 The who is up to you
This informational document was compiled as non-partisan information for Newaygo County citizens. Information was taken from the 2020 Newaygo County Directory, plus phone and email contact with City and Township Clerks by volunteers. Voter In-Person, Mail-In and Drop-Off Ballot Information & Locations for Newaygo County Cities & Townships. Important Dates: Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2020. You must be registered to vote to cast your ballot! Make a plan to vote! Monday, October 19: Deadline for online voter registration. Monday, October 19: Deadline for mail-in voter registration (must be postmarked by October 19). Friday, October 30: Deadline to mail in your request for an absentee / mail in voter ballot (must be received by 5pm). Tuesday, November 3: Deadline to register in person to vote. Contact your city or township clerk for Election Day registration. Thursday, September 24 to Monday, November 2: Early, drop-off, mail-in or absentee voting. Dates and hours may vary based on where you live. Contact your city or township clerk for Early Voting information and locations. You can learn how to register to vote, check to see if you are registered to vote, find your voting precinct, request an absentee ballot and more at: www.mvic.sos.state.mi.us. Contact your city or township clerk listed below with any questions on registration or voting locations. City of Fremont Clerk: Vicci TerVeer City / Clerk Phone: 231-924-2101 City Offices & Precinct Polling Location: 101 E. Main Street, Fremont, MI 49412 Drop box located at the NW corner of the parking lot, walk or drive up. Voters can also bring in their ballots to the city offices up to and on election day until 8 PM. City of Grant Assistant City Manager/Clerk: Sherry Powell City / Clerk Phone: 231-834-7904 Mailing Address: Attn - City Clerk PO Box 435, Grant, MI 49327 City Offices & Precinct Polling Location: 280 S Maple St, Grant, MI 49327 Wall slot - drop box located to the left of the front door, drops directly into Clerk’s locked office. City of Newaygo Clerk: Kim Goodin Township / Clerk Phone: 231-652-1657 Ext. 213 City Offices & Precinct Polling Location: 28 N. State Rd., Newaygo, MI 49337 City residents can off drop their ballot at the City Hall front desk window Monday-Friday from 7:30 am-4:00 pm. Drop-off box located outside the City Hall/Library Parking Lot entrance, left side of doors. Drop box used for all City of Newaygo related documents including ballots. City of White Cloud Clerk: Kelli Arnold Township / Clerk Phone: 231-689-1194 City Offices & Precinct Polling Location: 12 N. Charles Street, White Cloud, 49349 Drop box slot is located in the entry door of the City Office building on the North wall. It is used for all City of White Cloud related documents including ballots. Village of Hesperia Clerk: Vicki Berrell Village / Clerk Phone: 231-854-6205 Residents in and around Hesperia vote according to the Township in which they live. There is no “city resident” precinct. Newaygo County: see Denver Township Info Oceana County: Newfield Township Phone: 231-854-0831 Oceana County: Greenwood Township Phone: 231-854-0202 Ashland Township Clerk : Shelly Boerema Township Phone : 231-834-7535 Email: clerk@ashtwp.com Township Hall & Precinct Polling Location: 2019 W. 120th, Grant MI, 49327 (Mailing address: P.O. Box 457, Grant, MI 49327) The Drop box for Election material is located on front porch of the Township building Barton Township Clerk: Pam Rosendall Township Phone: 231-796-4586 Email: rosendallpam@gmail.com Metal Ballot Drop Box on the porch at Clerk’s home: 8230 E 14 Mile Rd, Paris, MI 49338 Township Hall & Precinct Polling Location: 7860 E. 17 Mile Rd., Reed City, MI 49677 Mail in and drop off: 8230 E 14 Mile Rd, Paris, MI 49338 Beaver Township Clerk: Penny Hernandez Clerk’s Phone: 231-873-5795 Township Hall & Precinct Polling Location: 7991 N. Dickson Ave., Bitely, MI 49309 Drop box by front door Big Prairie Township Clerk: Judy Baker Township Phone: 231-689-1385 Clerk’s Phone: 231-652-7390 Email: Judyb43@hotmail.com Outside mailbox at Clerk’s home office: 5160 S. Croton-Hardy Dr, Croton (Newaygo) - to the right of the front door. Township Hall & Precinct Polling Location: 2815 S. Elm Ave, White Cloud,49349 Locked box at the Hall inside the building. Hall is open Mondays from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.; Thursdays from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Bridgeton Township Clerk: Carolyn Drake Township Phone: 231-834-0014 Clerk’s Phone: 231-924-2028 Email: drakecarolyn7@gmail.com Township Hall & Precinct Polling Location: 11830 S. Warner Ave., Grant, MI 49327 Mail in ballots: Carolyn Drake 12350 Pike Ave, Grant MI 49327 A ballot box will be in place by election time – likely at the above home address of Clerk Carolyn Drake. Contact Clerk to verify. Brooks Township Clerk: Jennifer Badgero Township Phone: 231-652-6763 Email: jbadgero@brookstownship.org Township Hall & Precinct Polling Location: 490 Quarterline Newaygo, MI 49337 Mailing address: PO Box 625, Newaygo, 49337 Metal secure drop box at Brooks Township Hall, 490 Quarterline Newaygo, to the right of front door. Croton Township Debbra Wright Township Phone: 231-652-4301 Clerk’s Phone: 231-652-0907 Email: dwright@crotontownship.org Contact Clerk to verify your precinct polling location. Election Day Voter Precinct #1: Fire Station, 6431 S Elm Ave. Election Day Voter Precinct #2: Library, 8260 S Croton Hardy Dr, Croton In person drop off and mail in and location: Croton Township Hall, 5833 E. Division St, Croton. Dayton Township Clerk: Jeannie Stroven Township Phone: 231-924-9509 Clerk’s Phone: 231-225-8970 Email: daytontwp62@gmail.com Township Hall & Precinct Polling Location: 3215 S. Stone Road, Fremont, MI 49412 Mailing address: PO Box 68, Fremont 49412 There is a mailbox at the hall. Another secure drop box to be installed at another location before the November election. Contact