 NC RESA program offers college-like opportunity to local students of all grades
College for Kids is a summer program of enrichment classes designed to provide students entering grades 1-12 the opportunity for an in-depth study of a subject or field of interest. Through a grant from the Fremont Area Community Foundation, students will explore the types of programs offered at the Newaygo County Career-Tech Center including Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), as well as concepts and Michigan Career Pathways in an engaging way. On-line registration opens April 10 at 8:00 a.m. For more information on College for Kids, please visit our website at https://www.ncresa.org/page/c4k or call 231-924-8828.
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 Members of the Picture Perfect Horsemen 4-H Club, (left to right) Rio Phillips, Brinley Grey, Kaylee Smith, and Zoe Westgate with their awards from the State 4-H Hippology Contest held at MSU. By Elizabeth Letter, 4-H Leader/Coach The Picture Perfect Showmen 4-H Club (established 2012) competed in the 4-H State Hippology Contest held at Michigan State University on Saturday, March 16, 2024. The four members represented Newaygo County in a contest that brings teams together from around the state, including nearby counties of Muskegon and Mecosta. The girls from the club have been working hard for the past year to prepare for the contest, through regular meetings, clinics, a mock contest, a contest at the county fair, and individual study. They are tested on many areas of horse knowledge, such as breeds, colors, showing rules, diseases, feeding, riding disciplines, equipment, and more! The contest consists of four individual phases: a written exam, a slide test (pictures with questions about them), two classes of horses to judge (one halter and one performance) plus five questions on each class to answer, and a stations/skills phase. In addition, teams receive a specific problem in which they have ten minutes of preparation time where they discuss their strategy prior to being judged in a brief (up to five minute) presentation. Rio Phillips, from Grant, competed for the first time, participating as an individual in the junior novice (for first years) division. The other three girls, in their second year of competition, were in the junior regular division, and they all improved their performance from last year. They placed second as a team and also received second on team problem. Brinley Grey of Fremont, team leader, placed third overall, with awards in all four phases: second place in slides, third place on the written test, third place in judging, and third place in stations. Kaylee Smith, also of Fremont, placed sixth overall and second place in stations. Zoe Westgate of Howard City, placed seventh overall. Junior members are aged 8-13. 4-H is open to all youth ages 5-19 and offers programs in many different areas of interest, including, of course, horses. The hippology contest does not require having a horse or even being able to ride. Any member who wants to work hard and learn about horses can take part. They may be enrolled in any club or as an independent, but it is generally more fun to be part of a club. If they do well in competition, they can win ribbons and other prizes, and high scoring senior individuals are eligible to compete at the national level and possibly win scholarships. Other benefits (among others) are gaining confidence from success, learning new knowledge and skills and making friends! Now is the best time to join and begin preparing for next year’s state competition. In addition, Elizabeth Letter, coach and leader of the Picture Perfect Showmen, runs a beginner-friendly hippology contest at the Newaygo County Fair. To learn more about the Newaygo County 4-H Program, contact Laurie Platte Breza, 4-H Program Coordinator, at [email protected] or by calling the MSU Extension office at 231-928-1056.  Just when I thought I’d had enough And all my tears were shed No promise left unbroken There were no painful words unsaid You came along and showed me I could leave it all behind. You opened up my heart again And much to my surprise I found love, Baby Love in the nick of time- Bonnie Raitt How much of a random kind of thing is love anyway? It can be. Do we meet people along the way we believe ourselves to be in love with? Sure. Most people have been through at least a couple of relationship experiences with some semblance of love. Whether the broken heart of an unrequited passion for the prettiest girl in the 7th grade or an early 20’s romance that somehow soured with the passage of a little time or sometimes when there have been a few swings and misses when it comes to finding one who fits. The hope is to find the kind of love that is not only reciprocal in nature but chock full of potential for ongoing growth. An often delightful adventure that is also strong enough to endure whatever challenges might lie ahead. And whether that love arrives early in life or later... It always seems to be, as Ms. Raitt sings so well, in the Nick of Time. Here are the most recent couples who have signed on for the long run. Justin Croff, Coopersville & Michelle Blawat, Muskegon Keegan Tanis, Fremont & Ashley Cygeirt, Fremont Samara House, Fremont & Thomas Peterson, Kentwood Alex Lemley, Fremont & Melissa Avery, Newaygo  Amy Frey, (far left) owner of Tradewinds Farm, explaining draft horse conformation