Calendar: lots to do in Pentwater
Weekdays
There are lots of things to do at Park Place: Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays: Body Fitness and Pentwater Fitness Pump, 8:30 a.m.
Tuesdays: Mahjong, 10 a.m.
Wednesdays: Knitting, 1 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.
Third Tuesdays
Pentwater Jr. Women’s Club - Feeding America W. Mich. mobile food pantry, Pentwater Fire Dept., 11 a.m.
Fridays
• DJ Bingo, Antler Bar, 9 p.m.
Monday, November 25
• Village Council Committee of the Whole, Park Place, 6 p.m.
Tuesday, November 26
• Planning Commission Meeting, Park Place, 6 p.m.
Saturday, November 30
• Small Business Saturday
• Santa on the Green, 5-6:30 p.m. Santa will be escorted to the Village Green by fire truck, and will be available for visits and photos.
Sunday, December 1
• Christmas by Candlelight, Methodist Church 7 p.m.
Saturday, December 7
• Pentwater Band Holiday Craft Fair, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Pentwater Public Schools (600 Park St.).
• Christmas in the Village.
Monday, December 9
• Village Council Meeting, Park Place, 6 p.m.
Friday, December 13
• DDA Meeting, Park Place, 8:30-10:30 a.m.
• PWC Christmas Party, 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Saturday, December 14
• Christmas in the Village.
Tuesday, December 17
• Community Christmas Potluck, Park Place, 9:30 -11:30 a.m.
Wednesday, December 18
• Pentwater Hart Trail TAP Grant Public Hearing, 7–8:30 p.m.
Saturday, December 21
• Christmas in the Village.
Friday, January 3
• Park Place Winter Music, 6:30–8 p.m.
Friday, January 10
• PWC Meeting, Park Place, noon–3:30 p.m.
Monday, January 13
• Village Council Meeting, Park Place, 6 p.m.
Thursday, January 16
• Pentwater Book of the Month Club, Park Place, 6:30 p.m.
Tuesday, January 28
• Planning Commission Meeting, Park Place, 6 p.m.
Saturday, February 8
• Pentwater Winterfest
Monday, February 10
• Village Council Meeting, Park Place, 6 p.m.
Saturday, February 15
• Pentwater Winterfest
Thursday, February 20
• Pentwater Book of the Month Club, Park Place, 6:30 p.m.
Tuesday, February 26
• Planning Commission Meeting, Park Place, 6 p.m.
Monday, March 10
• Village Council Meeting, Park Place, 6 p.m.
Traditions is published by The Oceana Echo © P.O. Box 192, Mears, MI 49436 November 22, 2024 • All rights reserved. Writers: AnnaMae Bush & Caleb Jackson Advertising: Amanda Dodge Traditions Editor & Designer: Amanda Dodge theoceanaecho@gmail.com Enjoy our free Pentwater magazine!
National nonprofit Wreaths Across America (WAA) announced today that Pentwater Township Cemetery in Pentwater will be joining in the mission to Remember, Honor and Teach, as an official location for 2024. This is the first year that the cemetery will participate in this national program.
Wreaths Across America started as a simple gesture of thanks that has grown into a national, yearlong movement of dedicated volunteers and communities coming together to not only remember the nation’s fallen and honor their service, but to teach the next generation about the value of freedom. This year, there will be more than 4,500 participating locations placing veterans’ wreaths on National Wreaths Across America Day – Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024 – with more than three million volunteers coming together.
The goal for Pentwater Township Cemetery is to raise enough funds to place 278 sponsored veterans’ wreaths on the headstones of all the local heroes laid to rest there to ensure that the individuals who served to protect the freedoms of our country never be forgotten and to bring the community together in patriotic commemoration.