Clerk to verify. Denver Township Clerk: Kristin Smith 231-854-0730 Clerk Email: kryzsmith@gmail.com Drop Box for Denver Township voters will be at Clerk Kristin Smith’s home address: 9051 W Adams St, Hesperia, MI 49421 Township Hall & Precinct Polling Location: Hesperia Village Hall 33 E Michigan, Hesperia, 49421 A drop box/slot is also available at this location. It is used by the Village of Hesperia and is also designated for Denver Township voter drop off ballots as well. Ensley Township Clerk: Cindy Harwood Township Phone: 616-636-8510 Clerk Email: clerk@ensleytownship.org Township Hall & Precinct Polling Location: 7163 E. 120th St., Sand Lake, MI 49349 Drop box location is to the west of the main entrance. Everett Township Clerk: Pam Chaffee Township Phone: 231-689-1082 Clerk’s Phone: 231-689-5484 Cell: 231-335-8823 Clerk Email: lampkc@hughes.net Township Hall & Precinct Polling Location: 1516 E. 8th Street, White Cloud, MI 49349 Dropbox is to the left of the entrance door. Garfield Township Clerk: Kristin Melvin Township Phone: 231-652-4251 Clerk’s Phone: 231-519-2379 Email: garfieldtownship@gmail.com Township Hall & Precinct Polling Location: 7190 Bingham Ave, Newaygo, MI 49337 In person, mail in and absentee drop slot at Township Hall above. Goodwell Township Clerk: Jennifer Wozniak Clerk’s Phone: 231-923-3797 Clerk’s Email: goodwell.clerk@gmail.com Mail in ballots: c/o Jennifer Wozniak, Clerk 4423 N. Locust Ave. White Cloud, MI 49349 Or c/o Rachel Belcher, Treasurer 5960 E 4 Mile Rd, White cloud, MI 49349 Township Hall & Precinct Polling Location: 2465 N. Cypress Avenue, White Cloud, MI 49349 *No drop box yet – may have one by election – location not set at this time. Call Clerk to verify. Grant Township Clerk: Gladys VeltKamp Township Phone: 231-834-8033 Clerk’s Phone: 231-834-8409 clerk@granttownship.org Township Hall & Precinct Polling Location: 1617 E 120th St, Grant MI 49327 Drop box located to the left of entry door Home Township Clerk: Theresa Ouderkirk Clerk’s Phone: 231-349-0073 Mail ballots to: Clerk Theresa Ouderkirk 9819 N Oak Ave, Paris MI 49338 Township Hall & Precinct Polling Location: 11253 N. Walnut Ave., Bitely, MI 49309 No Drop Box Lilley Township Clerk: Frances Nelson Clerk’s Phone: 231-745-4095 fnelson352ford@yahoo.com Township Hall & Precinct Polling Location: 10767 N. Prospect, Bitely, Michigan 49309 Ballot in-person, mail-in and drop-off box is inside building – contact Clerk for times & location. Outdoor drop box location pending. Contact Clerk for information. Lincoln Township Clerk: Sharon L. Noggle Clerk’s Phone: 231-689-2024 Mail in and drop box at Sharon Noggle, Clerk’s home: 2776 N. Baldwin Ave. White Cloud, Mi 49349 Township Hall & Precinct Polling Location: 1988 N. Wisner Ave, White Cloud, MI 49349 Merrill Township Clerk: Tabatha Glezman Clerk’s Phone: 571-304-1885 Township Hall & Precinct Polling Location: 1585 W. 11 Mile Road, Bitely, MI 49309 A drop box will be in place prior to election time. Contact Clerk for information. Monroe Township Clerk: Nancy Stone Township Phone: 231-689-6958 Clerk’s Phone: 231-580-9372 Clerk’s Email: monroe_township@yahoo.com Township Hall & Precinct Polling Location: 4141 E. Fillmore St., White Cloud, MI 49349 Mail or drop off ballots at Township Hall above also. Norwich Township Clerk: Angela Barnes, Clerk’s Phone: 231.796.3919 Clerk’s Email: annie1992@yahoo.com Township Hall & Precinct Polling Location: 7213 N. Cypress, Big Rapids, MI 49307 Ballot box will be located at the Township Hall. The Clerk intends to enclose instructions with each absentee ballot sent out, telling the location of the ballot box. Contact Clerk for information. Sheridan – Charter Township Clerk: Maggie Kolk Township Phone: 231-924-2566 Email: sheridanctrtnp@gmail.com Township Hall & Precinct Polling Location: 6360 S. Township Parkway, Fremont MI 49412 Mailing address: PO Box 53, Fremont 49412. Drop box on the north side of the main entrance door Sherman Township Clerk: Jamie Kukal Township Phone: 231-924-7164 Clerk Email: shermantownshipclerk@gmail.com Township Hall & Precinct Polling Location: 2168 S. Wisner, Fremont, MI 49412 Drop-off and absentee ballot in USPS mailbox at: Sherman Township Hall Troy Township Clerk: Kim Hill Township Phone: 231-873-9000 Clerk’s Phone: 231-873-4479 Township Hall & Precinct Polling Location: 10350 N. Dickinson, Walkerville, MI 49459 In person delivery of ballot when clerk is at Hall – call Clerk Kim Hill for schedule: 231-873-4479 Wilcox Township Clerk: Teressa Hamilton Township Phone: 231- 689-1825 Clerk’s Phone: 231-689-6389 Township Hall & Precinct Polling Location: 1795 N. Evergreen Dr, White Cloud, MI 49349 Mail ballots to: Wilcox Twp., PO Box 728, White Cloud, MI 49349 Ballots can be dropped into a wall slot located on east side of building near handicap ramp. Make a Plan to Vote! See election results at: www.electionreporting.com
0 Comments
 Photo by Alexis Mercer Football is back...kind of
By Ken DeLaat There was a crispness to the air under a clear late summer sky creating a perfect scenario for high school football. For a few moments walking into the Fremont Athletic Field it seemed like any other year… But it wasn’t. It’s not just another year. It is the year of the Pandemic. The first thing you notice is the stands. If you’re somehow unacquainted with small town high school football games (and if so shamefully I might add) Friday Night Lights is the best show in town bar none. It has drama, comedy and adventure and brings out a sea of emotions from disappointment to delight. There are triumphs and tragedies played out on the field and side stories abound Beyond the game is the social aspect. Not just the friends one might meet up with and sit together with , but also running into all the others from the area who gather for 4 or 5 nights a year in the autumn chill to watch the progeny of the community take the field. And they pack those bleachers and line the fences on game night. But