 Time For The FADL Summer Reading Program
The Fremont Area District Library begins their summer reading program on Friday, June 2nd. All ages are welcome to come in and sign up on or after June 2nd to begin earning prizes for your reading. Children can earn a free pizza, free ice cream, a toy, a free book, honey sticks, Whitecaps and Griffins passes, and entry into the grand prize drawings for an RC car, birthday party at NorthPointe Gymnastics, a trip to Great Lakes Crossings, Detroit Tigers tickets, and more! Teens can earn free pizza from Spanky’s, ice cream from Koffee Kuppe, a free book, and for every book they read, they can enter for chances to win many prizes from local restaurants and stores. Plus finishers will be entered into the grand prize drawing for a $100 Meijer gift card! Adults can earn a free ice cream or drink from Koffee Kuppe, a coupon for seeds or 4-cell veggie or flower from Mellema Nursery, a free book from the Friends Gift Shop, and for every book they read, they can enter for chances to win many prizes from local restaurants and stores. Grand prize drawings are a $50 Barnes & Noble gift card and a $100 Meijer gift card! The Summer Reading Program is important in helping to prevent the “summer slide,” which is the tendency for students to lose some of the achievement gains they made in school the previous year. So grab some books, have fun reading, and come to our “Growing Together Now” (FREE) events this summer! Children’s June Events Our Summer Reading Kickoff party takes place in the Children’s Department on Friday, June 2nd from 1:00-3:00 p.m. Sign up for Summer Reading, make summer crafts, play games, and get a temporary tattoo! Storytimes for babies & toddlers (up to age 3) will be on Wednesdays at 10:00 a.m., starting June 7th. Family Storytime (up to age 5) will be on Thursdays at 10:00 a.m., starting on June 8th. Saturday Storytime will be on June 10th at 11:00 a.m. We’ll also show an afternoon movie (title coming soon) on June 15th at 2:00 p.m. Our very popular Discovery Tuesday programs will take place in the Community Room on Tuesday mornings at 10:00 a.m. and last 45 minutes to 1 hour. On June 6th, a presentation called Be Kind to Our Planet (with live animals) will kick off our Discovery Tuesday programs. Mr. Jim will bring us Stacking Our World Together (Cup Stacking) on June 13th. From June 20th-23rd, we’ll have a Scholastic Book Fair in the library’s Community Room. Hours are: Tue, Wed, Fri 10:00-12:00 & 1:00-5:00; Thur 10:00-12:00 & 1:00-7:00. Dance for Kindness will bring us a modern dance/flow arts program on June 27th. All Ages June Events The Teen Summer Reading Kickoff Party will be on Friday, June 2nd, at 1:00 p.m. We’ll watch the movie 5000 Blankets, sign up for summer reading, and eat snacks. Paint a Succulent Planter (Registration Required) will be in the Community Room on Thursday, June 8th at 6:30 p.m. Doodling Nature with Victor Du Bois (ages 10 & up) will be on Saturday, June 17th at 10:00 a.m. Please RSVP for Victor’s class by emailing sgibson@fremontlibrary.net, but walk-ins are also welcome. Try your hand at pickleball on Thursday, June 22nd at 6:30 p.m. when we host a Family Pickleball Clinic at the courts outside the Rec Center. Paint Your Own Bookends (Registration Required) will take place on Thursday, June 29th at 6:30 p.m. For those that require registration, call the library at 231-928-0256. The Wednesday Readers book group will meet on Monday, June 12th at 7:00 p.m. to discuss Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate. The Non-Fiction Book Discussion will meet on Monday, June 19th to discuss Feather Brained by Bot Tarte. The Daytime Book Group and Young Adult Book Club breaks for the summer. New members are welcome to our book groups! Junk Journaling will be on Wednesday, June 14th from 6:00-8:00 p.m. This is a scrapbooking and journal hybrid. Use up what you have and supplement with found, recycled, repurposed and thrifted items. For ages 10 and up. All materials provided. Adult Events The adult Summer Reading Program will run from June 2nd to July 27th. Adults can attend an event listed on their reading log and count it as one book read. We’ll have Ron Rademacher here to present Nature Getaways for Live @ the Library. This will be in the Community Room on Tuesday, June 13th at 7:00 p.m. We’ll also have a Movie Monday on June 12th at 2:00 p.m. to show 80 for Brady (PG-13; 98 min). Snacks provided! This year’s Summer Reading Program is generously sponsored by: Baars Pharmacy, Blondie Blossom Boutique, Bruce's Glass Shop, Blades Hair Design and Boutique, CBD Store of Michigan, Dave's Auto Clinic, Elsie's Ice Cream, Excellence in Vision, Firestorm Gaming, Friends of the Fremont Area District Library, Geers Family Chiropractic, Gerber Federal Credit Union, Gerber, Nestlé, Koffee Kuppe, Lakeside Swirl, Meijer, Mellema Nursery, Moon Dance Café, Nieboer Electric, NCCA-Artsplace, Northern Rustic Designs, NorthPointe Gymnastics, Paulsen Heating & Cooling, Pizza Hut, Reeman Farm Equipment, SHB Gifts & Décor, Spanky's Pizza, The Original Print Shop, White & Associates, Tire Wholesalers Plus, Walmart, and Discovery Toys Pat Durham. For more information about library programs, visit http://www.fremontlibrary.net, or call 231-924-3480.
