizza later that night. Then Rachel came out with a pair of cheesecakes in a jar, a new item not yet on the menu and asked if we might be willing to serve as guinea pigs. Lil and I have long shared a mutual affection for cheesecake and without even a slight twist of the arm we acquiesced. This might be the perfect dessert for this venue. They were light and airy as cheesecake should be and in the jar the ‘crust’ was crumbled in layers between the filling. The taste was refreshing and, not being a traditionalist when it comes to food, the form it was delivered in was unique and fun. And it was just enough. As stated this was our first trip to Eleven Seventeen but it surely won’t be our last. There are other appetizers to sample, the paninis look to be worth a stab or two and, hey, if the cheesecake jars find a place on the permanent menu? They may have just added a couple of regulars.  The Dessert  We Are Having a Party…and you are invited. Come and join us for some family fun. The Newaygo Conservation District in partnership with Magna Mirrors invites you to the Kropscott Environmental Center for an evening of ice cream and, if you choose, adventure. The Scavenger Hunt has two options based on your level of time and energy. Option 1 involves ten points of information to fill in based on information that is presented at the main area of the facility. Option 2 adds five additional points that can be found in the forested area, which can be accessed via the People Mover. For both options there will be a Parent Brochure and signage to guide you. Magnifying glasses will be awarded at the end of the scavenger hunt activity. If you prefer an evening of community and fresh air, then you can sit under the trees of the beautiful Kropscott Centennial Farm lawn and eat ice cream and visit. In addition, the People Mover can be enjoyed even if you do not want to take the walk through the forest or participate in the scavenger hunt. You can just enjoy the evening and the ride. We would love to have you join us. Event Details: Thursday evening July 21 st from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Kropscott Environmental Center is located at 6523 W Baseline Road, Fremont MI. This event is free to the public. Note: If you plan to visit the forest area to enjoy the walk in the grass and wooded areas, please wear long pants and shoes that protect your feet.   Festival kicks off Wednesday If it’s mid summer in Newaygo County there are two things you can count on. Temperatures rising into the numbers most of us craved in mid winter... And the National Baby Food Festival. The festival kicks into high gear Wednesday (aka Kids Day) and activities will be happening all over the city right through Saturday before wrapping things up with the annual Worship in the Park held Sunday at 6pm. The Carnival Midway opens for business Wednesday with an all-you-can-ride special (until 5pm) for $20, there will be turtle races and frog jumping and the Kids Parade at 5:45pm. It's also Kids Expo Day from 11am-2pm with a boatload of giveaways as well as info on services available for families. Thursday bibliophiles will have their moment at the FADL book sale, a couple hours of fitness will take place at the community stage beginning at 12:30pn and in the evening Hypnotist Rick Wheeler performs on the Vets Park stage at 8pm. Friday’s highlights include the hula hoop contest and the baby food eating contest (12 and under please. We know how much you adults love those strained peaches). It's also the evening when the NBFF Queen is crowned and Current Country will kick out some tunes at Vets Park beginning at 7pm. Saturday is the parade and if there is anything Fremont does to perfection it’s a parade. Grab your spot early because at 10:30am it is time for the marching to begin. Saturday night Looking Back, a Bob Seger tribute band, will deliver on that Old Time Rock & Roll and Roll Me Away with some Night Moves until they Turn The Page on another day at NBFF. Seriously, there are a slew of fun things to do this week, more than we can fit into an article so go to the Fremont Area C of C site below or pick up a schedule at their office at 7 E Main in downtown Fremont. https://fremontcommerce.com/national-baby-food-festival     SYT Director Casey Webb And a few words with the Director