not this year. The stands looked as sparse as those found at Tiger games in Comerica Park the past couple of seasons. People still seemed to chat it up a bit in small groups but the majority were socially distanced due, primarily I imagine, to the wealth of opportunities for nabbing a good seat. And it’s pretty much all parents. No alumni, no aunts, uncles, or grandparents and none of the random townspeople who have no kids in the games but have been coming to them for years. And the oddest thing about the stands? No young people. No student section stuffed like sardines to root on their team, respond to the cheerleaders, and chant various phrases in unison when situations on the field call for such action. Just, as I said, mostly parents. But at least no cardboard cutouts Then there was the National Anthem. When walking in I failed to notice the absence of those snappily attired tune troops, each armed with their musical devices and prepared to create that magical marching band sound. But when Doug Harmon slapped on a taped version of the Star Spangled Banner it hit me. No band. And no halftime show . No concessions (sob!) My fall Fridays have become evenings of epicurean indulgence. Outside of an overzealous affection for dark chocolate my diet is relatively healthy due to sharing meals with LSC Lil who generally eschews meat.. Concession stands rarely have salads or carrot sticks and are generally light on vegetarian fare. However, it’s been my experience that they always, and I mean always, have hot dogs. Sometimes there’s pizza (pepperoni not veggie) and nachos and other delights but knocking down a couple of dogs at halftime (mustard only of course unless diced onions make an appearance) generally does it for me, particularly when accompanied by the musical performance of the marching band. Friday, faced with the prospect of a foodless Fremont Field, I had an early dinner with Lil. We had salads. (sigh) Then there was the relative quiet. Because of the sparse crowd one could almost hear bench conversations between coaches and players and any loud outburst echoed through the facility. It gave the more, uh, vocal of the parental fans clear access to the ears of the zebras. And of course, the masks. Nearly all kept them on in the stands and the players and coaches truly seemed to do their best to maintain masking despite times when they were disheveled by the action on the field or the heat of emotion. Kudos to Fremont Schools. This was no easy task. It meant plunging into unknown territory accompanied by a slew of requirements needed to be met in order to have this happen and from my perspective they did it well. It’s a different type of season to be sure but in so many ways it’s a different world. And like with other parts of our lives adjustments have been made. We may not like them, we may not believe they are necessary, but the only thing that mattered Friday night seemed to be that two talented teams could take the field and play a game of football. Just like any other year.  .A trip (literally) on a treadmill
By Ken DeLaat Can you cure clumsy? I posed this question during a late afternoon meetup with a colleague/friend. I had been doing a bit of poking around about a possible story and we had just kind of wrapped things up before her latte and my smoothie were barely touched so there was some time to kill. The reply? A definite no while citing personal evidence as to fruitless efforts to alter the affliction. I’ve been known to ask somewhat off the wall questions that pop into my head. Some years back for whatever reason I found myself randomly asking people “So has your life turned out the way you thought it would so far?” It’s a compelling question and I received a wide array of intriguing answers (as well as the occasional expletive laden rebuke I must admit) but learned a few years back to only ask this when unaccompanied by others particularly if one of those others is your Lifetime Spousal Companion (LSC). But back to clumsy. The morning prior to my meeting while finishing up a few dishes by hand a wine glass...a rather nice wine glass… slipped from my hand and tumbled into the sink where it unceremoniously shattered into a number of pieces. This is not newsworthy nor particularly startling since my history would leave a less understanding LSC to believe I was engaged in a long term plot to rid her of all nice things. The list of broken, shattered, scarred, damaged and otherwise impacted items would rival a novella in length.Thankfully Lil is both kind hearted and forgiving so long as I agree to keep my hands feet and any other part of me clear of her vast collection of teapots-no easy task given the sheer number that reside at N3WH. But it bothered me more than usual, hence the reason it was rattling through my brain and arose quickly as a question during any lull in normal conversation. And as all questions do, it led to more self directed inquiries. Has it always been this way? Was I a clumsy child? Wouldn’t I have possessed better balance to play the sports I did? Why are there so many solitary shoes alongside the road?