 World renowned “Boogie Woogie” ragtime pianist Bob Milne will be performing on the Dogwood Center main stage on Sunday, August 6, at 3:00 p.m. Milne, from Lapeer, Michigan, has been recorded by the Library of Congress, played at Bill Gates’ private club in Palm Springs, and for the past president George Bush. He also has performed in venues around the world including Japan, Ireland and Kenya. Bob’s enthusiasm is contagious; he loves to share his knowledge, and is excited about keeping ragtime music alive. He is regarded as an American Treasure and as a recording artist he has produced 13 solo piano recordings to date which cover his wide range of playing styles, from the sweet and melodic to the highly rhythmic and hard-driving. He has composed over 40 piano rags, a ragtime waltz with variations, a trumpet concerto, a flute suite and a violin suite. The Library of Congress has collected memorabilia and made a film of a day in his life to be stored for posterity as part of the American Music Project. Bob also is the founder of the Michigan Music Retreat, a four-day event held in his hometown every September during which he teaches music and music history to students of all ages. This main stage concert begins at 3:00 p.m. Tickets are $15.00 for adults, $5 children 18 and under. Tickets are available online at www.dogwoodcenter.com, at the Dogwood Box Office, at NCCA-Artsplace in downtown Fremont, or click here . The Dogwood Center Box Office is open Tuesday - Friday, 10:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. For information, phone 231.924.8885.
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 Langford Lads will perform in the Dogwood Center Black Box on Friday, August 4 at 7:30 p.m.
Started by Bob Phillips, Larry Halverson, and Tim Staudacher, and musically known as the Langford Lads, the trio is an upcoming folk trio. The music of Langford Lads can only be described as sonically stunning, where the intersection of Irish, old-time, and folk music meet. Featuring guitar, mandolin, tenor banjo, tin whistle, flute and vocals they perform a cascade of folk based tunes that will entertain and delight. Based in West-Michigan their years as life-long music educators brings a unique perspective to their music and performance. Phillips, a graduate of the University of Michigan School of Music, taught orchestra in Saline. Called “the father of fiddling in schools,” he established the Saline Fiddlers in 1994. Phillips has authored more than 25 book series and published 200 pieces of music in the educational market. Staudacher, a graduate of the University of Michigan School of Music, retired from teaching instrumental music at Mona Shores Public Schools. He nurtures his deep interest in folk music by playing in groups that perform American and Irish music. Halverson, from Roosevelt Park, is a saxophonist who added the Irish tin whistle and the flute after attending a concert by Kennedy’s Kitchen. Through study with Ireland’s leading performers and instructors, he learned tin whistle techniques while developing his own unique style. Tickets are $12.50 and are available online at www.dogwoodcenter.com, at the Dogwood Box Office, at NCCA-Artsplace in downtown Fremont, or click here . The Dogwood Center Box Office is open Tuesday - Friday, 10:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. For information, phone 231.924.8885. The Dogwood Center is located one mile east of downtown Fremont.  The Kokx Corn Crew on Opening Day L-R Evan Christofferson, Oliver Kokx, Eva Barnes, Karla Barnes, Nicholas Barnes, Natalie Christofferson By Ken De Laat “Good food is very often, even most often, simple food.”- Anthony Bourdain, KItchen Confidential Admittedly I have always been a bit of a corn connoisseur having been mentored in the pursuit of this magical maize by a father who held sweet corn…and I mean Homegrown Michigan sweet corn…akin to the Holy Grail of vegetables. Under his tutelage I learned the ins and outs of locating the creme de la creme of corn traveling the back roads in search of those enigmatic roadside stands where one can find these tantalizing treasures. In the off-season (October until late July) most grocery stores carry some version of fresh corn grown in one of those states where their concept of layering amounts to a light jacket on ‘chilly’ days. Of course it is inevitably disappointing. I’ve heard people say “We got some Florida corn at the store and you know, it was not so bad.” Not So Bad? Sweet corn is not supposed to be “Not So Bad” Not so bad is what you say after a root canal proved to be a degree or two less painful than expected. Sweet corn is supposed to be like a slice of heaven on a cob. But I digress. Now it is late July and while bemoaning the rapid retreat of summer I was ready to get my hands on a couple of cobs. And not just any ordinary kernels. We’re talking about the long awaited arrival of the ears of exquisite epicurean experience available at the Kokx farm. This Maple Island Rd destination has long been my go-to site for heralding the beginning of the season of sweet corn. When it was announced that Thursday would see the Grand Opening I reset my schedule accordingly. I knew from past experience there would likely be an ample supply but admittedly there was that touch of angst that perhaps this year an early morning slam would deplete the first harvest. I mean, when it comes to securing the ultimate in sweet corn can past experience really be trusted? Rumor had it they would begin welcoming corn seekers at 9am. It so happened that Lifetime Spousal Companion LIl was leaving that day for a bit of a reune with some long time friends in another city. We breakfasted at Hit The Road Joe, said our goodbyes and she departed for her get together. while I shifted my focus on one destination. Arriving at 11ish there were about 8-10 cars with a few folks queueing up. I immediately scored a dozen while giving a quick hello to Farm Matriarch Joan Kokx and cruising home with that kind of feeling you get when all seems right with the Universe. 6 went to daughter Biz who inherited the family passion for this palate pleasing produce and 6 came home with me. On Thursday my solitary supper turned out to be three ears drenched with butter (never margarine…ever.) and salted sparingly, cukes and red peppers tossed with a little Italian dressing a slice of Lil's homemade sourdough bread and half of a wonderful Indiana melon procured from Nelson's Market. Friday was the same. Saturday morning found me back at the farm for another dozen. Lil is returning Monday and with any measure of personal discipline there just might be a few ears left for us to share that evening. But seriously, who am I kidding? Chances are better than not I’ll be heading west for a Monday morning maize run. “... food is not simply organic fuel to keep body and soul together, it is a perishable art that must be savoured at the peak of perfection.”- E.A Bucchianeri, Brushstrokes of a Gadfly 
