Lake Access Magazine - Summer 2019

From the Publishers

Dear Fellow Lakers,

Isn’t it fun to reminisce? We all have happy memories of being around the lake at different times in our lives. Whether decades ago or just last week, we remember riding bikes, fishing, having to wash our feet before coming into the cottage, eating dinner outside at the picnic table, roasting marshmallows at the firepit, laughing with friends and, of course, swimming and boating in the lake. What fun, relaxing times those were. Can’t you almost smell the roasting food and feel the sun off the water? Don’t you want to laugh even today over something you remember someone doing or saying years ago? The lake just lends itself to merrymaking. There’s just something about time at the lake that refreshes your soul.

In this edition of Lake Access, we hope you find yourself smiling as you read through the memories of “Coldwater Lake Ski Bees” and find delight in the old photos of “Diggin’ the Chain of Lakes.” You may find yourself inspired by ideas in “Livin’ the Lake Life Year-Round” or in “Don’t Wait—Enjoy the Lake Now.”

Somebody said the other day, “We are all so busy.” And it begged the question, “For what?” May we all take time this year to evaluate our lives/decisions/priorities and make sure we are enjoying the life we’ve been given. Let’s make every day count, set aside some time each day to not be so busy, and create some lasting memories with family and friends.

We hope to see you around the lakes!

From our Family to Yours, Dennis

& Pat Babjack

David & Natasha Powell

LAKE ACCESS

Publishers

Dennis Babjack

David Powell

Managing Editor

Natasha Powell

Copy Editor

Doug Adrianson Designer

Cheryl Angelina Koehler Graphics

Caryn Scheving

Contributing Writers

Nikki Deaton • Lois Hoffman • Violet Kelly Cindy

Longstreet • Cameron Holicki

Dr. Joseph Holicki • Michelle Woods

Krista Glei • Randall Hazelbaker

Brad Babjack • Ashley Klein • Joe Ward

Jeannie Cornish • Kimberly Kruger

Judy Snyder

Consultant/Photographer

Jennifer L. Rubenstein, Edible Indy

Photo Contributors

Cover photo of Archer Lake by Jennifer Baughman

Randall Hazelbaker • Bill Carlson • Deb Lynch

Donna Claar • Jen Baughman • William Corliss

Neil Dantes • Tom Snivley • Dawn Bracy

Steve Hobbs • Vilnis Smits • Gail Finn

Babjack Family • Holicki Family • Strong Family

Sweers Family • Zinn Family Maps

Dean Walrack, City of Coldwater

Advertising Representatives

David Powell

Dennis Babjack

customerservice@lake-access.com

517.317.4252

Please call or email to inquire about becoming a member of our advertising partnership to show your support for our local lake and recreational communities in Branch County.

Contact Us: Lake Access 544 Lake Dr. Coldwater MI 49036

517.899.9467

customerservice@lake-access.com

Lake Access is published annually and distributed throughout the lake and recreational community in Branch County. Every effort is made to avoid errors, misspellings and omissions. If, however, an error comes to your attention, please accept our sincere apologies and, if it’s important, please notify us. Thank you.

No part of this publication may be used without written permission from the publisher. © 2019 all rights reserved.

Laker Memories

Don’t Be That Guy!

By Violet Kelly

Let’s talk shop—lake shop.

There are only so many fuel and food fill-up stops on the lakes, so there are bound to be waits, which in turn create some opportunities for … our better selves to emerge. So, let’s go over some good ideas for these scenarios.

Food:

Fuel:

It’s always a little stressful to pull up to the pumps. So, passengers, relax! The driver will let you know when he/ she needs help (so says my husband). No one needs a bunch of “front-seat drivers” adding to the pressure.

Don’t be that guy!

Get your gas, then go. Be considerate. Don’t block the pumps while you wait for all the passenger-customers to come out of the store with their drinks and ice cream or whatever.

Don’t be that guy!

But remember: Let your passengers know ahead of time where you may be when they come out. (That’ll be $25 for the couples counseling. LOL)

Who doesn’t like the ice cream shops?! First, getting ice cream involves big decisions: what kind, how big, what kind of cone. It all takes time. Be patient! FYI: True patience means “cheerful endurance.” So, don’t stand there rolling your eyes and/or sighing.

Don’t be that guy!

Also, for the true-blue ice cream enthusiast, tasting is crucial. I mean, they offer free tastes so that you are thoroughly satisfied with your selection. “Do unto others”— let people take their time. Remember, you are out on the lake, which means you are NOT in a hurry.

Don’t be that guy!

With that said, keep your tasting to a polite minimum. Two tastes is enough to pick one you like. Remember, there’s always next time. Don’t taste every flavor. (Can I get an “amen” from the back of the line?)

Don’t be that guy!

Lines? Waiting?

Seize this opportunity to say hello or to meet people. Reach out! You will be amazed by what you learn—who they are, where they are from, their stories. And it makes the time fly by! So, resist getting on your phone like you’re too insecure to face the people around you or too rude to care. Yep, I said it.

Don’t be that guy!

Alcohol:

A good suggestion is to set your maximum before you start out. Load up once. When it’s gone, it’s gone. Saves money and time. And dignity. You don’t want to be that loud, thinks-he’s-funny-buthe’s-just-tipsy guy that the whole lake is talking about all summer!

Don’t be that guy!

One last thing about stopping for food or fuel. Two words: cover up. Guy or girl, no matter how great you look or whether you care or not, someone does not want to see that. In the infamous words of Steve Carell in Date Night, “For the love of God! Put on a shirt!”

Don’t be that guy!

Now, celebrate! It’s summer! Get out there, have a great time, become a better you!

And … Don’t Be That Guy!

Special thanks to Randy and Heather Skidmore's home on Marble Lake. Photos by Heather and Laiken Skidmore.

The One that Didn't Get Away

By Cameron Holicki

Fishing has always been a passion of mine. I enjoy the fun of the fight, the challenge and intellect involved and the ever-present hope of catching a trophy bass. Above all, however, I appreciate how fishing provides the opportunity to create memories and spend quality time with the people I love.

Countless shared memories have been birthed from fish at the end of the line. I remember taking the boat all the way up to Coldwater dam with Dennis Babjack when his son Brad and I were just young kids, and I can still recall catching 40 largemouth keepers fishing under the stars one night with my long-time friend Brandon Buckley. The joy I receive from seeing others’ excitement at fishing is second to none.

One memory that stands above them all occurred last summer. Between my schoolwork and my dad’s busy work schedule, finding a time that we were both free for a father-son fishing outing was a challenge. Additionally, I have found that in recent years it has been more difficult to catch quality fish from the lakes in Coldwater. These factors served to weaken our effort to take out the bass boat. Nevertheless, my dad and I found ourselves at the cottage with free time during a beautiful calm and sunny July evening. My dad, who rarely fishes, suggested we have a quick trip before the sun dipped behind the trees. I agreed and decided to try a couple of my “old faithful” spots, which have consistently held quality fish. After an hour and a half of pulling in nothing but water and a handful of small bass, I decided to try one more spot on the north end of the lake.

It was almost completely dark. The soothing sound of crickets

and frogs filled the air. The warm breeze and the scent of a distant campfire filled my mind with a euphoric sense of nostalgia. There is nothing in the world like summer nights on the lake.

I was skipping a jig under pontoons, and my dad was casting a wacky-rigged stick worm around the docks. I turned and watched as my dad made a perfect cast: The silhouette of the lure against the red-orange sky landed perfectly between a dock and a weed bed. He twitched his lure a couple times before I noticed slack growing in his line, which was now racing toward deeper water. He set the hook and the drag immediately screamed from the reel.

“I think I got one!” my dad said.

“Ya think?!” I responded sarcastically. Just then a bucket-mouth broke the surface of the water. The entirety of an enormous bass floated out of the water, seemingly in slow motion, as its head thrashed side to side and its tail danced on the water’s surface. “HOLY SHNIKEES!” I screamed as I grabbed the net, which was tangled around the handle of a reel on the deck of my boat. I freed the net just in time to scoop up the fish of a lifetime. My dad and I hollered with excitement. The bass tipped the scale at 5.4 pounds and was nearly 22 inches in length.

We snapped a couple quick photos and released the bass back into Coldwater Lake to create more memories for another angler in the future.

Witnessing such a beautiful Michigan fish being caught was a treat, but to witness the joy, excitement and fun my dad had fighting the largest fish of his life meant more to me than any fishing experience I have ever personally had.

From One Laker to Another,

let me help you stay or get to the Lake!

Since 1987, Raleigh Horne has been helping investors like you through the process of obtaining financial independence so that they can focus on the most important things in life. With the insight and industry knowledge that come with over 32 years in the business, Raleigh provides his clients the information they need to choose the most suitable investment products and services for their specific financial needs, including financial planning, retirement planning, estate planning, college planning, wealth management and more. Raleigh is from Coldwater Lake Michigan. He and his wife Naz have been married 14 years and have 4 children. In his free time, Raleigh Horne enjoys golf, gardening, cooking, boating, working out at the gym and spending time with family and friends. See ya on the Lake!

Bernie Behnke Scholarship Fishing Tournament

This year’s eighth annual Bernie Behnke Fishing Tournament will be held on August 18 at Lake Drive Marine. Last August, 80 teams from the tri-state area participated in the seventh annual competition, also hosted by Lake Drive Marine. That event generated more than $8,000 for scholarships, bringing the six-year total amount raised to over $58,000. Chad Wright and Greg Wright won the competition with a 12.7-pound catch.

Bernie Behnke

All you fishermen, come on out and go for that big one! It’s all for a good cause.

For more information, go to LakeDriveMarine.com or Facebook search Bernie Behnke Scholarship Tournament.

Take-a-Kid-Fishing Day

Bass Unlimited of Branch County will host its Take-A-Kid-Fishing event on June 8 at the Rotary Park in Coldwater. The event was started by Phil Smathers in 1980. All children get prizes, and Bass Unlimited gives fishing poles to each child who doesn’t have one. Registration runs from 8–10am. The children fish from 8am–noon, and then all fish, from the smallest to the largest, are weighed. Once all the fish are weighed in, a free lunch is provided consisting of hot dogs, chips and drinks. In 2018, 110 kids participated in the program for a total of 3,600+ kids since 1983. Come on out and catch some fish (hopefully) and make some memories (definitely)!

For more information or how to donate, contact Corena Wilkins at 517-610-1961 or email cwilkins@systemsui.com.

RaleighHorne

Coldwater and long charms of brings a scheduled May

Coldwater Saturday

Civil War Parade

Friday 24th

June

Tibbits Summer Starts Friday

Strawberry

Saturday Farmers Saturday

July

Tibbits Summer Runs All Month Farmers

YOU’RE INVITED

Mark your calendars. It’s time for some adventure. There’s so much to do and so little time. Check out what Coldwater, Bronson, Quincy, and Union City have to offer.

Coldwater

It’s no surprise Coldwater has great lakes, but did you know we’re also home to attractions with national acclaim?

Take the Capri Drive-In Theater, a vintage movie experience that draws large crowds and inspires plenty of nostalgia each year, situated right next door to a go-kart track, mini golf, arcade and virtual reality games. And there’s Tibbits Opera House, the second-oldest theater in Michigan, where you can enjoy a professional theater show before bringing the kids back for Young Audiences “Popcorn Theatre.” And did you know about the Little River Railroad steam train, not far from downtown Coldwater, where we host festivals in every season?

Maybe you’ve used our exceptional recreational facilities, parks, trails and waterfront access points or visited one of our many dining locations and campgrounds—after all, everything you need for a remarkable weekend is here!

If you haven’t marveled at our opera house, played tag in our parks, waved “Hello!” from aboard our trains or achieved tennis stardom on our pristine courts, consider this your personal invitation to Coldwater, Michigan. We can welcome you by boat, bike, train, car, flight and foot, if you would only give us the pleasure of doing so.

continued on page 16

Saturdays

Entertainment

All Tuesdays

Fireworks

Heritage

Artwalk Art

Saturday

August

Branch County

Sunday 4th

Tibbits Summer Ends Saturday

Farmers Saturdays

September Farmers Saturdays

Apple Fest Saturday

Downtown

Coldwater is noted for its crystal clear lakes lazy summer days. Along with the of our small town life, each summer host of events and regularly scheduled programs.

Coldwater Swap Meet/Car Show

11th - Sunday 12th

War Days & Memorial Day

24th - Monday 27th

Summer Theatre

Friday 14th

Strawberry Fest & Craft Show

22nd, 9am - 4pm

Market - (downtown)

9am - 1pm, Starts 29th

Summer Theatre

Month

Market - (downtown)

Saturdays 9am - 1pm All Month

Entertainment Under the Stars

Tuesdays in July - 7pm - 8:30pm,

Fireworks

Park, Thursday 4th

Art Show - (downtown)

20th, 3pm - 7:30pm

County Fair

4th - Saturday 10th

Summer Theatre

Saturday 11th

Market - (downtown)

Saturdays 9am - 1pm All Month

September Market - (downtown)

Saturdays 9am - 1pm, Ends Sept. 15th

Fest & Craft Show

21st, 9am - 1pm

Coldwater.org

Coldwater,Michigan-City Offices

Downtown Development Authority

Union City

When was the last time you kayaked or tubed a historic river, spotting bald eagles and blue herons? Union City, a quaint river village nestled between the Coldwater and St. Joe rivers, delivers this and more. Discover our great history on the Union City Historic Water Trail at uchwt.com. Float on into Union Lake, a 559-acre allsports lake.