0 Comments
 Photos and article by Donna Iverson My grandfather always called Jack Pines “weed trees.” This made me feel very sorry for them as a child. Looking back, he was probably referring to their ability to grow and spread like weeds in his apple orchard. But Jack Pine (Pinus banksiana) is more than just a weed tree. Or rather its qualities of being able to spread and grow rapidly in poor soil is, in my opinion, something of an advantage. Jack Pine is fast growing even in poor soil. It is often the first tree to appear in land that has been cleared, whether by humans or nature, especially fires. In fact, its cones open and expel its seeds when exposed to the high heat of a fire. It is our country’s most northern pine species, growing in the Michigan UP, northern lower peninsula, and along Lake Michigan. Jack Pine’s range extends west from the Rocky Mountains up into Canada, east to Nova Scotia. The greatest number of Jack Pines grow in Michigan. Jack Pines have a craggy look to them with open irregular crowns. They are not your perfectly shaped Christmas tree. They have a twisted growth pattern and can even grow sideways. Other names include Grey Pine and Scrub Pine. Personally, this endears them to me. In identifying them, look for two needles per cluster. The needles are stiff, coarse, and thick. The trees often grow cheek to jowl, next to each other in a row. Tall trees when fully grown, measuring 20 to 50 feet high. They can survive temperatures as low as -50 degrees. Jack Pine’s knotty wood is used as pulpwood, fuel, decking and for utility poles. It was once used to make jacks, probably where it gets its name. In landscaping it can be used as a windbreak. As for wildlife, the endangered Kirtland's Warbler depends on the Jack Line to make its nests. Medicinally, Jack Pine oil has been used to reduce inflammation, clear mucus, and treat skin conditions, like eczema and psoriasis. If you want to try growing a Jack Pine, find a mature cone and soak in very hot water for 8 to 12 hours. Then dry the cone in the sun. The seeds will germinate fast and the tree will grow about 2 feet a year. And please don’t call it a weed tree, unless like me, you are fond of beneficial weeds.  Leila, Drew and Holly Harmon take a Mothers Day stroll on the new trail Story and photos by Doug Harmon Another section of the Dragon Trail is set to open. The trailhead starting at Operator’s Park south of Hardy Dam will soon be completed. The trail follows the pong heading east with the water in view for most of the section. Collaboration between Newaygo County Parks, Mecosta County Parks, Dragon Trail Committee and the Newaygo County Road Commission has ensured this section will be a simple degree of difficulty, easily accessible for wheelchairs,] and walkers. The one mile section is wider than other sections to provide easier access. The Road Commission finished off the surface with Dolomite, a road making substance that will pack in like concrete and remain durable for years to come. Finishing the walkway requires the installation of a bridge which is on schedule to be completed in the next couple of weeks. If you have not checked out the trail, this section allows for easy access and there is ample parking at Operator’s Park with restrooms, a swimming beach and picnic tables on site for a relaxing event. Don’t miss this opportunity to enjoy the Dragon Trail, Hardy Pond and what Newaygo County has to offer in our great outdoors. 
