 By Ken DeLaat The Farmer’s Markets are open and while we haven't yet hit up the Newaygo Friday afternoon version (2-6pm) we made it to Fremont Saturday (9-5pm) in search of strawberries. The quest was successful and the little red beauties have transformed into a mashed up bowl of delight waiting to be smothered atop Lil’s wonderful shortcake. As a bonus we were surprised to see our ride-along deputy from a few years back and current co-proprietor of JRC Bargain Bins, Nicole Crutchfield. She was hawking some fine looking baked goods with the assistance of 2 year old Jasper whose seemingly infinite curiosity is a wonder to behold. As for the remainder of the venue, it is that time of year when each week brings out more of the home grown goodies we have been waiting for, so get thee to the markets and channel your inner locavore.
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 Recent County Marriage License Applicants
Man, there is no doubt that June is the #1 time for couples to perform their nuptials in these parts. Since fall it’s taken weeks to get 2-3 couples signing up on our sheet at the County Clerk’s office. We hit June and the sheet reads like a novel. Well, maybe a novella. Picking the month to begin a life together is likely easier once you’ve picked the person to share the day with. There are doubtless couples in the group below who have known each other a long time as their relationship progressed from dating to exclusivity to engagement and now nuptials. Others may have met more recently and decided fairly quickly to put a stamp of permanence on their coupleship. Love remains a wonderfully mysterious and compelling emotion. Songs, movies , books, plays, TV shows all seek to explore the many facets of love. Words have been written about love since writing began. Studies have been done on the subject of how and why and who we love. And yet when it comes down to it, love is as unique as the stars since each twosome experiences the emotion in their own way. Couples create their personal brand of love. They own it. And while it can be altered, modified, refined, tweaked and amended it remains theirs and theirs alone. Here are the latest couples to book passage on the adventurous journey known as marriage. Jimmy Brasher Jr., Rosenberg Texas & Janie Christofferson, Rosenberg Texas Naw Bawk Kareng, White Cloud & Bawm Yung, White Cloud Anthony H Keith, White Cloud & Mary Jo Tibbe, Fremont Kelly Henderson, Fremont & David Lilly, Grant Megan Enes, Howard City & Colin Scholtens, Howard City Adam DeShano, Howard City & Danielle Ferkinstad, Howard City Ally Harper, Rockford & Zach Julien, Rockford Nicole Mitchell, Grand Rapids & Nicholas Davis, Fremont Nathen Dewey, Howard City & Ashlee Lucy, Newaygo Melanie Magoon, Newaygo & Scott Fisk Jr. Newaygo Adam Ward, Fremont & Klayre Callison, Fremont Cassandra Fowle, Fremont & Mark Babich, Fremont Paige Foster, White Cloud & Caleb Wilk, White Cloud Brittney Bonnell, Newaygo & Jacob Doneff, Newark Ohio "We're all a little weird. And life is a little weird. And when we find someone whose weirdness is compatible with ours, we join up with them and fall into mutually satisfying weirdness — and call it love — true love. "~Robert Fulghum, True Love, 1997  John Durham pickleballing Free clinic coming June 22nd
Most of us have known someone affected by Parkinson’s. Some of us are well acquainted with the neurological disease slowly robbing loved ones of their control over their movements. As with any chronic affliction there is a tendency to yield to the illness, to accept its progression and adjust to the medical curve life has tossed at you. Or not. For John Durham, a pickleball aficionado who was caught up in the phenomena that has driven the popularity of the sport, there was no notion of giving up the game he loved. Certainly not being nudged from the sport by Parkinson’s. This is a story about perseverance. How one man’s decision to bring his love for the sport to others and give those who are afflicted the chance to participate in a little physical competition, while flipping a bit of the bird to the wretched intrusion Parkinson’s makes on our lives. We received this from the Durhams. Saturday, June 22, will be a free Pickleball clinic called: Pickleball, Parkinson's and Pals. It will focus on introducing Pickleball to those with Parkinson's and their pals, as well as others who are hoping to increase healthy activities. The idea for the clinic was started by John Durham who was diagnosed with Parkinson's 5 years ago. He has discovered how Pickleball has helped slow down the progression of his disease. The clinic is in partnership with the Newaygo County Pickleball club and the Parkinson's Foundation. We are thankful for support from Tamarac and the Fremont Community Recreation Center as well. The registration is scheduled at 8:30 am. with the clinic running from 9am-10:30am. Following the clinic there will be open play for new and experienced players until noon. The location will be at the outside Pickleball courts at 201 E Maple