Traditions
Calendar: lots to do in Pentwater
Weekdays
There are lots of things to do at Park Place: Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays:
Pentwater Fitness Pump, 8:30 a.m.
Tuesdays: Mahjong, 10 a.m.
Wednesdays: Knitting, 1 p.m. & Line Dancing, 6 p.m.
Every other Wednesday: Bunco, 10:30 a.m.
Thursdays: Zumba Gold Toning, 9:30 a.m.
Full calendar can be found at: pentwatervillage.org/park-place-event-center.php
The 2024-2025 Sculpture Walk formally began June 1, 2024 and will go through May 31, 2025.
Thursdays
• Pentwater Farmers Market, Village Green, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. (through the end of September)
Fridays
• DJ Bingo, Antler Bar, 9 p.m.
Monday, September 9
• Village Council Meeting, Park Place, 6 p.m.
Tuesday, September 10
• PAC Board Meeting, Park Place, 4 p.m.
Thursday, September 12
• Pentwater Jr. Women’s Club, Park Place, 6 p.m.
Friday, September 13
• PWC Meeting, Park Place, noon
Friday-Saturday, September 13-14
• “Glow in the Park” Luminous Trail, Charles Mears State Park, dusk to 10:30 p.m.
Saturday, September 14
• PSA Board Meeting, Park Place, 3 p.m.
Tuesday, September 17
• Parks & Rec Meeting, Park Place, 4 p.m.
Thursday, September 19
• Book of the Month Club, Park Place, 6 p.m.
Monday, September 23
• Versiti Blood Drive, West Michigan Research Station, 8 a.m. to 12:20 p.m.
Tuesday, September 24
• Planning Commission Meeting, Park Place, 6 p.m.
Thursday, September 26
• Harvest Day at Pentwater Farmer’s Market, Village Green, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Saturday-Sunday, September 28-29
• Fall Fest Arts, Crafts and Antiques Fair, Village Green, Saturday from 10-5 and Sunday from 10-3.
Monday, September 30
• Oceana Community Foundation’s 35th Annual Celebration, PYC, 6 p.m.
Friday-Saturday, October 4-5
• Fall Volunteer Weekend, Mears State Park, 9 a.m.
Tuesday, October 8
• PAC Board Meeting, Park Place, 4 p.m.
Thursday, October 10
• Citizen of the Year Dinner, PYC, 5:30-9:30 p.m.
Friday, October 11
• PWC Meeting, Park Place, noon
Saturday, October 12
• Oktoberfest, Classic Car & Hot Rod Show, and Stout Stumble 5K Run/Walk, 10 a.m.
• C.O.V.E. Home Tour
Monday, October 14
• Village Council Meeting, Park Place, 6 p.m.
Tuesday, October 22
• Planning Commission Meeting, Park Place, 6 p.m.
Saturday, October 26
• Halloween Spooktacular, Village Green, Merchant Trick-or-Treat noon to 2 p.m.
• Recycling Center closes at 5 p.m. until April 2025
Thursday, October 31
• Trick or Treating, 5-7 p.m.
Saturday, November 30
• Small Business Saturday
Traditions is published by The Oceana Echo © P.O. Box 192, Mears, MI 49436
September 6, 2024 • All rights reserved. Writers: AnnaMae Bush & Caleb Jackson Advertising: Jan Thomas
Traditions Editor & Designer: Amanda Dodge theoceanaecho@gmail.com Enjoy our free Pentwater magazine!
P entwater G raduates C ontinue
By AnnaMae Bush
Traditions
Writer
There are so many ways that Pentwater Public School students connect with and give back to our community. Some ways are obvious, and others are subtle. Let me shine a light on some of them to heighten our awareness.
Mary Marshall, former superintendent, shares this information, “It is a graduation requirement for students to perform 100 hours of community service during their high school years. Students have an annual Community Pride Day to clean the village and beach before our tourist season. Our Green Schools Club is well attended, and club members clean the beach in the fall, too. Our kids work in our shops, march down Hancock on Memorial Day as band members and go caroling at Christmas….”
Besides cleaning the beach, the Green Schools Club holds various recycling programs, teaches younger students about environmental concerns, donates books to the school library, and writes a column in the quarterly Pentwater Lake Association Newsletter.
school, and it belongs to all of us.”
If you have visited the Pentwater Historical Museum, you may have noticed the colorful Thank You notes posted from Lucy Macher’s third grade classes. Every year she brings her class to tour the museum and learn about local history. Macher also reminded me that Pentwater students work alongside adult volunteers at the Firehouse every month to help distribute food from the Feeding America Food Truck. Additional connections include third grade business trips around town, Artisan Center collaborations, local guest speakers, the annual Veteran’s Day Assembly and residents who use the exercise and weight room or who volunteer in the classrooms.