… Oops. Sorry. Drifted a bit. And then of course there’s the real question. Is this an age thing? When the gyms all closed this past spring my Tamarac workouts came to an end-as did my relationship with the beloved steam bath that served as the punctuation point of any workout and admittedly at times during winter months was part of my hot tub/steambath/short swim ‘workout’. Most days I followed a routine designed to fit well with my needs, a routine crafted together by one of their instructors a year or so earlier. It was my hope initially to develop more flexibility, a bit of strength and, perhaps even a modicum of improvement in coordination. Self analysis concluded it was going along swimmingly (yeah, miss the pool a lot) and then came March and the whole COVID thing and both Tamarac and Newaygo Fitness, my other occasional drop in gym, closed their doors. I pondered the choices presented. Top of the list was to take advantage of this all too perfect excuse to stop exercising. I mean, truth be told, over decades of half-hearted attempts at improving personal fitness I’ve utilized much lesser excuses to stop. Things like “Now that we have a new boat I can’t really see myself going to the gym” or “How can I think about exercising when we have a garden to take care of?” But in reality I had begun to enjoy not only the workouts but the feeling of being somewhat fit.Tasks that once proved exhausting had become relatively easier, and even an increase in flexibility was noticeable if not substantially so and when it came to coordination? Well, not so much perhaps but I remained optimistic this might tag along and join the other progressions at some point in time. So I went to the basement where Lil does her daily workouts and uncovered the NordicTrack treadmill purchased long ago and while used on occasion by other family members remained a stranger to me. Initially I thought it was broken until daughter Lesly showed me the correct way to turn it on. After this operational mentoring I began a nearly daily session on the beast. It wasn’t easy. I found balance was pretty important on such apparati and it took awhile before I could get through a session without frequently grabbing the bars. I slapped on some headphones to somehow simulate my workout sessions in the gym and walked to familiar tunes slowly figuring out a bit more about the nuances of the machine. But we never became friends and I was ecstatic when the weather cleared up enough to take my walking outside. N3WH is on a lake and much of my 3 mile path has a lane for walking or biking, an extremely fortunate addition to any road. And I have loved it. Generally the walks occur in the early morning hours and the dawn brings out a symphony of sounds from the birds and other wildlife so it has been a most pleasant experience. As summer has crested into fall there is a later sunrise so traffic is a bit more prolific but the walks have continued to be both fun and engaging in many ways. Lately my thoughts have drifted to the inevitable arrival of winter and the likely return to the treadmill. Oh, I know the gyms have reopened but most refer to those of us who might want to be cautious about returning. Though it varies from place to place most cite two situations that might stimulate a bit of caution.
I have none that I am currently aware of unless questionable sartorial tastes can be considered an underlying condition 2. Older Adults ‘Sigh’ When one is careening toward membership in the septuagenarian brigade it becomes necessary to accept the notion that one has indeed reached the stage of being an ‘older adult’.In reality I’ve long passed the milestone of eligibility for senior discounts (they don’t even ask anymore), been afforded the benefit of receiving Medicare and Social Security, and frequently have my door opened for me by younger women. My haircuts involve some trimming of the ears and eyebrows and my late father appears in my mirror each morning. Yep. Old. So for now it’s no to the whole gym thing. Which brings us back to the treadmill and balance, or lack thereof. Walking outside allows for a certain amount of weaving even though, when accompanied by Lil I am compelled to frequently ask for pardon when swerving into her. The treadmill? Not so much. It was raining today and though I’ve walked in rain from time to time I thought it might be a good time with winter looming in the not too distant future to give the Track a try. It went fairly smoothly for the first 10-15 minutes or so until an alarm from my phone indicating a scheduled commitment sent me reaching for the phone and without any warning… I fell. I slammed down on the treadmill and rolled back ingloriously banging several body parts and emerging with various scrapes, a skinned knee and somehow a bonk on the head. Lil asked me how it happened. “Uh… not sure.” Are you hurt? “Mostly my pride and a bit of a much diminished sense of dignity.” Falling delivers a sudden sense of powerlessness. An out of control feeling of physical chaos that anticipates injury. And I despise it. Maybe it’s because there’s not been a lot of experience with it. I’m not saying I’ve never fallen but it’s been rare enough to remember most. I recall a time I fell out of a golf cart, sober no less. Then once when with my Dad there was an incident involving a bar stool...also sober. And a memorable one off a porch at hunting camp...not so sober. And of course the hardest fall occurred the day I met Lil. All of these happened when I wore a much younger man’s clothes (thanks Billy Joel). But this is my first significant fall as an...uh… ‘Older Person’ And I don’t like it. It takes me much longer to heal than it once did. The fallout soreness from this recent tumble will be visiting for days longer than it used to. Make no mistake in understanding that I’m not adverse to getting older. There have been definite advantages. While not gaining by leaps and bounds in wisdom I am acutely aware of a tendency to do fewer dumb things as I age. I like that Lil and I are retired and get to spend a lot of time with each other. There are few regrets of opportunities missed, no ongoing ruminations on past mistakes nor lamentations of paths not taken. But I’m not embracing the concept of ongoing unsteadiness. And remain committed to attempting to hold onto some degree of fitness. So I’ll continue to walk outside until it becomes infeasible for one like me who has never developed any fondness for being cold. Then I may revisit the now nefarious treadmill. As a friend said when I described the mishap. “It’s like getting thrown by a horse. You have to just climb back on and conquer your fear.” Difference to me is from what I understand you can reason a bit with a horse. A treadmill? They have no soul. None.  N3 asking for input on school changes.