“We are forever grateful for the thousands of supporters who dedicate their time, energy and resources to fulfilling our mission all year long,” said Karen Worcester, executive director, Wreaths Across America. “These individuals and their communities know the value of remembering the fallen, honoring those who currently serve and teaching the next generation about the sacrifices made for our freedom every day, and because of their continued support, Wreaths Across America continues to grow and touch new people each year.”
Those interested in volunteering for Wreaths Across America or sponsoring a wreath for Pentwater Township Cemetery, are invited to visit https:// www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/pages/173396/ to learn more. National Wreaths Across America Day is a free community event open to all people.
This project is sponsored by Michigan Dunes Chapter, NSDAR and Friends of the Pentwater Cemetery.
library marks milestone in february 2025
By AnnaMae Bush
Traditions
Writer
The following is an interview with Mary Barker, director of the Pentwater Township Library (PTL):
Q: What is the event that the library is celebrating in February 2025?
A: Our library will celebrate a milestone 170th birthday in February! Founded with an initial $50 donation, a substantial sum at the time—our library has been serving the community since 1855. To put this into perspective, 170 years ago, groundbreaking events like the opening of the Panama Railroad and the invention of the Bunsen burner took place, as well as the debut of Walt Whitman’s “Leaves of Grass” and the founding of Michigan State University. Our library’s roots are truly historic, and we’re thrilled to honor this long-standing service to our community.
Q: What awards has the library achieved?
A: Our library has a proud history of recognition. In 1996, we received an LSCA (Library Services Construction Act) grant to build our current facility on Park Street, creating the welcoming space our patrons enjoy today. We also received the prestigious Star Library status from Library Journal in both 2016 and 2022, a designation given to only 12 libraries in Michigan that demonstrate high resource usage and community engagement. Our “Reading Community” truly shines here.
Q: What activities are you particularly proud of?
Q: Can you tell us about the original founding event?
A: We don’t know exactly who gave that initial $50 to start our library, but in today’s dollars, that’s equivalent to about $1,812. It’s humbling to realize how this early contribution has evolved into a vibrant library that’s been at the heart of our community for nearly two centuries.
Q: How has the library changed since its beginning, and what are some highlights along the way?
A: Over 170 years, libraries like ours have transformed. Early libraries often restricted access—many didn’t lend books, and children were usually not permitted. By the early 1900s, libraries began easing restrictions, though many maintained age limits. PTL was among Michigan’s first libraries founded under township law, with the township clerk initially acting as the honorary librarian. Major changes came in the 1980s with automation and the replacement of card catalogs by computers. By 2008, e-materials became available, expanding access to books, music, and films, and today we offer a range of digital and streaming services.
A: We host engaging programs year-round, but our holiday events are especially popular. For example, our 2024 Haunted Library drew 642 visitors in just two hours! Christmas programs also bring joy, with Santa visits and family crafts each weekend. Recently, we gathered members from six local book clubs, including our own, to share ideas with an Afternoon Library Tea and explore library resources like NoveList and MeLCat. It’s all about connecting our patrons to resources and to each other.
Q: What vision does the Board or Director have for the library in the next 10 years?
A: We are continually seeking ways to strengthen our community impact. Two years ago, we began exploring a transition to a district library, especially as changes within the village may affect our current structure. With a committee representing the Township, the School District, and Weare Township, we’re in consultation with the Library of Michigan to determine the best path forward. Our focus is on long-term stability and ensuring continued, expanded services for all our patrons.
Q: How will the anniversary be celebrated in February (or is that to be a secret?)
A: We’re planning a community gathering that includes local leaders, library friends, and patrons. We’ll share photos, stories, and fun historical tidbits. Official announcements will be made at the start of the new year, but it’s safe to say that 170 years is a cause for celebration!
Photo by AnnaMae Bush
Saturday, DEC 3
• 11am, FREE, “Memoirs of an Elf” Storytime. Make a paper elf hat in Santa’s Workshop
• 1pm, $10, ages 3+, Climb aboard a magical train ride on “The Polar Express.” Make an ornament in Santa’s Workshop.
