The Oceana Echo - Volume 1, Issue 4, June 23, 2023

Pentwater couple finds old, dated beam in their 100-year-old home

By Ron Beeber

increases safety oversight and protocols at this year’s music festival

Electric Forest began yesterday and is currently sending out its usual display of colors, music and more in Rothbury. The festival is taking place from June 2225 and has increased security after the tragic events near the Beyond Wonderland music festival at The Gorge Amphitheater in George, Wash., June 17.

The

Oceana

Echo Volunteer Correspondent

Janet and Chuck Strahan were cleaning out the crawl space under their 6th Street home when they came across a partly scorched, 17-foot wood beam with the date of “April 16th 1882” clearly engraved. That’s about 30 years after the first settlers of European ancestry began settling in Pentwater. Other letters engraved on the beam include a “J,” either a “T” or an “F,” a “T,” and an “I.” A few others are more difficult to make out -- maybe a C - K - I - E - R. And below them could be the letters F - I – S. The Strahan’s believe the beam was repurposed from some earlier structure elsewhere in the Village and made part of their home’s original foundation.

Two people lost their lives and others were injured during a shooting at a nearby campground.

Electric Forest organizers issued the following statement on Facebook, “The tragic event at The Gorge is heartbreaking. We send our condolences to everyone that has been impacted by this terrible incident.

“We want to reassure you that HQ works year-round with large-scale event security professionals, including Michigan State Police and local law enforcement agencies, (as well as the) FBI, to provide a safe environment for our patrons, staff and artists. We have been in detailed discussions with these teams over the last 24 hours for increased safety oversight and protocols. This presence will be visible to all attendees throughout the festival site and campgrounds.

“In addition, we will have specialized Festival K9 Units on site. These highly trained dogs and their skilled handlers have undergone rigorous training in firearm detection amidst a large crowd and in challenging environmental conditions.

“Everyone onsite plays an important role in our safety. We support the importance of the mantra ‘SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING.’ Please contact a member of the security team or festival staff member (who can be found at your nearest Neighborhood Pod or Info Booth and throughout the entire site) immediately in the event of suspicious activity, behavior, or any action by an individual that raises concern.”

Crystal Township unveils preliminary master plan for park

By Paul Erickson

The Oceana Echo Volunteer Correspondent

The Crystal Township Board unveiled preliminary plans to make ma-

jor improvements to the Crystal Valley County Park at its June 19 meeting Supervisor Lee Hyslop presented the rendering, which can be seen at right, created by Pam Blough of PM Blough/ PLaCE Studios of Grand Haven.

Community input and collaboration with John Wilson, of Oceana County Parks, will be used in a SPARK Grant application to the State of Michigan. This grant application will be for up to $1 million in funding, without any match required.

The park has been the center of efforts to save the 1937 WPA Dam, which is in need of repair and maintenance. WPA stands for Works Progress Administration, which was renamed in 1939 as the Work Projects Administration. The WPA was part of the American

New Deal agency that helped employ millions to complete public works projects.

Oceana County owns

the dam, and is working with James Tiffany P.E., to complete the required repairs the Michigan Department of Environ-

ment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) has identified. This grant request is the concerted effort of Crystal Township, Ocea-

na County Parks and Oceana County.

For more information on this project, please visit crystaltownship.org.

Chuck and Janet Strahan hold up a beam from 1882 they found in their historic Pentwater home. • Ron Beeber/Echo

It takes a community to keep traditions alive

By Sharon Hallack The Oceana Echo Community Columnist

The 50th National Asparagus Festival (NAF) has passed, and for many of us, we’ve moved on to the rest of our summer. However, for those involved with making such a large event happen, plans are already in the works for next year’s festival.

The first “official” festival took place in Shelby in 1974 with the main events alternating between the City of Hart and the Village of Shelby until 2009. At that time the NAF Board made the decision to keep the festival in Hart with the thought it would be easier on the smaller board to execute the event in the same locality every year.

As times have changed and life has gotten busier, one comment I’ve heard over and over the past few years is, “Will the festival survive?” Some people who remember festivals of the past don’t want to see the tradition end. Others want to help, but aren’t sure how to get involved.

I’d like to offer some reasons why we’re seeing a decline in involvement and interest, as well as a few possible solutions.

We can all agree that in the last 20 years, our society has changed. People everywhere are working more, leaving precious little free time, and more and more events are competing for that free time. Not to mention how technology has changed things. We’ve gone from face-to-face communication and interaction to social media posts, online shopping and virtual meetings. While I use technology for many things in my life, I have noticed communication is different, shopping is different, work is different - it’s just not the same. I’ve said many times, the world’s problems cannot be solved with a social media post or an online fundraiser. The world needs engaged people.