OK, so week one of this most unusual school year is in the books. How are we doing Newaygo County? With somewhere near a third of our students doing remote learning, those in school required to don masks throughout the day, teachers facing the inherent instructional challenges, school staff from transportation to administration to food service to everyone else throughout the building balancing new procedures school life is in a truly transitional phase. Then there are parents. Nothing adds to the stress of any family like tossing a curve into what had been a somewhat structured routine and while back to school always involves some adjustments to daily life the current situation simple tosses a bit of gas on the fire From what we are hearing, things are inching along as they should with the usual tweaking necessary when nearly everything is new. Many situations have likely not been figured out yet but again, this is uncharted territory and we have capable, creative people who will be guiding the process. Now we want to hear from you. How is it going? What are you learning? Biggest challenges? What has changed? Likes? Dislikes? Thoughts? Ideas? Philosophical insights? Send us a few paragraphs, a few sentences or, if you’re pressed for time, a few words. Let us know what this has been like for you as a student, parent, teacher, et. al. Our hope is to create a bit of an ongoing community dialogue so we welcome your input. Look for responses to be posted in our Pulse page.  By Ken DeLaat
Labor Day And the Tigers are in contention. Of course in all fairness the season is just a little over a month old so it’s more like being in contention in May I would imagine. And though just 3 games out of the expanded playoff picture (as of Monday evening) the teams in front of them probably possess more seasoned talent. But with the kind of year we’ve all endured having the beloved Tig’s in some form of contention with but a couple of dozen or so of games remaining delivers a little good news to what has been a rather gloomy run since March. I’ve watched them scrap and tussle with teams that in the past couple of years or so would have brushed them off easily taking advantage of a lack of clutch hitting, an absolute dearth of effective pitching especially from the ‘pen and frequent miscues in the field. More Importantly there seemed a lack of any team personality or collective chutzpa. Now it seems suddenly they’re fun to watch as they’ve developed a little swagger to their game. Of course the pitching, while improved, is still suspect most games and the hitters strike out a whole lot but at a bit more than halfway through the season they have won nearly as many as they have lost and it’s been awhile since they’ve been able to say that. Hey, they still could bomb another 9 in a row as they did earlier, but they are showing us their future and it looks pretty bright from where I sit. Having been a Tiger fan since around the middle of the last century I recall the buildup to the champion caliber teams they fielded in the late 60’s, the mid 80’s, and the most recent 10 year span a bit back when we endured just 2 losing seasons. This feels like those years. A prelude of what might bring a few playoff runs. Particularly if MLB continues this year’s practice of allowing 16 of their 30 teams in like they do in hockey and basketball. You’d have to be pretty lousy to not make it to the dance...uh...as both the Pistons and Wings failed to do the past few seasons. Dragon lovers rejoice! Hiking and biking are booming what with all the folks getting outside and finding ways to grab a little exercise and have a little fun at the same time. The Michigan Dragon Trail has moved beyond its infancy and has begun to gain ground toward becoming a destination site for pedalers and pedestrians alike. Newaygo County Parks recently announced two new bridges and 2 more miles of trail have opened on Segment 9 of this appealing outdoor attraction . This means one can now ride or ramble 5.5 miles north from Sandy Beach County Park. If you haven’t taken a ride (or walk) on this unparalleled pathway, do yourself a favor and take in a few miles. Then think about ponying up a few bucks to help keep it growing. You can keep abreast of the project by going to their fb page. #midragontrail Last spring when the Newaygo girls hoopsters were making a magical tourney run there was nothing better than being at those games and the eventual disappointment came, not with a loss on the court but a pandemic connected pause in the action that morphed into an outright cancellation as well as slapping down spring sports for good measure. Now after a chaotic late summer with coaches, players and parents waiting for news and beginning preparations, footballers resigning themselves to changing seasons and soccer and vball squads standing at the ready for competition the Gov lifted the ban on contact sports and as the word came down from MHSAA that soccer and volleyball could start... Suddenly football was back on. If there was ever any doubt as to the status of football in the high school sports landscape think about this. After initially rejecting a proposed shift of fall sports to spring and facing the cancellation of football the MHSAA on August 14th voted to move football to spring. Following the announcement from Lansing last Thursday it took less than an hour for a new vote to be taken to reinstate the fall season, albeit a shortened one, and tossing in an invite to the postseason for all teams regardless of record. Yes, one could safely say football has a bit of clout. And for your perusal we share two quotes we found in same day press releases following the Gov’s announcement. Chief Medical Executive and MDHHS Chief Deputy for Health Dr. Joneigh Khaldun “We know of 30 reported outbreaks involving athletic teams and facilities in August. Based on current data, contact sports create a high risk of COVID-19 transmission and MDHHS strongly recommends against participating in them at this time.” Mark Uyl MHSAA Executive Director “We share the Governor’s priorities of putting health and safety first, and the COVID-19 guidance and protocols designed by the MHSAA at her request have led to the safe starts in all sports across the state.” It truly is all about perspective  Congressional candidate Bryan Berghoef Rev. Berghoef to speak at the Septeber 19 event