Saturday, DEC 10
• 1pm, $10, ages 3+, Climb aboard a magical train ride on “The Polar Express.” Make an ornament in Santa’s Workshop.
Saturday, DEC 17, 10-6
• 1pm, $10, ages 3+, Climb aboard a magical train ride on “The Polar Express.” Make an ornament in Santa’s Workshop.
Saturday, DEC 24, 10-6
C hristmas in the V illage set for d e C . 7, 14 and 21
• 11am, FREE, “A Cookie for Santa” Storytime. Decorate your own cookie in Santa’s Workshop
• 11am, FREE, “Mr. Rabbit’s Wish” Storytime. Color a 3D forest figure in Santa’s Workshop
Get in the holiday spirit with Christmas in the Village, which is back this year on three Saturdays throughout December. Each will feature unique events, with many beloved traditions offered across all dates. These include Christmas caroling with hot chocolate and a bonfire on top of the Village Green, discounts for patrons sporting Santa hats and/or ugly Christmas sweaters, and voting for your favorite Christmas window with all donations going to the local food pantry.
• 11am, FREE, “A Cookie for Santa” Storytime. Decorate your own cookie in Santa’s Workshop.
• 1pm, $10, ages 3+, Climb aboard a magical train ride on “The Polar Express.” Make an ornament in Santa’s Workshop.
Saturday, Dec 31, 10-6
• 11am, FREE, “We Want Snow” Storytime: Make a paper snowflake in Santa’s Workshop.
• 1pm, $10, ages 3+, Climb aboard a magical train ride on “The Polar Express.” Make an ornament in Santa’s Workshop.
Please check out the Christmas in the Village Facebook page for more information about events and to see memories of past celebrations. Individual dates will offer:
DECEMBER
7
Santa and MrS. ClauS return to Storybook village of Pentwater 560 South Hancock Street Across from the public marina Saturday, deCeMber 10th froM 11aM to 2PM !! Free story time, refrements, and puppet shows! all are welCoMe! Open 7 Days A Week 10 AM - 6 PM Extending hours to 7 PM every Saturday in December Storybook Village will be open through the winter months, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday www.storybookvillageofpentwater.com
story time with puppets, refreshments and crafts! ALL ARE WELCOME!
Free Holiday stories and crafts every Saturday in December at 11 am Storybook Village is open every day from 10 am to 5 pm until Christmas Eve for your Holiday shopping pleasure!
• Reindeer Run: In this poker run, collect cards at participating downtown businesses, and the best hand wins. Noon to 4 p.m.
DECEMBER 14
• Sock Hop: customers can purchase a stocking and receive a little something from each of the participating merchants. Stockings are $50, and all funds raised will be given towards the Pentwater Public School track.
• Horse-drawn wagon rides: hop on at the Village Green for a whimsical ride throughout the picturesque village. 1-4 p.m.
DECEMBER
21
• Horse-drawn wagon rides: join us again at the Village Green for a yuletide experience you will not soon forget. 1-4 p.m.
• Pentwater gives back today: a great time to shop at merchants and restaurants in Pentwater. From opening of business until 5 p.m, for every $25 spent at participating businesses shoppers will receive a ticket to place in a box on the Village Green. These tickets will enter the person into a drawing to win a quilt donated by Sew Let’s Be Quilty, gift certificates and items donated from the other participating business on the Nice List.. The charity with the most tickets will receive donation of $500. This year’s charities are COVE, Pentwater Public School or the local food pantry.
Organizers hope to make this year’s Christmas in the Village a small-town memory to cherish!
Ot he s tory of the s ou V enir
By Caleb Jackson Traditions Writer
f the seven brave men who manned her, only one now trod the deck,
When upon the shore she drifted, an unsightly, shapeless wreck;
And he, too, when home seemed nearer, when the help of man seemed nigh,
Bruised and crippled, chilled and helpless, he could only gasp and die.