The current NAF board is small, and the festivals in the past few years have been one-day events. But they have

held things together for us and are to be recognized and commended.  We don’t have to go back to the 1970s, but I think now is the time to think outside the box, come up with some new ideas or new ways of doing the same thing. The more people that get involved, the more ideas can be generated and more will be possible.

With more involvement, we will be building a stronger community in every way. One thing Oceana County can claim, something that’s not seen everywhere, is a true sense of community. That’s one thing technology can’t duplicate. It tries and may claim to have online “communities”, but that’s not real “community”. Let’s face it, we don’t really feel connected online. We might have hundreds of people in our contact lists, but we don’t feel connected to many of them. A real connection comes with in-person contact. The phrase “we’re better together” really applies here. Want to feel connected and build community? Get involved - working, playing, organizing, planning, trying and failing, trying and succeeding - in person.

When the NAF was in its infancy, EVERYONE was involved, and I mean EVERYONE. Every business donated money or in-kind services. Community groups donated volunteers. Many constructed handmade floats or sponsored an activity at the festival. Folks eagerly volunteered to run for board positions and worked hard to make the festival successful. Subcommittees were formed, and as a result, the festival flourished.

The point of this column is not to complain about what used to be or criticize the way anything has been done. Instead, I want us to remember the past festivals with great pride, the memories we’ve made, the bonds we’ve formed. I want us to look to the future.

Remember when the NAF was the major event of the summer in Oceana County? The world stopped for that week. No one left town to go on vacation, had graduation open

houses, weddings or scheduled any other large events that weekend. Farms were in full-on harvest mode, but they usually managed to schedule asparagus picking so family and employees could attend the parade and festivities if they wanted. People talked about it and planned it for months.

There were more events on the schedule than one could possibly attend; held from Pentwater to New Era and Walkerville to Silver Lake and every point in-between. There was definitely something for everyone; from food and sports events to fine arts shows and musical events. It isn’t that people don’t want to attend certain events anymore, it’s more a matter of manpower. With a limited number on the board and basically no sub-committees, there is only so much six people can do and do well.

We’re all short on time. However, people tend to make time for what is important to them. This is important folks! We’ve got something unique here in Oceana. We grow, harvest and ship more pounds of asparagus than any other region in the state. We’ve got a beautiful area that people travel to from far and wide to experience. That’s something to promote and celebrate. The National Asparagus Festival is good for our producers, processors, downtown businesses, tourism centers and our families. Let’s not ask ourselves “if” we can get involved. Let’s ask ourselves “how” can we be involved?

And we don’t have to all make huge commitments. If we all did a little, together we could accomplish a lot. We could add members to the board, form committees and divide up the tasks, or donate much-needed funds to help pay for larger events. The groups we are already involved in (church, clubs, sports teams, service organizations, etc.) could work together to sponsor an

event or parade entry. More businesses could offer weekend specials. Major events could be planned for another weekend so as not to compete. We could share the festival and the message of Oceana County asparagus with everyone in our contacts. The list is endless.

Promoting asparagus and the festival is not only good for our community, it’s also good for the soul. How do you feel when you’re walking through the art and crafts fair, sampling asparagus dishes at the food show, or waving and clapping at the parade? Admit it, you feel good. You forget your worries and stresses for a while. You see into friends you haven’t seen in months (or years). You take pride in your community. You might even think, “I want to do this.”

What talents do you possess that you could share to make next year’s NAF better - fundraising, organizing, communication? What hobbies do you enjoy that could be turned into a festival event - sports, art, entertainment, cooking? What time could you sacrifice - a few hours, a few days, a few months? I’m even coming up with a few ideas of my own for how I could be more involved in the years to come. We all have something to contribute. Working side-by-side takes teamwork, give and take, but the rewards are so worth it. Next year’s festival is a little over 11 months away and its success is dependent on all of us. It will take a community.

Note: The National Asparagus Festival board will start meeting again in September the second Tuesday of every month at 6 p.m. in their office located in downtown Hart. Be sure to check out their Facebook page “National Asparagus Festival” or contact them at www.nationalasparagusfestival.org for meeting updates or to become involved. More volunteers and ideas are welcome!

Take the Hancock History Self-Guided Audio Tour

Would you like an easy way to reminisce or expand your knowledge about Pentwater history? The Pentwater Historical Society (PHS) is pleased to announce the new Hancock History Self-Guided Audio Tour. It’s free and easily accessed on one’s cell or hardline telephone simply by dialing (231) 720-0291, and following the prompts.

Each of the six audio narratives runs between five and nine minutes. They describe some of the history that occurred on six blocks of Hancock Street – the 500 block between Fifth and Sixth streets, the 400 block, the 300 block, the 200 block, the 100 block, and the block between Lowell and First. As the weather improves, each narrative might best be enjoyed while sitting in front of the Village Marina, water tower, Chamber of Commerce, Village Green, Hancock Building, Cosmic Candy, Village Hall, and the Methodist Church. There, residents and visitors can imagine Pentwater’s early days as they listen on cellphones, perhaps through an earpiece, while sipping a beverage.