Andrea Gallie has taught at the school for 18 years, and she adds a few more examples of community connections, “Our students work in the shops downtown, or they work for auto or construction businesses. We have multiple projects (across various ages and academic disciplines) where we bring in community members to judge or participate in some way…My colleague Carrie Jeruzal and I take students (and parents, if they choose) on international educational tours every two years. Having students and adults who travel also adds to the base of experiences in the community.”
Rick Magrath retired after teaching in Pentwater for 35 years. He calls attention to the fact that in a small community, many people attend school events who have no children or grandchildren at the school. They come to sporting events, to band concerts, to elementary programs and art shows. He thinks “there is a real sense that this is the community’s
The Veteran’s Day Assembly is meaningful to students and veterans alike. Student Council President Mackenna Hasil wrote, “I can honest to God say my proudest moment of my senior year wasn’t the time we won a basketball game, and wasn’t the time I qualified for the all-star meet for track, but was the time I sat in the cafeteria and listened to the veterans say how much they appreciated our school and the students for putting on the event.”
Every month the Pentwater Service Club recognizes a “Student of the Month” chosen by the faculty. The student is awarded a certificate and is honored by a luncheon to which their family is invited to attend. It’s good to acknowledge we benefit from students’ contributions to our community during their years at our school. But the wonderful truth is that we benefit from their contributions long after their graduation as well. Mary Marshall points out that our students “in many cases, after college or job training, come right back here to start businesses, teach our kids, and raise their own families.”
Third grade teacher Lucy Macher is a prime example. She proudly declares, “I am a fifth generation Pentwater Falcon. I have been teaching third grade for 19 years now in my old third grade classroom where I was a student. I taught at Pine River Area Schools for six years before coming back
Photos by
the G ift that K ee P s on
to Pentwater to teach…I have four children. I wanted my own kids to experience the wonderful learning experiences that our small school has to offer. There was no other choice where my husband and I wanted our children to attend…. ‘Where everybody is somebody’ is our school motto for a reason!”
New Superintendent Craig Barter attended Pentwater school through seventh grade and then transferred to Ludington so he could play football. He had a career in education for 18 years in Florida before deciding to move back to Pentwater so his children could attend Pentwater Public School.
I asked Toni Glover, Administrative Assistant to the Superintendent at Pentwater Public School for more than 20 years, to help me make a list of Pentwater graduates who stayed or came back to work or to start a business in Pentwater or nearby. The following list of graduates came from memory, not research. So, readers are invited to inform us of people who may have been inadvertently omitted, and we will print a corrected list if necessary.
• Eva Gregwer: Pentwater Chamber of Commerce executive director
• Dayna Hasil and Phil Grondsma: owners of Pentwater House of Flavors
• Amanda Adams: bank manager - Shelby State Bank, Pentwater
• Jared Griffis: owns West Michigan Carpet and Flooring
• J. Dean Gustafson: former owner of Gustafson Import Store and retired hospital administrator
• Kirsten and Jeff McDonough: live in Pentwater, own Dari Queen of Ludington
• Greg Van Boxel and Larry Doran: owner and manager of Fiesta Grande
• Brian Monton: private attorney in Hart, who lives with his wife in Pentwater
• Ryan Williams: owns Port View Wine
• Ryan McKee and Jill Plummer: owners of Clutch and he is a Pentwater graduate
• Chris Roberts: Pentwater Postmaster
• Doug Baker: works for the Village of Pentwater DPW
• Nate Tarnowski: works for the Village of Pentwater DPW
• Charlie Lamb: owns Charlie’s Marina
• Nick Lascari: leases Gull Landing from Diana Russell - both are Pentwater graduates
• Mary Ann Bush: owns Flowers by Mary Ann
• Dan and Laura Nugent: both graduates who own several businesses in Pentwater
• Ken Adams and Sons: Ken (left prior to graduation) owns Adams Excavation, his wife is a grad
• Josh and Nikki Adams: graduates who own Adams Marine & Construction in Pentwater
• Michelle Angell: graduate who owns properties as a business in Pentwater
• Lyrin Malburg Russell: owns Wildflower Spa
Mary Ann Bush credits the Pentwater community for her successful floral business downtown. She moved to Pentwater at age 13 and attended Pentwater Public School in grades 8-12. Pentwater remained her home base through her college journey and her many varied employments. With a BS degree in biology and chemistry, she taught school, and she worked at Lakeside Rehab for 13 years. She had purchased a home in Pentwater because she wanted her two daughters to attend Pentwater school. In addition to her employment, she always created floral arrangements for family and friends and for events… out of her garage. Her floral work grew until her husband and one of her friends urged her to expand her hobby into a full-time job in a shop downtown. She opened her storefront shop, Flowers by Mary Ann, in May 2023 and has not looked back. She asserts, “I could not have done it without all the community support I have received. I love this downtown community.”
