Snow, Supes, Songs & Stout

By Ken De Laat

While writing this, it is morning and it's snowing at N3 World Headquarters and Oriole Spa.
On May 10th.
Just 3 weeks away from Memorial Day, the tail end of the weekend that kicks off summertime in this bipeninsular paradise.
And while it didn’t last and no discernable whiteness touched the ground without immediately dissolving, I gotta admit I’m a little cheesed off by it.
Look, I was born in this state, pretty much lived in one part or another since then. I get it. It happens. It’s not like I’m going to stay mad or anything. You live here, you learn how to forgive when it comes to Mitten meteorology.
Besides, to quote my long departed and never forgotten Mother when confronted with yet another in a lengthy series of missteps made by her youngest child.
“I’m not mad…..I’m just disappointed.”

If you haven’t been taking in the high bar journalism coming out of The Bridge, you’re missing some of the best news coverage of state issues to be found in either peninsula.
This week they did a story on diversity with regard to school superintendents. Seems the field in our state is predominantly white and male which, coincidentally, is the same makeup of a great deal of school boards.  
The story’s worthwhile, but we mention it because they posted a gallery of 20 supe shots to represent the gender and demographics of current school chiefs across the state. 15 of the photos were men and 5 were women representing the approximate percentage of women who hold these positions in the state's 578 traditional public schools.
One of the five was our own Dr. Lori Tubergen Clark of NC RESA and Big Jackson.
And until June our county also has Dr. Peg Mathis at the helm of Newaygo Public.
Interesting part of the piece pointed out that 77% of educators in traditional public schools are female while 77% of supes are male.
Maybe interesting isn’t the right word.

It’s been tough to find outdoor music this spring... mostly because it’s been cold for so doggone long and we’re all tired of it and today it snowed and...and..
Sorry...still shedding a little disappointment I guess. Back to task.
In the mood for some hump day live music in a beer garden atmosphere? On Wednesday starting at 7pm  over in Montague (one of our favorite coastal towns) you can grab a brew and some eats, sit outside (bring a coat. It’s still going to be a bit chilly) and listen to recording artist Beth Bombara croon her tunes. This is all going down at North Grove Brewers on Water street across from Montague Foods. For those who enjoy Oatmeal Stout that we understand their offering called ‘Return of the Obie’ has an extensive fan club.

​“A flash of inspiration struck him with all the force and brilliance that ideas have when they’re traveling through beer.”-Terry Pratchett