From the NC Democratic Party: Reverend Bryan Berghoef, candidate for Michigan’s 2nd Congressional District, will be a featured speaker at the 4th Annual Dinner and Silent Auction by the Newaygo County Democratic Party. The event will take place on Saturday, September 19 from 4pm to 8pm at the John Graves Lodge (Newaygo Welcome Center), 4684 Evergreen Drive (M-37), Newaygo. The mainly outdoor event will follow health safety guidelines with social distancing provided and mask wearing required until seated. Live music will be provided by Greg Miller, jazz and pop Guitarist; and the MC will be Marshall Stern, improv artist, entertainer and actor. Berghoef is the pastor at Holland United Church of Christ, and a community advocate. He lives in Holland with his wife Christy and four children. Bryan will face incumbent Bill Huizenga. “I seek to represent our communities in the 2nd Congressional District because I see my friends and neighbors struggling with the coronavirus pandemic, an economy that serves the wealthy, attacks on our democracy, and much more. And the influence of Big Money in politics stops us from solving these issues and helping West Michigan," states Rev. Berghoef. "Our current 2nd District Representative Bill Huizenga is under federal ethics investigation for spending over $400,000 in corporate campaign donations on fancy restaurants, ski vacations, and trips to Disney; he hasn't held an in-person town hall in the district since 2017," he added. "I'm running to represent West Michigan with integrity, and to fight for families, not wealthy special interests. That's why I support comprehensive campaign finance reform and am not taking corporate PAC money.” Other key policies for Berghoef include backing science-based national plans to contain the coronavirus and reopen our economy safely; supporting small- and medium-sized businesses to create jobs with living wages; dismantling systemic racism, including common sense police reform and support; smart regulations that protect the environment and produce jobs in the sustainable energy fields; and working towards universal health coverage with public and private options. Bryan Berghoef is currently endorsed by the Christian Democrats of America; Michigan Education Association; National Education Association; United Auto Workers, Plumbers and Pipefitters; The Lakeshore Community Labor Council; the West Michigan Building Trades; Progressive Women's Alliance; Progressive Democratic Women's Caucus of Muskegon County; Michigan's Second Congressional District Party; and the former heads of the Christian Reformed Church in North America and the Reformed Church in America, Dr. Steven Timmermans and Reverend Wesley Granberg-Michaelson. Sandy Clarke, candidate for the 100th House District, will also speak, highlighting her candidacy platform. Ms. Clarke has been a homeowner and resident in Lake County for over 25 years. In addition to her experience as a local township and Lake County Foundation trustee, a Board Member of Baldwin Promise Authority, and civic memberships in Baldwin Rotary and Lions Clubs, Sandy also brings her history as an adjunct professor of political science to her candidacy. Ms. Clarke’s platform includes assuring funding for education, economic development, infrastructure repair, and human services among other issues. “The Newaygo County Democratic Party supports candidates who embody the spirit and principles of the United States Constitution,” states Jan Walsh, NCDP Board Member. “This can be summed up in the statement from the National Democratic Party Platform: ‘Democrats are the party of inclusion. We know that diversity is not our problem—it is our promise. As Democrats, we respect differences of perspective and belief, and pledge to work together to move this country forward, even when we disagree ... we do not merely seek common ground—we strive to reach higher ground.’ “This may seem difficult to do at this time of upheaval in our country; but it is something we must all strive for, together, across all social, racial, economic and political divides,” added Dallas Dean, NCDP Chair. Tickets and sponsorships for the 4th Annual Dinner are available for the full event. Guests can also come just for the speakers and auction without the dinner. Visit www.newaygocodems.org and Newaygo County Democratic Party Facebook page for information and to purchase tickets online. Information and tickets can also be obtained by calling the Newaygo County Democratic Party at 231.709.9007.  The First Congregational Church of Fremont, especially the wood shop, had a need and the Fremont High School football team agreed to “tackle it.” A large amount of wood needed to be transferred on a flatbed trailer from a local barn to our church Congo Wood Shop at 714 Hillcrest in Fremont. The players arrived at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, August 22 at the church. After doing some heavy lifting at the church, the Congo wood shop crew, led by Wood Shop Manager Bernie Denny, served the team and helpers lunch. Then it was off to the local barn to load the long rough sawn timbers onto a flatbed trailer. The team worked the assembly line with other wood shop volunteers for an hour and a half loading the wood and then unloading it back at the wood shop. It was great to observe the teamwork and work ethic. The wood shop is very grateful for the team's help. Other FHS football players were in Hesperia putting together a playset for a family. Head Coach Jason Carpenter is to be commended for organizing his team to do these community service projects. There is more to sports than practicing and playing games. The life lessons learned by players involved in projects like these are lasting memories that build character by serving others. Thank you FHS Football Team Dean Morehouse First Congregational Church of Fremont  The Morrisons. "Not the where...the who." by Kathy Morrison