(Hartwick & Tuller, 1890, p. 78)
The above verse is taken from a poem written by a Pentwater pro fessor called “The Loss of the Sou venir.” It covers the tragic end of a Pentwater-owned schooner that was delivering 800,000 shingles to Chicago one day late in November 1872. Interestingly enough, the Souvenir wasn’t the only schooner to depart from Pentwater that fateful day, as another ship named Minnie Corlett also set sail for Chicago, loaded with lumber and square timbers. Two ships set sail on the same day, bound for the same destination, and encountered the same storm, and yet one vessel emerged without ca sualty while the other saw a total loss of life.
Hartwick and Tuller tell us the weather was “mild and pleasant” on the night of Nov. 26 when the two ships set sail. Professor A.J. Woods’ poem seems to be at odds with this, claiming that “Fierce and still more fierce the west wind beat against our wave-washed shore; and the lake gave fearful warning none must tempt its dangers more.” Whatever the case may be, both ships set sail, and by 11 p.m. “the wind veered suddenly to the northwest… increased to a terrific gale… and the mercury dropped to zero.” We have no knowledge of what happened to the ship throughout the night, only that it was sighted the following morning south of Ludington with only one man on deck.
According to Hartwick and Tuller, people on shore tried to help save the man by signaling that
he should “tie a line about his body and let the other end float ashore.” He refused, “either being unable to make the effort or thinking it useless.” It wasn’t until noon that some brave soul was able to reach the vessel and offer aid. That man was William Girard, keeper of the Ludington lighthouse. He braved the stormy sea alone in a small boat, as no other was brave enough to accompany him, and yet, his efforts were all in vain. “He found the man yet alive,” Hartwick and Tuller wrote, “but unconscious, he breathed but a few moments afterwards.” That man was Frank Whitcomb, the first mate, and the last of the seven-man crew to perish. The other crew members included Captain Chas. Craine and the steward John Perry, along with Charles Dagle, Peter Hallene, Richard Moore, and Thomas Thayer. Meanwhile, the Minnie Corlett “washed high and dry upon the shore.” The entire crew was able to disembark with their lives, albeit some badly frostbitten.
Pentwater is no stranger to shipwrecks. Despite its reputation as a summer town or a resort community, its residents have witnessed disaster after disaster out on the lakes, and its citizens were always the first to spring into action. The community’s willingness to help and genuine sensitivity with which it approached these tragedies are perfectly represented in the words of that poem composed by a Pentwater professor expressing his grief over the wreck of the Souvenir.
Mourn we for the loved departed, taken in their pride away;
Mourn we with the stricken kindred who are with us here to-day.
May we be by grace enabled, as our hearts with anguish swell,
To take home the warning given, knowing “God doth all things well.”
(Hartwick & Tuller, 1890, p. 78)
a Personal Pentwater ConneCtion to
By AnnaMae Bush
Traditions
Writer
Long ago, like so many other children across the globe, I watched The Nutcracker ballet. Afterward, the Sugar Plum Fairy danced in my head, and I dreamed of one day joining the Nutcracker dancers on stage. While my dreams have changed over the years, I am delighted to see my Pentwater neighbor living The Nutcracker dream.
Local Pentwater residents Dan and Susan Conley put me in touch with their daughter Catherine, whose ballet career began immediately after her high school graduation. She is currently a member of the Atlanta Ballet in Atlanta, Georgia.
Recently I had an opportunity to interview her, and I asked how old she was the first time she danced in The Nutcracker. “I was 8 when I auditioned and turned 9 by the time of my first performance. I was part of the children’s cast, who were 8-14 years old. We danced the role of snow tree angels, and the children’s cast had two groups of 12 children each. I have danced in The Nutcracker for 16 years, missing only the year 2020 when Covid prevented live performances.”