to 4-H members (left to right) Nala Polinski, Kaylee Smith, Rio Phillips, Brinley Grey, and Zoe Westgate from Mecosta and Newaygo Counties. Tradewinds Farm, located in Lakeview, is a Percheron breeding farm. Members of the Picture Perfect Showmen 4-H club will be heading to the State 4-H Hippology Contest held at Michigan State University on Saturday, March 16, 2024. Three of the girls, Brinley Grey, Kaylee Smith, and Zoe Westgate, competed last year and are returning for their second year in this contest, in the Junior Regular division (for ages 8-13). Last year they placed fourth as a team and Brinley scored in the top five individuals with top five placings in three phases of the contest. Newcomer Rio Phillips will be in the Junior Novice division, which is for members in their first year of state competition. The girls have been meeting all year for this contest and working hard to prepare for the various aspects they will encounter. Besides regular 4-H meetings and individual study, they attended several clinics on horse judging and competed at the county hippology contest in the fair last August and a practice contest with Mecosta County recently. Hippology, or horse knowledge, is a demanding competition. Members complete four phases individually and if on a team, a team problem where they have 10 minutes to prepare on a given topic/scenario and then five minutes to present to a judge. The individual phases consist of a written test, a slide test, two classes of horses to judge (halter and performance) with questions to answer, and stations to complete along with demonstrating a skill. They are tested on a wide range of horse knowledge, from breeds, tack, colors, markings, diseases, management, horse showing rules, parasites and more. Members do not use a horse in this contest, nor do they have to own a one to take part, which makes it very accessible, and provides an avenue of competition without a lot of expense. Any 4-H member from 5-19 may take part. Top scoring members in the Senior division are eligible for national competition. This is a great contest for any horse loving youth who wants to learn about horses and test their knowledge to possibly earn ribbons and other prizes. To learn more about the State 4-H Hippology Contest and 4-H, contact Laurie Platte Breza, 4-H Program Coordinator, at [email protected] or by calling the MSU Extension office at 231-928-1056.  A 4 week program to kick the Nic.
Fremont, Mich., March 12th, 2024 – Corewell Health Gerber Hospital is offering an upcoming 4-week class series designed to help people kick nicotine once and for all. “Quit for good” starts Wednesday, April 3rd, from 4 p.m.-5 p.m. at Tamarac, 1401 West Main Street, Fremont, and meets every Wednesday for four weeks through April 24th. Corewell Health offers many options for community members looking to quit, and also offers classes virtually, as well as one on one appointments. All services are free. People who sign up and attend all 4 classes will also receive a free month pass to Tamarac. “Tobacco and nicotine use, whether as cigarettes, chew or vaping, is highly addictive – which is why it is so difficult to quit in any form,” said Caitlin Schucker, Tobacco Treatment Specialist. “All of these ways of using tobacco or nicotine are also extremely toxic, causing over 12 different kinds of cancers, deadly lung diseases, heart attacks and strokes – even in young people. There are many reasons why people want to quit, including the high cost of tobacco and nicotine products. It is an expensive way to have poor health.” Schucker said “Quit for Good” is designed to break the chain of tobacco and nicotine addiction for lasting positive results. “The class uses the latest tools to help a person have the greatest success rate for quitting. We determine which is the best nicotine replacement (such as the patch or gum), or if one of the prescription medications used for tobacco cessation will the be best. Or maybe it will be a combination of both.” “We also help each person plan what to do instead of smoking or vaping. Studies show that people can double or triple their success rates by coming to a class, using one of the medications or nicotine replacement products, and following a plan that is just right for them.” For more information or to register, call Caitlin at 231.924.7589.  Pictured (l. to r.): Annie Schneider, dental services director; Anne Featherstone, chief human resources officer; Julie Tatko, CEO; Rep. John Moolenaar; Alan Neushwander, director of external & internal relations; and Eric Davidson, board member Several leaders from Family Health Care recently met with members of Congress during the National Association of Community Health Centers Policy and Issues Forum in Washington, DC. While meeting with the Congressmen who represent Family Health Care’s service area, the health center leaders lobbied for long-term increased funding for community health centers, protecting the 340B prescription drug program from ongoing threats from drug companies, increased funding for workforce programs such as the National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program, and making the COVID-19 telehealth policies permanent. Family Health Care is a Federally Qualified Community Health Center that serves medically underserved communities with six main clinics and five school-based clinics in Lake, Newaygo, Osceola, Mecosta, Missaukee, and Wexford counties.