Reading Ken’s Near North Now piece, “Wait, I’m Not Ready”, got me thinking about the lost world of travel that Covid has brought to my life. John and I love to travel, both domestically and overseas. We’d hoped for a return trip to the U.K. this summer and several flights to Texas this year to see that little grandson of ours. Not to be. Ken’s article reminded me of the fact that, for this year at least, trips and travels will be halted, curtailed, or at the very least, a bit different than in the past. Long trips far from home, especially involving air travel are not on our radar in the near future. Some of the travel will, no doubt, be closer to home. Thoughts travels brought my mind back to my wedding anniversary a few years ago, when John and I decided to skip the anniversary weekend escape to some luxurious and expensive hotel with lavish dinners and breakfasts, and instead stay closer to home - as in, Newaygo County, close to home. It dawned on me that living in this county on and off (mostly on) since 1976, I still had not been to every township within our bounteous county - thus, our first ever, “Anniversary Tour de Newaygo County”. On June 5th, that year, instead of donning an elegant dress and heels, I wore comfy jeans and my Birkenstock sandals. We headed out early on a lovely Michigan morning, I recall a bit of dew glimmering off the early summer flowers and getting my toes damp in the wet grass on the way to the car. With no game plan at all, except to have fun and see each township, we left the boundaries of Sheridan Township where we live, and headed North to begin the day. Taking back roads and side roads I’d never been on, we wound our way through Dayton, and Denver, and Beaver, and Troy, headed south down through Lilley to Merrill and eventually to a quaint little place called Abner’s Restaurant near Brohman to fuel up on a delicious breakfast before we headed on. We wove in and out of the Northeast townships of the county, through Home township – what a lovely name, in and out of the Manistee National Forest, and on to Monroe Township and a stop at Oxford Lake. A rather strange stop for an anniversary outing, given the gruesome past there, but John and I tend to go to some rather unusual and out of the way places on our travels. I almost felt a bit ashamed that we had driven down that road to see the lake -what seemed in some ways like some rubberneck detour, but after we parked the car and got out, it made me think more deeply than ever, on young Rachel’s murder and the injustices and horrors that one person can inflict on another. There in the warming sunshine of the morning, it was almost surreal to be in such a serene setting, but know the terrifying history of the place. I felt like an intruder somehow and that it was time to go. As we turned to leave, I whispered a prayer for the poor woman callously tossed into that lake and for her little girl who has still not been located, and was heartbroken at the loss and sadness that her loved ones must still feel. We got back in the car and headed off, once again taking twists and turns on main roads and back roads, paved, dirt, gravel and sand, and sometimes on what felt more like someone’s driveway – no GPS, no cellphone mapping systems – just our fold out Newaygo County map. Over our years of travel, somehow it has come to be that I’m the usual navigator, despite the fact that I have no sense of direction nor can I read a map without turning it in the direction that we’re headed. Heck, I’ve even been known to point left and shout, “Turn right!” So John once again had to put up with my sudden outbursts of - “turn here”, “turn there”, “go left – no! I meant right!”, “go straight”, “back up and turn there”, as we continued on our adventure. At one point, we ended up on some dirt road, rutted by heavy rains, and made impassable by half a tree downed over it. Backing up and turning around from there, we suddenly found ourselves out of Norwich Township and somewhere near a big box store parking lot. We fell out laughing over the fact that we had somehow ended up out of Newaygo County and in Big Rapids. How had we gotten so twisted around? Oh, yeah, that woman with the map upside down on her lap in the passenger seat! We parked along roads to gaze at beautiful landscapes, marveled at the Hardy Dam, took a few walks, strolled to collect wildflowers, eventually making our way to Carol’s Driftwood on Croton Pond where the scenery from the deck was, as usual, stunning. A bite to eat, a beer and a relaxing view of the water. Heavenly! It was quiet out on the deck that day and though we could have sat there for hours enjoying the view and the warmth of the sun, the road beckoned, so on we went, eventually hitting every township on the North and East parts of the county and a few of the ones on the southern edges. Should we keep going until nightfall and be home by dark? Nope – we’re having too much fun. So we opted to stop in the afternoon only 12 miles from our home for an evening in Newaygo. We were pleased to see our “no reservations tactic” worked once again when we stopped at the massive B and B on Main Street - La Belle de la Riviere. Ah, yes! A room to spare! We checked in and chatted with the owners, then explored the yard, gardens, porches and patios, before heading to Northern Trails for a scrumptious dinner. Thoughtfully, the owner of the B and B had a lovely anniversary card and a split of sparkling apple juice and champagne flutes awaiting us when we returned, so back to the garden patio under the fairy lights for another round of toasts to ourselves and our 30 something years of happy marriage. At breakfast the next morning, we heard tales from the owners about the ghost that lives in the house and the patrons who have seen it. I’d wished he had told the tales the night before, so that we could have stayed up late into the night to see if it would visit us, but maybe it was