Michigan Notable Author Highlights May Offerings at FADL
The Fremont Area District Library is planning to host several fun and educational events in May for the whole family. These events are FREE, as always. Live @ the Library, a series of events including author visits and special presentations is welcoming Michigan Notable Author Anne-Marie Oomen. Follow Anne-Marie’s journey to finally knowing her mother as well as the heartbreaking loss of her mother’s immense capacities in her Michigan Notable Book, As Long As I Know You: The Mom Book. It explores how humor and compassion grow belatedly between a mother and daughter who don’t much like each other, all while navigating the stress and family decisions brought about by a parent with dementia. As Long as I Know You is a personal map to find a mother who may have been there all along—only to lose her again. Copies of the book will be available to purchase at this event on Monday, May 15th at 7:00 p.m. The 2023 Michigan Notable Books program and Author Tour are made possible thanks to the generous support of the Library of Michigan, the Library of Michigan, Library of Michigan Foundation, Michigan Humanities, Michigan Center for the Book, EBSCO, and MSU Federal Credit Union. For additional sponsors, please visit the Library of Michigan Foundation’s website. The Wednesday Readers Book Group will meet on Monday, May 8th at 7:00 p.m. to discuss As Bright As Heaven by Susan Meissner, and the Daytime Book Group will meet on Thursday, May 25th at 12:30 p.m. (title TBD). Anyone is welcome to join these book groups. Books for these groups are available at the library’s front desk ahead of the meeting if you’d like to check out a copy and join the group. For Movie Monday we will be showing Jesus Revolution on May 8th at 2:00 p.m. Snacks will be provided free. (Rated PG-13; 120 min) Junk Journaling for ages 10 and up will take place on May 11th between 6:00-8:00 p.m. This is a scrapbooking and journal hybrid. Use up what you have and supplement with found, recycled, repurposed and thrifted items. Materials provided. Children will have the chance to Read to a Dog (REGISTRATION REQUIRED) on Saturday, May 13th between 1:00-5:00 p.m. We’ll have a furry friend from Geno Dog Adventures for kids to read to! Get some fun, relaxed reading practice and share a story with a dog! Call 231-928-0249 or come in to the library to sign up for a time slot. Saturday Storytime will take place on May 20th at 11:00 a.m. For children birth to age 5. Featuring songs, rhymes, lapsits, fingerplays, stories, movies, and crafts. Siblings and parents can share this fun storytime together! A children’s Afternoon Movie will be shown on May 25th at 3:30 p.m. Check back for details on the title, but snacks will be served, and all are welcome! Other dates to note: Beginning Sunday, May 28th our summer hours will resume and we will be closed on Sundays. Also, Summer Reading kicks off on Friday, June 2nd! There will be a kickoff party for children in the Children’s Department from 1:00-3:00 p.m. All ages can sign up for Summer Reading and earn prizes. More info to come soon! For more information about any of these events, please contact the library at 231-924-3480 or visit www.fremontlibrary.net.  Photo and article by Donna Iverson Wild violets may be small, barely noticeable, and overlooked in favor of the larger more colorful spring flowers. but they have a lot going for them. First, they are native to the United States, which tulips and daffodils are not. They require no maintenance. They are edible. They provide nectar for many bees and butterflies. They are perennials that spread in a number of different ways. And if you are wanting to replace part of your lawn with a native plant, wild violets may fit the bill. There are two violets native to the Midwest. Both are perennials. The more common one is Viola sororia, a purple-flowered species that prefers shady, moist, fertile soil. The second native violet is Viola pubescent, which is also called Downy Yellow Violet. Both are hardy to Zone 3 and bloom from April to July. Both go dormant in the summer but their leaves remain green. Our native violets spread in a number of ways. Some spread by underground rhizomes. Their seeds can be sown by ants and the seeds are also able to self pollinate, exploding when they are dry to a distance of three feet. And of course you can buy the wild seeds from nurseries, like the Vermont Wildflower Farm. As I have an aspiration to transition from a community gardener to a guerilla gardener, I have purchased wild violet seeds to spread in barren spots in my neighborhood. If you buy seeds, you will need to learn patience. The seeds don’t produce flowers till the fourth year. It might surprise you to learn that there are two types of violets: stemmed and stemless. The Downy Yellow Violet is stemmed and the Wild Blue Violet is stemless. In other words, the yellow flower grows from a stem and the flower grows out of a leaf axel. Both violets have heart shaped leaves, and are easily identified and not mistaken for anything else. So if you are a beginning forager, you will have no trouble identifying this common spring wildflower. Its culinary uses are many. The flowers can be used to decorate salads or frozen into ice cubes. The leaves are also edible but only when they are young and in early bloom. Although not toxic, avoid eating the seeds and rhizomes, as it can cause gastric distress.  