St. If there is rain, we will be in the gym at the Fremont Community Recreation Center - 201 E Maple St. Fremont, MI 49412. Feel free to come as a single or bring a pal to learn the game with you . The clinic is offered from Free, although donations to the Parkinson's Foundation will be accepted. To register, Please sign up at: bit.ly/DurhamPickleball4PD For more information or to sign-up, call John or Pat Durham @ 231 349 5460 or email, [email protected] Intrigued, we decided to pose a few questions to the Durhams. Can you take us from the idea to the plan of action? John was at a Parkinson's Symposium in Grand Rapids and met people at our table who were interested in learning Pickleball. We were sitting with another couple from Fremont whose husband also has Parkinson's and he has played Pickleball as well. We were talking about Pickleball and the others at the table showed interest in learning how to play. John thought about how he could share his knowledge of the game with beginners. John's neurologists have commented several times on how his level of activity ( mostly through Pickleball and biking) have helped with the slow down of the progression of his disease. Did John play PB before being diagnosed? Yes, John started playing Pickleball in 2014. He was diagnosed in 2019. How does pickleball help with Parkinson’s? The activity of Pickleball helps with staying active. It encourages a person to move, and use both sides of their body. It keeps the muscles working and helps with reaction time and focus. It is also great for socialization and connections with others. Depression and isolation can be a result of Parkinson's and Pickleball helps to combat those things. Who should attend the workshop and why? We started this for people with Parkinson's and their Pals. It could be a friend, a spouse, a child etc. This will give support for future play as well as for that day. We are also including anyone who would like to learn who may be challenged by other health issues. A project like this needs partners. Who has stepped up to help put this together ? The Parkinson's Foundation has helped with the planning of the event. Volunteers from the Newaygo County Pickleball Club will help with the clinic. We have had support from Tamarac with fliers and getting information out to the community. The Fremont Community Rec Center is a supporter by sharing their courts. We have had donations from Selkirk and Paddletek for door prizes. Anything you would like to add? Registrations for the clinic can be made at : bit.ly/DurhamPickleball4PD This was started as a clinic, is free to participants although donations are accepted. All donations will go to the Parkinson's Foundation. N3 Note: The Parkinson's Foundation has a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, the largest charity evaluator in the US. This rating means that the foundation exceeds industry standards and outperforms most charities in its cause. As of April 5, 2024, Charitywatch.org also rates the foundation's program percentage at 79%, which is the percentage of its cash budget that it spends on programs relative to overhead.  The Gerber Foundation awarded $363,300 in scholarships to 66 local graduating seniors from select high schools in Newaygo, Muskegon, and Oceana Counties. Since 1953 the Foundation has remained committed to providing local youth opportunities to pursue post-secondary education through its competitive merit-based scholarships: The Daniel Gerber Sr. Medallion Scholarship, the Merit Scholarship, and the Newaygo County Career Tech scholarship. Each scholarship can be used toward qualifying educational expenses at colleges or universities, trade schools, and apprenticeship programs. This year’s graduating seniors from Newaygo County receiving a scholarship are as follows: The Daniel Gerber Sr. Medallion Scholarship FREMONT HIGH SCHOOLAmelia Foster Bree Grove Grace Christoffersen Jillian Balcom Natalie Storms Stetson Vincent GRANT HIGH SCHOOL Avary Losee Camryn Stroven Julie Ashbaugh Madison Brooks HESPERIA HIGH SCHOOL Mia Milner NEWAYGO HIGH SCHOOL Abygail Lauryssens Elaine Chen Jaxon duChemin Lauren Bull Madison Christensen Olivia DeJohn WHITE CLOUD HIGH SCHOOL Andrea Feldpausch nna Mohr Mason Cruzan Andrew Weaver The Gerber Foundation Merit Scholarship FREMONT HIGH SCHOOL Amelia Foster Bree Grove Grace Christoffersen Jillian Balcom Natalie Storms Stetson Vincent GRANT HIGH SCHOOL Charles Atwood Edward Frye Hannah Marshall Kara Geerdink Sara Aguilar HESPERIA HIGH SCHOOL Ellie Lotz Garrett Van Avery Kayla Rumsey NEWAYGO HIGH SCHOOL Harley Palmiter Madelyn Garbrecht Mercedes Melle Sadie Cameron Taya Timmer WHITE CLOUD HIGH SCHOOL Courtney Plotts Jorja Baker The Newaygo County Career Tech Scholarship SERVICE CAREER FIELD Aamori Paz Emily Haney Emily Peterlein Josiah Long Julie Horning Kadence Nickoloff Maizy Swinehart Mayte Ceja Montano Tanayah Klammer Tru Petersen BUILDING AND DESIGN CAREER FIELD Trace Scarlavai INDUSTRIAL CAREER FIELD David Francis  |
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