all for the best, as we still had many roads to travel and townships to see before returning home. We left Newaygo in the morning and continued on yet another gorgeous day, through the southern and western townships of the county. In just about 36 hours, we hit every one of Newaygo County’s twenty-four townships and saw scads of lakes unknown to me, roads I didn’t know existed, and dozens of little communities, churches, and bars tucked here and there, that I didn’t even know existed. All this loveliness, right here within a short drive from my home! There is a lot to be said for travel. It educates, expands horizons, and refreshes one’s Spirit and Soul. We sometimes don’t think of it as “travel” unless it involves being far from home and involves spending a lot of money, but that’s just not true. Our Tour de Newaygo County anniversary trip reinforced that and a few other tidbits of wisdom. You don’t have to go very far from your own backyard in our county and our state to find a treasure trove of natural beauty and exciting adventures. Dorothy Gale was, after all, still right in Kansas all the while, wasn’t she? Travel doesn’t have to involve complex plans and schedules – the old Morrison’s “fly by the seat of your pants/don’t make reservations because you never know where you’ll end up” sort of travel works great almost 100% of the time. And most importantly, it isn’t the where you travel, it is who you travel with and, I for one, couldn’t ask for a better partner to have been traveling with these past 38 years.  To The Editor
Announcement! Our local houses of worship can save money on their utility bills with “Light the Way” program! I hope all clergy, trustees and board members who read this letter will take advantage of this program that is not only free, but will help them save money on their utility bills. “Light the Way” is a partnership between Consumers Energy and Michigan Interfaith Power and Light, a non-profit organization whose mission is ‘to inspire and equip people of faith to exercise stewardship of and love for all Creation’. Through this program, houses of worship can have a free “Energy Assessment” which creates a blueprint for saving energy, and saving money on their utility bills. In addition, the congregation’s building walk-through by a Consumers Energy consultant will provide free energy saving devices on the spot such as LED lights, smart thermostats and faucet aerators that save on water use. Houses of worship who have signed on to the program have received up to $1000 in these energy upgrades, which results in immediate lower energy use and lower utility bills, and annual savings of hundreds of dollars. Has your congregation been hit hard financially from the pandemic? Many have. Fewer people in the pews can mean less in the collection baskets. And as worship communities work hard to help their congregants and local communities in need, their bank accounts can stretch thin. Light the Way can help houses of worship spend less on energy, and more on their mission. Over 800 congregations in Michigan have signed up for this program, and we want to make sure those in the Newaygo County area have easy access as well. So far only 16 of our 70+ listed congregations have signed up. As this program is on a first come first served basis, we urge you to act now. If you are a house of worship faith leader, board member, trustee or congregant, please contact us for information. 3R Environmental Education is the Outreach Specialist for this program in West Michigan. We are eager and happy to sign you up! Save energy, save money and be the Stewards of God’s Creation that Light the Way helps to provide. Sally Wagoner sallyw@3r-education.org 231.924.5822 Sally Wagoner sallyw@3r-education.org 231.924.5822  Join us from September 8 – 28 for the United Way of the Lakeshore 21-Day Racial Equity Challenge.
By Martha Gabrielse The topic of race continues to be one that is difficult for many Americans to discuss. In the face of current conflicts and struggles, finding a way to personally take part in rejecting racism and healing our country has never been more important. Each of us has our own story and history with racism. For me: born in 1961 and raised by parents who were active in the Civil Rights Movement; my faith and family values support and direct me in my commitment to confront racism. It’s personal. It starts with each one of us. As a member of the Newaygo Community Committee for United Way of the Lakeshore each day I strive to uphold the organization’s Equity Statement: We commit to developing racially conscious partnerships and processes that anticipate unintended outcomes and ensure the inclusion of all people we serve, for our community, and our organization. That’s why I’m excited about the United Way 21-Day Equity Challenge. It’s a way to consciously and personally address racism with daily reflection, facilitated through participation in an interactive digital resource. It allows individuals to take it upon themselves to deepen their understanding of and willingness to confront racism. What happens during the Challenge? For 21 days, participants receive an email “prompt” with a short reading, video or audio file. Participants are encouraged to take about ten to fifteen minutes each day with the material in the prompt, though extra resources are provided in case they want to dig further into the day’s topic. Join us from September 8 – 28 for the United Way of the Lakeshore 21-Day Racial Equity Challenge. This self-guided learning journey is a great way to learn about the history and impacts of racism, and how it has shaped the lives of people in our community. Help dismantle racism, raise awareness, shift attitudes, and change outcomes in your community. Register today at: https://www.unitedwaylakeshore.org/21-day-equity-challenge |
Letter to the Editor PolicyNear North Now welcomes original letters from readers on current topics of general interest. Simply fill out the form below. Letters submissions are limited to 300 words. Archives
September 2020
Categories |
RSS Feed