Up North Voice, November 2020 issue

Strengthening the communities of Northeast Michigan

Annual 'Girls Night' Out event held in Roscommon. See more photos and story on page 6-A. Inset: Mio-Fairview 'Pink Out,' page 6-B.

IN THIS ISSUE: Roscommon Girls Night Out 6-A Eagle Voice 1-A Dwarf Lake Iris 7-A Mio-Fairview Pink Out 6-B Jasper’s way of deer hunting 3-B New Veterans Park monument 11-B

Vol. 11, Issue 11

Voice

Up North

Read us online at UpNorthVoice.com!

November 2020

Free

Out & About - November 2020 Send your photos, calendar items, announcements and club events to: info@UpNorthVoice.com ALCONA COUNTY

First and Third Thursday each month- Alcona County Veterans Coffee and Donuts. 9Am at the Westminster Presbyterian Church.

201 N 2nd St. Harrisville ARA Farm Market - Every Saturday (May-Oct) 9am-12:30pm ARA Site on Barlow Road in Lincoln. Shop for local produce, meats and products. Contact Billie Thompson 989-724-5077 Alcona Authors - 1st and 3rd Saturday of each month at 1 p.m.

Friendly, encouraging group open to writers of all levels of experience and goals for writing. Cost is $25 for six sessions, but a visit to test the waters is free. Contact Will St. John 989736-3000. Sponsored by Inspiration Alcona and the Alcona County Library.

Classic Movie Night - 3rd Friday of each month at 5:45 p.m. The movie, popcorn and soda are all free.

Shows are on the big screen at the Harrisville Library, 312 W. Main St. Contact Will St. John 989-736-3000.

State Park Programs - The Explorer Guide Program offers fun and entertaining talks, hikes, and other outdoor learning experiences.

Programs vary from hiking out trails, listening for certain birds, or looking

Page 2 November 2020

for rare plants. Events are free, but a current Recreation Passport is required to enter the park. Contact Eric Ostrander – 989-724-5126 Recycle Alcona, Inc. - 2nd Saturday of each month 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. Lincoln ARA Site. Household type recycling paper, tin, glass, cardboard, plastic (1-7). Contact Bill Thompson 989-724-5077

CRAWFORD COUNTY

CRAWFORD COUNTY BABY 2 TODDLER CLOSET 1st & 3rd Thursday of month from 11am-6pm (last client at 5:30pm) Servicing all children and families in Crawford County between birth to 3T Items Free of Charge (subject to availability) – Diapers (all sizes) – Diaper Wipes – Bath Essentials Clothing (to 3T) – Safety Items – Bedding (Cribs & Mattresses) The “Closet” is open twice at month in the basement of Michelson Memorial United Methodist Church. During holidays there may be changes to this schedule. Crawford County Baby 2 Toddler Closet has limited hours for curbside pick-up. Please contact Rosemary Nelson, Volunteer Coordinator, for information at (989) 348-2985 Free fly tying Saturday9:00am-1:00pm each Saturday at Gates AuSable Lodge 471 Stephan Bridge Road. We’ve taught dozens of people how to tie flies at these free sessions, and many are now very proficient fly makers. We have a wide selection of materials, vises and lamps. Don’t have any fly tying stuff? Just come. Have everything under the sun? Bring it. We’re back in the Board Room this year, so you can grab breakfast in the restaurant before we start tying! We have no agenda at these sessions. Our goal is to help you learn to tie what you want to tie. Free chili and a warm fire. We have limited space, first come first served.

Scrabblers Let's Play- Thursdays at 10am at the Crawford County Commission on Aging and Senior Center.

Grayling Sportsman's Club hosts Pistol Shooting every Tuesday (excluding holidays) at 1:00 p.m.

They also hosts Open Skeet and Trap every Sunday and Wednesday (excluding holidays) at 11:00 am.

Grayling Sportsman’s Club, 6990 Old Lake Road Grayling Lets Get Fit- Every Tuesday and Thursday at 1:00 pm Join our adult exercise program designed with seniors in mind. Easy chair exercises, stretching, and simple yoga moves improve mind and body. Wear comfortable clothing.

Pet Food Pantry 10:00am-12:00 pm AuSable Valley Animal Shelter, 5786 Fairground Lane Grayling.

Dry dog and cat food is available at the shelter barn on Wednesdays.

Registration is required. For more information call 989-348-4117 Monday – Saturday from 10am to 3pm. Crawford County Crawford County Veterans Coffee Hour- every Thursday @9am American Legion Post106 in Grayling.

Tea and Tech Time- Every Monday through Friday Make yourself a hot beverage and let the library help you one-on-one with your laptop, tablet, e Reader, or phone questions! Call 989-3489214 to make an appointment with staff available every Monday through Friday. Appointments are also available for 3D printer demonstrations.

Story Hour- Every Wednesday at 11:15 am Birth to preschool children can come to enjoy stories, songs, crafts, snacks and activities. No sign up required.