One can listen to all six narratives in succession, starting at the Village Marina and entering 500#, either while strolling along Hancock Street or sitting on a bench. Just follow the prompts. It’s perfect for dog walkers. Or one can access individual recordings anytime while sitting on a bench waiting for a shopper, or just people-watching. Simply enter 5-0-0-pound (# KEY) to learn some history about the 500 Block of Hancock, 4-0-0-pound for some history about the 400 block, and so forth. To learn some history between Lowell and First streets, one must enter 9-9-pound.

“It was fascinating to compile and record these narratives over the winter,” said Ron Beeber, a PHS volunteer docent. “A lot of the content is drawn from past issues of PHS newsletters that are posted on the pentwaterhistoricalsociety.org website under the research heading.  Some landmarks had to be located by matching content to historic photos of the Village.”

The content heard in these six recordings is just the tip of the iceberg of what’s known about Hancock Street’s history.  The PHS hopes this Self-Guided Audio Tour will trigger many Pentwater memories, and that listeners will post some on the Pentwater Historical Society Museum’s Facebook page. What a treasure trove of memories!

The idea for sharing Hancock Street history this way was inspired by Mary Schumaker’s suggestion a few years ago that the PHS offer docent-led tours along Hancock Street during the holiday shopping season. It would build upon the popularity of the summertime History Cruise on Pentwater Lake. PHS trustees Bart Zachrich and Beth Russell conducted a few strolls, but encountered some real wintry weather. Then, two years ago, a few docent-led tours were offered on already-busy summer Saturday mornings. So the Historical Society hopes this Self-Guided Audio Tour proves to be more convenient. One can just add (231)7200291 to their cellphone “Contacts” - labeled as “PHS” - and listen anytime, from anywhere.

Flavius Littlejohn describes Michigan of days gone by

By Caleb Jackson The Oceana Echo Community Columnist

During Oceana’s infancy, Flavius J. Littlejohn was the Circuit Court Judge of Allegan County. In those days, Littlejohn and his team of attorneys would traverse their circuit all the way from Allegan up to the Straits of Mackinaw. He was also the first judge to hold the seat in Oceana, but he is also known for another thing. He published a book.

Littlejohn was fascinated by the lore and oral traditions of the Native Americans. After 40 years of residence in West Michigan, he had heard enough tales to publish his own book called, “Legends of Michigan and the Old North West,” in 1875. I guess technically, that is the shortened title. The full title is “Legends of Michigan and The Old North West; A Cluster of Unpublished Waifs, Gleaned Along the Uncertain, Misty Line, Dividing Traditional from Historic Times,” but that’s a bit of a mouthful.

Littlejohn was known through his circuit for his eloquent speech, and this certainly comes through in his book, making for a delightful read. His opening chapters are concerned with the Shawnee and Potawatomi (or, as he spells it, “Pottowatomie”) War, but he first sets the scene by giving a brief description of the land, wildlife, and people in the region as they existed prior to the arrival of European settlers, and this is what I would like to share with you today.

“…A bird’s-eye view of this forest land would have disclosed scenes of rare loveliness, and rich in material, though undeveloped resources. With its genial climate, its productive soil, and its undulating surface, dotted and gemmed with myriads of tiny lakes, and traversed east and west by noble rivers; with its burr oak plains and its white oak ridges; its ranges of hard wood timber, and its richly clustered glades of pine skirting the northern water courses; with its numerous prairies, blooming with an indigenous annual flora, of gorgeous coloring; above all, with a never-failing supply of fish in its rivers and lakes, and an abundance of choice varieties of game in its forest; the Peninsula State was then evidently and in fact, a very paradise for the various tribes…who for ages had been its roaming denizens.” (Littlejohn, 1875, pp. 9-10)

The above text is Littlejohn’s description of the Lower Peninsula, and it is something that I think will ring true with any Michigander, even today. From here, he divides the land according to the Native Nations and where they reside, beginning with the Eastern side of the state. “Those of the Saginaw region were in part Chippewas, and in part Hurons, the conquerors and successors of the Osaukies,” Littlejohn wrote. It is interesting to note that the spelling for most of the Native Tribes used by Littlejohn are often quite different from how we know them today. The Osaukies that he refers to are now known as the Sauk.