The Nutcracker ballet was composed by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky and choreographed by Marius Petipa. It is loosely based on E.T.A. Hoffmann’s fantasy story “The Nutcracker and the Mouse King,” a fairy tale about a young girl who comes of age on Christmas Eve. Her nutcracker miraculously comes alive as a prince and wages war against the mouse king. The ballet made its debut in 1892 in St. Petersburg, Russia, and it has become a Christmas tradition of ballet companies around the world for more than 125 years. Its first performance outside of Russia was in 1934 in England, and the first performance in the U.S. was staged in 1944 by the San Francisco Ballet. Its popularity exploded after the New York City Ballet performed it in 1955.
To calculate how many performances she danced in 16 years was a bit challenging. The early years included 10 performances. But since she began her professional career in Milwaukee and moved to the Atlanta Ballet, she has danced in 24 performances each Nutcracker season, December 1-26.
When I remarked how exhausting that must be, Conley concurred. “Normally our work week is Tuesday through Saturday, 9:30-11 a.m. in class and 11:15 a.m. to 6:15 p.m. in rehearsals. But during show weeks, our schedule is 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday. To avoid dropping weight, it actually requires effort to eat sufficient calories during Nutcracker season because dancing the tough schedule burns off so many calories and causes fatigue.”
Does she have a favorite role she has performed? “Yes. Last year was the first year I danced the Arabian, which is performed by one female and three male dancers, and the woman represents a snake. I really liked it. I also like the role of Snow Queen. But even with
40 members in our professional company and about 15 members in our junior company, we all perform multiple roles in each show.” She proceeded to recite a list of 14 different roles she has performed. Are there different choreographies for the Nutcracker? “Oh yes, there are many. Every company has its own version. The music is the same, but there are variations in the storyline and in the dances. In 2016, the Joffrey Ballet in Chicago based a version on the story taking place at the 1893 World’s Fair and the different dances happening in different booths. I’m partial to the Atlanta Ballet version because it is classic ballet with contemporary touches and gorgeous sets.”
Conley’s interest in ballet began in childhood and grew through high school. During her high school years in Chicago, she attended normal classroom education at Walter Payton College Prep School in the morning and
to a Christmas tradition for 125 years
spent afternoons at the Ruth Page School of Dance. During the summer months she attended dance intensives in Boston, Los Angeles and London.
She had two options after high school graduation in 2016. She was accepted at the University of Michigan and could pursue dance there. But she was also the firstever American to be invited to study at the Ballet School of Cuba in Havana, Cuba. She chose the “road less traveled,” and U of M granted her a one-year deferment.
After one year in Cuba, she entered a competition that awarded her an apprenticeship that led to full membership in the National Ballet of Cuba. Study and performances were intense. She is convinced that her three years in Cuba were key to her professional career in the U.S. She may wonder what life would have been like had she gone to U of M, but she has never had regrets about her choice.
“You can take college classes at any time in your life. In fact, I am currently taking online classes at Georgia State University, one course a semester, in business economics. Did I miss out on the college life experience? I think not. Much of my time in Cuba was similar to college. I lived in a dorm and then moved into an apartment with a friend. I had to learn a second language, make my own meals, manage my own transportation and finances, and learn to be independent in a different culture, far from home. It was a real growth experience.”
I was curious what she likes to do in her free time now that she is in Atlanta. She reported, “I like hot yoga, hiking, biking and other outdoor activities, and I guess you could call me a ‘foodie.’ My friends and I love to enjoy different ethnic foods.”
So, you don’t worry about calories? “Oh no! We work it all off with our dancing,” she assured me.
The ballet company provides a modest amount of time off. It schedules five different shows a year: one in the fall, the 3–4-week season of The Nutcracker in December, a show in February, a show in March and a show in May. The dancers are off contract midMay through July. Conley normally comes home to Pentwater during the break they have after The Nutcracker, the free week in March and the free time in the summer. She loves relaxing at her parents’ home on the lake, biking and hiking, lounging on the pontoon boat and she loves teaching each summer at the Letha Fulton School of Dance in Ludington. “I used to study there each summer and now it’s fun to teach there. My fiancé Angel also teaches there.” She and Angel met in Cuba and have dated for eight years, becoming officially engaged in October
of this fall.