Union City offers numerous riverside parks for kayaking, fishing, enjoying nature, picnicking and playing. Tried yoga? Enjoy stretching on the deck riverside; there’s no better way to relax after a day on the water. Perhaps visit our beautiful library and then meander through the trees for live music at our new amphitheater. If you enjoy river adventures, water sports, shopping vintage, dining out or listening to a lecture series, #ChooseUnionCityMI. Throwing an event? UnionCityMIEventOneStop on Facebook lists local businesses to help you with every detail.

Discover year-round community events such as parades, city-wide sales/ annual M60 Market, flotilla, fireworks, Glow Run, Cemetery Tour, Farm-to-Fork Celebration and more by following us on social media: Facebook, Instagram and Twitter at UnionCityMI. Our hometown welcomes you for the day or a lifetime. unioncitymi.com

Bronson

The City of Bronson is located on US-12 between Coldwater and Sturgis. Bronson’s historic Downtown features dining and shopping, a weekly farmers’ market and the Music in the Park Concert Series in August. The farmers’ market is held every Saturday from 8am–noon in Downtown Bronson. The Music in the Park Concert Series is held every Monday night in August at 7pm at Memorial Park and is free to the public. The 50th annual Bronson Polish Festival will be held July 18–20 and includes events throughout the weekend, including fireworks, a parade, Polish food, Kids Day, Car Show, 5K Run/Walk, and much more! Follow us on Facebook for updates on events happening in Bronson facebook.com/Bronsoncity

Quincy

Located in the Eastern portion of Branch County, Quincy is a small, picturesque village with many things to offer visitors and residents alike. Home to the South Chain of lakes, nine-hole golf course, several campgrounds and resorts and a year-round calendar full of events for the whole family to enjoy. Visit quincy-mi.org or check us out on at facebook.com/quincymi for more information.

Experience for yourself all that the communities of Branch County have to offer. You will be glad you did.

Faith on the Lake

By Brad Babjack

Why do I love coming to the lake?

I look forward to it. I crave it. The rest, the time with family and friends, the beauty of nature … it calls to me. I think it calls to many of us. We were made to enjoy these experiences. The lake offers the rest and fellowship that God desires for people. When at the lake, I feel alive. Why is that? I don’t think the lake has any special power in itself, but it may have the power to help us see God more clearly.

When I think of the lake, I think of the rest and relaxation experienced there. I think God has designed us to see Him and experience Him through rest. In a society that is increasingly addicted to work, where our value becomes defined by our productivity, rest is not our natural tendency. Luckily, God knows us and commands us to rest. We are told that we need to cease working regularly. When we purposefully choose to rest, it helps us to detach our value from what we do and place it on who we are. When we rest from work, we are actually obeying God. It can be hard to connect with God when we feel chaos around us. Napping on the hammock or going on a boat ride might not seem like they are spiritual acts, but they are! They help to quiet our busy minds and allow God to communicate with us.

When I think of the lake, I think of the relationships built there. I think about the family vacations that will bring joy for the rest of my life. I think about the deep talks on the dock with my closest friends under the stars. These relationships fill my heart. We were not created to go through life alone. When I see children running on the

dock, hear late-night laughter or smell food on the grill, I know that people are coming together, and the value of that can’t be missed. The lake helps us to prioritize those who are close to us, and we get to experience the rich blessing of spending time with them. God has created us for connection, both with Himself and with others.

The lake helps us to see and experience the beauty of God. A songwriter of the Bible once said, “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims His handiwork.” I am so thankful that God has given us the opportunity to enjoy what He has made—watching the sunrises and sunsets; catching frogs, fish and other critters; enjoying a morning swim in the refreshing water. A friend once observed, “How can you look up at the stars and think there isn’t a God? There has to be something more.” Nature stirs up something within us. It gives me such joy to know that the same God who made this beautiful world also made us and desires us to know Him as our Creator.

The lake will continue to point me to God. My faith has been enriched by the rest, relationships and beauty of the lake. I hope you take time this summer to reflect on what God is doing in your life, whether at the lake or not.

Brad Babjack, Coldwater Lake West Virginia University Intervarsity Christian Fellowship Brad.Babjack@intervarsity.org

God takes "you" any way and so will we!

Jesus did some of his Greatest Works around the Lakes. So, on Sunday morning, leave the beauty of the Lake and join us for worship... you'll feel great that you did!

We’re your Laker-Friendly Community Church (Shorts & T-shirts Welcome!)

First

Riley Dam Gets a Facelift

The berm around the dam on Union Lake got a much-needed upgrade this past year

By Lois Hoffman

Riley Dam on Union Lake has served the area well for nearly 100 years. The dam is named after Halbert F. Riley, who donated the land for it to the Village of Union City in 1923. Electricity was expensive back in the 1920s and as the town’s demand for it increased, a suggestion was made to create a hydroelectric plant. Amid strong opposition and doubt, the Riley Dam was built on St. Joseph River to deliver cheaper electricity to the town. The backwater that formed behind the dam was then known as Municipal Pond and now known as Union Lake.

The dam has certainly stood the test of time. Its two hydroelectric generators remain virtually the same as when they were installed, except for upgraded electronics and stainless-steel bearings. However, the earthen embankment was not designed to modern standards and had developed problems over the years.

The slopes on both the upstream and downstream sides of the embankment were designed to be far steeper than would be the case today. This made the embankment hard to keep mowed and maintained, which resulted in brush overgrowth in areas that could not be push-mowed. Because of this, over the years the dam was not mowed regularly and roots from the resulting overgrowth caused the earthen embankment to weaken.

Also, growth at the base of the dam restricted drainage, causing the earthen embankment itself to retain more water, thus weakening it further. Even when the three gates of the dam were all open, it still didn’t release enough water to relieve strain on the berm. (A berm is a raised bank bordering a river or canal.) The heavy rains of the past few years put additional strain on the situation, and wave action under the berm also added to the mess.

The combination of a waterlogged embankment with a steep slope caused alarm about the long-term survival of the dam, and the Village could no longer obtain insurance for the structure due to the condition.

FIXING THE PROJECT BRINGS MORE CHALLENGES

On September 4, 2018, the Village of Union City, in cooperation with the Union Lake Association, kicked off the long-standing $630,000 project to rehabilitate Riley Dam and its earthen berm. This project, engineered by Lawson and Fisher and completed by Balkema Excavating, reshaped the approximately 540 feet of earthen embankment and added a drainage system.

William Courliss, president of the Union Lake Association, had nothing but praise for the project and for Union City Village Manager Chris Mathis, who was head of the project, and his crew. Courliss said, “Chris always kept me up-to-date on the progress and developments and we worked together to make this project go smoothly, in spite of some surprises.”

The project began by gradually lowering the lake level by about seven feet so that work could be completed on both sides of the embankment. This lowering caused two main challenges. First, it caused several water wells to go dry for residents around the lake. These were older wells that were primarily shallow, thus they were temporarily affected by lowering the water level. The second challenge was that the lake lowering exposed several thousand stumps, some with sharp spears extending several feet above the lowered water surface. Local residents were amazed because they had no idea that there were so many stumps in the lake. Some even started referring to it as “Stump Lake.”

As challenging as the project was, Courliss was ecstatic in highlighting how the challenges provided the perfect demonstration of what cooperation can do. “Both the Village and the Lake Association met [the challenges] head on,” he said. “The Village provided clean drinking water to those affected by the wells going dry. Some neighbors with deeper wells also pitched in. The Union Lake Association addressed the stump issue by funding the lowering of over 1,000 stumps to increase safety for the people and recreational equipment that utilize the lake.”

He went on to explain why there were so many stumps under the lake. “The area where Union Lake is today was originally farmland. Folks didn’t want the dam when it was first proposed, instead they wanted the area to remain farmland. The dam created the lake, and the first year it froze the people went out and cut out all the trees, leaving the stumps.”

The project was completed on November 2, 2018, finishing nearly a month ahead of schedule and well below the initial estimates from the bid. The new earthen embankment, drainage system and reduction of stumps have greatly improved the safety and longevity of Riley Dam and Union Lake.

The dam delivers up to 375 Kw of power at its peak. Originally, that was more than the Village of Union City needed but today, when it is in full operation, it can deliver up to 25% of the village’s power needs. Overall, it supplies, on average, a total of 15% of the electric needs of the village and surrounding community from Union City to Marshall. Sometimes, it produces enough energy to push some back to Consumers Power.

ADDED BONUSES OF THE PROJECT

Besides stabilizing the berm, the project also yielded some additional benefits to local residents. The first shows how a problem can sometimes turn into a blessing. “We paid $15,000 to get the stumps cut out,” Courliss laughed. “The guy did a good job and worked until the water was raised but the way he did it amazed many of us. He loaded the stumps on his johnboat and hauled them to shore. The best part is that his father is a woodworker and plans on using some of the stumps to fashion furniture.”

Some of the stumps are between eight and 15 inches in diameter and are still in good condition. They were deep enough that the oxygen couldn’t get to them so the stumps didn’t deteriorate. Some are black cherry and others are red or white oak, which are all good woods to be made into lumber.

The dam rejuvenation project was purposely put off until after summer so residents could still enjoy their lake. However, the draining of the lake provided landowners with beaches, even though they were short-lived.

“We were surprised how clean the bottom of the lake was,” said Courliss. “It wasn’t at all polluted like some had previously thought. For a while we all had good sand on our small beaches and many people found some relics with metal detectors. Lots of folks found old bottles, lots of ketchup bottles and old Coke bottles.”

CONCERNS OF THE PROJECT

Although thousands of minnows were seen when the lake was drained, people are concerned that temporarily lowering the lake may have negatively affected the fishing on Union Lake. “We’ll just have to wait for this summer and see what the season brings,” Courliss said.

Union Lake hosts fishing tournaments and is usually wellstocked, thanks to the rearing pond that is just below the dam. “Here is another joint effort that benefits all,” Courliss added. “The DNR supplies the fish for the rearing pond and our Lake Association supplies the food. We raise bluegills and Northern Pike in the pond. Out of between 45,000 to 48,000 fingerlings we have about a 15% mortality rate. We drain the rearing pond and dump them in the lake in the fall.”

The rejuvenation of Riley Dam is a step forward for Union Lake and the surrounding community. “In an era when many dams are left to a state of ill repair, it is good to see a community come together and make improvements that will ensure the lake’s future,” Courliss stated. How true!

Fiesta for the Rest of Us

BARLEY, BLACK BEAN AND CORN SALSA

Serves 4–6

Bring Mexican flare to your dinner party

Recipe and Photography by Jennifer L. Rubenstein, Edible Indy

Give life to your party by spiking your tacos with tequila, adding some pickled goodness and throwing your salsa into an entirely different dimension. You just kicked up your dinner party ten-fold.

Trust me!

Jennifer L. Rubenstein is the publisher and co-owner of Edible Indy, Central Indiana’s premiere farm-to-table magazine. She graduated from Coldwater High School and Trine University now residing with her husband and two daughters in Indianapolis, Indiana. Follow her foodie adventures on social @edibleindy or EdibleIndy.com.

¼ cup barley, cooked

2 cups cooked black beans

1 cup roasted corn

¼ cup peppers, chopped

¼ cup tomato, chopped

¼ cup cilantro, chopped

1 teaspoon cumin

PICKLED CABBAGE AND CUCUMBERS

For the brine

1 cup rice vinegar

½ cup water

¼ cup sugar

½ teaspoon celery seed

½ teaspoon red pepper flakes

½ teaspoon turmeric

½ mustard seed

1 tablespoon salt

2 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon pepper

¼ cup vinegar

2 tablespoon olive oil

DRUNKEN SHRIMP TACOS

Serves 4-6

28 medium shrimp

¼ cup of tequila (We like Casa Amigos)

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1 teaspoon paprika

¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 lime, juiced, plus 2 limes cut into wedges

Coconut oil

¼ cup fresh chopped cilantro

Cilantro Cream Sauce

¼ cup fresh chopped cilantro

½ cup sour cream

1 tablespoon fresh squeezed lime juice

1 teaspoon garlic powder pinch of salt and pepper

Mix all ingredients together. Allow to sit for 1 hour. Serve chilled as a salad, dip or salsa.

For the vegetables

½ red cabbage, shredded

1 cucumber, sliced thin

Mix all brine ingredients in a pan over medium heat. Bring to a boil. Stir making sure sugar and salt are dissolved. Set aside to cool.

Add cabbage and cucumber to a canning jar, pour cooled brine over vegetables and seal. Will keep refrigerated for up to 3–4 weeks.

Mix together tequila, cumin, paprika, garlic, cayenne pepper (optional) together with shrimp (shells on) and marinate for at least 20 minutes.  Place sauté pan on medium heat with coconut oil, once hot, pour shrimp (shell on) and marinade directly into the sauté pan. Cook until shrimp is pink (about 2–3 minutes) and while shrimp is in sauté pan squeeze fresh lime over the top and stir.  Remove from heat.

For the Cilantro Cream Sauce, mix all ingredients together and chill for at least 2 hours to enhance flavor.

Place shrimp (shell on) on warm tortilla and garnish with cabbage, red peppers, fresh green onions, cilantro, feta cheese with a drizzle of the cilantro cream sauce.

Note: Shrimp shells are digestible and contain loads of healthy material that are beneficial to your health and well being.

Laker Memories

Life Jackets 101

Michigan laws on life jackets

Staying safe is critical to enjoying the lake. Ninety percent of people who drown in a boating or water accident would be alive today if they had been wearing a life jacket, according to the U.S. Coast Guard. Having the correct number and type of personal floatation devices (PFDs) aboard your boat is not just a good idea, it’s the law. In 2017, Branch County Marine Patrol issued three citations for “no PFDs” and 87 warnings for “improper PFDs.”