The Dogwood Summer Youth Theater will present "The Hunchback of Notre Dame – The Musical" on July 28, 29 and 30 at 7:30 p.m. The Dogwood Summer Youth Theater is directed this summer by Casey Webb and involves area young people in all facets of the production. Based on the Victor Hugo novel and songs from the Disney animated feature, "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" story begins as the bells of Notre Dame sound through the famed cathedral in fifteenth-century Paris. Quasimodo, the bell-ringer, observes all of Paris reveling in the Feast of Fools. Held captive by his devious caretaker, he escapes for the day and joins the boisterous crowd, only to be treated cruelly by all but Esmeralda. Quasimodo isn’t the only one captivated by her spirit. The handsome Captain Phoebus and Frollo are equally enthralled. As the three vie for her attention, Frollo embarks on a mission to destroy the Roma, and it’s up to Quasimodo to save them all. Admission is free with ticket. Donations accepted at the door to support Dogwood programs. The production is on the Dogwood Main Stage with general admission seating. For more information please contact the Dogwood Center at 231.924.8885. The Dogwood Center is located one mile east of downtown Fremont. We caught up with Ms. Webb to ask a few questions about the production. N3- A bit of personal background please? I started stage acting in middle school and continued into college. I studied theater, film, and dance in college with an emphasis on character work, comedy, and Shakespeare. After college I took a few classes at Second City in Chicago focusing on improv and sketch writing before moving onto films behind the scenes. I worked my way up in the production department working on film sets and reality television shows. There were times that I missed the stage, so I would do stand-up comedy. After spending years working and experiencing life, I moved back to the area and accepted a job working for Dogwood Center as their Program Director. N3- Have you directed other shows? I co directed ‘The Complete Works of William Shakespeare: Abridged’ in college. Since then, I directed A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Robin Hood, Tom Sawyer, and Comedy of Errors for Dogwood’s Summer Youth Theater. N3- Any mentors when it comes to directing? My mom. She spent many years working in theater in high school and has a knack for looking at the big picture. She has been the assistant director of summer youth theater since the beginning. N3- Why The Hunchback of Notre Dame? The music. I wanted to do an adaptation of the original story for a Summer Youth Theater production and started to write my own. I would listen to the music as inspiration and instantly fell in love. I knew there was no way I could adapt something that I felt was already a masterpiece. So, I had to convince my family, who also moonlight as my production crew, to hop on board for our first musical in the 17 years since SYT started . N3- How many young folks are involved? In what capacities? We cater to ages 12+. We try to include new and returning actors, no matter their age. We have many of our kids who have younger siblings who have never done theater or don’t have much of an opportunity, so we try to have smaller walk-on roles for them. But a majority of our group tends to be high school and college age. N3- Tell us a bit about casting process in this show. We encouraged everyone to audition, no matter their experience. We love to take chances on new actors, so they get to grow, have fun, and learn something new. We also try to find a place for everyone, so no one feels turned away. We do our best to pair experienced actors with new actors, so they have a chance to learn together. N3- What are the challenges involved in Youth Theater? We have such a short amount of time to teach them everything that goes into a play. N3-What are the benefits? Making new friends and watching the growth of each actor while they learn how much work goes into a play. N3- Any surprises during the course of rehearsals? A few of our kids have never done a musical before and it has been challenging to not just focus on the acting side of things but also the music and choreography; this group of actors have been troopers. N3- Why should people come to the show and what should they expect? Besides the fact that this show is absolutely beautiful, in my opinion, we are currently at a time in the world where people are feeling lost and unsure of where they belong. This story focuses on the prejudices that others have for people who are different like Quasimodo and the Gypsies. At the end of the day, we are all human and the lines are more blurred than others may think. N3- Any other comments? This has been one of the most challenging years as a director, but I wouldn’t have been able to do it without my family and my amazing cast and crew. A lot of them have stepped up to take on various roles and have been amazing role models. I couldn’t have asked for a better group! We hope everyone has a chance to come out and see the show, it’s one you do not want to miss!  4-H members from Lake and Newaygo Counties enjoyed a fun-filled day at Legends Ranch in Bitely on July 13! From touring the Wildlife Center with over 2,500 animals on exhibit from all over the world and learning about conservation programs to visiting with Knox, a 3-week-od fawn born at Legends Ranch through their deer breeding program and finally, ending the day fishing! 