Next, he moves into the more familiar territory of the Ottawas, whom he describes as being “both numerous and powerful.” This tribe was “firmly seated” from the Straits of Mackinaw down to the Kalamazoo River “with its affluents.” This, of course, encompasses our region of Western Michigan here in Oceana. It is also humorously congruent with the author’s own circuit when he served as Judge of the Circuit Court. Maybe those old Indian Trails were of some use to Mr. Littlejohn. Of their government, he says, “the Ottawas were separated into several independent clans or tribes, each ruled by its own distinctive chief.” However, he goes on to say that whenever there was a threat to the welfare of the nation, these tribes held a “grand council” where “ruling chiefs met as equals in voice and votes,” and the various clans then acted “in concert as confederates.”  Moving further south, into the region of the Paw Paw and St. Joseph rivers, we have the Potawatomi. “The Pottowatomies were a strictly homo-geneous people,” Littlejohn wrote, “and… were governed in all their public policies and movements, both of peace and war, by Pokagon their head chief.” Lastly, he tells us of the Shawnees, who were “clustered up and down the Wabash Valley,” but as we are moving further and further out of our own region and indeed out of the state of Michigan itself, I am afraid I will have to stop here.

The Native Nations of America employed no writing system, and so their legends and histories were passed down like so many others, by word of mouth. With Littlejohn being, as he described himself, “ever fond of tracing the peculiar characteristics, and curious in observing the distinctive traits developed by the various races of the human family…” it is no wonder that the rich oral tradition was deeply intriguing to him. If you dig through old books for a snapshot of what Michigan of old might have looked like, you will find time and time again romanticized descriptions of an almost idyllic landscape, and rightly so. The area is beautiful and serene to this day, but in just a few pages describing the lay of the land prior to European settlement, Littlejohn left a touch of personality that was sorely needed.

First Baptist Church VBX sees record numbers

By Sharon Hallack The Oceana Echo Community Correspondent

Last week was an “Epic” week at First Baptist Church (FBC) of Hart’s annual VBX (Vacation Bible Experience). For the ninth year, FBC has hosted the annual experience for area youth. Nearly 60 volunteers spent over a week decorating the church, completely transforming it to match the game-themed event. Handcrafted decorations gave attendees the feeling they were actually a part of the “Game of Life,” “Pac-Man” and “Minecraft.”

“It was such a great week! We registered 198 kids and served about 170 on a daily basis. Kids ranged from 4 years old to 8th grade and spent an ‘EPIC’ week learning truth from God’s word…through a pop-game themed adventure,” said Associate Pastor of Worship and Outreach David Moul.

“Mornings were packed with skits, singing, snacks, hands-on activities, games, lesson time and more. Over the course of the week, kids competed to fill the heaviest bucket with change that will be used to purchase Bibles for churches in Tanzania that don’t have easy access to God’s Word. In four days, the children raised 401 pounds of change, which added up to over $3,400,” Moul said. “FBC hosts VBX for the community at no charge each year, the first week of summer break. Next year’s theme will be ‘Clash of the Kingdoms,’ a medieval theme featuring a lot of awesome castle decor and ‘knightly’ activities. Event information and registration will begin in May 2024.”

events calendar summer

June - August - Pentwater Farmers Market, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays at the Village Green in Pentwater. September will be Thursdays only through Sept. 28.

June - August - Music on the Commons, 7-9 p.m. Thursdays in downtown Hart. Visit takemetohart.org for more information.

June-September - New Era Farmer’s Market, 4-7 p.m. June 27, July 11 & 25, August 8 & 22 and September 12.

June

Live Music

*All live music runs from June through August*

Tuesdays - Silver Lake Community Concert Series Little Sable Lighthouse

Thursdays - Downtown Hart Hart Commons Park

Pentwater Civic Band Concerts

Fridays - Hart Historic District

Fox Barn Winery

Chicken Shack

Saturdays - Village Pub & Cafe

Chicken Shack

Sundays - Golden Sands Golf Course

June 23 - Pentwater Chamber Golf Outing, 12 p.m. at Lakeside Links. Visit pentwater.org for details.

Ongoing Oceana Center Grange

June 29 - Late Night Shopping, visit takemetohart.org for more details.

June July

July 1 - Country Dairy Super Social, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The Oceana Center Grange will host “God’s Helping Hands” mission weekend for high school and middle school students beginning at 9 a.m. Friday, July 21 through 11 a.m. Saturday, July 22. Activities will include spreading mulch and painting tables at Gales Pond County Park. Games, crafts and meals are included. All costs have been sponsored by the Grange. Elementary school students are welcome to attend as well, but must be accompanied by an adult.  For questions or to register, please call Char Vanderstelt at 231-301-1678.

Trinity Lutheran Church Men’s Club

Trinity Lutheran Church Men’s Club will host a presentation on the 1982 “Glacier Girl” story of recovering lost WWII aircraft from ice by Greenland Expedition Society member Michael Cook. Doors open 8 a.m. Tuesday, July 18, with breakfast served at 8:30 a.m. and the presentation to commence at 9 a.m. A suggested free-will donation of $5 will be used to continue the community-enriching efforts of the club. First-time attendees should RVSP to 231-861-5260 to facilitate meal planning. Trinity Lutheran Fellowship Hall is located at the rear of the church at 5631 W. Stony Lake Rd. in New Era.