Even without any additional names we may have forgotten, that is an impressive list of graduates who continue to contribute to our community. But there is also one more segment of our community who represent “the gift that keeps on giving.” That segment is our group of retirees who spent their youth here, left the area after graduation, and returned to enjoy their retirement years in the village. I would not dare attempt to formulate that long list of names.
Suffice it to say that Pentwater Public School encourages students to become contributing members of their community. Their school experience forges relationships and cements memories that bring many graduates back to their roots to build an even stronger community.
GO FALCONS!
Catering
The Pentwater Chamber of Commerce will host its highly anticipated annual Arts, Crafts and Antiques Fair on Sept. 28 and 29 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. It will showcase a variety of creativity, featuring beautiful, handmade, one-of-a-kind pieces. From woodworking to pottery, photography to jewelry and much more.
One of the highlights of this year’s event is the Pentwater Artisan Learning Center’s annual raffle. Attendees will have the chance to win exclusive, one-of-a-kind pieces of art, with all proceeds supporting the center’s ongoing mission to foster creativity and artistic expression in the community.
In addition to the arts and crafts, the Pentwater Service Club will be on hand, serving up delicious hot dogs, brats, and more, while the Pentwater Fire Department will add to the show with their highly anticipated BBQ.
Visitors are also encouraged to explore the many shops and restaurants throughout downtown Pentwater, which will be offering special fall promotions and discounts in celebration of the fair.
Mark your calendars and join in for a weekend of creativity, community and celebration at the Pentwater Arts, Crafts, and Antiques Fair! Please email events@pentwater.org for more information.
oK toberfest is oCt. 12
The 28th annual Oktoberfest and Stout Stumble 5K are set for Oct. 12 at 10 a.m. Car enthusiasts won’t want to miss the Classic Car & Hot Rod Show, where an excellent lineup of vintage and custom vehicles will be on display, showcasing the passion of their owners. Whether you’re a car buff or just appreciate great design, this event is sure to impress. Car registrants do not need to pre-register. Registration is the day of the show from 8-10 a.m. The show is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., with an award ceremony to follow immediately. There will be a panel of judges.
For those looking to add some fitness to their festivities, the Stout Stumble 5K Run/Walk offers a unique twist on the traditional race. Participants can enjoy a fun run through our beautiful village, followed by a well-deserved cold stout at the finish line.
t he t ale of the o C eana C hief
By Caleb Jackson Traditions Writer
Horseracing took off in Oceana in the latter half of the 19th century, thanks largely in part to a few key Pentwater residents. One of those residents was Dr. D. G. Weare of Pentwater. Weare purchased a horse in the winter of 1871 and 1872, which he claimed to be a direct descendant from Sherman Morgan, a prestigious racing horse. He named the 3-year-old chestnut colt Oceana Chief and proudly drove him through the streets of Pentwater. It would seem, however, that the horse’s lineage was not enough to impress the villagers. Hartwick and Tuller would explain in their book, “Oceana County Pioneers and Business Men of To-Day,” that “the awkward shambling gait of the animal only served to excite the ridicule of local sportsmen, and the doctor and his horse were made the butt of many a jest.” The embarrassment must have gotten to Dr. Weare, as he decided to pay one Wm. Synder $60 a month to train the Chief. However, this only led to more embarrassment, as “the payment of $60 per month to care for a horse was considered simply ridiculous.” And on top of that, the training was unsuccessful. Defeated, the doctor decided to sell his horse to a man named Chas. Nichols for $700. The agreement was that Nichols would pay part of this fee upfront and pay the rest once the horse’s pedigree was verified. However, the Chief’s pedigree was only partially verified, and as a result, Nichols refused to pay the remaining balance. A court case entailed, which Nichols lost. The whole ordeal must have left a bad taste in Nichols’ mouth, as he decided to abandon his attempts to train the Chief and instead left him in the capable hands of his son-in-law, John Boga. Another key figure in the horse racing scene was Samuel Browne. Browne bought a horse in 1875 named Lady Turpin, who previously took first place money in Rochester, N.Y., with a record time of 2:23. With this acquisition, the interest in horse racing exploded in Oceana, and the Driving Park Association in Pentwater “prepared its grounds for great races to follow.” What nobody had been expecting though was that the Chief began to improve considerably under Boga’s tutelage, and he was even beating many of the best horses in the local scene. Finally, the Oceana
Chief won three straight heats in a landmark victory on Aug. 15, 1876, winning John Boga the firstplace prize of $125. Hartwick and Tuller explain the excitement that day, as “every stump and mound convenient was used by the spectators in order to get a better view.”