   The Kropscott Environmental Center Ice Cream Social
Are you looking for some fun, free family entertainment? We have an evening planned for you. The Newaygo Conservation District in partnership with Magna Mirrors invites you to the Kropscott Environmental Center for an evening of discovery, adventure, and free ice cream for all. The Kropscott Environmental Center is an 80-acre property that was donated by Earle and Mildred Kropscott and is used for educational, agricultural, and scientific purposes focusing on scientific studies related to the environment and natural resources. The Center has a centennial farmhouse, barn, large wooded area with virgin timber and an astronomical observatory. Its purpose is to benefit the people of Newaygo County and this your chance to come and see what it’s all about. This special event includes the chance for kids to participate in a scavenger hunt with the help of a parent’s brochure to guide them along, and with a prize for all who complete the hunt. Visitors can choose to go for a ride on our “people mover” to the forest area, explore the S. F. Wessling Observatory take a photo as an ice cream cone and watch a demonstration on how to make homemade ice cream. At the end of the evening there will be a drawing from the names of the visitors who have attended. Don’t miss this chance for you and your family to join in the fun at the summer party at the Kropscott Environmental Center. Event Details: Thursday evening July 21st from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pn. Kropscott Environmental Center is located at 6523 W Baseline Road, Fremont MI This event is free to the public. Note: If you plan to visit the forest area to enjoy the walk in the grass and wooded areas, please wear long pants and shoes that protect your feet. We will provide more details in next week’s article.  Book Review: The Dictionary of Lost Words
By Alexis Mercer It had been so long since we had a Book Club meeting that none of us could remember who chose the last read. Someone threw my name out there, and while sometimes that task is a difficult one, I had just chosen a book for myself that I had yet to start, so the timing was perfect. The book had been a suggestion on Amazon if I recall. I was in looking for a “Rubber Dockie” floating pad to buy for my son’s birthday party and up popped the book suggestion. It’s rather like going into Target. I can’t help but come out with 19 things I wasn’t even looking for once I am in. Really not knowing what to expect, I dove in head first to The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams. While the first third was a little bit slow, it was intriguing and left me wanting to know how the life of the main character Esme was going to turn out. By the halfway point I was fully invested. Esme grew up with her father only after having lost her mother very early on in life. They both spend most of their time in the Scriptorium, a small shack like building where the men work on collecting words, definitions and usages for the first edition of the Oxford English Dictionary. Esme is permitted to spend her time under the table when very young, and here she learns of her curiosity for words and how they are used, or more specifically not used, by the men who decide how to put them in the book. As Esme grows older, she becomes aware of an entire category of words that are not included at all: those most frequently used by women of all classes. Set during the time of women’s suffrage and building up to the war, Williams brilliantly spins true historical events and the essence of the war women, as well as male suffrangents, fought to earn even a modicum of equality. Rich in language, thought-provoking and shockingly relevant to current events, this book is fascinating and worth reading. A great fictional tale is weaved amongst history and reality: a true feat. I certainly can’t claim I “knew it would be great” but I was so pleased with the random find, and a nice return to the Book Club world.  Think your beard is the best? You won’t know for sure until you enter the First Annual National Baby Food Festival Beard Competition. Prove to others that your beard is the best! Sponsored by Snipperz and co-sponsored by LLV. Judging will be held on Saturday, July 23 at 11:30am at the Community Stage, East Main Street, Downtown Fremont, MI. The judging criteria is based on health, thickness, color, and length of the facial hair, in addition to how well it enhances the competitor's overall look. Presentation matters! Contestants will be graded on a classic 10-scale, with each judge giving out one 10, one 9.5, and one 9 to their top three picks in every category. It's a facial hair competition. The rules are simple: show up on time, be in the right category. It goes without saying, but artificial hair is grounds for disqualification. Leave the weave at home. For the sake of time, categories are capped at 40 entrants on a first-come, first-served