July 2 - Hart Sparks Fireworks, in downtown Hart, visit takemetohart.org for more.

July 2 - Stony Lake Sparkler 5K Run at the Stony Lake Inn. Visit stonylakesparkler.com for details.

July 3 - Pentwater Fireworks at Charles Mears State Park. Visit pentwater.org for information.

July 4 - Thunder Over the Dunes! Fireworks at Silver Lake Sand Dunes State Park. Visit thinkdunes.com.

July 8 - Fine Arts & Crafts Fair, at the Village Green in Pentwater. Visit pentwaterjrwomensclub.com.

O bituaries

In Loving Memory of our Family, Friends and Neighbors

David “Dave” Carl Richards

October 7, 1946 ~ June 14, 2023

David “Dave” Carl Richards, 76, passed away in his home Wednesday, June 14, 2023 in Shelby, Mich.

Dave was born to Orlu and Anna (Horstmeyer) Richards October 7, 1946, in Dimondale, Mich. He was raised with his siblings, Nancy (Rich) Monroe, Paul (Ruth) Richards and Roger Richards.  He attended Lutheran School and was the first class from Dimondale to be bussed into and graduate from Holt High School after Dimondale High closed. Dave went on to work for General Motors in Lansing, later retiring from the Saturn Plant in Tennessee after more than 30 combined years of commitment and service.

In 1968, Dave married Carla “Sue” (Underhill) Richards, daughter of the late Robert, Sr. and Marion (Hoffman) Underhill. He added sisterin-law Jane (Dale) Schwalm, brother-in-law Robert “Bud” (Linda) Underhill and the late brother-in-law Peter (Sheryl) Underhill to his family. Dave and Sue shared 54 memorable years of marriage before she went to her Lord. Carla preceded Dave in death in November 2022, after a long battle with Lewy Body dementia, throughout which he graciously cared for her.

In his life, Dave enjoyed hunting, fishing, racing cars, watching football, auto and drag racing. He loved to work on cars, especially those of family and friends; it was said that he was “working on engines before he learned to walk.” He also enjoyed building and fixing things. Dave could always be seen working on a project, whether that was splitting wood for winter, planting a garden, picking berries, helping a friend, neighbor or stranger, or tinkering on something in his garage. He derived great pleasure from helping others find solutions to any kind of home or auto issue. He set an excellent example in the way he took care of others. Dave would give you the shirt off his back without a second thought if you needed it. If he found out you liked something you can bet he’d show up with it. He attended the Lutheran church and was proud to have served on several servant events, including one to Puerto Rico, helping rebuild homes following natural disasters. He spent an extended amount of time in Alabama in a project management role while rebuilding homes damaged by a tornado. Dave was also very supportive of The Ladder Community Center in Shelby. He enjoyed doing small projects, cleaning and visiting the Center on a regular basis.

Dave is survived by: his children, Leanne (Warren) VanOverbeke, Mindi (Chris) Gerzseny, Gregg Richards and Dante Richards; Foster daughter, Noelle Wright and her daughter Veda; Grandchildren, Nathan Proctor, Rebekah (Cory) Kelley, Evan (Bri) Proctor, Bruce VanOverbeke, Jacob VanBuren, Zachary Gerzseny, and Ashley (Leah) Gerzseny Andary; great grandchildren, Liam Kelley, Rosie Teklinski, Hudson Wetzig and Isabel Proctor.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. James Lutheran Church, 8945 Stebbins Rd., Montague, MI 49437.

Memorial Services will take place Monday, July 10, 2023 at 11 a.m. at St. James Lutheran Church, 8945 Stebbins Rd., Montague, MI 49437. The family will receive friends one hour prior to services, with a luncheon immediately following at the church.

Harris Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. www.harrisfhome.com

Howard B. Kleeves

March 2, 1939 ~ June 20, 2023

Howard B. Kleeves, 84, peacefully passed away Tuesday, June 20, 2023, surrounded by his loved ones. He was born March 2, 1939, in Muskegon, to William and Katherine (Kort) Kleeves.

Howard was a loving father and husband. He was an avid outdoorsman, spending much of his time hunting and fishing. He also enjoyed playing cards, bowling and golf.

Howard dedicated 34 years to American Coil Spring and retired from Automatic Spring as a tool maker. He also served as a volunteer fireman with the Fruitport Fire Department for over 30 years and donated 17 gallons of blood to the American Red Cross.