Who must wear a PFD/life jacket?

• Children less than 6 years of age must wear a Type I or Type II PFD when riding in the open deck area of a boat.

• Each person operating, riding on or being towed behind a personal watercraft (Jet Ski) must wear a Type I, Type II or Type III PFD (not an inflatable device).

• Each person less than 12 years of age riding or being towed behind a personal watercraft (Jet Ski) must wear a Type I or Type II PFD.

What type of PFD do I need to carry on my boat in Michigan?

• Vessels less than 16 feet (including canoes and kayaks) must be equipped with one Type I, II, III or IV PFD for each person on board.

• The U.S. Guard requires all vessels less than 16 feet used on the Great Lakes or connecting waterways to carry one approved Type I, II or III device for each person on board.

• Vessels 16 feet and longer, in addition to the Type I, II or III for each person on board, must carry one type IV. (Canoes and kayaks over 16 feet are exempt from the Type IV requirement.)

• All PFDs must be ready at hand and not enclosed in plastic bags or other containers.

TYPE I

Off-Shore Life Jacket (22 pounds buoyancy): Best for open, rough or remote water where rescue may be slow in coming.

Advantages: Turns most unconscious wearers faceup in water. Highly visible color. Floats the person the best.

Disadvantages: Bulky.

Sizes: Two sizes to fit most children and adults.

TYPE II

Near-Shore Buoyant Vest (15.5 pounds buoyancy): Good for calm, inland water or where there is good chance of fast rescue.

Advantages: Turns some unconscious wearers faceup in water. Less bulky, more comfortable than Type I PFD. Inexpensive.

Disadvantages: Not for long hours in the water. Will not turn some unconscious wearers faceup in water.

Sizes: Infant, Child Small, Child Medium, Adult.

TYPE III

Flotation Aid (15.5 pounds buoyancy): Good for calm, inland water or where there is a good chance of fast rescue.

Advantages: Generally the most comfortable type for continuous wear. Freedom of movement for most active water sports. Available in many styles. Freedom of movement for waterskiing, small boat, sailing, fishing, etc.

Disadvantages: Wearer may have to tilt head back to avoid going facedown. In rough water, a wearer’s face may often be covered by waves. Not for extended survival in rough water.

TYPE IV

Throwable Device: For calm, inland water with heavy boat traffic, where help is always nearby.

Advantages: Can be thrown to someone. Good back-up wearable PFDs. Some can be used as a seat cushion.

Kinds: Cushions, Rings and Horseshoe buoys.

Disadvantages: Not for unconscious persons. Not for non-swimmers or children. Not for many hours in rough water.

Coldwater Lake Ski Bees

By Michelle Woods

On any Saturday morning in the 1960s, ’70s and ’80s you could find a group of Coldwater Lake teenagers practicing for the annual ski show. They were part of the Coldwater Lake Ski Club. Back then, people didn’t have cell phones, YouTube or the impressive boats you see on the lake today, but they had a love of the lake, friendships and the type of fun you remember for the rest of your life.

The Coldwater Lake Ski Club was started in 1956 by lake residents John Milnes, Fred Nichols and Pete Goshia. John and Fred were college students who came back to the lake for the summer. Looking for adventure, they built the first jump on the lake and ended up establishing the ski club that would entertain residents and provide life-long memories for generations of skiers. The club mascot, the Ski Bee, was named sometime in the late ’60s.

The club started performing ski shows around 1962 and kept them going through the late ’80s, with shows for the Fourth of July and Labor Day weekend. Denise Ward reminisced, “Ski Club practice was something we looked forward to every weekend. The shows generally were in the cove by Beatty Marine (now Lake Drive Marine) although we did a few in front of Davis Marine on Lake Drive (now Coldwater Lake Marina). People would watch from on shore and in their boats and especially liked seeing the jumpers and barefooters. The Ski Bee was also always a big hit because they were the youngest members.”

Steve Wood recalled, “Sometimes, if it was rough in the cove, Tim Martin would use their big deck boat to try to break up the waves. I also remember that we would send people out in paddle boats to go collect donations from people in the boats around the cove.”

Over the years, a few of the Ski Bees even made it to the professional ranks. In the late ’60s, Rick Klopfenstein was the first Ski Bee to take the skills he

In the winter of ’72, fellow Ski Bee Tom Snivley traveled to Florida over Christmas break with high school friend Dave Weaver along with Dave’s parents. During this trip they visited Cypress Gardens Water Ski Show, where Ski Club member Rick Klopfenstein skied in the late 1960s. Tom loved the show and set his sights on performing for Sea World of Ohio after speaking with Karl Lyman, a Cypress Gardens skier. He submitted an application upon arriving home but did not get a response for months and assumed he had missed the opportunity to ski at Sea World. Then, in early May, he received a phone call on a Wednesday to come audition on Saturday. He was still in high school, so he asked his dad, and he made it to the tryout. His audition consisted of jumping and barefooting in the frigid spring rain on Geauga Lake in Aurora, Ohio, the then-home of Sea World of Ohio. Tom graduated from high school on a Sunday and started skiing in the show the next day. During his first year at Sea World of Ohio, he was employed by Tommy Bartlett Water Shows, who were contracted by Sea World to perform daily shows. In 1974 and 1975 Sea World produced its own show with Hollywood producers. He still has his employment contracts for the three years he spent at Sea World, reflecting pay of $110 per week with $20 per week withheld for housing. What the job lacked in pay, it made up for in fun and in lifetime experience. The theme of the ski show in those years was “The Roaring ’20s” and Tom frequently performed as a barefooting Charlie Chaplin. Even after Tom was no longer a regular Coldwater Lake Ski Club member with the Ski Bees, he would come back and perform as Sparky the clown.

Said Tom, “I am very thankful for our parents who supported the Ski Club in so many ways and allowed us to burn hundreds of gallons of gas during our time on the water practicing for shows or just enjoying a day on the water. None of us had any formal training, we just learned the skill over time by trial and error … and maybe a few bumps and bruises. My experience at Sea World of Ohio was a dream come true and an experience of a lifetime. I had the opportunity to work with individuals from around the world and from many sports, as we had professional divers, lumberjacks and dancers woven into the show. I still have the opportunity to keep in contact with many of the Sea World skiers via Facebook and Christmas cards, which has been a blessing over the years.”

In 1990, Steve Wood had a similar dream of skiing at Sea World. In the spring of his junior year at Bowling Green, he called Sea World of Ohio in hopes of skiing that summer. The Ohio team was full so Steve called Sea World of Florida. They needed a skier,

but typically required new skiers to attend winter training sessions and try out for the show. Steve told the ski manager, “I’m driving down there after my last final next week. If you don’t like me, send me home.” He arrived at the park on Sunday, and performed in the first show Monday morning, jumping off a 10-foot-tall platform coming up barefooting. “I lived with one of the other skiers who was married to a killer whale trainer, so I would hang out at the whale pool in between shows. It was a pretty cool experience.”

Steve went back to Florida the next spring to train at Cypress Gardens. The jumps used at Cypress Gardens were almost a foot shorter, which caused Steve to come up short and crash, ending his professional skiing career. In 2013, one of his friends talked him in to dusting off his skis and competing in three event tournaments. Steve’s ski-jumping experience paid off, and he emerged as the Men’s 3 Champion at the Michigan State tournament.

Toby Swick, the last president of the Ski Club in the late ’80s, noted that while there is no longer a Ski Club on the lake, many of the club members remain friends today and some have even returned to the lake to live or vacation.

We found a few Ski Bees from years past and asked them to share some memories.

Cathy (Norton)

Lams:

“I often think about how fortunate I was to grow up on Coldwater Lake. I never understood when friends would complain how hot it was “in town.” I loved early-morning ski practices, skiing with friends at dusk, when the water was most calm, the constant stream of people in and out of our house, wet towels always on the line, bathing suits being worn sun up to way past sundown, and my great friends and neighbors, as well as my dad’s. I would get so sad every fall when I would start to see the docks come out. It was the BEST way to grow up. I’m super grateful for a wonderful dad who gave me that life.”

Jeff Friedrich:

“Every time the Snivley boat left the dock we all ran down to their house so we could see them whipped in to the beach. We would watch them glide up to the dock, jump out of the skis and run down the dock without ever getting their hair wet! Learned a lot about skiing from Tom!”

Greg Diehl:

“I remember in 1963, my neighbor Charlie Van Aken, who was about 16 at the time, took me to a ski show practice. I was 5 and skied in the show as the Ski Bee. I also remember being taught how to fly the kite by Butch and Jerry Gottschalk and doing that in the show after they grew older and moved on. Looking back on those years, they truly were some of the best summers a child could hope for.”

Jeff Short:

“I was fortunate enough to spend summers on Coldwater Lake and got in the Ski Club. Since then I have competed in water-skiing, snow-skied for a few different clubs and hosted clinics for amputees and wounded warriors. Water-skiing has been a part of my life thanks to the Snivleys, the Wright Brothers, Danny Davis, the Beattys, the Martin Family, Dave Norton and so many others. ‘The Lake’ truly influenced who I am today, and some of the best memories of my life happened there! Thank you all!”

Sandy (Wood) Reetz:

“I remember Cindy Dunlap, Wendy Klausing and I would sit around Dave Wright’s kitchen table and write the script for my dad, Chuck Wood, to read during the ski show. We gave him biographies and interesting facts about each of the performers to announce when they skied their various acts. (And I still have the notes!) How we ever orchestrated the order of the acts and got each one out of the water, one right after another, was truly amazing and so much fun! Coldwater Lake will always be a magical place with so many summer memories especially of the fun and friendships formed in the Ski Club.”

Denise Ward:

“The first Ski Club meeting of the spring was always an exciting time. This meant summer was right around the corner and the fun was about to begin. One particular spring, Sue Snyder and I decided to start practicing early. Being neighbors and friends of Toby Swick on Pearl Beach, he saw us practicing early. During the first Ski Club meeting at the Coldwater Lake Association building, Toby told everyone that he had seen us skiing in the very cold water. He told everyone at the meeting, “If you want to be a good skier you have to start early no matter how cold it is!”

My friends from Fort Wayne could never understand why I loved the lake so much. To them, it was just a lake. To me, it was a way of life. Once Coldwater Lake is in your soul, it never leaves. That is why I moved back! The memories I have of the Ski Club and Coldwater Lake will last a lifetime.”

Dawn (Boester) Beckhusen:

“I truly didn’t realize how special it was to grow up on Coldwater Lake until I left for college. My high school friends would say, “Oh, you have a 238 number so you must live out at the lake.” I know now Coldwater Lake was the place everyone wanted to be ... especially in the summer. I participated in the Coldwater Lake Ski Club and I have many fond memories. Although some weekend mornings the water was cold for practice, it was pretty impressive how teenagers put together a show. I was the infamous Ski Bee one year (my two younger sisters, Erin and Tina, also donned the blackand-gold outfit a few years later) and I also was in the junior/ senior ballet groups. My fondest memory was taking off from the dock at Beatty Marine (now Lake Drive Marine) on the Fourth of July and performing in front of a huge array of spectators. I could hear all the boat horns going off while we performed. It was so much fun. The memories of growing up on Coldwater Lake are priceless!”

Steve Wood:

“I can remember putting speakers on top of my parents’ car and driving around the lake with my sister announcing the ski show. I was a lot younger than my brother and sister, and I remember them taking me to practice and making me the Ski Bee one year. A bunch of us from the club ended up skiing against each other in college, representing Bowling Green, Purdue and Western Michigan, which was a lot of fun. I also remember Grant Newton skiing on an oar!”

Sue (Snivley) Eichler:

“The Ski Club was like family. We would practice rain or shine. I remember everyone coming to the Snivley house on Saturday mornings for practice. A lot of long-time friendships were made over the years.”

Sue (Snyder) Sponable:

“I remember Mountain Dew mornings with Denise, being part of the show and just being with all of our friends and having fun without parents telling us what to do. When I look back, we all worked together to put on the shows without much help from adults. Probably the most famous quote I remember is when Toby Swick was teaching me to jump. He told me, “Knees, trees and freeze”—it worked!”

ByJoeWard

Joe’s3-2-1Ribs

These ribs are as easy as 3-2-1. I’m going to share my process with you about how to prepare and smoke the best BBQ ribs.

First, start with a rack of St. Louis or baby back ribs. I prefer St. Louis ribs for a few reasons. For one, they are less expensive—although if you pick out a good rack you’ll get ribs that are just as good as, if not better than, baby backs. I also like them for their meat-to-fat ratio. I like a little extra fat on the ribs so it can render down and help with flavor. I can also trim them down to get the shape and cut that I prefer.

Once you pick out your ribs, start by unwrapping them and giving them a light rinse with cold water. Next, cut off any loose fat or meat pieces. If the end of the rack is much smaller than the rest, you can cut that off as well. It might require you to cut off two or three bones’ worth of meat but you’ll get a much more even rack of ribs that will cook evenly as you smoke them.

Next, flip the ribs over and look at the bottom. There will be a thick layer of skin-type membrane. Slide your finger under one edge and pull that layer off. This will not render down so there is no need to keep it.

Once that is done, rub the entire rack (top and bottom) with a light coat of yellow mustard. Mustard is vinegar-based, and vinegar helps break down the pork, making it more tender. The question I always get asked is, “Will this change the flavor of the meat?” The answer is no. I do this all the time, and it helps create amazing flavor. Next, season the ribs. I have my own rub that I use, but I also have a few store-bought rubs that I like as well.