From then on, the Chief was looked on with great favor, and he continued to win races, with his best time being 2:23, rivaling that of Lady Turpin. The Chief’s notoriety was so great that in June 1878, another race was held on the Pentwater grounds, challenging all of the best from outside of Pentwater to come and dethrone him. The Chief was racing against horses from Grand Rapids, Caro, Spring Lake, Muskegon and Ludington. The excitement must have been high. He won the first heat, fair and square, but the second one he lost. Here is where, as Hartwick and Tuller put it, “the undisguised acts of the jockey to beat the Chief became manifest.” Due to his loss in the previous heat, the Chief was placed on the outside of the track. This position is undesirable, as it has a wider turn radius, meaning the horses on the outside have a farther distance to run. However, the Chief came out of the gate with such speed that he “was soon crowding the pole horses.” That is, he was gaining on the horses who had the inside positions. But “as he worked for the pole, the other jockeys played in front of him,” trying to block him from advancing. Unfortunately for them, “Boga then turned out, taking the outside, trotted without a break right round the field and came under the wire a good winner, and acknowledged by the shouts of the spectators.” Following this, the Chief won one more heat, and “Oceana’s superiority as a trotter was established and never afterwards questioned by local sportsmen.”
The Chief sired several other racing horses in the Oceana scene, and ownership of him would change hands over the years. He eventually got sick somewhere 16 miles from Grand Rapids and died in the year 1880. His legacy though never did, as even Hartwick and Tuller saw fit to immortalize his story in their book, a full decade after the Chief had passed. Plus, the Chief’s success probably had a larger impact on Oceana than we may expect. How many people came to Oceana for the first time in those early days simply to watch this horse race? As our fine authors put it, “The horse is man’s best friend in improving a new section….”
P entwater P ubli C s C hool –
By AnnaMae Bush
Traditions
Writer
That’s a meaningful motto worth living up to. Doesn’t every child want to be seen, to be recognized? With the start of a new school year, September is an appropriate time to focus on this facet of our community. English and Spanish instructor Andrea Gallie is unmistakably positive in her evaluation of the school. She asserts, “I am just really passionate about our little community school. I always tell people that it’s ‘The happiest place on Earth.’” Although it would be remarkable indeed if every student agreed with her assessment, there are factors that contribute toward making Pentwater school a happy place where each student feels seen.
The most obvious factor is the size of the school. There are 13 public schools in Oceana County. Walkerville and Pentwater are the only two districts that have one school with Pre-K through grade 12 on the same campus, in the same building. Other districts have separate buildings for elementary, middle, and high schools. This past year, Walkerville had 302 students with fifteen high school graduates. Pentwater had 230 students with nineteen high school graduates. Only two schools (New Era grades 4-5, and Hesperia Middle grades 6-8) had fewer students enrolled than Pentwater.
The size of the student body and the number of successive years the students share the same location enable students, faculty and staff to develop long-term relationships. It enables families and faculty to interact for many years and provides the opportunity for continuous and integrated follow-up on issues discovered along the way. The small size also invites broad participation. Rick Magrath coached basketball and baseball for many years and affirmed, “Everyone can try a sport if they desire; you don’t have to be a star. I taught quite a few students how
to catch and throw and hit a baseball or how to properly shoot a basketball and work like a team. And we had fun….”
Recent grad Mackenna Hasil echoed Magrath’s thought: “I had the pleasure of being on sports teams such as cross country, which I would not have the opportunity to do if I attended a larger school based on my actual running performance.” Students benefit from one-on-one attention from coaches who support their improvement to the highest level of their ability.
administrative position in Florida. As a Pentwater student in his youth, Barter felt “Everybody knew you and looked out for you.”
Rick Magrath recently retired after teaching eight different subjects in grades 7-12 over 35 years. “Teaching in a small school gave us the freedom to create new history/English classes. . . I think this ability to experiment and create classes would be complicated to do in a large school. The small school size allows for unique classroom experiences. It also creates a special relationship between students and staff and community. One of my favorite upper-class English activities was to have my juniors and seniors read a book, have a local book group read the same novel, and then invite the group to come in and join us in our Friday discussion circle and discuss the novel together with the class. To see community members and students sharing insights about literature was a significant experience for all involved,” he reflected.