Howard is survived by: his wife, Judy Kleeves; daughters, Michelle (Dennis) Lakatos and Sandra (David) Lahnala; stepsons, Bradley (Mia) Altland and Gregory (Colleen) Altland; grandchildren, Evan Lakatos, Kaitlyn (Michael) Hecksel, Megann (Steve) Moore, Mark (Kelly) Lahnala, Ali Altland, Robbie Altland, Emmett Altland and Rachel Altland; great-grandchildren, Mark Hecksel, Annabelle Hecksel, Sawyer Hecksel, and Charlotte Lahnala.

Howard was preceded in death by his parents, William and Katherine (Kort) Kleeves; sister, Esther Field; and brothers, Ronald Kleeves and John Kleeves.

Memorial services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Thursday, June 29, 2023, at Beacon Cremation & Funeral Service, King-Hart Chapel, 2370 N. 72nd Avenue, Hart, MI 49420. The family will receive friends Thursday, one hour prior to services at the funeral home, with a luncheon following interment at St. Gregory Catholic Church, 214 S. Peach Ave., Hart, MI 49420. Interment will be in Hart Cemetery.  Beacon Cremation & Funeral Service, King-Hart Chapel, is in charge of arrangements. www.beaconfh.com

Pentwater Farmers Market is in full swing

As of June 5, the Pentwater Farmers Market is now in full swing and will continue through September. Please come see the offerings of the market, featuring the best products from local farmers.

The market is open Mondays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Village Green in downtown Pentwater. The farmers that shoppers are supporting are from West Michigan, specifically: Pentwater, Hart, Ludington, Mears, Manistee, Montague, Rothbury, New Era, Shelby, Muskegon and the Grand Rapids area.

Whether this is one’s first visit to the market or it is an essential summer tradition, please stop by to get a taste of West Michigan’s agriculture. Pentwater Farmers Market continues to gain popularity among residents and visitors. The market’s accessibility, along with the fantastic weather in Pentwater, assists with its continued growth. The Pentwater Farmers Market helps people stay connected by getting them out in the community as they obtain fresh produce, dairy products, baked goods, flowers and more. This season’s vendors include many longtime favorites and some new ones. Make a day of it and stroll along Pentwater’s beautiful waterfront. Shoppers are encouraged to take a trip to the market, enjoy lunch by the water, and stroll through the shops in Pentwater.

The Pentwater Chamber of Commerce will continue to extend the market season, with additional days to include include the following Thursdays: Sept. 7, 14, 21 and Harvest Day Sept. 28.

Vendors include:

• Backwoods Homemade Wine - wine

• Bird Sense Flower Farm - flower bouquets and arrangements, lavender soap, neck wrap sachet, lavender scrub, lavender bundle

• Blanca’s Fruit Market - beans, peas, onion, apples, plums, pears, zucchini, peaches, tomatoes, potatoes, beets, carrots, cherries, blueberries, egg plant, peppers, squash

• The Cheese People of Grand Rapids - cheese

• Dark Water - coffee beans

• E & J Farms - blueberries, tomatoes, green beans and other produce, trees and bushes

• Egeler Family Farm - grass-fed and Finished Beef (Angus herford and Angus waygu), turkey, duck, chicken, pork, and lamb. Duck and chicken eggs. Vinegars, olive oils and rubs

• El Cardenal - tortilla chips, salsas, tamales and prepackaged Mexican dinners-to-go

• Farmstand Market - baked goods, eggs, maple syrup, fruits and veggies

• The Great Bread Company - European-style artisan breads, rolls, coffee cakes, strudels and gluten free

• Fiesta Grande - Fiesta Grande chips and salsa

• Great Lakes Soapworks - handmade oatmeal soaps, lotions, balms and sprays

• Jessie Dean - fruit, tomatoes, vegetables and sweet corn

• K&A Farms - eggs, syrup and hamburger

• Kistlercrest Farms - maple products, cherries and apples

• Lake Effect Apiaries - honey, beeswax candles, comb honey and fresh bee pollen

• Lakeside Rehab - bread, rolls, breadsticks and bagels

• Liberty Family Farms - eggs, lamb, pork, chicken, vegetables, baked goods and flowers

• Lilacs and More - lilacs and assorted plants and flower bouquets

• Little Silesia - fresh corn, carrots, tomatoes, green beans, cabbage, berries, lettuce, microgreens, radishes, cauliflowers, squashes, pumpkins and melons

• Old Crow Bakery - baked goods: scones, muffins, cinnamon rolls, cookies and crackers

• Pleasant Valley Farms - wine, wine accessories and maple syrup

• The Ramblin Ranch - freeze-dried fruits, veggies, snack bars and zucchini chips

• Rugglesvilles Big Springs Goat Milk Soaps - goat milk soaps, bath products, pinecone fire starters, washcloths and eggs

• Semelbauer Farms - canned goods, salsa, dips, spreads, garlic and cheese

• Side Step Farms - 52 varieties of vegetables and 42 varieties of native Michigan Plants

• Stony Lake Naturals - CBD balm, CBD tincture, pet CBD and dog treats

• Wellston Farm - lettuce, leafy greens, herbs, microgreens, tomatoes, peppers, pumpkins, flower bouquets, vegan fudge, cotton candy, lip balm and lettuce chips

• Woodland Farm Market - baked goods

Stony Lake Sparkler 5K Run/Fun Walk set for July 2

The annual Stony Lake Sparkler 5K Run and 1-mile Fun Run/Walk is scheduled for Sunday, July 2, 2023. Registrations received before June 23 are guaranteed a t-shirt. Fees are slightly higher after that date, and t-shirts will be distributed on an as-available basis. Everyone is welcome to turn out and cheer on the runners as they help raise funds for the Crystal Valley Care Fund.