My personal rub recipe is as follows:

½ cup brown sugar

½ cup white sugar

2 tablespoons garlic powder

2 tablespoons paprika

2 tablespoons salt

2 tablespoons chili powder

1 teaspoon oregano

1 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1 teaspoon black pepper

Mix all these ingredients in a bowl, and you’ll have enough to rub multiple racks of ribs. (A storebought brand that I also like to use is Famous Dave’s Rib Rub.) Once the ribs are coated with mustard, rub the entire rack (top and bottom) with your seasoning. Be sure to cover the entire rack. Ideally, you want the rubbed ribs to then rest in the fridge overnight, but they can go straight to the smoker if you are short on time.

Now for the 3-2-1 method! Prepare your smoker to

maintain a temperature of 225°F. Once that is set, put the ribs on the smoker. If you are using a traditional wood or charcoal smoker, I suggest using hickory or cherry wood. I also suggest using offset or indirect heat (that is where you put the coals off to one side of your smoker, and you put the ribs on the other side so the heat is not directly below the ribs). Put your lid on and let them go for 3 hours. (You can also use an electric smoker or propane smoker.) Remember, “If you’re lookin’, you ain’t cookin” so leave the lid on.

After 3 hours, pull the ribs off and wrap them in foil. You can touch them up with seasoning if there are any bare spots. My secret is to put a little butter on top of the ribs and let it melt into the meat. I also put a splash of water in the foil with the ribs for steaming purposes. Wrap them up tight and put them back on

the smoker for 2 hours. Be sure you maintain a temperature of 225°F. After 2 hours, pull them off and remove the ribs from the foil. Now it’s time to sauce them. Use your favorite sauce and spread it on top of the ribs. Use plenty of sauce but make sure you do not have excess sauce dripping down onto your heat source.

Put the ribs back on the smoker (no foil this time) for 1 hour. This will help caramelize the sauce, which helps produce some amazing flavor.

After the final hour you can remove them. Cover them with a lid or foil and let them rest for about 15 to 20 minutes. After they’ve rested, chop them up. I prefer to cut them into 2-bone sections and serve. These ribs are sure to be a hit at your next BBQ. Enjoy!

Food Truck Friday

Mark your calendar and bring your appetite! The Coldwater Lake Association is hosting Food Truck Friday on July 19th from 1 to 8pm at the Association building, 875 Warren Rd., Coldwater, Michigan. We recently sat down with Michelle Wood from the Coldwater Lake Association Board to hear about the event.

Lake Access: Michelle, what’s your connection to Coldwater Lake?

Michelle: My husband, Steve, and I recently bought a house on Canada Shores. I didn’t grow up on the lake, but somehow managed to be out here with friends almost every weekend in the summers. Steve grew up with a summer home on Island Road and we actually met in a couple of boats in the bay between Pearl Beach and the Island. That was almost 30 years and two kids ago! Once we became empty nesters and no longer needed to stay in the Metro Detroit area, we decided to come back down to this beautiful lake.

Lake Access: How did you get the idea to do a food truck rally at the lake?

Michelle: Actually, it wasn’t originally my idea. Last summer, my friend and lake resident Tammi Schorfhaar casually mentioned to me that now that we live on the lake, we should join the Association Board and try to set up a food truck rally. So, I did! We had been to a number of food truck rallies in Detroit and even hired a food truck to cater our youngest son’s graduation party, so I was “all in” with the idea. There are already great things happening on the lake like the fireworks, the pancake breakfast, movie on the water, bass tournaments … we just thought this would be one more event for people to enjoy and make memories around.

Lake Access: Is there a particular food truck you are looking forward to trying?

Michelle: They all look SO good to me. I plan to try all of them. The food trucks will be up and ready to serve at 1pm, so people can come for lunch and come back later in the day to try another one for dinner. You can bet that’s what I’ll be doing!

Lake Access: Do you have plans to make this an annual event?

Michelle: We would love to do that. People in Branch County would normally have to drive at least an hour for this type of event. We’re anticipating a great turnout, and we would like to host it again next year—we might even do it twice next year.

Food trucks participating in this year’s event are coming from Lansing, Jackson and Fort Wayne. All can be contacted directly to cater events.

Flora & Lily’s

floralilysfoodtruck.com

We are two sisters who, along with our beautiful mother, want to bring you delicious Mexican food. We come from a big family of restaurant owners in our beloved country of Mexico. Our food is authentic, fresh, delicious and made with the highest quality of ingredients. Try our best-seller burrito bowl, which can be customized to your palate. We hope you enjoy our food!

Tiki Sam’s Wood Fired Pizza

tikisamspizza.com

Tiki Sam’s Wood Fired Pizza is bringing the best pizza to the streets near you! It’s a food truck, after all, and one that’s sticking to time-tested pizza-makin’ methods to bring you pies with better crust, full of flavor to tantalize your taste buds. Just how are they achieving this delicious feat? Tiki Sam’s Wood Fired Pizza is cookin’ up those pizzas in a wood-fired oven at 900°, puttin’ ’em out in 90 seconds, so you won’t have to wait long to sink your teeth in to the freshest, most flavorful pizza in town. From classics like pepperoni and margherita to specialty pizzas including the irresistible Honey Love, rest assured you’ll get your fill here.

Fire and Rice

lansing.fireandrice.us

Paella is a traditional Spanish dish made from rice, saffron, vegetables, seafood and meats prepared in a large, shallow pan over an outdoor fire. The owner, Nick Neveau, grew up in Central Michigan and has worked for a number of restaurants and as an executive chef. Nick fell in love with the food industry, and with food trucks specifically, and ultimately decided to open a Fire & Rice location.

Shigs In Pit

shigsinpit.com

Three longtime friends combined their love of food with their competitive spirit. In 2005, they entered a local rib contest and won top honors. They took their winnings to their first Kansas City BBQ Society–sanctioned contest in Madison, WI, where they received sixth place in chicken. That’s all it took—they were hooked. In a few short years the team has amassed 11 Kansas City Barbeque Society Grand Championships, five Reserve Grand Championships and won numerous awards for their smoked meats. They have been invited to cook in some of the most prestigious events in the country including the American Royal in Kansas City, MO, and The Jack Daniel’s World Invitational in Lynchburg, TN.

Wicked Good Cupcakes

wickedgoodcupcakes.com/fortwayne

Amber and her mother, Sandi, have worked together since Amber was 16. After seeing Wicked Good Cupcakes on an episode of “Shark Tank,” Amber ordered them for her husband’s birthday. She was instantly hooked, and her entrepreneurial spirit kicked in! Although it was 1am, she called her mom to tell her she had found the “fun” business they had been looking for!

BUILDING MEMORIES

Hampton Homes offers a wide array of options for building or upgrading your home

Before After

Build Smart.™

Thinking about a lake cottage upgrade? Hampton Homes offers affordable and custom new construction lake homes. They can handle the demo or haul away your existing cottage and build the lake home of your dreams.

Hampton Homes of Coldwater has been on the cutting edge of the modular home industry since 2001. The Hampton brothers have a goal to bring excellent personalized customer service to each customer. Hampton Homes walks customers through each step of the home buying and building process and gives customers the best quality options and value for their money.

Hampton Homes is experienced at demolishing existing homes sitting on lake lots with as little disturbance to the area as possible. They understand the importance of minimizing effects of demolition and new builds so as to reduce the impact on neighbors. They treat the job site with dignity and respect.

Hampton Homes has many floor plans to choose from, offering top-quality modular ranch, Cape Cod–style and two-story homes ranging from 900 to 3,000 square feet. They can customize the plans to meet your needs and the potential of your lake lot. Already have a plan in mind? Bring your plan to them for a completely custom layout. They also offer quality sectionals and single-wide manufactured homes, too. Hampton homes even handles all site improvements. They truly are your one stop shop for housing needs.

Three reasons you should build with Hampton Homes:

Quick Timetable

Don’t let a home-building project consume mass amounts of your time. Your time is precious, and they understand that. Hampton Homes can build you a premium-quality modular home on a quick timetable, giving you more time to do the things you want to do.

Better Way to Build

Quality control is important to Hampton Homes. Every home is inspected to maintain consistent quality. System-built modular homes are subject to more stringent factory inspections than site-built homes. This leads to lasting quality, durability and value.

Energy Efficiency

Build a tight home that is energy efficient. Modular homes often have a tighter thermal envelope than site-built homes. This can result in lower heating and cooling costs through the life of your home.

These are just a few reasons to build with Hampton Homes. It’s always the right time to start looking for a new modular home from Hampton Homes. Let them transform your vision into reality. Stop by the brand-new sales office at 379 E. Chicago St., Coldwater, MI, opening in June 2019. They hope to hear from you soon at 517-767-4088 ext. 3.

Calling All Lakers!

Joining your lake association benefits all

Let’s take a moment to highlight the impact of lake associations.

In short, lake associations try to enhance the lake experience on their particular lake. They monitor the lake and notify authorities about weed growth, water quality and fish stocking. Associations sponsor various events, ranging from pancake breakfasts to spaghetti dinners, picnics and bingo. These events help unify lake communities and may also fund-raise to maintain an association building or provide Fourth of July fireworks. Lake associations also provide safety programs, such as boater classes, boat inspections and volunteer fire departments. Being part of your lake association keeps you well informed, as well.

Lake associations are the unsung heroes of lake communities. We take our hats off to them! Their leaders and members participate, volunteer and give—not only financially, but of their most valuable resource: time.

Please consider becoming a part of your lake association.

Coldwater Lake Association

Online at Facebook

Contact: coldwaterlakeassociation.com

Lake Association Building 516 Warren Rd., Coldwater

Current Members and Donors: 691

Membership Dues: $30

Annual Member Meeting: June 15 at 9am at Association Building.

Gilead Lake Association

Online: gileadlake.com and Facebook

Contact: David Minard, 517-756-8000, gileadlake.puremichigan@gmail.com

Current Members: 90

Membership Dues: $20

The association holds an Invasive Species Boot Camp (see website for dates) and an annual picnic (first Saturday of August).

Lake George Cottagers Association

Online: lakegeorgein.com or on Facebook

Contact: akegeorgecottagersassociation@gmail.com

Current Members and Donors: 404

Membership Dues: $60 (LGCA $60, fireworks $30, dam maintenance $30, weed control $125)

Annual Membership Meeting: July 20, 8:30am, Lake George Conservancy, Coldwater.

North Chain Lake Association

Lakes include: Messenger, South, Cemetery, North, Randall, Morrison and Craig

Online: North Chain Lake Association on Facebook Contact: Terry Reen, president, 517-937-2900, reener1946@gmail.com

Current Members and Donors: 220

Membership Dues: $10 per member

Fall Member Meeting: Sept. 14 (tentative) at Coldwater ProMedica Regional Health Center Conference Center.

Marble Chain of Lakes Improvement Association

Lakes include First, Marble, Middle, Archer, Bartholomew, Mud, Long and Coldwater

Online: marblechainoflakes.org and on Facebook

Contact: board@marblechainoflakes.org

Membership Dues: $25 per family

Membership Meetings: June 15 & August 10 at 9:30am at 295 N. Ray Quincy Rd. (new location). Association holds free boat inspections on June 23, 10am–2pm, at the Wildwood boat launch, and the Archer & Long Lakes Fish Stocking Pancake Breakfast, July 2, 8–11am at Spirit Café, Quincy.

Why choose

Matteson Lake Association

Online: mattesonlake on Facebook

Contact: 734-755-7042, mattesonlakeassociation@yahoo.com

There are a number the market but and functionality is constructed aluminum with

Lake Maps!

FACTORYVILLERD

In our first issue of Lake Access, we inadvertently left out Gilead, Matteson and Lake George maps. We offer our sincerest apology. Please be patient with us as we continue learning. If we have not included your lake association, please forward your information to customerservice@lake-access.com.

open 5 / 1 – 10 / 15

Private Beach • Boat Docks • Playground Basketball Court • Swimming rafts A fully Stocked Camp Store family owned and operated for over 50 years

Located

Marble Chain of Lakes

By Gina Sares -- Sr Communication Specialist

It’s hard to pass up being outside on a sunny, summer day. But when temperatures are high, you have to know how to It’s hard to pass up being outside on a sunny, summer day at the lake. but when temperatures are high, you have to know how to stay safe in the heat.

1. Hydrate—Before You Go Outside

Kimberly Webber, CNP, ProMedica Urgent Care, said that hydration is key on hot days. “Hydrate before going outside with fluids that are good for you,” she recommended. “Water is the most important. Our bodies function on water and it keeps the balance of everything we need.” Webber suggested carrying a water bottle with you throughout the day to remind yourself to drink water, and recommended that parents or other guardians remind children to drink water when they are outside playing. Katelyn Oostra, MD, a pediatrician with ProMedica physicians, knows that kids aren’t good about chugging water, especially when they are busy playing. “Have water available all the time, and offer them sips here and there,” she said. Because kids are different sizes, there’s no specific amount of water recommended. Webber added that drinks with alcohol or sugar should be avoided in high heat.

2. Watch for Signs of Heat Exhaustion and Heat Stroke

It’s natural for kids to get tired from play, but if their energy level is sinking and they aren’t playing like they typically do, it may be a sign of heat exhaustion. “Heat exhaustion is when kids aren’t able to cool their temperature down enough to maintain a normal temperature,” explained Dr. Oostra. “Heat exhaustion comes before the medical emergency, which is heat stroke.” Adults can definitely get heat exhaustion, too, so don’t ignore the signs if you start feeling this way. Webber added that nausea, muscle weakness and cramping can also happen be symptoms of heat exhaustion.