November Board of Commissioners meetingsWednesday Nov.11th at 9am for Brownfield development. Regular meet at 5:30pm. A second regular Board Meeting will be held on Nov. 19th at 10am

IOSCO COUNTY

Saturdays- 8am -1pm The Tawas Area Farmer’s Market takes place at Gateway Park, U.S. 23, Tawas City. Remember social distancing and mask if necessary. Gateway Park 815 West Lake Street, Tawas City Fourth Thursday ( Oct.- April) Iosco County Veterans Coffee Hour

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9:30-10:30am American Legion Post 211

MONTMORENCY COUNTY

Veterans Coffee Hour at 9am First Tuesday of each month- Atlanta VFW Hall Music at the Mill– Brush Creek Mill, Every third Friday of the month year round. Open “mic.” Sign-up to play or sing. Music starts at 7:00. Concession stand open. Free admission.

Saturday Activities– Brush Creek Mill Spinners & Knitters Group, informal get together. No charge.

Share conversation and ideas.

Scrap booking– Brush Creek Mill , This group meets the Third Saturday of the month, October through May. No charge. Open to all interested in this popular hobby. Help for beginners. If you would like to get started, all are welcome to join.

Hillman Area Historical ▪ See OUT & ABOUT on page 3

Up North Voice A Division of AuSable Media Group, LLC A veteran-owned business located at 709 Lake Street, PO Box 113, Roscommon MI 48653 “Friend, guide and companion of all good people”

Up North Voice is published monthly and distributed in Roscommon, St. Helen, Houghton Lake, Higgins Lake, Grayling, Lovells, Waters, Gaylord, Johannesburg, Lewiston, Comins, Atlanta, Mio, Fairview, McKinley, Rose City, Luzerne, Lupton, West Branch, Skidway Lake, Hale, Glennie, Curran, Tawas City, East Tawas, National City, Whittemore, Prescott, AuSable and Oscoda.

It is available at newsstands or annually for $40.

Stories, advertisements and photos are copyrighted and may not be reproduced without the express written permission of the publisher.

UpNorthVoice.com is updated daily with breaking news and photos.

989-275-1170

Out & About ▪ Continued from page 2 and Genealogy Society – Third Thursdays at 1pm Brush Creek Mill Iyangar Yoga-Mondays and Fridays-9 am Brush Creek Mill “Getting Fit with Vickie” Tuesdays and Thursdays at 9:30am November Events At the Librarys-Native America Projects 11/1 thru 11/7(pre-k to 4th grade) Potato light project for students 4th grade and up Starting11/16 -11/21

OGEMAW COUNTY

West Branch Creative Arts Association 7:00pm 124 N. Fourth Street First Tuesday every month at 7 pm For information call Linda 989709-0928 Wednesday with Walleye 6-9pm a not so open mic night every Wednesday at The Highway Brewing Co with Dan “Walleye” Smith and guests! Free admittance.

Books for Lunch, 12:00 PM-1:00 PM EST Come listen or share in discussion as library friends review new and fascinating books during lunch hour. West Branch District Library the First Tuesday of each month Please call 989-345-2235 Mondays- Wednesdays and Fridays - Meditation at Living Well Nutrition 6:30 AM www.getherbal. net. Join for a Free Meditation Class offered by Living Well Nutrition Mondays-Charity Bike Nights 6pm-8pm Iron Bandogs Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club

presents Ogemaw County Charity Bike Nights All generated proceeds go to Ogemaw County Charity Foundations. Door prizes and 50/50 raffles.

Tuesdays- Healthy Relationships Group offered by the Riverhouse Shelter. All women are welcome.

3-4:30pm at Michigan Works.

Tuesdays- Kiwanis Club of West Branch meets at the China Inn. 12Pm Every Thursday At Loggers the Optimist Club meets from 7-8pm For more information call 989-3870029.

Fridays- A Matter of Balance 9:30 AM -11:30 AM Designed to reduce the fear of falling & increase activity levels among older adults.

Sponsored by the Ogemaw County Commission on Aging.

Saturday's - 8AM-2PM in downtown West Branch, MI on S. 3rd St. Discover locally grown fresh produce & a wide variety of other treasures.

Second Saturday of each month at 10am you can join the Breakfast Club at Aunt Effy's Craft Closet Adult Children of Alcoholics Meetings held the first and third Sunday of each month.

City Council Meeting Monday Nov.2nd from 6-8pm Wonder the West Branch Trails System meeting Nov 3rd at 10:30am Please join us as we talk about the various trails in the West Branch

Area. Routes and signage to make this a trail town. Held At the Griffin Beverage Company in the meeting room 1901 Dam Rd. Loyal Order of the Moose-Fish Fry Friday Nov.20th 4:30-7pm Healing Together is Compassus Hospice grief support group program. Nov. 26th 10-11am held in the Ogamaw Commission on aging For more info call 989-343-2470 Join the fun with Moose Races at Loyal Order of Moose Lodge Nov. 25th starting at 6:30

OSCODA COUNTY

3rd Tuesday each month- Oscoda County Veterans Coffee and Donuts 9am at Ellie's 12 Tables in Mio. Together We Can Food Pantry.