The Stony Lake Property Owners Association has sponsored a run to raise funds for a local charity since 2015. Their goal was to create a fun, family activity as part of the Fourth of July celebration for Stony Lake property owners and the local communities, and to promote community involvement, drawing possibly a couple hundred runners, and soliciting sponsorships to fund a decent-sized contribution. More than 500 participants turned out for the first event in 2015. Nearly 900 ran in 2022!

Although the Sparkler could not be held in 2020 and 2021, community sponsors still offered support for the volunteer effort. “Our first year back after a 2-year hiatus brought spectacular success for the Sparkler in 2022,” said Race Director Sally Malnor. “Friends and neighbors, happy to see each other in person, hugged and enjoyed the wonderful community event.” Crystal Valley received a donation of over $25,000, which included sponsor donations from previous years when the race wasn’t held. Since 2015, the Stony Lake Sparkler has raised over $136,000 for the local charity that helps people with crisis needs.

Colorful red, white and blue costumes are a fun part of the Stony Lake Sparkler.

There are around a hundred volunteers who make the whole thing work, and spectators line the route to cheer on the athletes.

Race Day on Sunday, July 2, begins with packet pickup and late registration from 7-8 a.m. in the parking lot of the Stony Lake Inn (early packet pickup and registration are also available from 9-11 a.m. at the Inn Saturday, July 1). The one-mile Fun Run/Walk begins at 8 a.m. and the professionally timed 5K Run/ Walk begins at 8:30 a.m.

All Fun Run participants receive awards, with special 5K awards to male and female overall winners, masters, and grand master winners, and first, second and third place winners in age groups. There are also special awards for “Largest Family” and “Best Spirit Costume.” The race course is an easy out and back along scenic back roads.

A fun post-race party is again planned in the parking lot of the Stony Lake Inn and includes great food and music.

To register, go to stonylakesparkler. com.

Thank You to local supporters for your contributions to our End of the Year Celebration

On behalf of everyone at Shelby Public Schools, thank you for your kind donations to our End of the Year Celebration. With your support we were able to celebrate and show appreciation to our teachers and staff. We are grateful for amazing people like you.

SHELBY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Be a Tiger — Hear the ROAR

District Newsletter — June 2023

Congratulations to our Shelby High School Class of 2023 Senior Scholars!

Mary Bisard: Plans to attend Michigan State University to pursue a degree in Animal Science.

Briseida Brito-Burgos: Plans to attend Hope College to pursue Dentistry or Law.

Alex Calixto: Plans to attend Northern Michigan University to pursue Mechanical Engineering.

Jessica Facundo: Plans to attend Michigan State University to pursue Wildlife Conservation.

Abigail Lytle: Plans to attend Muskegon Community College to pursue Graphic Design.

Andrea Parker: Plans to attend Baker College to pursue Veterinary Science.

Kiera Ransom: Plans to attend Muskegon Community College to pursue Accounting.

Abel Sill: Will ship off to Marine Corp boot camp on June 5 - after will attend Grand Valley State University.

Emma Soelberg: Plans to attend Brigham Young University to pursue Art & Design

Morgan Weirich: Plans to attend Calvin College to pursue Speech Language Pathology.

Mallory West: Plans to attend Michigan State University to pursue Veterinary Science.

Shelby Middle School Ending the year strong!

At Shelby Middle School, we educate high achievers! And this year was no different. All grade levels saw great growth and gains in all areas as tested by the NWEA assessment. We also had a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the many accomplishments of our students in our 6th-8th grade awards assembly on June 8, 2023. Families were invited as we gave out recognition to students in the following categories: NWEA Top Score, NWEA Growth, Honor Roll, Roar Citizenship, 3+ Sport Athletes, and Performing Arts. 17 eighth grade students were also honored with the Presidential Academic Award. This award recognizes academic success in the classroom. To be eligible, students must meet requirements, including grade point average or, school-set criteria and choice of state tests or teacher recommendations. Our 8th graders were also recognized as finishing this chapter of middle school as they look forward to high school next year. Hali Hayes was honored as the top 8th grader with the SMS Principal’s Award.