3. Lock Those Car Doors

On average every year, 37 children die to heat stroke, according to Gina Veres, injury prevention specialist, ProMedica. About a third of these children get into a vehicle on their own. “They want to play in there. They close the doors, lock the doors, and after just a few minutes in that hot care they get disoriented and can’t even figure out how to get out,” explained Veres. Of course, you never want to leave a child unattended in a car either. Even on cooler days, Veres said “it only takes 10 minutes for that vehicle to heat up 20 degrees more.”

4. Know When To Stay Inside

It’s ok to stay indoors when it’s very hot, and to take frequent breaks indoors. “If you’re going to go out, keep it short and outside of peak temperatures, 10 a.m.- 2 p.m.when the sun is at its hottest, especially for infants and toddlers,” said Dr. Oostra.

5. Don’t Forget Sun Safety Basics

In addition to staying hydrating and limiting time in the sun, don’t forget other sun safety basics like the importance of sunscreen and shade. “Sunscreen is important,” said Dr. Oostra. “You will sweat more in the heat, so make sure you are applying every two hours.” Make sure you are using the correct sunscreen, too. Wide-brimmed hats and umbrellas can also help to provide shade from damaging rays. If you’re headed out on a hot summer day, remember to listen to your body and pay close attention to how children and older adults are responding to the heat. As Webber says: “Have fun and stay hydrated.”

Oooo! Ahh!!!

SCHEDULED FIREWORKS

Coldwater Heritage Park: July 4

Coldwater Lake: July 6

Waffle Farm: July 6

Union Lake: July 6

Marble Chain of Lakes: July 7

Every summer in America we celebrate the birth of our country with fireworks on the Fourth of July. Have you ever wondered about the history of fireworks?

Most attribute the invention of fireworks to China around A.D. 800. Chinese alchemists, looking for a concoction for eternal life, quite by accident created a crude gunpowder. They formed the very first “firecracker” by packing the mixture into bamboo tubes and throwing them into the fire. The resulting loud blast was believed to keep evil spirits away. Eventually, the design evolved into using paper tubes with attached fuses, and then eventually the tubes were attached to arrows and used as weapons.

With the Crusades and the exploration of Marco Polo, fireworks were introduced to Europe. Pyrotechnic schools became popular during the Renaissance. Students were taught how to create elaborate explosions. In 1830, Italians mixed small amounts of metals and other ingredients to enhance brightness and create shapes. They also mixed various chemicals for additional colors (orange had been the only color previously). According to the American Chemical Society, yellow is produced by sodium, green by

barium, blue by copper-chloride, red by strontium and purple by a mix of copper and strontium.

As explorers discovered the New World, fireworks made their way to America. Captain John Smith set off the first fireworks display in America in Jamestown, Virginia, in 1608. On July 4, 1777, fireworks became a Fourth of July tradition. John Adams is quoted as saying, “The date will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more.”

John Adams was spot-on. We still use fireworks 242 years later in celebration of that first declaration of independence, and with the addition of technology, today’s computer-controlled displays can be quite elaborate. What a wonderful lasting tradition!

Did you know that fireworks displays around the lakes are supported by donation only?

Did you know that most public fireworks displays at the lakes are coordinated by volunteers from the lake associations, fire departments and marine patrol?

Please take a moment to thank them and consider donating to your lake association and local fire department.

By Natasha Powell

Duette® honeycomb shades

Duette® honeycomb shades

Duette® honeycomb shades

Duette® honeycomb shades

Duette® honeycomb shades

Duette® honeycomb shades

Ongoing

events running most weeks thoughout the summer

Lake Events 2019

Thursdays

June 20–Aug 22

Sounds of Summer & Farmers’ Market

Quincy

Upcoming

Saturdays

May 25–Sept 28

Bronson Farmers’ Market 8am–noon

May

Mondays & Wednesdays

Yoga

6:30–7:30pm

Coldwater Lake Association Building

Saturdays

June 22–Sept 14

The Corner Farmers’ Market 9am–1pm

Coldwater

May 24–27

Civil War Days

Coldwater

Thursdays Euchre

6:30–8:30pm

Coldwater Lake Association Building

May 27

Memorial Day Parade & Cemetery Service

10:30am  Union City

May 31–June 2

Citywide Sales Union City

May 27

Memorial Day Parade

Quincy

June

May 27

Memorial Day Parade

Coldwater

May 31–June 2

Annual M60 Sales, Antique Salvage

Union City

June 1

Third annual Quincy Color Run

Quincy

June 8

Boater Safety Class 9am–3:30pm

Coldwater Lake Association Building online registration @ coldwaterlakeassociation.com

June 8

Boater Safety Class 9am–3:30pm

Sunset Cove

Marble Lake

Quincy

June 7–8

Shawnee Shoals and Iyopawa Island Garage Sales

Coldwater

June 8

Pat Taylor Amphitheater

Union City

June 8

Tibbits

Roomful of Blues

Coldwater

June 14

Lake George Garage Sales

Coldwater

June 15

Boater Safety Class 9am–3:30pm

Sunset Cove

Marble Lake

Quincy

June 20–22

Tibbits Summer Theatre

Ken Ludwig’s Be My Baby Coldwater

June 22

Boater Safety Class 9am–3:30pm

Coldwater Lake Association Building online registration @ coldwaterlakeassociation.com

July 2

Fish Stocking Pancake Breakfast

Spirit Café Quincy

June 26–29

Tibbits Summer Theatre

Ken Ludwig’s Be My Baby Coldwater

June 21–22

Tibbits Popcorn Theatre

The Josh Casey Show

Coldwater

June 28–29

Tibbits Popcorn Theatre

Goldilocks and the Three Bears

Coldwater

Every Tuesday in July Entertainment Under the Stars 7–8pm Coldwater

July 4

Fourth of July

Parade/Rotary BBQ Quincy

July 3, 7 pm

Fireworks & Field Games Alumni Field

Union City

July 5

Marble Lake

Fireworks

Quincy

July 5–6

Tibbits Popcorn Theatre

Goldilocks and the Three Bears

Coldwater

July 5–7

Tibbits Summer Theatre

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

Coldwater

June 22 Strawberry Fest

Coldwater

July

July 4

Fireworks at Heritage Park Coldwater

July 5

Union Lake Poker Run

Union City

July 6

Union Lake Flotilla Parade

Union City

July 6

Annual Pancake Breakfast

8–11am

Coldwater Lake Association Building

Coldwater

July 6

Freedom Fest & Fireworks

Lake George

Coldwater

July 10–13

Tibbits Summer Theatre

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

Coldwater

July 19

Food Truck Friday at Coldwater Lake

Coldwater

July 20

Artwalk Art Show

Coldwater

July 20

Pearl Beach Garage Sales

Coldwater

July 6

Coldwater Lake Fireworks

Coldwater

July 12–13

Tibbits Popcorn Theatre

The Wind in the Willows

Coldwater

July 19–20

Tibbits Popcorn Theatre

The Wind in the Willows

Coldwater

July 6

Boat Parade Gilead Lake

Bronson

July 18–20

50th annual Bronson

Polish Festival

Bronson

July 20

Tibbits

Tribute Band (TBD)

Coldwater

July 21

Coldwater–Marble

Lake Boaters Poker Run Fundraiser

Quincy & Coldwater

July 25–27

Tibbits Summer Theatre

West Side Story

Coldwater

July 26

Kids Day in the Park

Quincy

July 26–27

Tibbits Popcorn

Theatre

Classic Cartoon

Cavalcade

Coldwater

July 31–Aug 3

Tibbits Summer Theatre

West Side Story

Coldwater

Aug 2–3

Tibbits Popcorn Theatre

Pinocchio

Coldwater

August

Aug 3

Gilead Lake

Annual Picnic

Bronson

Aug 4–10

Branch County Fair

Coldwater

Aug 8–10

Tibbits Summer Theatre

See How They Run

Coldwater

Aug 23–24

Main Street Festival

Quincy

Aug 9–10

Tibbits Popcorn Theatre

Pinocchio

Coldwater

Aug 5–26

(every Monday in August)

Music in the Park Concert Series

Bronson

Aug 14–17

Tibbits Summer Theatre

See How They Run

Coldwater

Aug 18

Bernie Behnke Scholarship Fishing Tournament

Lake Drive Marine

Coldwater

Aug 24

September

Tibbits

The Ragbirds

Coldwater

Aug 25

Mini-Triathlon

Coldwater Lake Marina

Coldwater

Sept 6–8

Tibbits Summer Theatre

Next to Normal Coldwater

Sept 21, 1–3pm & 5–7pm

Riverside Memories

Cemetery Tour

Riverside Cemetery

Union City

Sept 12–14

Tibbits Summer Theatre

Next to Normal Coldwater

Sept 28, 5–7pm

Farm to Fork

Downtown Union City

Sept 28

Pints in the Park

Quincy

Sept 21

Applefest & Craft Show

Coldwater

October

Oct 26

Halloween Parade

5:30–7pm

Coldwater

Oct 31

Halloween Parade

6:30pm

Bronson

Oct 31

Safe Trick or Treat

Quincy High School

One Couple’s Dream Helps Others Launch Theirs artistre Escapes

Island Garden Venue

In life, we are given opportunities we never could have imagined but which fit our destiny perfectly.

Twenty-five years ago John and Kathy Hemker purchased a beautiful property for the purpose of building a family home. Kathy had dreams of landscape architecture and residential design. Her dreams and life came together precisely to help create a wedding venue on the island part of the property. Only one problem stood in her way: T-I-M-E. The large flowering gazebo canopy, for example, took 10 patient years to grow into the beauty we see in these pictures.

This year will be their seventh season hosting weddings. Their business has grown so much that they are even planning some 2020 weddings before the 2019 season opens. As they have grown, artistreEscapes has been able to help many other area small

businesses build their dreams—the synergy of everyone working together to create a stronger, more beautiful event for every couple.

They welcome you to visit their website at www.artistreEscapes.com where you can view photos from past weddings and better see how much they are continually upgrading their property and services. You can also contact them from the website.

When they first started this venture, their daughter told them people will drive anywhere if they like the venue. John and Kathy have found this to be true. Couples from all over Michigan and from many other states have traveled to artistreEscapes for their event.

John and Kathy would like to thank area supporters and patrons who have helped them become everything they dreamed of and so much more.

Senior Summers

Take advantage of all the activities and services for seniors that the Burnside Center has to offer

Spending some time around Coldwater this summer? Be sure to check out one of the gems of Branch County: the Burnside Center.

Renovated in 2017, the state-of-the-art facility boasts a welcoming atrium, a complete exercise room with over 10 pieces of exercise equipment, activity rooms hosting educational events and daily game play, a wood shop and a craft room to get your creative mind flowing, and so much more, all offered at little or no cost!

“The Burnside Center can enhance retirement by offering a myriad of activities to keep you physically healthy and mentally sharp,” says Amy Duff, executive director of the Branch County Commission on Aging. “Plus, it’s lots of fun!”

Branch County Commission on Aging operates the Burnside Center at 65 Grahl Drive in Coldwater and is available to those who have a home in Branch County, are age 50 and over, with no membership cost. Funding comes primarily from property tax dollars, with state and federal grants, as well as donations. The Burnside Center is open on weekdays: Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays 8am to 4:30pm and Tuesdays and Thursdays 8am to 6pm.

“We aim to keep activities ‘free’ or with a ‘suggested donation’ whenever possible to make sure all Branch County seniors can participate,” says Programs Director Freda Leupp.

Every day at Burnside you’ll find a number of games being played. Some of the most popular include euchre, pinochle, bridge, bingo and Wii bowling. Mah-jongg tile game is new to the Center within the last year. The billiards room is open during all business hours with two pool tables available for seniors.

In the computer lab you can enjoy free access to computers and a printer while getting advice from, or a repair completed by, one of the lab’s senior volunteer computer techs. Classes for advanced or beginner computer users are taught on a regular basis.

If you’re artistic or hoping to learn a new hobby, the Burnside Center has many excellent activities. Stained glass classes are available both for beginners and established glass workers. On Monday afternoons, the “Ladies in the Wood Shop” group creates unique projects. Watercolor and china-painting classes are held on Tuesdays with a professional instructor. Knitting, crocheting, quilting and other craft classes are held throughout the week as well.

For those who are looking to stay in shape or lose some weight, the Burnside Center exercise room is open during all business hours with NO membership fee. Treadmills, NuSteps, stationary bikes and a few resistance machines are

available. All the equipment has been specially chosen as safe and easy to understand for new or experienced exercisers.

Zumba Gold is available on Monday mornings for those looking for a fast-paced aerobic exercise class. Tai chi is available on Thursday mornings for those who prefer a relaxed, gentle stretching exercise program.

Would you like to get some exercise in the water? The Burnside Center has programs for that, too. In partnership with the Dr. Robert W. Browne Aquatic Center, the Burnside Center is offering the Arthritis Foundation Aquatic Program. This is a low-impact program designed to reduce pain and improve overall health for those who have arthritis or related conditions. This program is offered through a federal grant and has no cost. Availability is limited. For information on scheduling, please call the pool at 517-279-5920.

In addition to this class, the aquatic center is offers $2 day passes to seniors who show a Burnside Center key tag. This day pass is good anytime that “open swim” is available. If you’d like to take advantage of this, stop into the Burnside Center and fill out a registration sheet. While your key tag is being made, you can take a tour of the Center and see what all is available to you. There is no cost for a key tag.