Was there any advice she would like to share with young people who love to dance and want to pursue a career in dancing? Absolutely. “It is always good to have balance in your life. Work hard at what you love, but it is easy to burn out if you are not careful. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. Have other interests, have fun on weekends, prioritize socialization. Keep a balance between ballet and other things. Have a ‘plan B’ in case a professional ballet career does not work out. Illness, injuries and family situations can all impact a dance career.”
Talented, bright, reserved and charming, Catherine is a rising star of whom we can all be proud. She is mature and wise beyond her years.
Cheers and best wishes to you, Catherine!
Readers who are interested in learning more about Catherine and following her career can find numerous online articles about her, along with several features in the ballet publication Pointe.
Pentwater’s exC hange
By AnnaMae Bush Traditions Writer
Pentwater High School has two exchange students this year: Matilde Pacifico from Sardinia, Italy, and Luisa Kloene from Hanover, Germany.
It is the first time either of them has been away from home for Christmas, but neither of them is concerned about being homesick. Surprisingly, both of them had the very same response to the question, “What American Christmas tradition are you looking forward to experiencing?”
“SNOW!” Neither Mati (as Matilde is called) nor Luisa has ever seen snow. “I hope I wake up on Christmas morning to see LOTS of snow and gifts under the tree,” Luisa gushed.
Mati shared some of her traditions in Italy. She chuckled when she told me her family tradition is to wear ugly Christmas-themed sweaters. “The uglier the art is, the better the sweater. We buy them from local shops and get a different one every year.”
She added that the community buys special bread for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. “It is called ‘panettone’ and it is a sweet bread with candy or raisins in it. My father likes it so much that he eats it for several days before and several days after Christmas.”
She confessed she watches every Christmas movie she can possibly find, and a favorite is “Home Alone. Also, her favorite holiday food is lasagna, which is eaten only on Christmas Day. I would have assumed that lasagna was on the Italian menu as often as spaghetti or pizza. Not so. This special recipe takes 3.5 hours to cook. She hopes to make it for her host family this year. (I should remember to ask them for a review.)
Luisa distinguished different activities for December 24 and December 25. No one works on the 24th. Families attend afternoon church services where children act out the Christmas story in a setting with a tree and candles. “Then we go home to eat dinner while dressed in our fancy clothes and open all our gifts after dinner.”
Workplaces continue to be closed on December 25 and 26. “On December 25 we eat duck and potatoes for dinner. Americans serve turkey on Thanksgiving. We serve duck for Christmas.” Her favorite holiday treat? “We have chocolate figures and butter cookies in different shapes.
students share their Christmas
The butter cookies have a sugar glaze.”
Holiday traditions aside, I wanted to know a little bit about their school experience. They both came from schools with 1,200 students, making Pentwater High School a bit of a culture shock. Luisa was quick to say, “I really like the change. Everybody knows everybody else. I love sports. The only sport I have done in Germany since I was 4 years old is track. Here I am playing volleyball, and I will be playing basketball. I look forward to that.”
Mati said school was going well so far, but she suffered an injury and had to stop playing volleyball. That was a disappointment for her. “I had hoped to have more choice in the subjects I would take.” She said she had a heavier homework load at home. I asked how many languages she spoke. “Five,” she replied. “Italian, English, Spanish, Portuguese, a little Dutch and a Sardinian dialect. I can also read and translate ancient Greek and Latin.” Wow!
One surprise she had was related to church. “My family at home is Roman Catholic, and my host family is Methodist. I expected church to
be very different but found similarity in the prayers and other parts of their service. I look forward to seeing what the Christmas service is like.”