Both past Superintendent Scott Karaptian and current Superintendent Craig Barter compared their experiences in large schools (in Kalamazoo, Mich. and in Florida) with their experience in Pentwater. Karaptian said, “The school’s smaller size can partially account for fewer discipline issues than other schools but cannot completely explain it…Student lockers are most often unlocked. The trust level is very high.” Barter saw more fighting and a greater need for discipline in his middle school
Documents at the Pentwater Historical Museum reveal that Pentwater’s first school had one student and was held in a home in 1854. When eight students enrolled, the school was moved into a building that also served as a church and a meeting house. By 1865, there were 87 students, and a separate school structure was built at Carroll and Fourth Streets that served students for 100 years. In 1880, Pentwater High School celebrated its first graduating class, consisting of seven young women. (One of them was Ann Jepsen, largely responsible for Homecoming.) In 1881, two districts were formed: one included downtown Pentwater and the north side of the lake, and the other included areas on the south side of the lake. The north district had 377 students, and the south district had 47 students who attended class in a one-room schoolhouse. As the village population grew, so did the student body. There were 90 children enrolled in kindergarten in 1897. Two years later, the total student enrollment was 411.
Changes happened rapidly in the 1900s. During the first decade, a furnace was installed, a physics and chemistry lab was fully equipped (recognized as the finest in the state for a school its size), music and art teachers were hired, electric lights were installed, and a drinking fountain and indoor bathrooms were added. During the second decade, home economics and agriculture classes were added, and a large greenhouse was constructed on the south wing of the building. During the third decade, a shop “for the boys” was built and the first band was formed. It should be noted that between 1938 and 1940, tuition paying students from multiple neighboring townships were bussed to attend Pentwater School. This was reportedly motivated by a federal government effort to consolidate one-room rural schools into larger
PHS in 1889
Sand replica of school
‘ where everybody is somebody’
centralized district schools. With the rising popularity of sports in the 1940s, property was purchased to be used for athletic fields.
Due to overcrowding and the aging frailty of the three-story building, discussion began for a new facility. In November 1952, the citizens voted to construct a new elementary school on Park Street, which was dedicated in May 1954. Additional elementary classrooms were added in 1959, leaving only grades 7-12 in the old building. In 1964 the third floor of the old building was condemned, and in 1966 grades 7-12 were moved to the last addition on the Park Street facility. This is the facility still in use today.
Whatever space is left after students in the district have registered is offered to out-of-district students who apply to come by choice. Allowance is made for students who may move into the district after the enrollment deadline and for siblings of students who already have enrolled by choice.” Glover shared current limits: 20 in K–grade 1, 22 in grades 2-6, and 25 in grades 7-12. Prior to Covid there were years in which a lottery was needed to select students from a waiting list of those who wished to come by choice. The 20-year average of students by choice has been 27% of those enrolled.
Enrollment fluctuated with the rise and fall of Pentwater’s population and with the development and departure of Pentwater businesses. Once a thriving town with several industries—small businesses, repair shops, a hardware store, grocery stores, a movie theater, full-service gas stations, a pharmacy, specialty shops and a bakery—Pentwater lost many businesses and industries to two major fires and more business to competitors in larger communities that could sell products at lower prices. Although it has fewer businesses today, Pentwater has several art galleries and a thriving art community that supports art education in Oceana schools, provides public art installations, and promotes all genres of artistic skills at the Artisan Center on Park Street. The heart of the downtown district throbs with crowds during the tourist season. During the quieter months residents enjoy outdoor winter activities, socializing at local coffee shops, joining activities at Park Place, and attending school events to cheer for Pentwater students.
The impact of Covid aside, student enrollment has remained consistent for the past 20-25 years, averaging 260-280. Toni Glover explains the reason for that consistency. “The Board determines the limit for students at each grade level based on ideal student/teacher ratios.
Unrelated to size, another factor that benefits Pentwater School is the welleducated and service-oriented senior population in the community, many of whom volunteer at the school. The athletic teams especially benefited from volunteers Dan Selahowski (a licensed physical therapist, experienced soccer coach and athletic team trainer) and Jack Provencal (former wrestling coach and long-time Athletic Director at Grand Haven High School). Reading support volunteers worked in partnership with Reading Interventionist Gina Voss and made a huge difference.