Local entrepreneurs will pitch business ideas for chance at $5,000 during a live competition on August 16 in Fremont NEWAYGO COUNTY, MICH.: Five rural entrepreneurs have been selected to pitch their business ideas to a panel of judges during the fifth annual Pitch North competition. Pitch North is the region’s first-of-its-kind entrepreneurial pitching competition where entrepreneurs living in Lake, Newaygo, and Oceana Counties can pitch their ideas for a chance at one of five cash prizes. The competition has awarded over $55,000 in cash to-date as a collaborative effort to foster entrepreneurism in the rural three-county region. The 2023 finalists, selected from a pool of 26 total submissions, will compete for the chance to win their share of more than $11,000 in cash and prizes to bring their ideas to life. The finalists are:
Each finalist will be given five minutes to present their business idea and then answer judges’ questions during a live event being held August 16 from 4pm – 6pm at Lakes 23 Pavilion in Fremont. Those wishing to support the finalists may attend the live event for free by registering online at https://www.rightplace.org/events/pitch-north-2023 by August 15.  Presentation at the 2022 Pitch North held at Heritage Farms  The Dogwood Summer Youth Theater will present “Arsenic and Old Lace” on July 27 and 28 at 7:30 p.m. and on Saturday, July 29 at 3:00 p.m. on the Dogwood Main Stage. The Dogwood Summer Youth Theater is directed this summer by Casey Webb and involves area young people in all facets of the production. Arsenic and Old Lace is a dark comedy by American playwright Joseph Kesselring. The story begins as drama critic Mortimer Brewster’s engagement announcement is upended when he discovers a corpse in his elderly aunts’ window seat. Mortimer rushes to tell Abby and Martha before they stumble upon the body themselves, only to learn that the two old women aren’t just aware of the dead man in their parlor, they killed him! Between his aunts’ penchant for poisoning wine, a brother who thinks he’s Teddy Roosevelt, and another brother using plastic surgery to hide from the police—not to mention Mortimer’s own hesitancy about marriage—it’ll be a miracle if Mortimer makes it to his wedding. 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. Dogwood Summer Youth Theater is funded in part by the Fremont Area Community Foundation. For more information please contact the Dogwood Center at 231.924.8885. The Dogwood Center is located one mile east of downtown Fremont.  Photo by Andrea Gerstle A free, fun, family-friendly farm fete Kropscott Farm Environmental Center will open to the public Saturday, July 22 from 1:00 to 4:00 pm as it hosts a summer social event. KFEC staff is excited to follow-up on the success of past seasonal events with learning activities and free refreshments for all ages. In the barn, visitors will have the opportunity to engage in water quality testing and "The Incredible Journey'', a fun water cycle activity. The field west of the barn will be the site of environmental games for kids and adults. "Fast Frozen Critters" and "How Many Bears Live in the Forest" model predator-prey relationships as well as carrying capacity. The "People Mover" is a wagon ride that will transport visitors from the Environmental Center buildings to the beautiful wooded hiking trails where you're invited to complete a nature scavenger hunt. Back at the KFEC labs, kids and adults will find a rock-painting station where they can create a nature masterpiece they may take home! Thanks in part to continued support from Magna Mirrors, Kropscott offers the summer event free to the public.   NCAC is sponsoring a number of free events for persons with ASD ( Autism Spectrum Disorder) and their families. Participants must be Newaygo County residents or attend a Newaygo County school. Please join us for summer fun! Swimming at Tamarac: July 19th 5:00-7:00 PM A one time waiver must be filled out before swimming.A parent must be present, preferably in the pool. If your child needs a flotation device, please bring your own. Siblings are welcome. *This will be a monthly event on the 3rd Wednesday of each month. Sensory Friendly Movie: July 26th at Fremont Cinemas. Time and title of movie to be announced. Bowling: August 22 at Fremont Lanes. Time to be announced. Look for more information and updates on these events at the Newaygo County Autism Community Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/newaygocountyautismcommunity  Do you love the Calvin University January Speaker Series? Well.....Calvin has a three speaker "January Series in July" that will be available for viewing at the Dogwood Center for Performing Arts on Wednesdays, July 12, July 19 and July 26 from 12:30 - 1:30 p.m. in the Black Box! The speakers include Calvin University staff that are very accomplished in their fields of work: Jennifer Holberg on July 12; Kevin Timpe on July 19; and Matt Heun and Kate van Liere on July 26. This is a great opportunity to listen to speakers surrounding a variety of interesting topics. The Dogwood Center, a remote site for the Calvin University's January Series and supported in part by the Fremont Area Community Foundation, is pleased to bring this special "January Series in July" to Newaygo County. The "January Series in July" lectures will be viewed at the Dogwood Center, 4734 S. Campus Court, Fremont, from 12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m., July 12, 19 and 26. The lectures are free and open to the public. The Black Box will be available for seating and attendees may bring their lunch. View the speaker schedule at www.dogwoodcenter.com and pick out which ones you will be attending! |
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