Luisa and Matilde
new Village manager is following a Childhood Passion
By AnnaMae Bush Traditions Writer
You might say that Rachel Witherspoon, the new Pentwater Village Manager, is following a path that was begun in her childhood. “As an elementary student, I begged my parents to take me to city council meetings. What I found intriguing was boring to them, and they were not surprised that we were the only observers time after time.” When her parents discovered they could tune into council meetings on the television, they were pleased that Rachel was content to watch the proceedings from home.
Rachel’s interest in local government continued after her graduation from high school in Livonia, Michigan. She attended the University of Michigan, Dearborn, for undergraduate degrees in both economics and business administration, a minor in political science, and an MPA in public administration and policy. Her work in local government began already while she was a student in 2018-2019. She worked for a local council member who was deployed as a member of the National Guard. He attended meetings virtually, but she did things on his behalf and communicated with him frequently about constituent concerns. “The experience reinforced what I already thought—that local government is the best form of government. It enables you to meet with constituents face-to-face, help them personally, and see the impact your work has on their lives.”
ford when she heard about the opening in Pentwater.
Some family factors came into play. “I come from a very close-knit family with two sisters and a brother. Although we lived in southeast Michigan, our hearts were always in West Michigan on the shores of Lake Michigan. Our vacations were spent on Lake Michigan, usually in Silver Lake, and we would visit Pentwater whenever we could. My sister recently married into a family who owned a home in Silver Lake. What could be more beautiful than working in a community on Lake Michigan?” She decided to apply, content to pray about it and wait to see what would happen. Invited to an interview, she was delighted. Offered the job, she was thrilled. She accepted the offer and began her official duties on October 21. Currently renting space above a downtown store, she hopes to purchase a home in the next year.
Rachel has wasted no time in immersing herself in her new job and her new community. She has met with key people and reportedly handled several issues well. She attends small group meetings whenever possible, including the recent Pentwater Lake Improvement Board meeting. “I have felt warmly welcomed by so many members of the community. I look forward to working with the Village staff, Village Council, local organizations, and the community at large to maintain Pentwater’s charm while improving services and opportunities.”
While she was working on her MPA during COVID, the professor who was her program director became aware of an internship opening in Milford city government and encouraged Rachel to apply for the position. Milford was only 30 minutes away from Livonia, and she thought she could handle both a job and her studies, so she applied. Her supervisor in Milford became her mentor. The internship was only a yearlong position. But Milford City Council was so pleased with her work that they created a position for her and asked her to continue working with them. She was serving as assistant city manager in Mil-
When asked what she likes to do in her free time to relax, she smiled and replied, “Jigsaw puzzles. In fact, I started a practice here that I took with me from Milford. In my office in Milford, I always had a jigsaw puzzle in progress on a large table. I found that it encouraged staff to spend their break times engaged in non-threatening conversation about local concerns they might otherwise find difficult or awkward to talk about. It helped to increase cooperation and camaraderie. It was not a distraction from work.”
This is to say, we should not be surprised to find a puzzle in some state of assembly in the Village office if we stop by. Rachel invites us to consider putting a few pieces in to help them!
toyota films CommerC ial in Pentwater
By AnnaMae Bush Traditions Writer
On Tuesday, Sept. 10, Pentwater residents were surprised to find a section of Hancock Street blocked off to traffic. A professional video production crew was filming a television commercial for the Toyota Corporation. Last spring, the crew was exploring location possibilities along the Lake Michigan shoreline. Michele Anscombe, owner of Painted Frog Art Studio at 320 S. Hancock, said, “They contacted me in early July and asked if they could use my studio for background and for props in their film. I think it was the colorful and unique exterior of the studio that initially attracted them. But they came inside and vetted several areas they wanted to film.” Anscombe said she was happy to oblige with her permission.
tions in nearby communities and came to Pentwater,” she reported. “I know they spent some time on Longbridge Road and at Charlie’s Marina after filming here this morning.”