Birder Extraordinaire Terry Grabill Long time birder and Fremont science teacher (ret.) Terry Grabill and his wife Andrea have graced the pages of N3 with their articles on birding and as a bonus he allowed us to cover his Big Year in 2021. For the non-birders among you, a Big Year is a personal challenge to identify as many species of birds as possible within a single calendar year and within a specific geographic area. And Terry i.ded a boatload of birds. On Thursday at 6pm he will deliver a presentation for the Newaygo District Library at the Newaygo City Council room. We caught up with him for a little info. “Andrea and I have never before been involved in "chasing " rarities. Our birding has been more location-oriented, meaning we go to places and see what we see. Kind of serendipitous birding. “After sharing my birding obsession with my students for years and them goading me into considering a Big Year, I finally decided a Michigan Big Year would be my mission in 2021. “Andrea was onboard, fully aware that most things other than racing after rare birds would take a backseat for 365 days. Having not been mentored as a youth by a seasoned birder, I had no illusions of being competitive in the species count so I made a secondary goal of birding in all 83 of Michigan's counties. At least THAT goal was directly in my control.” By the end of January, Terry was listed in the top 50 of Michigan's 26,000 ebird users. After running hard for four months, he stood at #1 in the state. All told, by December 31, Terry finished the race #1 in Michigan with a total of 323 species observed! Since September 2022, he’s been busy sharing his Big Year story with several MI Audubon groups as far north as Sault Ste. Marie and south to the Michiana club near the Indiana border. Additionally, Terry has also teamed with occasional N3 contributor Charles Chandler to develop a Newaygo County Birding Trail that they hope to launch this fall. Whether you are already an avid birder, developing an increasing interest in the ever growing activity or just someone who enjoys spotting the scavengers at your feeder Terry’s presentation will provide an entertaining and informative evening. 
Arboretum Poetry Contest for Newaygo County Residents
The Fremont Area District Library is partnering with the Fremont Area Community Foundation to host the Arboretum Poetry Contest. We invite anyone of any age who lives in Newaygo County to compose and share an original poem related to humanity and our natural world. Winners: Awards will be announced at the Arboretum Poetry Event on Friday, May 19th, from 5:00-7:00 p.m. at Arboretum Park. A winner from each age group will receive a cash prize: $250 for ages 0-10 and $500 each for ages 11-17 and 18+. If there is inclement weather, the event will take place at Fremont Area District Library. How to enter: Limit of one entry per person. The two-page entry form may be mailed or brought to the library, or emailed to jroseberry@fremontlibrary.net no later than May 1, 2023. Entry forms and more info can be picked up at the library's front desk or printed from the library's website: https://www.fremontlibrary.net/about-us/arboretum-poetry-contest  Photo and article by Donna Iverson Looking for a plant to fill in around driveways or lawn edges? Or maybe replacing part of the lawn itself? Bearberry may fit the bill. A native perennial evergreen, Bearberry is a member of the Heath family. It is native to North America, Finland and Russia. As a ground cover, it can survive where other plants can’t. Extremely hardy, it grows in poor soil as a small creeping vine-like plant. Once established, it is tolerant of salt and drought. In May, it produces pink flowers which turn into red berries by fall. As well as a ground cover, it would be a good addition to a native plant garden. Companion plants might include coneflowers, coreopsis, liatris, sedums and goldenrod. In the wild, Bearberry grows along woodland edges. You can identify it by its shiny alternate leaves and reddish stems. It is sometimes referred to as a subshrub as it sends up 6 inch shoots. If you are a forager, its berries are edible but mealy and somewhat tasteless. Herbalists recommend small quantities to be on the safe side. Bearberry was called Kinnikinnick by Native Americans who smoked it along with a mixture of sage, mint, cover and Willow tree bark. It was also used medicinally to treat bladder problems.