Once a month, gatherings are held for women and men respectively to enjoy some social interaction, free food and learn something new. Meet, Greet and Eat is a women’s monthly luncheon held on the second Wednesday of the month. Men @ Lunch is a men’s monthly luncheon held on the third Wednesday of the month. Both events take place at 11am and require advance reservation. These are popular events that typically fill up. At each event, a speaker of interest is scheduled as well.

For more information and a complete listing of programs, activities and services administered by the Branch County Commission on Aging, visit BurnsideCenter.com.You can also stop in and pick up a paper copy of our newsletter. For the latest updates, we recommend following us on Facebook or signing up for our weekly e-mail blasts.

runner’s high

By Ashley Klein

My life is very busy. I work in a busy medical practice, teach spin classes and sell real estate. I have a husband and two fur babies. There is not a lot of time in the day to relax and take in the beauty of Coldwater Lake.

I have discovered a way that works for me. I run … A LOT. Running for me is a way to release the anxieties of an overwhelming day. I run on an average 30–40 miles a week. I have run in many different places, but my favorite and the most relaxing is when I run around the lake. The beauty of the lake, the smell of the water and the feel of the breeze coming off the lake quiets my soul. It gives me time to connect with myself and feel free.

Running around the lake makes life enjoyable and benefits my health. Running is my very own superpower. It rescues me and makes me ready to take on the day.

Let’s be real: This is Michigan. We only have a short window to get out and enjoy what the lake has to offer. My suggestion to everyone is to find something that you are passionate about and, if you can get outside and enjoy the sunshine, water and all the sights and smells while doing it, then do it. You will feel better and make the most of your time at the lake.

Ashley Klein Laker – Runner – Realtor Ashleyjoklein@gmail.com

Runner’s Prayer

Run by my side; Live in my heartbeat; Give strength to my steps. As the cold surrounds, As the wind pushes me, I know you surround me. As the sun warms me, I know you are touching me, Challenging me, loving me. And so, I give you this run.

Thank you for matching my stride. Amen.

By Alexa DeVore, ProMedica Public Relations Team

When you’re out enjoying the great days of summer—strolling through the park, camping or getting elbow deep in yard work—little creatures such as ticks can cling to you without a pinch. Ticks, tiny arachnids that relate more to spiders than to mosquitoes, are known for spreading diseases, which is what makes them such a concern. Rocky Mountain spotted fever and Lyme Disease are just two of the serious diseases these blood sucking species carry. Although only a small percent of ticks carry disease, it is still wise to use caution when outside to keep you, your family and even your pets safe.

Spotting a Tick

Nilanjana Dey, CNP, at ProMedica Urgent Care, said knowing the different types of ticks can help with treatment if you are bit. In the midwest, there are two types of ticks: the deer tick, found in wooded areas, and the less common dog tick. It’s also wise to know the different ticks spread around the country if you are traveling in case you are bit. “The deer tick that causes Lyme disease is most common is the Atlantic region, Michigan, and Ohio,” Dey said. “The Rocky Mountain is more of the rocky mountain area.” If a tick is attached to you, a family member or a pet, the sooner you find it, the better. That’s because a tick that’s attached for more than 36 hours is a cause for concern. If the tick has only been attached to the skin for a short time, the risk of disease is not as high. Some may think that if a tick is attached, you will immediately know, but this isn’t true. In most cases, you won’t even feel it. Dey said it’s great to use the buddy system to check each other for ticks. If you are just checking yourself, she said you can use a mirror.

Removing a Tick

Unfortunately, there are many myths of how to remove a tick. “Some people think to use gasoline, or petroleum, nail polish, or burn it with a match stick,” Dey said. There is a proper way to remove the creature without leaving any mouth parts behind. “Get a fine tweezer and grip the tick very close to the skin, as close as possible. Then just pull it straight and firm with a steady pressure,” she advised. “Do not jerk or twist it because that could break the tick.” The reason for not wanting to break the tick is because this may have you in contact with the tick’s blood, which raises your risk of getting a disease from a tick. Not squeezing or crushing the tick is a very crucial step. When the frightening part of removing the tick is over, place the tick in a container with the date and location of the bite in the case of the victim becoming ill, Dey said. Taking a picture of the tick can also be helpful to diagnose the tick and what type of disease that specific one carries.

Preventing Tick Bites

Personal protection is crucial when protecting yourself from ticks. Dey gave the following tips on how to prevent a tick from making you their feeding host: Avoid grassy areas that attract ticks.

Wear light colored clothes so the ticks stand out. Wear long-sleeve shirts, pants and tuck the pants into the socks. Walk on a path when on hikes or in wooded areas. Wear a tick repellent lotion.

Keep these prevention tips in mind the next time you’re enjoying the great outdoors.

All funds raised at the PCRH 5K to End Hunger will be equally divided between local initiatives:

• Backpack Buddies

• Branch Area Food Pantry,

• ProMedica Coldwater Food Program to End Hunger in Branch County.

Call 517-279-5414 for more information

Gifts that Transform Lives In Branch County and the Surrounding Area

In 2000, the ProMedica Coldwater Regional Hospital Foundation was established with a generous gift from a local donor to help provide care for the residents of Branch County. Since that time, our Foundation directors have diligently managed the funds to help support healthcare in Branch County for the future. Our future.

Since its inception, our hospital foundation has contributed millions of dollars for hospital improvement and expansion as well as funding essential medical equipment. More importantly, these funds help keep local healthcare for members of our community.

For you.

Give to ProMedica Coldwater Foundation at Giving.ProMedica.org

For more information about the Foundation and our mission call 517-279-5414.

One Glorious Day

Cloaking

Quieting

Compressing

Rules the dark

Hovering

Hoping

Hearkening

Earth awaits the spark

Breaking

Blazing

Boundless

Dawns the sun

Cheering

Clearing

Compelling

It beckons us, “Come.”

The lake Comes awake

Reflecting

Refracting

Rippling

The heavens above

Shouting

Surprising

Signaling

The Creator’s love

Engaging

Enticing

Echoing

Deep calls unto deep

Shifting

Squinting

Stretching

I’m aroused from sleep

Wandering

Wondering

Wakening

I see

Surely

Certainly

Specially

What was done for me

Returning

Rejoicing

Recalling

Excitement burgeons within

Embracing

Embarking

Emboldened

Life really begins

Softly

Swiftly

So thoroughly

Changed…

It happened to me

One Glorious Day

—Violet Kelly

Sensational Sides

By Kimberly Kruger

MAMA K’S KETO COLESLAW

Serves 4–6

2 head cabbage

4–5 large carrots

1 cup mayonnaise

¼ cup olive oil (light tasting)

¼ cup vinegar

⅓ cup sweetener of choice (such as stevia)

½ teaspoon celery seed

½ teaspoon dry mustard

Shred cabbage and carrots. Set aside. In a separate bowl, mix all wet ingredients until creamy. Add sweetener and spices. Mix. Add to cabbage mixture until thoroughly combined. Refrigerate at least 1 hour or overnight for best results.

CAULIFLOWER SALAD

A potato salad remake

Serves 4–6

1–2 heads cauliflower, chopped and steamed

3 green onions, chopped

¼ cup finely diced celery

2 hard-boiled eggs, chopped

½ cup mayonnaise

½ tablespoon yellow mustard

¼ teaspoon salt

⅛ teaspoon black pepper

½ teaspoon dill

Chop the cauliflower into small bites (like potatoes in potato salad). Steam the cauliflower. While cauliflower is cooling, mix green onion, celery and eggs in a bowl. Add the cauliflower and gently toss together. In a separate bowl, mix the mayo, mustard, salt and pepper.Add to cauliflower mix and fold together gently with a spatula until well combined. Sprinkle a little dill over the top. Cover and chill for at least an hour.

“Feed Me !”

(That’s your plant talking)

By Krista Glei

Every spring, people flock to greenhouses and garden centers to gather up everything they will need to make their yard and porch beautiful. They buy hanging baskets, potted plants, flats of flowers and maybe a couple bushes or trees to complete their landscape. Once everything is in the ground, the hard part is over, right?

Not if you want everything to stay looking as beautiful as the day you bought them. Watering and fertilizing are keys to making sure your yard and porch stay looking fabulous.

Most everyone knows to water their plants as often as needed to keep them from wilting and dying. The part people forget about is the feeding. Plants, just like people, thrive on food and water, not water alone. When it comes to fertilizer, there are many options.

Some people prefer to use fertilizer as they water, like MiracleGro. You can mix it up and water with it or use the newer version that attaches to the end of the hose. This works great if you remember to do it. But some of us have a hard enough time remembering to water our plants, let alone fertilize them. For those who forget, time-release fertilizers are a wonderful alternative. Osmocote makes one for flowers and a different one for vegetable plants. Simply sprinkle the measured amount into your containers or flower beds and it lasts months, slowly fertilizing each time you water

Fertilizer tablets are available at Glei’s that are great for baskets and containers. We include tablets with each hanging basket we sell but you can purchase extras for any other containers you might have at home. They are also slow-release, just like Osmocote. We start each basket with them so they are ready to go, then you just place the new tablets on top of the soil at the beginning of June so they last all summer.

Some fertilizers have specialized formulas for specific plants. Roses, tomatoes, hydrangeas, and evergreens all have specific nutrient requirements, and you will get the best results by using fertilizers designed for those plants. Hydrangeas especially require specific nutrients that control the acidity of the soil to keep them blue or pink. Ask your local garden expert what will work best for your garden and plants.

If using time-release fertilizer, be sure to not accidently also use a one-time fertilizer (12-12-12 or 19-19-19, for example) on the same plant. Over-fertilizing plants can cause leaf burn or root burn. This will damage the plant and it will need some serious TLC to bring it back from the brink of death.

Trees and bushes also benefit from slow-release fertilizers. Using fertilizer spikes formulated for evergreen trees and fruit trees can help keep them healthy and growing. Fertilizer spikes are available at Glei’s and should be put in the ground in the spring.

So, as you head out to plant your flowers this spring, don’t forget to grab some fertilizer too. Plants need food and water to thrive, just like us. Each fertilizer you purchase will have feeding instructions on it. Read and follow the instructions to be sure to get the right amount and the right timing for your plants. Then, sit back and enjoy the beauty around you. Happy planting!

Delightful Desserts

Luscious Lemon Bars

By Jeannie Cornish (USA Weekend, 3-25-2011)

For Crust:

1 cup all-purpose flour

⅛ teaspoon salt

½ cup confectioners’ sugar

1 stick butter (8 tablespoons), melted but not hot

For Filling:

2 large eggs

¾ cup sugar

1½ tablespoons allpurpose flour

6 tablespoons freshsqueezed lemon juice (about 2 lemons)

2 teaspoons finely grated lemon zest

Adjust oven rack to lower-middle position and heat oven to 325°F. Spray an 8- by 8-inch baking pan with vegetable cooking spray.

Mix flour, salt and confectioners’ sugar in a medium bowl; stir in butter to form dough. Press dough into pan bottom. Bake until pale golden, about 20 minutes.

While pastry bakes, whisk eggs, sugar, flour, lemon juice and zest in a medium bowl.

Remove pan from oven. Add lemon mixture and continue to bake until just set, about 20 minutes. Cool until room temperature. Cut into squares and serve.

TRIPLE BERRY TRIFLE

By Judy Snyder

2 large (5.1-ounce) packages instant vanilla pudding mix

4 cups 2% milk

16–32 ounces strawberries (1–2 containers)

1 pint blueberries

1 pint red raspberries

1 angel food cake or pound cake

1 (8-ounce) container Cool Whip, thawed

Mix instant pudding as directed. Set aside. Wash berries and cut off tops of strawberries. After drying, slice strawberries in half. (Slice larger ones in thirds.)

Cut angel food cake into small cubes. Line bottom of trifle dish with ⅓ of the cake cubes.

Top the cake layer with ⅓ of the vanilla pudding. Next, place strawberry slices, blueberries and red raspberries around the edge and fill in the center with fruit. Repeat layers. Top with Cool Whip and remaining berries. Refrigerate.

REESE’S HEAVENLY PEANUT BUTTER TRIFLE

By Judy Snyder

1 box Pillsbury Milk Chocolate Brownie Mix

2 (13-ounce) bags Reese’s Miniature Peanut Butter Cups

2 large (5.1 ounce) packages instant vanilla pudding mix

4 cups 2% milk

1 cup creamy peanut butter

4 teaspoons vanilla extract

2 (8-ounce) containers Cool Whip, thawed

Prepare brownie mix according to package directions, using a 9- by 13-inch inch pan. Make sure not to overbake the brownies. Cool on a wire rack, then cut into ¾-inch pieces.

Cut some Reese’s peanut butter cups in half to use for garnish on top. Cut rest into fourths.

In a large bowl, whisk milk and pudding mixes for 2 minutes. Add peanut butter and vanilla. Mix well. Fold in 1½ cartons of whipped topping.

Place half the brownies in a trifle bowl. Top with half the peanut butter cups. Spoon half the pudding mixture on top. Repeat layers. Cover with remaining whipped topping. Garnish with reserved peanut butter cups. Refrigerate until chilled.

Play It Safe

By Dr. Joe Holicki

Lakes provide refreshment, entertainment and fun. However, there are injuries unique to lakes and the water activities they invite.

My most memorable fishhook injury happened when my son, age 15 at the time, somehow got a treble hook stuck into his index finger. We can laugh about it now, but at the time it was one of the most stressful experiences. It was one of those hot, sweaty summer days (90°F) and we did not have air conditioning. Josh was very calm, but I had to decide the most pain-free way to remove the hook. The hook had penetrated about halfway through his finger. It was a hook that had a barb on it. Usually the best way to

remove that kind of hook is to pass it completely through, to avoid additional tissue injury from the barb on the way out. I could see that to do that it would have to pass through bone, so I decided to pull it out the way it went in.