Goal is reducing court involvement among at-risk youth
NEWAYGO, MI – Arbor Circle celebrates a recent grant from the Fremont Area Community Foundation in support of prevention education services for high risk youth and their families aimed at reducing court system involvement and building a strong future for the county’s most at risk youth. According to the 2022 Michigan Profile for Healthy Youth, 63% of 9th grade students and 47% of 11th grade students indicated they had used alcohol in the past 30 days. In Newaygo County, high rates of early use of alcohol, marijuana, and other drugs have a significant impact on youth post-secondary success, mental health, and risk for addiction in adulthood. “We are proud to support Arbor Circle’s prevention education programming,” said Shelly Kasprzycki, President and CEO of Fremont Area Community Foundation. “Arbor Circle has a long history in Newaygo County, and they are doing important work to help local young people and their families build healthier, stronger futures.” Arbor Circle has provided substance use disorder prevention programs in Newaygo County since 2011, with the goal of building life skills for youth to empower them to make healthy choices and achieve their full potential. Building and sustaining early success for youth increases the likelihood they complete high school and engage in post-secondary education; both traditional college or skilled labor. “We are so grateful for the Fremont Area Community Foundation’s support of this important work,” shared Leigh Moerdyke, Arbor Circle’s Director of Prevention and Advocacy. “These funds will strengthen our ability to effectively collaborate with our community partners in guiding youth towards healthy choices.” These funds will support Arbor Circle in working with Newaygo County Juvenile Justice and other partners to develop and implement enhanced prevention education services for high risk, underserved youth and their families aimed at reducing youth recidivism in the court system and encouraging youth in making healthy decisions for their future.  We are proud to acknowledge the district level spellers. (Front row: L to R) Lily Yonker, Fremont Daisy Brook; Lisa Murawa, Newaygo Elementary; Kenzi Colantuno,Newaygo Elementary; Liam Grundel, Grant Elementary (Back row: L to R) Greyson Stiegman, Newaygo Middle; Brandon Hesse, White Cloud Elementary; Mavis Basso, Fremont Daisy Brook; Emerson Ashcraft, Newaygo Middle; Jake Christoffersen, Fremont Middle; Zenith Hollinger, Grant Middle; Georgianna Vanpopering, Grant Middle; Kennedy Clements, Grant Elementary; Jax Stariha, Fremont Middle; Landon Fankhauser, Big Jackson Not pictured: Leon Burns, Big Jackson; Phoenix Cox, White Cloud Elementary  Overall winner Emerson Ashcraft Spelling Bee Champ, District Winners announced Newaygo County Regional Educational Service Agency (NC RESA) hosted the 2024 County Spelling Bee on February 29 with 16 district-level winners and runners-up (grades 4 through 8) competing at the county level. Congratulations to Emerson Ashcraft from Newaygo Middle School, who was the overall winner by correctly spelling the word vicarious in Round 26. Emerson will now advance to The Greater Grand Rapids Spelling Bee on March 20 in Grand Rapids. We also extend congratulations to Greyson Stiegman who was the runner-up. Greyson also attends Newaygo Middle School. These students are commended for their determination in preparing for the different levels of competition at their local school District Bee, Newaygo County RESA County Bee, and The Greater Grand Rapids Bee. The winner from The Greater Grand Rapids Bee will have the opportunity to compete in the Scripps National Spelling Bee. For a detailed national competition schedule, please visit Scripps National Spelling Bee website at www.spellingbee.com.  |
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