50 Herald Times Alpenfest
‘IT’S GOLDEN’
A SPECIAL TRIBUTE SECTION INSIDE
Gaylord
Your reliable hometown newspaper since 1875 • Friday, July 15, 2014 • Michigan’s 2013 Newspaper of the Year
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Inside the HT
Classifieds......... B5-10 Deaths...........A5 Editorials......A11 Business..............A9 Religion......A10 Outdoors........B4 Spor ts........B1-3 Weather.......A12
50th anniversary of Alpenfest Arson
suspected in blaze
offers 2 new events to brighten the night skies Lorene Parshall (989) 732-1111 lparshall@gaylordheraldtimes.com
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GAYLORD — ain showers and chill may dampen the first couple of days of Alpenfest, but the weather will brighten progressively during the following days, according to Aaron Mayhew of the Gaylord Forecast Office of the National Weather Service. “Tuesday we’ll be in the low 60s (degrees) and Wednesday in the upper 60s,” Mayhew said. “It will reach the low 70s Thursday, slowly warming up to the upper 70s over Friday and Saturday.” Mayhew said there will be a 60 percent chance of rain on Tuesday, but by Wednesday it will be down to 40 percent and clear and sunny on the following days. A little damp and chill shoudn’t deter folks from attending Alpenfest. Patt Dobrzelewski, board president, said Alpenfest’s 50th year offers two new and dazzling events, one taking place on the opening evening. “There will be a laser light show under the Pavilion after the Burning of the Boogg,” she said. “That’s going to be exciting. And the final night of Alpenfest will end with fireworks. We’ve never done that before. The fireworks will be set off at the (Otsego County Community) dog park, so hopefully they’ll be seen from downtown.” The laser light show (and free ice cream, as long as it lasts) will take place at 10 p.m. today (Tuesday) at the Pavilion on Court. Anyone wanting to see the fireworks display at dusk Saturday at close range can view them at 540 S. Illinois Ave., next to the dog park. Five fun-filled days are assured with the new events and such ever-popular traditions such as the Burning of the Boogg and Alpenfest Queen’s Pageant today (Tuesday) and the Grand Parade (Saturday). Costume and pet parades, contests and prizes for men, women and children, clowns, jugglers, carnival and so much more will be offered during Alpenfest. Food and beverages will be available for purchase from various vendors. Free refreshments will be offered at The World’s Largest Coffee Break (Wednesday) and every day at other food events for those wearing a 2014 Alpenfest pin. Dobrzelewski, who has been board president for 10 years, has personal favorites among the Alpenfest events. “I enjoy the concerts,” she said. “The best thing is they’re free. There are four free main concerts See 50th, A4
CORWITH TWP. — The Michigan State Police are investigating a suspected arson that destroyed a home in Corwith Township Friday evening. According to reports, the initial 9-1-1 call came in shortly before 5:30 p.m. of a fully engulfed structure at 9508 Old 27 North, between McGregor and Alexander roads, just north of Vanderbilt. According to David Cadaret, Vanderbilt-Corwith fire and rescue chief, firefighters were on the scene within 10 minutes of the call. The fire took about an hour and a half to contain. See Corwith, A4
Ballot language confusing to some Mark Johnson (989) 732-1111 mjohnson4@gaylordheraldtimes.com GAYLORD — There is new language featured on August’s primary election ballots and on absentee ballots already that has some residents confused and worried. Found on the bottom of the millage renewal requests for the Otsego County Commission on Aging, Otsego County Recycling and Otsego County Library, the ballot reads “To the extent required by law, a portion of this millage may be captured by and retained by the City of Gaylord Downtown Development Authority.” This ballot language has some residents concerned, but city officials say there is nothing to be worried about. “It is not a new tax or anything like that,” said Justin Burchett, executive director of the Gaylord Downtown Development Authority (DDA). “Just new ballot language.” Due to a tax-increment finance (TIF) plan, approved and implemented by the city back in 1994, the DDA has the ability to capture increases in the Standard Equalized Value (SEV) property tax, set in 1994. In 1994, the DDA district was
HT - Lorene Parshall
Alpenfest board treasurer Mike Cwik was on the job preparing for the festival Monday morning. The frame of the Boogg, constructed by Chris Dandeneau, is in place and waiting to be decorated by Analiese Puzon, 2013 Alpenfest Queen, and her court.
Alphorn player Fako has tooted her horn for years on the ‘Strasse GAYLORD — Everyone likes to toot their horn at Alpenfest. But no one does it better than Nancy Fako. She’s the lady who has been playing the alphorn at Gaylord’s signature summer celebration for more than 25 years. “A lot of the younger people don’t remember Alpenfest without me,” Fako said. Every year, an eager crowd looks forward to Fako’s alphorn
salute that officially opens the festival. “She’s an iconic symbol of the Alpine Village,” said Matt Barresi, this year’s Buergermeister. “The sound of the alphorn calls us into the whole week.” Fako produces that unforgettable sound on a musical instrument made in Switzerland that is slightly under 12 feet long and constructed of Swiss pine wrapped in rattan from Indonesia. The alphorn is the national instrument of Switzerland, originally played by mountain herds-
men to signal danger, distress or to greet other herdsmen. “Nothing else sounds like it,” said John Jenkins, Gaylord mayor. “When she starts playing, everything comes to a stop. You can hear a pin drop.” Fako said when people see and hear her alphorn, they inevitably ask questions like, “Is that yours?” “What are you smoking in there?” and “How do you play that thing?” She plays with very impressive and experienced musical chops. Fako, 72, grew up in the Chi-
cago area and began her musical studies as a child at the piano. She began playing the French horn at age 16 and studied with Philip Farkas, a renowned horn teacher at Indiana University who, quite literally, “wrote the book” on horn playing, “The Art of French Horn Playing.” At 20, Fako was appointed principal horn in the Florida Symphony Orchestra. At 21, she was the first female brass player in the Houston Symphony Orchestra. See ‘In Gaylord, A4
See Language, A4
4 fast facts
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The Gaylord Community Band will perform during Alpenfest Wednesday (A2).
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Art Van Furniture is open on M-32 West in Gaylord (A9).
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The Edelweiss Garden Club garden walk is Wednesday (A12).
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St. Mary’s Kari Borowiak is the Herald Times Female Athlete of the Year (B1).
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