A Look Back at 2020 Part II

Last week we shared highlights the first half of the year. Here is the second half of what will likely go down in history as...as...well, I guess you can say it will certainly go down.

 July
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 Fred Bultman’s touching tribute to Jeanette Johnson captured a synchronic partnership in a heartwarming way.
Beautiful Independence Day Sounds From A Nonagenarian’s Hands
Her best was amazing.  There was unexpected energy from this “little woman” in her playing the exuberant songs; there was reverential and soothing comfort in the quieter hymns; and throughout, I also noticed that her piano playing seemed always to be in direct dialogue with her fellow residents.

​N3 Editor Alexis Mercer took part in that inaugural ride and word has it she and her family have been regulars ever since on the ever growing epic trail.
Michigan's Dragon Trail Official First Ride
Organizers, project partners and media met at Brower Park in Stanwood on Monday, July 20, 2020 to hold the first official trail ride and hike on the much anticipated Dragon Trail.

My personal admiration for nurses is well documented and while many are wonderful some are inspirational.Tessa Grewe’s mentorship inspired a student nurse to nominate her for a DAISY an award given for exceptional nursing practice.
"A Prime Example of a Great Nurse"
I will be a better registered nurse someday because of Tessa’s willingness to teach me and let me experience new skills. I am forever grateful for Tessa’s teaching and kindness. She is a prime example of what a great nurse should be.”

August

The book authored by  former NC resident Jennifer Graeser Dornbush is based on the murder of Newaygo resident Shannon Siders  a case solved by the local cold case team. This is from our interview with Ms. G-D.
 “Hole In The Woods” Hits Home
“I first learned about Shannon and her death by my father who was the county Medical Examiner at the time. He determined after examining her remains that Shannon had suffered a brutal death, disturbing details that I wouldn’t find out until sitting in on the trial some 25 years later. 

The master at mixing mirth and mindfulness  Tim McGrath has a wide and varied fan base among our readers. His ability to make childhood experiences come alive and then weave them into present day reflections is never more apparent than in this piece from August.
Random Bits… Summer Song
Those charmed summer days of childhood that meant no school, and the endless possibilities of days stretched out before us with nothing but what our little minds could conjure up. Just had to be back home when the streetlights came on…. 
Ah, summer; sweet, sweet summer.

September
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Charles Chandler tells a good story.
He’s also an avid fisherman though not a requirement for telling a good story it certainly doesn’t hurt.
Here he captures one of those delightfully collaborative endeavors aimed at improving our local waters and, yes, with it the fishing. 
The Newaygo County Bigelow Creek Watershed Project
But here at this Newaygo County road intersection, it is a cool Michigan morning, there is a tiny warbler hunting insects in a bush near the side of the road. There is a bit of fall color beginning to show among the thick green pine and spruce. The small clear spring-fed creek that is getting all the attention is gurgling along a few feet away. We are all oblivious to the world’s troubles and are mesmerized by the activity in front of us. This morning the Newaygo County Road Commission crew is installing a huge box culvert on this small Bigelow Creek tributary.

October
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 No, no misspelling here, it is indeed irruptions. We love having the Grabills respond to  the birding (not burning) questions of the day. Send in your queries and we will pass them along.
Ask BirdGoober: Irruptions, House Maintenance
Wild bird populations sometimes get very exciting in winter.  Birds that we’ve not seen in Lower Michigan suddenly appear in great numbers, causing all kinds of talk among birders and feeder watchers. An irruption, or sudden change in the density and distribution of birds can occur for several reasons, but the result is a regional buzz among the birding community as pine siskins, redpolls, red-breasted nuthatches and evening grosbeaks show up in yards where they haven’t been seen for years, even decades.  
 
I was sitting home when LSC Lil who had recently departed on an errand called and told me there was a truck in the lake just down from our house.
She was right.
She generally is.
A Mistake at the Lake
This Ford Ranger is not an amphicar and likely wasn’t anticipating an October swim but when its driver lost control of her car the vehicle  jumped a seawall and ended up in the waters of Hess Lake.
​The driver and her passenger were unhurt, but the pickup is going to require some major drying out

November
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A group of our personal heroes came through again as the Drs. Nelson and their staff once again spent a day serving  all veterans who came through their doors for the third straight year.  
Awesome: Part  III
“This is my 2nd time here,” said Veteran William Hall. “Awesome program to help veterans get services they need.”
We wholeheartedly agree with Mr. Hall as to the awesomeness A lot of people talk about doing more for veterans. Others simply show  how it's done.
On Friday Newaygo Family Dental Care puts its humanity  into action.
And we’re a better community for it.

Donna Iverson is not just our gardening guru, she also adds some intriguing tidbits to her stories. Here she shares a anecdote about Mr. Apple himself.
Hands in the Dirt: Macs.
It is also parent to the Macintosh commuter, developed by Steve Jobs of Apple, Inc.  According to his biographer, Walter Isaacson, Jobs had become a fruitarian and was visiting an apple orchard when he encountered the Mcintosh apple and saw it and his new computer design as “fun, spirited and not intimidating.” In marketing the product, the designers misspelled the name and the iconic computer became the Macintosh.

December

We have rarely had such a response as we did when Dr. Robert Clouse stepped up to the plate and delivered his take on the virus. Read the comments that followed his piece. The good Dr. continues to enjoy the respect and admiration of his community as well as an open ended invitation to honor our pages with his writings. 
Guest Article: COVID 19 MUSINGS
The generation that fought WW2 is called, “The Greatest Generation”,  perhaps in part, because individually they banded together for the good of the country. Millions joined the Armed Forces, either directly fighting or in supportive roles, (somewhat like our health care workers and essential service workers today).  Everyone else sacrificed, everyone did their part. We’re in a war now against Covid-19. Our hospitals and health care workers are overwhelmed logistically, physically and emotionally and they need a break. They need our help until the population achieves a critical mass of vaccinations. You can help now to reduce new cases of Covid.
You can stay away from others.
 You can wear a mask effectively.
 You can get vaccinated.
 Will you help now?

 If you are part of the generation that includes the penner of this piece Ms. Ludtke (and I)
you will relate to this piece and perhaps even remember the duck and cover drill that put us under desks so the atomic bomb wouldn’t...wouldn’t...never mind.
The Original Anti-Vaxxer
On that tragic and fateful day, I had a plan! It came time to line up for the long walk down the hallway, one left turn then a quick right past the second grade classrooms,  followed  by two rights to the “health room” which was really a broom closet. Well, not me!  As others lined up, I disappeared into our classroom’s anti-vaxxer bunker, also known as the bathroom. Safe from all harm. No needles for me.

That’s all folks. Been a year. 
We hope to continue to entertain, enlighten, and encourage dialogue during this next little cruise  around our home star.