Anscombe’s studio was not the only location they used. “I think they started at the sand dunes in Silver Lake and then looked for additional op-
Some art was removed from the studio and placed outside the building for the filming. The crew of 10-15 people spent four hours at Painted Frog Art Studio before having lunch at Gull’s Landing and then filming some informal shots of Hancock Street. No residents were used in the film, as Toyota had their own actors. The actors “shopped” in the studio and put large art purchases in the car to illustrate how easily the seats go down. All the film footage will be reduced to perhaps a one-minute-long television commercial. While it is a brief “claim to fame” for Pentwater, it will be used nationwide. So, keep your eyes open for the new Toyota commercial.
Anscombe was impressed with their professionalism and polite demeanor. “They were great people to work with, and I am looking forward to seeing what they do with the footage.”
Pentwater’s young leaders unite at middle sC hool leadershi P initiatiVe at miniwanCa
About 40 students recently gathered for the Michigan Middle School Leadership Initiative, a youth empowerment program at Miniwanca in Shelby, Mich. In four days, they built a community and discussed how to create positive change at home, all through play, fun and reflection in the outdoors.
MMLI returned to Miniwanca this October for the first time since 2019. Students from four schools participated: Notre Dame Preparatory School in Pontiac, OJ DeJonge Middle School in Ludington, Pentwater Public School in Pentwater and Whitehall Middle School in Whitehall.
Miniwanca’s Michael Harter, who serves as Director of Conferences, Community and School Programs, said the goal of MMLI is to teach middle school students how to be active participants and agents of positive change in their local communities.
“By bringing together students from different schools in Michigan, our goal is to create an active community of middle school-aged leaders who are equipped with concrete leadership tools and ready to act should the opportunity present itself,” said Harter.
Miniwanca is one of two outdoor education facilities owned and operated by the American Youth Foundation, a youth development nonprofit. MMLI is funded through a combination of generous donations from local community partners like the Oceana Community Foundation, individual school funding and the American Youth Foundation.
Whitehall teacher Aaron Boyd returned to Miniwanca for his 11th MMLI. “It’s a great opportunity for schools to get outside of their walls and explain how to go about student leadership,” he said.
Miniwanca staff facilitate four days of community building and leadership development activities specifically developed for students in grades 6, 7 and 8. Advisors from each school observe the activities or partner with Miniwanca staff to aid in the curriculum, tailoring it to meet their students’ needs.
“The favorite moments are definitely watching
the kids laugh and engage in their positive communities,” Boyd said.
MMLI lays the foundation for continued leadership opportunities when the students return home. “During MMLI, each school group creates a plan to address a community need,” Harter said. “The Miniwanca team meets with each school quarterly to follow up on those projects, debrief and reconnect on lessons learned at MMLI.”
Pentwater teacher Kelly Sisung said her students plan to create a support group that, with the aid of a counselor, helps their peers navigate stressful situations and resolve conflicts. This was the first year Sisung experienced MMLI and Miniwanca, and she was impressed at how much the program impacted her students.
“The confidence my students gained in themselves has stayed with them and the staff, and I see it in their daily interactions with the rest of their peers,” she said. “They are more willing to listen to others before they speak, and when they do speak, they do it in a way that reflects that they heard what the other person said.”
Harter said Miniwanca is thrilled to bring MMLI back to west Michigan, and he looks forward to welcoming more students next year. “As we are rebuilding the program, we hope to add more schools in 2025,” he said. “I encourage any interested schools to reach out for more information.”
Sisung hopes to bring more Pentwater students to MMLI at Miniwanca next year and urges other schools to join, too.
“Other schools should consider sending their students to MMLI because seeing your students in a different environment is an incredible opportunity,” she said. “As a result of being in that different environment, they sometimes show hidden aspects of themselves. They then bring that back to school and can be a catalyst for change.”
To learn more about MMLI, contact Harter at mharter@ayf.com.