Since the patient was my son, it was a particularly stressful decision. I decided to inject lidocaine into the hole that the hook had created, and then pull it out with a needle driver. I did just that. It worked well. But trying to be fast and careful and being nervous at the same time, I recoiled and jabbed the hook into my own finger. I couldn’t believe it! Now I had to remove it again, this time from myself. Fortunately, there was just enough lidocaine to repeat the same procedure. It went perfectly, without the recoil. :)

Most injuries at the lake can be avoided with a little thought and effort. Being an eye surgeon, allow me to talk about eye injuries at the lake—starting with fishhooks. Careless or inexperienced fishermen often are not aware of the route their hook takes before it leaves the confines of the boat. The velocity of the hook as the fisherman casts the pole only magnifies the potential danger. We probably all have a story of someone in our family who has been the recipient of a hook. A few remember when the hook caught a friend’s eye. A cut to an eye can be bad but can usually be repaired. However, think about the dirty hook that has passed through a worm, or the lip of a fish, or sat on the floor of the boat. The bacteria that a hook introduces can be much more harmful than the actual cut.

During my residency training for ophthalmology, a young woman came to the emergency department with a fishhook injury to her eye. She said that her boyfriend was fishing in the same boat and his hook apparently caught on a log underneath the water. As he tried to free it, he yanked the pole hard, and the next thing she knew she felt something hit her eye and she lost her vision immediately in that eye. We found that her cornea had a full-thickness cut, and her lens was cloudy and was punctured. She brought the hook in still tied to the fishing line, but half the hook was missing. We all assumed it was still stuck in the log until we did an X-ray. The X-ray revealed that the other half of the hook was sitting inside her eye, against her retina. Moral of the story: Be careful when you fish, try to be aware where your hook is all the time and keep it away from passengers when you cast.

Most of us enjoy a day on the dock, on the boat or in the shade under a nice tree near the water. Our parents always told us, “Wear your sunglasses! If you don’t, you’ll shoot your eye out, kid.” Oh, wait … that last part was from a movie. However, our parents were right. Without UV protection your eyes can suffer damage. UV, or ultraviolet, rays are the wavelength of light that comes from the sun that can damage your retina, in particular the macula and the lens. Good sunglasses with UV protection will filter out the UV wavelength. Some believe UV rays can contribute to macular degeneration and cataracts. (A cataract is when the lens, just behind the pupil, gets cloudy.) Without proper sunglasses, one can also get solar keratitis or severe irritation on the cornea (the surface or

clear bubble over the front of your eye). Solar keratitis is similar to burns that welders get on their eyes if they don’t wear proper eye protection. All these injuries are easily preventable—just wear proper eyewear with UV protection.

We all know about skin cancer. Basal cell, squamous cell and melanoma, in that order, are the three most common skin cancers that result from overexposure to the sun. The lower eyelid (the place of most exposure to the sun) is the most common place we find skin cancer around the eye. Please know that the sunlight reflecting off the water while you are sitting under the shade tree is just as potent. Applying sunscreen is a simple step to take to prevent damage.

Our lakes are meant to be enjoyed. So, get out there and play a little. Just be sure to take precautions to avoid any injury to yourself or others.

Dr. Joseph Holicki, D.O.

Holicki Eye Centers and Optical

142 E. Chicago Rd

Coldwater, MI 49036

517-279-7927:

holickieyecenters.com

Dr. Joseph Holicki, D.O. and his eyecare team of providers, Dr. Emily Emerson, O.D. and Dr. Brittany Hoolsema, O.D. have 3 offices for your convenience: Coldwater, Sturgis and Angola, Indiana.

By Cindy Longstreet

Last month I started thinking about updating my living room. Everything I was drawn to revolved around the light, airy tones of grey, beige and even off-white. For me, personally, the linen-looking fabrics were the most appealing. Those colors seem to give the clean, comfortable look I am striving for.

Wow … stop right there. We live in our living room. All entertainment takes place in our living room. I’m ashamed to admit that the cocktail table doubles as a dining table quite often. And when the grandkids come over, we usually have movie night … and that always requires popcorn. Considering the hazards of food and drink, I already have two strikes against my airy, linen, not-easily-cleanable fabric choice.

Oh, and I can’t forget about the dogs. Rule number one: No dogs allowed on the sofa. When I leave the house, that rule seems to fly out the window. However, we love our four-legged family members, so we continue to accommodate them.

Three strikes—I started to ponder my options. Can I change the family? Probably not. Well, I could do a light, neutral leather. No, that’s not the look I want. With a little research I think I’ve come up with a solution.

The furniture industry today has “performance fabrics.” Let me share with you the qualities of these fabrics: They are durable, cleanable, water-repellent and fade-resistant. Is this a dream come true? These fabrics even come with a three-year warranty, which is not normal. Fabrics usually do not have a warranty at all. They also boast that they are stain-resistant and bleach-cleanable. I’m loving this story!

At Longstreet Living, we carry many furniture lines but one brand in particular offers “performance” fabrics: England Furniture. England Furniture offers the Revolution fabric line, which uses polypropylene. Polypropylene is a by-product of the oil refining and natural gas businesses, upcycling something that would have normally been thrown away. This is a win-win for all.

I started to focus on what fabrics would be available. There is a great selection to choose from, with many textures and color tones. The fabric choices offered will fit into anyone’s decorating style. So, with these available fabrics, I am going to give it a try and order that off-white linen-look sofa that I had only dreamt about a few weeks ago. Guess I better get busy with the new paint and carpet.

Stop by Longstreet Living sometime and let us show you the highperformance fabrics that could work for your family so that you can live life and not have to sweat the small stuff.

It’s Freezing!

Facts about the Lakes in Winter

By Lois Hoffman

Ithought I heard someone calling the other day. As I listened closer, it was the lake softly whispering, “Don’t forget me. I can still be fun, even in winter.”

Every season brings its own blessings and trials, and winter is no different. Branch County’s lakes offers their own share of pleasures … and dangers. With just a little understanding of lakes in winter, you can discover a whole new way to enjoy what your lake has to offer while it is frozen over.

It has been a while since I have played on the ice, but when I was a kid I was out there with my dad every winter. He loved to ice fish and I liked to ice skate … a win-win situation. So many folks partake in ice fishing, ice skating and other winter activities on the ice without really understanding the basics of being on the ice.

LAKE FACTS IN WINTER

All lakes and ponds have a routine, so to speak, on how they freeze. A body of water takes longer to cool down and longer to heat up than land. When an entire lake reaches 40°F, the surface water cools further, dropping below that temperature. Once the surface water reaches 32°F, it freezes and the freezing keeps spreading downward, thus making the ice thicker and thicker.

So why doesn’t a whole lake freeze? As ice crystals freeze, they float to the surface and as they become thicker, they act as insulation, preventing the cold air above the water from removing heat from the unfrozen water below. Because of this process, a lake never freezes solid from top to bottom. Water is shallower at the lake’s perimeter, thus, it freezes faster near the shore then moves toward the center.

So, what is considered a safe thickness of ice to be on the lake? That depends on how much weight you are planning to take on the ice. The Old Farmer’s Almanac recommends three inches of ice for a person on foot, four inches for a group walking in single file, seven and onehalf inches for a passenger car with a two-ton gross weight and eight inches for a light truck weighing two and a half tons. The almanac also stresses that slush ice is only half the strength of regular blue ice and the strength of river ice is 15% less than lake ice. Also, the thickness of a lake’s ice is different at different points, so it is recommended that you check it every 150 feet.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE A LAKE TO FREEZE?

How long it takes a lake to make the varying degrees of ice thickness depends on what is known as “freezing degree days.”

The formula for this is quite simple: First, take the average temperature over the last 24 hours and subtract that number from the freezing point of 32°F. Ice will increase at a rate of one inch for every15 freezing degree days. For example, if the average temperature over the last 24 hours was 25°, subtract that from 32°, which will give you 7°. Put 7 over 15 like a fraction: 7/15 equals about a ½ inch of ice over a 24-hour period.

Keep in mind that these are only guidelines. This formula is based on having a slight to moderate wind speed, no snow on the ground and clear skies. These all help to pull heat out of the water and accelerate the growth of ice. Just because the thermometer says 32° does not always mean that water will freeze. The University of Utah chemistry department shows that water can get to –55° before it must freeze.

STRANGE PHENOMENA WHEN ICE FREEZES

Frozen lakes and ponds have some phenomena that they claim for their own when they are frozen over. Perhaps the most frightening for anyone who spends any time on the ice is the cracking noise. My dad always told me, “It’s just making more ice when you hear that noise.” It never made me feel any better, but it was essentially true. Ice expands or contracts when the temperature changes, thus causing cracks to form in the ice.

This same action of expansion and contraction causes lines on the frozen lake’s surface. We were recently down with our friends who live on Union Lake in Michigan and noticed these lines, with no particular pattern or reason, leading out into the lake. They are referred to as pressure ridges. Even when a lake is completely frozen, it is not stagnant; it still expands and contracts as it warms and cools. When it warms during the day, it expands, causing a collision between both sides of a crack and causing the ice to buckle up at that pressure point.

Ice heaves and ridges are caused by the pushing action of a lake’s ice sheet against the shore. When lake ice cracks, water rises into the cracks and freezes, gradually expanding the heave.

WHAT TO DO IF THE UNTHINKABLE HAPPENS

Frozen lakes offer opportunities to enjoy our water resources in the winter as well as summer. However, they offer their own set of risks. Besides the thickness of the ice, always beware of those who have been out before you. Specifically, I am talking about holes that ice fishermen have drilled and abandoned. You can easily step into one of these and trip … and a fall on the ice is a lot harder than on land! These holes also pose risks for ice

skaters. I found out the hard way what happens when a skate catches an open hole.

As careful as one can be, ice is unpredictable and there is always that chance that if you play on a frozen lake you could find yourself plunged into its icy perils. If the dreaded does happen and you do fall through thin ice, the first thing to remember (and this is easier said than done) is not to panic. It is true that the physiological response to cold water shock and hyperthermia is pretty quick, but by keeping a level head and knowing what to do, you can save yourself.

Immediately put your arms and legs out to slow your descent. The first reaction is to try to claw your way out, but by doing this, your body weight and wet clothing may pull you back down. Many folks who have experienced the frozen lake waters have said they could not get a deep breath. This happens because when they panic, they forget to exhale first.

Use your behind to lift your lower body and then bring your legs up and extend behind you. If you have skates, snowshoes and even in some cases, boots, kick them off to dispose of added weight and anything that might “catch” on the ice when trying to pull yourself out.

Kick your legs softly to launch yourself forward on the ice then kick hard to propel yourself horizontally out of the water on your stomach. Do not stand, but rather, use your arms to pull yourself across the ice to where it is thick enough to support your weight, then get on all fours and crawl towards shore.

Lakes in winter offer a beauty and solitude that are not present in the other seasons. You are truly missing out if you don’t grab yourself some “nice ice time” on our lakes and ponds. Just know the basics so you can thoroughly and safely enjoy the lakes year-round.

everything that’s happening around the lake and around the county (plus some great music too)

Don’t Wait

Enjoy the Lake Now

By Lois Hoffman

We all have that “window” that we look forward to. It’s those few years between the time when we are done working, raising kids, paying mortgages and improving our homesteads and the time when we begin to slow down, feel the effects of health issues and begin to look back on life instead of living it. For some of us that window is either shorter or longer than others’, depending on our health, finances and where we are in life. The tricky part is that we never know just how long our personal window will be.

Because of this, I am always bewildered when I hear people say, “I really want to enjoy the lake … someday, when I retire.” Why wait?

So many have the misconception that the lake is out of reach until they reach their golden years. Whatever the reason, whether it be finances, time or facilities, this could be no further from the truth. Just like the name of this magazine, LAKE ACCESS, time at the lake is accessible for anyone and at any time. And, if you are in Branch County, Michigan, you have an advantage as you are never more than six minutes from the nearest lake. Wow! What are you waiting for?

YOU DON’T NEED A BOAT

The number one reason that I hear why people avoid the lake is “I don’t have a boat” or “I don’t really like being on a boat.” So, stow the boat, literally and figuratively. You can fish off docks, piers and shorelines. Many lakes have public beaches where you can just relax and soak up some rays or go for leisurely walks. You might just find a seashell or two, some special rocks if you are a rock hound, or just be rejuvenated by digging your toes into the sand.

If you do like being on the water in a boat, don’t think that your boat has to be the top-of-the-line bass boat or speedboat. You don’t always need the biggest and the best. My dad, uncle and I had so much fun fishing out of a flat-bottom johnboat summer after summer. I have been on pontoons, speedboats and bass boats and,

hands-down, I still prefer the johnboat. There is nothing like whiling away the hours on a lazy afternoon in a flat-bottom.

JUST GET AWAY

Sometimes the best time to go to a lake is before you get to your “window.” With all the pressures of working, especially in today’s fast-paced world, you just need to get away. Spending even an afternoon on the lake tends to melt all cares away. Whether you visit someone you know on the lake or just hang out at the public access or beach, water is calming.

I always remember the smell of a lake. It draws you in and renews. Since most folks go to the lake to relax and have a good time, it is a pretty sure bet that you will meet new people and make a new friend or two.