This spring Superintendent Dr. Karaptian was informed that Pentwater Public Schools outperformed 90% of the schools in the State of Michigan in the area of reading in grades 3-7 combined. This indicated the district was one of less than 20 districts statewide that had a statistically significant gain on MSTEP [standardized tests] in reading for grades 3-7 combined. THANK YOU, VOLUNTEERS!
Pentwater School, I think it suggests not to discount the school simply because it’s small. Pentwater High School is ranked in the top 30% of Michigan High Schools by US NEWS. MI School Data, Michigan’s Official Education Data Source, compares schools statewide based on several criteria and gives them a grade. Last year it granted Pentwater Public School an A in four areas: proficiency in state math and language arts assessments, growth of proficiency anticipated over 3 years in math and language arts assessments, graduation rate, and performance among state peers. It was rated average for rate of attendance, rated 100% for participation in state assessments, and rated significantly above average in peer student subgroup performance. No school is perfect, and there’s always room for improvement. But our local school is competitive, creative, and effective.
“In my two years teaching here, I have seen the smaller class sizes really benefit a lot of students in various ways. As a band director, it really lets me pinpoint a lot of different things for me to fix musically and give every single student the opportunity to express themselves freely in my classroom. In comparison to larger schools, I have seen the students here at Pentwater display a lot more enthusiasm and confidence in the classroom because of the immense support from their teachers and peers,” Jesse Rodriguez claims
“Though she be but little, she is fierce!” (William Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night’s Dream) Applied to
Recent grad
Abe Van Duinen shared what he appreciated most about his Pentwater School experience. “Less students in a class meant more individualized attention from my teachers. It was so much easier to get help if I needed it. This also helped build relationships with my teachers. I would feel comfortable going to them for help even if it was not school related.” Comfortable enough to seek help for nonschool related matters? Now that’s a powerful commentary.
The school today
One room schoolhouse south district 1868
sand sC ulP ture Contest winners CaP ture theme
The following people were winners at the 2024 Pentwater Homecoming Sand Sculpture Contest Saturday, Aug. 10. This year’s theme was “Floating in Pentwater.”
Team Martinus took first place in the 1-7 year old category for their “Pentwater River” sculpture. The Emily & Madison Munson team created “Pentwater Pier” and the Peytin Betkins team formed “The Castle,” to take second and third place, respectively, in that same category.
For the 8-9 year-olds, Team Turtle scooped up victory with their “Stewie Turtle” sculpture. The Madison team took second place with “Pentwater Pals,” and the Chicken Nuggets team took third with “Chicken Floats.”
More turtles were seen in the 10-12 year-old category. The Slotsema Kool team placed first with their “Sailing in Pentwater” sculpture. The Sand Queens came in second place with “Turtely Awesome Pentwater.” The Abagail Boos team took third with “Totally Turtle.”
For ages 13+, the Nolan & Colton team won with “Float-n-Around.” The Maggie & Lexie team took second place for “Don’t Forget Your Tube!” and The Trycyde team earned third place with “Floaty.”
There were also three group categories for families. Group A was won by the Team Zorn with “Adrift.” The Cozy Corner team came in second with “Migration To & From Pentwater” and the Monopoly Clan placed third with “Float On!”
The Cucci, Keiffen, Mitchell team took top prize for Group B, creating a sculpture called “Staying Afloat in Mermaid Waters.” The Oxfords took second with “Lilly & Friends” and the Rekner team placed third with “Head in the Clouds.”
Group C was won by the Petz & Co. team with Keep Calm & Float On!” The Jeanie & Dave team placed second with “Fido Floating” and the Kreutzjans team took third for “The Minions.”
KeeP your distanC e – for safety’s saK e
By AnnaMae Bush
Traditions
Writer
Oceana County offers many opportunities for boating, swimming, and a variety of water sports. It is good to be reminded of the rules for being safe on the lake. Water safety includes several rules about keeping one’s distance on the lake, whether boating or swimming.
For boaters, the most important rule about distance is to keep 100 feet away from any fixed object, like a dock, raft, person in the water, the shoreline, or another anchored boat. For swimmers on Lake Michigan, the most important rule about distance is to keep far away from the rocks along the piers. Piers cause structural currents, which can rapidly force water outward into the lake. If swimmers are in this area, they can be swept out quickly to deeper water and become fatigued. In addition, boaters congregate in the areas around the pier heads, and it is difficult for boaters to see people in the water. It is always best, if swimming, to stay inside the marked swimming area. The DNR also urges swimmers to keep their distance from outlets of rivers – either upstream from the outlet or where there are “no swimming” signs – because these currents can be extremely hazardous. Another important rule for boaters who are towing someone behind them is to remember to go counterclockwise around the lake. This ensures everyone is going in the same direction, so if someone falls into the wa-
ter off water skis or a tube, other following boaters will see and have ample time to maneuver around them.