It was a great year here at Shelby Middle and we cannot wait to start the year strong in August and continue the tradition of educating high achieving students!

Shelby High School 2023 Fall Sports Schedule

Pictured above, back row, left to right, Kiera Ransom, Mallory West, Briseida Brito-Burgos, Morgan Weirich, Jessica Facundo and Abigail Lytle; front row, Mary Bisard, Andrea Parker, Emma Soelberg, Abel Sill and Alex Calixto.

Chris Goldner

Electric Forest Music Festival invests $25,000 into Oceana County projects

PENTWATER – The Electric Forest Music Festival focuses on creating collaborative change in Oceana County through its charitable give-back programs. As part of its EF Michigan CAMP Project, the Electric Forest Charitable Fund inspired a collective effort to provide $14,500 in new instruments to Hart, Hesperia, Montague, Shelby and Pentwater bands by providing a lead gift of $10,000. Additional investments from the Electric Forest Charitable Fund include a $10,000 grant to sponsor recycling containers in the new Shelby Township Community Park and a $5,000 contribution towards the installation of the City of Hart’s Tin Man sculpture.

Electric Forest’s Music in Schools program has supported local music education since 2012. By donating money and instruments to local school music programs, Electric Forest is helping to bridge the gap between diminishing school budgets and music program resource needs. Since its inception in 2012, The Festival’s Music in Schools program has donated six figures to local schools to enhance the resources available to their music departments. The Music in Schools program also offers hands-on experiences to music students, including performance opportunities at the festival, as well as on-site mentorship opportunities where students interested in music production “shadow” Electric Forest professionals during the event.

Electric Forest began collaborating with the Oceana Community Foundation in 2019, creating the Electric Forest Charitable Fund to support music programs in public schools. The Festival expanded the Music in Schools Program to better support all that The Forest values: community, arts, music and preservation. Electric Forest seeks to support local projects that align with these various core values by introducing the Electric Forest Michigan CAMP Project. Since 2022, the program has continued to support local music programs through their charitable fund while also funding com-

munity arts and parks projects.

“HQ seeks to continue spreading The Forest ethos and uplifting Michigan’s local music, arts, and nature,” Chad Cheek said, AEG Presents CFO. AEG Presents operates Electric Forest, in addition to 32 other festivals nationwide. “Oceana County is Electric Forest’s home and should be a place of artistic discovery year-round.”

The Fund’s commitment to music programs in public schools sparked a conversation about investing in Oceana’s student bands. After providing a $10,000 grant, other Foundation fundholders supported the initiative to collectively raise $14,500, including the Malcolm “Pete” Wood Memorial Fund, the Little Point Sable Arts Fund, the Thomas Clair Fund for Young Musicians and the David P. Markiewicz Memorial Fund. The Foundation worked with the area band directors to collect a “wish list” of their needs, with most focusing on replacing dilapidated instruments. With the fantastic collaboration between fundholders, each school was awarded a $2,000 to $3,500 grant based on presented needs. “Not every student can afford a rental program, so it is imperative that we have an adequate supply of instruments at our disposal,” Pentwater Public School’s K–12 Music/Band Director Jesse Rodriguez shared. “Thank you for this opportunity to provide our kids with the best musical experience that they deserve!”

Electric Forest was a vital supporter of the recent installation of a 22-foot “Tin Man” sculpture in downtown Hart. The sculpture, created by artist Bill Secunda, is a part of the city’s tiered campaign to “Bring the Art to Hart.” Secunda is a five-time ArtPrize finalist based in Pennsylvania. He premiered a similar tin man sculpture in 2021’s ArtPrize, leading to the commission of Hart’s “Tin Man” with the addition of a red heart in his hands. By providing a $5,000 grant from its fund, the Festival is excited to support accessible art opportunities in Oceana County.

Continuing its support of collective community-based fundraising, the Festival is partnering with Shelby Township to support its $5.3 million Shelby Township Community Park. Their $10,000 award will focus on preserving the park by installing recycling containers throughout the 35-acre park. “We are thrilled to continue supporting the festival’s philanthropic interests and seeing the growing impact of collective giving in Oceana County,” Foundation CEO Tammy Carey explained. “The work of the Electric Forest Charitable Fund and other Foundation fundholders illustrates that, when we work together as a community, there is no limit to the impact we can have.”

To support the Electric Forest Charitable Fund, one of the Foundation’s 190-plus funds, or learn more about starting one’s own named fund, visit www. oceanafoundation.org/give/ or reach out to Carey at 231-869-3377.

Trusted Protection During Unpredictable Weather

The frequency in severe weather has led to an increase in power outages. More than ever, you need to be prepared. Think about it, without power, you will have no lights, heating or cooling, or refrigeration. You can’t even charge your cell phone. But when you have a Generac home standby generator, you will have power when you need it the most.