basis. Styling aids which help shape the hair including wax, hairspray, gel, scotch tape or whatever else you choose to use. Wires are not permitted. All hair on the face counts toward your category. If you rock wicked mutton chops with that 'stache, that counts as a partial beard. When you show up you will be pre-judged to make sure you're in the right category, so make sure to register for the category that fits best. 6 categories will run the gamut from Partial Beard to Full Beard, and Freestyle, there's a place for everyone! Check the categories below and choose the one that's most appropriate for you. If you aren't sure, get the one that fits the closest and we'll help you find the right category on the day of. PARTIAL BEARD All partial beard categories including sideburns, goatees, musketeers, and fu manchus. Styling aids are allowed but the emphasis is on grooming, not creativity. FULL BEARD 4" AND UNDER Short beards under 4", with emphasis on grooming and presentation. This is the category for new growers and white-collar types. Styling aids are not allowed. FULL BEARD UNDER 8" Styling aids are NOT allowed for any part of the face. The beard must remain natural. FREESTYLE Our jaw-droppingest category. Styling aids are mandatory. It takes a lot to surprise us, but we know somebody out there is just waiting to blow our minds. Use your imagination. NATURAL MOUSTACHE Moustache hairs must not grow from beyond 1.5 centimeters past the corner of the lip. Styling aids are forbidden, but conditioners and curlers are allowed. STYLED MOUSTACHE FULL BEARD Moustache hairs must not grow from beyond 1.5 centimeters past the corner of the lip. All shapes and styles are allowed. Go ahead, impress us. Pre Registration - $5.00 – All funds will be donated to Regency and Medical Care Facility. Forms are available at Fremont Area Chamber of Commerce, 7 E Main St, Fremont MI or at Snipperz, 937 W Main, Fremont MI Email [email protected] or online at fremontcommerce.com/events/details/national-baby-food-festival-07-20-2022-4422  Part of the gardens of Bill and Bev Wolford Five local gardens featured in this year’s event Saturday, July 9 will be a busy day at the Fremont United Methodist Church. From 9 am to 3 pm will be the 20th Annual Garden Tour. Tickets for the Garden Tour are $7.00 per person. Then from 3 to 6 pm will be our 3rd Community Celebration at the ARK Park. You are invited to tour 5 gardens this year. Bill and Beverly Wolford of S. Dickinson, Fremont have lived at their home for about 50 years. Highlights of their garden include large rocks found on their property when they moved there. Many small garden sites around the yard that focus on farm equipment found in the farm junk pile. There is also a wind chime made by a nephew. You are invited to ring the old family farm bell. Mike and Lori Dennis' home is located in the city on Pine Street. They have lived in their home since 1987. They started from scratch and planted perennials first, then kept adding more varieties over the years. They tend to replace the plants that do not make it through a cold winter. John and Sally Guikema invite you to their home and see the winner of the 2015 Largest Tree Contest in Newaygo County and the winner of the Michigan Big Tree Hunt from Newaygo County in 2019. Besides the trees, the Guikemas have several flower beds. Many different varieties of flowers with beautiful colors. Interspersed with the flowers and plants are garden ornaments. Some built by John such as the tractor that greets you as you drive in.  One of the flower beds on the Guikema property Last but not least are the gardens at the Steve and Michelle Burts home on 32nd Street. They have fourteen acres of beautiful nature surrounding their home including a natural pond. One focal point in their garden is a 125-year old lilac. They have many types of hydrangea, ornamental grass, hostas and more. Before or after you visit the gardens you are invited to the Fremont United Methodist Church. Please take a look at our Memorial Garden. We have added a statue of an angel reading a book with plants around the base. Also, at the church, you will be served complimentary water and cookies. Then experience the Garden Art and Crafts that are available for purchase. This year we included horseshoe pyramide with gems; Barn quilts, bottle cap art and many more items. There will be baked goods available. Returning for the second year is a paperback book sale. All proceeds go for the mission work of the church. From 3 to 6 pm, Fremont United Methodist invites you to the Ark Park for a Community Celebration. Bring the kids and experience our Ark playground. There will be food, yard games, and a bouncy house. Or if you prefer a good fire bowl head to the back of the Ark Park to the fire bowl. Fun for everyone. Contact the church office at 231-924-0030 or Jean Sherman 231-519-2542 for further information.  |
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