Swimmers on Lake Michigan beaches must observe the flagging system, which tells swimmers whether the swimming conditions are safe for the day or if it is too hazardous to be in the water. If a green flag is posted, the conditions are usually safe for swimming. If a yellow flag is posted, swimmers should use caution, as rip currents are possible. If a red flag is posted, swimmers should not enter the water as the conditions are too hazardous and rip currents are likely. Last year, an additional warning was issued with the use of a double red flag. This warning makes it illegal for anyone to enter the water.
Boaters need to remember to wear a personal flotation device (life jacket) when out on the water in any type of vessel. Children under the age of 6 must always wear a type I or II personal flotation device when out on any type of vessel on the water. One never knows when an emergency will arise, and having a personal flotation device already on could save one’s life.
The DNR urges parents (when near the water) to keep small children in a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket, even when playing on shore in the sand. Adults should always watch and never turn their back on children in or near the water.
The “buddy system” is always a good idea, whether one is boating, fishing, swimming or doing any other water sport. If one is going alone, the DNR advises you to wear a life jacket, tell someone on shore where you’re going and when you plan to return and schedule a check-in time.
THE
Pentwater Historical society MuseuM
THE PRESIDENTIAL YACHT SEQUOIA, HAS DOCKED
We invite you to see her, our newest museum exhibit. Hear the stories of glitz, sequins and cigars…of history making Presidents…Hoover, Roosevelt, Kennedy and Nixon who boarded her to get away, to make major decisions for our nation’s future during times of war and peace. Yes, you will learn of a time when the men and women of immense power gathered on her decks to guide our nation through those important moments that changed history. We are extremely proud that the PHS Museum is the owner of this artifact, the only exact model of the Sequoia Presidential Yacht in existence, and we are proud to share the story it played in our nation’s history with our visitors. An exhibit that we believe you too, will find outstanding.
Voted the “Best Thing” to do on a Rainy Day... We’re open June through October, Tuesday-Saturday from 1-4 p.m., with extended hours Saturday 11 AM-4 PM beginning July 2 thru August 10
So we invite you to visit our ship. The Sequoia, that legendary boat from times past. Yes, we possess her, we own her, our own 104” model of white, mahogany, brass, pomp, and circumstance. That grand yacht which captured the hearts, the imagination of our villagers, who viewed her majestically entering our tiny Harbor that summer day of 84’.
So come to the museum…See this magnificent vessel up close.
The Sequoia will be on permanent display at the PHS Museum beginning June 24, 2024.
meet the new Pentwater suPerintendent
By AnnaMae Bush Traditions Writer
Craig Barter came “back home” when he took the administrative position of K-12 Assistant Principal in Pentwater last year. Barter grew up in Pentwater and attended Pentwater Public School K-7 before transferring to Ludington schools to play football. Both his older siblings graduated from Pentwater, and both his parents were teachers at Pentwater. His mother taught English prior to her position with ISD in Ludington and his father taught history and was the K-12 Physical Education instructor for 33 years. They lived a few blocks from the school. He said, “I have many fond memories of all the hours I hung out on the school grounds before and after classes with my neighborhood friends.”
How does his new position this year as superintendent compare to his assistant K-12 principal position he held last year? “Last year I was more involved with testing, scheduling and other student issues. This year my job is more business-oriented, and Toni Glover, my administrative assistant, has been very helpful in teaching me about the business aspect of our school.”
Following college, Barter took a position in the Hernando Florida school district as a teacher and administrator for 18 years. The district high school had 1,500 students, and that was considered a small school! As their daughter moved closer to high school age, Barter’s wife encouraged him to look for a job in a location with a smaller high school. In April 2023, when he saw the opening in Pentwater announced, he applied for it. The village was very familiar to his wife and children because they had spent time here every summer of the 18 years they lived in Florida. Now they live in the village two blocks from Barter’s boyhood home, where his parents continue to live. This fall, his son enters fifth grade and his daughter begins high school. No surprise to him, he reports “They both are very happy in their new school.”
Congratulations to our Seniors on your graduation and thank you to all of our teachers and staff for all they do towards making Pentwater an amazing and successful district!