BETTER PARENTS & GRANDPARENTS

Usually the number one goal of spending time at the lake is to have fun with those you are with. When you are at home, it is so easy to get drawn into stuff that needs to get done but time at the lake gives you freedom from that. Don’t tell your kids or grandkids to get off their phones or other devices, give them a reason to put the gizmos away. There is nowhere easier to do that than at the lake.

Evenings spent around bonfires on the lakeshore can turn into wee-hours events. Even when families are together, sometimes they don’t actually take time to talk … about anything. Bonfires just seem to bring out conversation. Strolls around the lake and lazy afternoons spent with your feet up prove to be the perfect opportunities to find out what’s on your child’s mind.

My dad and I used to have some of the best conversations while out fishing, just him and me. Somehow, some of the hours spent just hanging out with my grandsons have proved to be the most

insightful. Laughing and being goofy sometimes leads the way to deeper conversations.

I would hope that lake times like these make our kids and grandkids better people. They need to know that spending time with those you love is more important than ever, amid all the pressures and responsibilities of everyday life. There is a balance, and sometimes being at the lake is an equalizer.

BOREDOM BLASTER

“Boredom” is probably one word you won’t hear at the lake, even on rainy days. There is always something to do, for everyone, at any age and with any interest. If it’s not an outdoor activity kind of day, many lake associations have clubhouses where kids and adults can go to play cards, watch movies or play games.

On fair weather days, there is always a game of volleyball, horseshoes or other activities to engage in. Funny thing that I have noticed: It doesn’t matter the age, people generally come together to engage in various activities.

INEXPENSIVE ENJOYMENT

All the activities I have mentioned require little to no money investment. Most lakes are public for the enjoyment of all. Swimming, fishing, running, walking and sightseeing are relatively inexpensive. Most other activities, be it bowling, going to the movies, taking the kids to the arcade or a host of others, all require money. Outside of fishing licenses, bait, firewood and other minor expenses, time on the lake can be fairly cheap.

LEGACIES

Some folks have had the means to invest in cottages early on in their lives. Though this might seem to be an extravagance at the time, these investments usually give back many times more than their initial price. Many cottages and cabins are passed from generation to generation. I know of so many people who treasure their childhood memories of spending time at their parents’ or grandparents’ lake houses.

It doesn’t always mean investing in property to start traditions at the lake. My niece and family have spent the past several years at the same lake in the same rental house. Aunts, uncles, grandparents and friends all join in the week’s activities and make memories that will last a lifetime.

MEMORIES

Speaking of memories, what do you remember most? For me it’s not the “things” but the “who withs” and the special times of life that come to mind. Many of these involve being at the lake. I can’t think of anything better to pass down to future generations than memories and teaching them to make simple memories of their own.

Whether it’s the biggest fish tale ever (and one that keeps growing every time it is told), watching a sunset over the lake, dipping your toes in the water, hearing the loons call out or participating in some downright hoopla when water skiing and jet skiing, the lake will provide fun, laughter and memories to last a lifetime … and then some.

Don’t wait for your “window” to enjoy the lake. The time is now.

Livin' the LAKE LIFE Year-Round

By Violet Kelly

Activities abound on the lakes through every season of the year. From old to young, Type-A to social sanguine, there’s something for everyone.

SUMMER

The height of activities on the lake, of course, occurs in the summer.

• For the active enthusiast, there’s swimming, rowing, canoeing, kayaking, paddle boarding, skiing and more.

• For those in need of speed, Jet Skis are in full force, alongside speedboats and pontoons, not to mention the occasional aquaplane.

• For the nature lover, there is abundant wildlife to observe, including birds, insects, reptiles, turtles and of course fish.

• For the sportsman, fishing tournaments begin in April and can be found throughout summer. Even kiddos can check out free fishing days. Check MI.gov/dnr for fishing listings. And don’t forget to get your license—Michigan fishing licenses are good March to March.

• For the competitive spirited, lawn games offer some serious summer fun. There’s corn-hole (aka baggo), badminton,

volleyball, whiffle ball, lawn darts, horseshoes and bocce ball. And in recent years, new games have emerged including ladder toss, washer toss, Kubb, Molkky, lawn dice Yahtzee, human checkers, lawn Twister and Frisbee golf.

• For the more laid-back, enjoy a picnic, a walk along the lake, a slow cruise around the lake, sunbathing or back-deck sitting.

• For the socialite, head to the beaches or sandbars for social hour.

• For the crafty and the deal-seekers, lake neighborhood yard sales offer loads of goodies in one compact location and provide great opportunities to exhibit products. Check local listings throughout the summer.

And for all Americans, there’s nothing like Fourth of July fireworks over the lakes—and many lakes offer Fourth of July parades through the neighborhoods.

Summer provides a myriad of activities on the lakes!

FALL

Attendance at the lakes “falls” at this time of year, which can make for special times. Fall is a good time for picnics and football, chili making and pie baking, and chatting with neighbors over leaf raking. Fall boating lets you see some of the prettiest fall colors up close, and their

reflection on the water makes it doubly nice. Fall is also the time to plant those flower bulbs for next spring, transplant overgrown flower beds and prune bushes and trees for next year’s beauty.

Also, don’t miss fall’s special time of apple harvest in local orchards near the lakes. For example, Orchard Beach Farm is located on Marble Lake off Fisher Road and offers 12 apple varieties along with pears and tart cherries. Make the orchard trip a family tradition! U-pickers, call ahead (517-639-4609). And although days are shorter, fall provides the perfect environment for bonfires and sunset cruises.

And one of my favorites: Fall says goodbye to geese for the winter. So long, “you mangy animals!”

WINTER

Winter brings with it so many “cool” activities on the lakes. When it gets good and cold and the ice gets thick, there’s snowmobiling atop the lakes. And for those with ice in their veins and the patience of Job, there’s ice fishing. Is there anything more satisfying than breaking through the ice barrier, dropping a line and catching them when they least expect it? (Insert maniacal laugh here.) Winter also provides polar dips for the thrill-seekers, along with sledding, ice skating and cross-country skiing.

And for photo enthusiasts, winter on the lakes brings some of the most amazing sunrise and sunset shots you’ll ever see.

SPRING

Ah! Spring is burgeoning with activity on the lakes. There’s a lot of prep to do for summer, but fling a little fun in there, too!

Up come the crocuses, lilies, irises; the trees begin to bud. Don’t forget to weed and feed the lawn for gorgeous green grass all season.

Stretch your legs: Dust off jogging shoes and fill bike tires after a long winter. Get out and say hello to neighbors who have not been seen in months. Grab patio furniture that’s waiting to be put out in the open again and enjoyed—and enjoy trying it out. Get your bird feeders ready, grab a book about bird watching and spot them one by one.

With spring come showers. Get the kids out and go puddle hopping for a taste of swimming in spring. Get the bubbles out and walk down to the beach, and don’t forget some bread to feed the ducks and fish.

Get a jump on summer by driving up to one of the local lake ice cream parlors and ordering up a tall one (maybe a triple dip!).

I have always told my family, “You can only be bored if you’re boring.” No matter the season, fun and memorable moments are for the taking. So, stay thankful for each season’s offering of activities and enjoy living the LAKE LIFE!

Laker Memories

Send an email to submissions@lake-access.com to share your memories, photos and stories. And make sure to visit lake-access.com to keep up with the latest. You can also sign up to receive our free newsletter.

Diggin’ the Chain of Lakes

By Randall Hazelbaker | Historical photos courtesy of Randall Hazelbaker and Bill Carlson

About a century ago, most of the land around the lakes was owned by cement factories. There were four cement factories in Branch County by 1900, including Union City Peerless, Bronson Portland, Coldwater Portland and Quincy Wolverine Portland. The lakes were not the beautiful, cottage-lined view you see today. Back then, it was a swampy wasteland in which no one would have dreamed of living. The county contained numerous swampy lowlands, rivers and lakes.

These watery areas formed a material called marl. (Marl is the grayish, mucky matter that you find your feet sinking into along the lakes.) The marl was dug from these lowlands, put onto barges and moved to the cement factories. Once at the factory, the marl was mixed with clay, of which Branch County also had an abundance. The mixture would then be dried, rolled into a fine powder and bagged for commercial and consumer use. The marl was even used in between the logs of log homes built during that time.

The great news is that the digging for marl cleaned up the land and made it better for everyone. By necessity, the cement factories dug out the rivers with a twofold purpose: Get marl out and make the rivers deeper for tugboats to travel to find more marl. This digging eventually linked the chain of lakes. Small tugs and other boats could navigate the chain of lakes, as they were now connected better with deeper waterways.

Tugboats pulled barges full of marl to the cement factories until the late 1930s and early 1940s. And quite by accident, the deeper rivers/channels drained the low swampland, and lake edges became more well-defined. The drained land became more useable for farming and for building. Now, the lakes offer clean, natural beauty to the many communities that have been built up around them and offer a better place for lakers, boaters and water sports. Who would’ve guessed that 100 years later, we would be able to enjoy what was once just a swampy, lowland?

Top Reasons We Like Cruising the Chain of Lakes

• Spend a relaxing, good time with family and friends.

• Get dinner and ice cream.

• Admire the homes.

• Take in the beauty of nature.

• Get away from it all.

Questions/Comments? Randall Hazelbaker is a local historian who has published three books through Arcadia Publishing. You can reach him at rhazelbaker@countyofbranch.com.

Poker Run

For all you who are wondering what exactly a poker run is, here is a brief description: A poker run is an organized event where participants, usually using some means of transportation, must visit five to seven checkpoints and draw a playing card at each one. The object is to have the best poker hand at the end of the run.

Just think how fun this would be if it involved cruising around the lakes, taking in the sunshine and fresh air. Well, you’re in luck!

The Coldwater–Marble Lake Boaters Poker Run Fundraiser started in 2014. In five years, it has raised and donated over $26,000. Past recipients include Naomi Davis Shelter House in Coldwater, Humane Society of Branch County, Boy Scout Troop 433, Branch Area Food Pantry, suicide prevention, Hidden Ponds Horse Rescue, and marine patrol vests. The Poker Run event is scheduled for the third Sunday in July. This year it will be held Sunday, July 21. Registration is at Coldwater Lake Marine at 10am, then boaters will visit five checkpoints. Each checkpoint will offer a card for their poker hand and provide various fundraising activities along the way. Then, best poker hand wins a prize.

Come out and cruise the South Chain of Lakes and help raise money for some great causes.

Red, White & Blue

By Natasha Powell

Here are some fun and easy Fourth of July activities. My daughter’s favorite is the star designs in the yard. You can jump from one to another, use them as frisbee targets, or just delight in the decoration. Maybe you will come up with your own new idea. Enjoy!

Holidays are meant to celebrate with the fam. Make it memorable. Check out Pinterest for more red, white and blue ideas. Who knows? You may find something that becomes a lasting memory or tradition for years on end.

Parade Sticks

Supplies:

Duct tape in red, white & blue

Scissors

Sturdy cardboard tube (from aluminum foil or plastic wrap)

❶ Cut a 12-inchlong piece of duct tape.

❷ Fold onto itself lengthwise and stick it together. Press down and smooth out. Use scissors to trim any sticky pieces.

❸ Repeat this step until you have nine strips.

❹ Create tassels on each strip by cutting down the center of the strip lengthwise but stopping a couple inches from the end. Then cut each of these two tassels in half lengthwise, making four tassels on each strip (younger children might need help with this step). Repeat this step for each tape strip.

❻ Once all strips are loosely attached, secure with a piece of duct tape wrapped around the entire tube. Continue wrapping tube with pieces of duct tape. Create a striped pattern with alternating colors, if you want.

❺ Use small bits of tape to attach each strip of tassels to the end of the cardboard tube, overlapping each strip as you go.

Once all wrapped, your parade stick is done.

Wave it around at your next Memorial Day or Fourth of July Parade!

Fireworks Rings

Supplies: 3 pipe cleaners

Scissors

❶ Cut pipe cleaners in half.

❷ Gather five of the pipe cleaner pieces and fold them in half, forming a loop at the folded end. Leave enough of a circle at the loop to wrap around child’s finger. You may have to shape it a bit.

❸ Use the remaining pipe cleaner piece to wrap around to secure the loop/ring.

❹ Shape the loose ends into firework shape. Be sure not to bend too far down so they don’t poke child’s hand.

Repeat for more styles/colors.

Potawatomie features seasonal, nightly, weekly and monthly camping; also group camping. Beach and swimming area for guests, three connected lakes (trolling motors only) with boat launch area; canoe, kayak, fishing boat, paddle boat and paddle board rentals; game room, laundry facilities, basketball court, playground, camp store which sells ice, bait, firewood, pop, groceries, candy, hand-dipped super premium ice cream (exclusive

Yard Stars

Supplies: Poster board, scissors, spray paint in red, white & blue

1. Draw a big star on the poster board.

2. Poke scissors through center of the star and cut out from center. Be sure not to cut outside the star shape.

3. Remove the star from the poster board. You have now created a star stencil.

4. Place poster board stencil onto the grass space you want to paint.

5. Choose one color of paint to start with. Spray into star shape in stencil according to paint can instructions.

6. Once star is coated, pick up stencil and place in another part of yard.

7. Repeat procedure of coloring and moving stencil. Use all colors of paint in whatever pattern you want.

8. Let dry.

9. Use for games or decoration.

10. Have fun!

Note: Stars will vanish after a few times of mowing your yard. :)

Laker Memories

Send an email to submissions@lake-access.com to share your memories, photos and stories. And make sure to visit lake-access.com to keep up with the latest. You can also sign up to receive our free newsletter.

Until Next Season