Doodling Artist, Michigan Author, & More in April at Fremont Library
“The only thing that you absolutely have to know, is the location of the library.”- Albert Einstein The Fremont Area District Library is planning to host several fun and educational events in April for the whole family. These events are FREE, as always. Live @ the Library, a series of events including author visits and special presentations is welcoming local artist and graphic designer Victor Du Bois for Doodling Fun. Learn how to doodle whimsical and spontaneous caricatures, words, patterns, abstract and more! Materials provided free. Please register by emailing sgibson@fremontlibrary.net, but walk-ins are welcome. For ages 10 & up on Saturday, April 15th at 10:00 a.m.; lasting 2 hours. Live @ the Library will also welcome Michigan Notable author John Wemlinger. In The Cut, named a 2022 Michigan Notable Book, Alvin Price and Lydia Cockrum literally bump into one another in the summer of 1870 and fall in love. Coming from vastly different backgrounds, their relationship encounters struggle amid the feuding farmers and powerful lumber industry in Manistee, Michigan. Additionally, a terrible storm on October 8, 1871 will sweep across the upper Midwest, setting off fires in Chicago and dozens of other cities, including Manistee. Will their love endure? Wemlinger will also answer questions and have books available to purchase and sign at this event on Thursday, April 20th at 7:00 p.m. in the Community Room. Toddler Storytime, for babies and toddlers up to age 3, will be held on Wednesdays at 10:00 a.m. until April 12th, and Family Storytime for children up to age 5 will be held on Thursdays at 10:00 a.m. until April 13th. Saturday Storytime for children up to age 5 will be on April 29th at 11:00 a.m. We’ll also be showing a Children’s Afternoon Movie on Thursday, April 27th at 3:30 p.m. Snacks will be served, and all are welcome. Fit for Life Exercise is on Mondays at Wednesdays from 12:00-1:00 p.m. This is a low-impact exercise class perfect for all adults and levels of fitness. PLUS, we are now offering a Fit for Life Stretch & Walk Class on Fridays at 10:30 a.m. Junk Journaling for ages 10 and up will take place on Thursday, April 13th anytime between 6:00-8:00 p.m. This is a scrapbooking and journal hybrid. Use up what you have and supplement with found, recycled, repurposed and thrifted items. Materials provided. We’ll show the movie Father Stu for our Movie Monday on April 10th at 2:00 p.m. (PG-13; 124 min). Snacks will be provided. The Wednesday Readers Book Group will meet on Monday, April 10th at 7:00 p.m. to discuss The Ghosts of Eden Park by Karen Abbott. The Non-Fiction Book Discussion will meet on Monday, April 17th at 6:00 p.m. to discuss Poet Warrior by Joy Harjo. The new Young Adult Book Club will be meeting on Tuesday, April 25th at 4:00 p.m. by the north fireplace. Book title is yet to be determined. The group will eat pizza while discussing their book, and new people are welcome to join anytime, even if you haven’t read the book! Both high school students and adults are welcome to join this book group. The Daytime Book Group will meet on Thursday, April 27th at 12:30 p.m. Books for all of these groups are available at the library’s front desk ahead of the meeting if you’d like to check out a copy and join the groups. For more information about any of these events, please contact the library at 231-924-3480 or visit www.fremontlibrary.net.  Photo and article by Donna Iverson Red Cedar will surprise you. First, it’s the only native evergreen growing wild through the Midwest, including Michigan. And it’s not a cedar, it’s a Juniper, (Juniperus virginiana). Red Cedar is one of four plants sacred to the Native Americans. The others are sweetgrass, tobacco, and sage. Often planted as a landscape shrub, Red Cedar trees grow to about 18 feet in twenty years. The native shrub/tree likes full sun and can tolerate dry soil. In fact, it is extremely drought resistant. Red Cedar makes a great windbreak or visual barrier if one is needed. In the wild, it is found along woodland edges, on prairies, in meadows and pastures, where farmers often remove it because it sucks up groundwater. It is a succession tree, meaning it is one of the first trees to grow in land marred by fire or land clearing. A member of the Cypress family, it is not related to the ancient cedars of Europe which are members of the Pine family. The Cedars of Lebanon mentioned in the Bible are now an endangered species. You can identify the Midwest native cedar by its flat triangular leaves which have scales. The bark is reddish brown and female plants have blue berries, which are actually the seed cones. The wood is used to make pencils, fences, furniture, paneling and log cabins. The wood repels pests and mold. Young wood produces an aromatic oil that is used in medicine. It is a vital food source for cedar waxwings. It attracts other birds and mammals as well, who seek out its berries, shelter, and nesting spots. Rabbits are especially fond of hiding underneath its branches. On the downside, it repels bees and butterflies so if you are focusing on pollinators, best to avoid planting Red Cedars. As for foragers, Red Cedar is a wild edible. But beware. There are several toxic lookalikes….Juniperus sabina and Juniperus oxycedrus, but if you are sure that what you have is Juniperus virginiana, then it’s twig sprigs can be used for a soothing throat tea and it’s berries for flavoring meat dishes.  |
Archives
May 2023
Categories |
RSS Feed