In the short time he has been here, has he developed a vision for the next five years? Barter is grateful to be following Scott Karaptian, who left on amicable terms. “I have a solid foundation to build on. There is a culture of respect, responsibility and high academic standards for me to carry forward. There is a push for a robotics program, which I will encourage along with expanding the variety of extracurricular activities and arts programs.” There are plans to establish a new grants committee that will explore ways to enhance school programs with outside funding. “Our Elementary Reading Interventionist Gina Voss and her support team of reading volunteers made a huge difference for students this past year. [See cover story.] We are hoping to similarly improve our math program with a Math Interventionist and support team of math volunteers.” Barter has already met with the superintendents of other school districts in Oceana County and expressed great appreciation for them. “They are a great group of friendly folks with a genuine team attitude. No competition involved. We are there to support each other and try to solve problems together. One issue we are all concerned with is lack of attendance, which continues to impact every school since Covid. I am grateful for the hospitable support of this county-wide team.”
bowlinG...at the artisan learninG Center?
Maybe the word “teaching” should be added to the Pentwater Artisan Learning Center’s (PALC) name because that’s what some members get most out of belonging to it. Barry Freed is one. He retired to Pentwater four years ago, moving from Lansing, where he worked, and then became part owner of a trade show decorating company.
“I had 200 employees and taught many how to make displays in our workshop,” said Barry. “After moving to Pentwater, I didn’t join the Artisan Center right away because I have enough tools at home. But then my neighbors needed to replace some wood spindles on the porch of their historic home but couldn’t find any that matched. I wanted to help but didn’t have a lathe. So I joined the Artisan Center so I could use one of theirs. I made 10 spindles and found that I really liked the comradery and the safety of working here rather than working at home alone.”
san Center’s fundraiser during Pentwater’s Fall Festival Arts, Crafts and Antiques Fair on Sept. 28 and 29 on the Village Green. Each year, PALC members work for hours creating various metal, wood, pottery, ceramic, painted, glass, weaving, basket making, sewing and jewelry pieces that they donate to the PALC to be sold for its support.
This summer, Barry has mentored an Austin, Texas, woman who’s visiting Pentwater for a month with her family. “I love the Artisan Center!“ said Judy French. “We do ceramics in Austin, but I watched Barry make a bowl. He taught me how to make one that I’m gonna take home and use as a salad bowl. I’m now working on my second bowl.”
The PALC had four lathes, but they weren’t used much. “As a kid living in the country, I had used a lathe,” continued Barry. “We didn’t buy our baseball bats; we made ‘em out of mostly oak. I occasionally made bowls out of pieces of firewood.” At the Artisan Center, Barry started making segmented bowls, and curious members came over to see what the lathe could do. Now, all the lathes are often being used at one time, and someone recently donated a fifth lathe because of all the demand.
“I’ve so far taught more than 40 adult members and Pentwater School students to make bowls on lathes,” he added. “I love to see people realize what they can make out of little scraps of wood.”
One day, a member came to Barry saying that she wanted to make a wood bar, but didn’t know anything about running the needed woodworking tools. “I suggested that she first learn to make a bowl because she’d have to use most every machine we have. She enjoyed the process so much that she now only makes bowls when working with wood.
There are quite a few steps in the process of making a segmented bowl after one decides its purpose and what kinds of wood to use to achieve contrasting colors. It could be a combination of walnut, maple, mahogany, cherry, hickory, or oak. Wood is then cut into strips and then into “segments.” One then glues together 16 segments to make a ring, and then five or six rings are then glued together to make a bowl. That’s about 100 segment pieces in each typical bowl. Most of the wood for bowls is left over from other PALC members’ projects and ends up in the PALC’s scrap bin.
Barry proudly showed several bowls that a Pentwater School student made and are to be included in the Arti-
Betty Pleva of Pentwater once asked Barry if he could repair her husband’s childhood toboggan, which Gary’s friend had crashed into a tree. She wanted it to be a Christmas gift. Explained Barry, “I said it wasn’t salvageable and suggested we cut it up into pieces that she’d make into a bowl. I took photos of her working on every step of the process. She compiled the photos into a book that she gave to Gary with the bowl. After Christmas, Gary told me that he couldn’t stop crying after Betty surprised him.”
Barry gets the most out of his PALC membership by teaching school students. He mentored one Hart student on Saturdays for many months after the boy’s father asked if there was a way for his son to learn handiwork skills. “It’s rewarding. The coolest thing is when they get done, look at what they made, and say ‘wow, this turned out nice!’ About three or four times a year, Pentwater Schools’ Art Teacher Carrie Jeruzal comes over with an idea for how PALC members can help with a student project. We always get five or six other Artisan Center members who step up as mentors.”
Many inspirational quotes about teaching are posted on the Internet. One that seems appropriate to the PALC circumstance is this: “A good education can change anyone. A good teacher can change everything.”
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