Distribution dates: November 5 and 19. Oscoda County residents only, please bring proof of residence and banana boxes. Oscoda County fairgrounds from 11:30am-2:30pm.

OTSEGO COUNTY

First Wednesday each monthOtsego County Veterans Coffee Hour. 9am at the Gaylord Regional Airport.

Wednesdays- 3:00-4:00pm If you, or someone you know is living with a chronic lung disease like COPD, Lung cancer, Pulmonary fibrosis, or emphysema, we would like to invite you to join us on the 3rd Wednesday of every month starting at 3pm at MediLodge of Gaylord. To register call 989-732-3508 or just stop on

by MediLodge of Gaylord at 508 ▪ See OUT & ABOUT on page 4

UpNorthVoice.com

November 2020 Page 3

Voice Staff Mark Constance Publisher

mconstance@ UpNorthVoice.com

Tracy Constance Marketing

tracy@UpNorthVoice.com

Suzi Kaye Marketing

sue@UpNorthVoice.com

Lindy Peterson Reporter

lindythemermaid@yahoo. com

Warren Stutesman Reporter warren@upnorthvoice.com

Breakfast with Santa canceled To the editor: It is after much thought and consideration I have come to the difficult decision of not hosting Breakfast with Santa this year. There are simply too many variables that I can’t plan for to make the event a truly safe one for all.

I know that this will be an unpopular decision with some and I accept that. But I would rather err on the side of safety.

This event is also something that we just can’t wait and see how things are going and then throw it together at the last minute. I wouldn’t be happy with an event that’s less than what it should be. I think you

as patrons would be disappointed as well.

It is my hope that we will be back next year as things will hopefully return to some sense of normalcy even if it’s not quite the same as it once was. We will be attempting to livestream our concerts in the months ahead so you are able to enjoy the performances from the warmth and safety of your home.

Your continued support of the RAPS Instrumental Music Department is greatly appreciated.

Seth Kilbourn Roscommon Area Public Schools Band Director

Out & About

Rachel Johnson Digital Content Producer

Raychill.n.boys@gmail. com

William Broadnax Distribution Manager williambroadnax2015@ gmail.com

Find us on the web: UpNorthVoice.com and on Twitter: UpNorthVoice1

▪ Continued from page 3

Random Lane Second Wednesday- Gaylord Bowling Center Veterans Lunch 11:30am-1pm Second Monday- NMVC Board Meeting 9:30am at the Chemical Bank 521 W Main St. Gaylord Third Wednesday- Gaylord Elks Veterans Lunch.12pm

ROSCOMMON COUNTY

1st Thursday of each month.

Roscommon County Veterans Coffee Hour: 9am - 10am Honoring the service of our military veterans.

Blodgett Airport Houghton Lake 2nd Sunday of each month. VFW Country Breakfast 8 a.m. - 12 noon.

VFW Post 4159, located across from the Roscommon Post Office.

Thursdays- Gerrish Township Marina Farmer/Craft Market 1-6pm at 103 Mill Rd in Roscommon Vendors welcome please call 989821-9313 ext.229 Saturdays- Village of

Roscommon Farmers Market 10am-2pm at 211 North Main Street.

At the AuSable River Center.

Tech Hour: Every Friday at 2:00pm: Come in if you have any computer questions, or need assistance with technology, we are able to sit with you and help out.

Story Time: Every Thursday at 10:30am: Join Miss Julie in a wonderful morning program.

Children learn how to socialize, explore their creative side, and grow their love of reading. It is a great way to start the day!

Sit and Get Fit: Every Thursday at 2:30pm: Come and do light exercises. It is a great way to stay mobile and keep those joints moving.

Adult Trivia: The third Wednesday of every month at 4:30pm: Answer questions, meet new people, and see if you are smarter than a librarian.

Genealogy Interest Group: The last Wednesday of every month at 1:00pm: Come and join the discussion. Joining in on the discussion gives patrons the opportunity to ask questions and get answers.

The Roscommon Area Historical Society (RAHS) meets the 3rd Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m. at the Gallimore Boarding House, 404 Lake St., Roscommon.

Visitors always welcome. Dues are $20 a year. The RAHS house and museum is open Memorial Day through Sept. from noon until 4.

Admission is free. Questions call Sharon Boushelle 989-387-2489 Take your business up a notch -get Free advice from the BIZ CONSULTS from Sawmill Rural Business Center. The 1st Tuesday of every month at Houghton Lake ▪ See OUT & ABOUT on page 5

Letter to the editor policy: AuSable Media Group encourages all readers with a connection to the community to submit letters to the editor for possible publication.

Please limit letters to 300 words. Author must include a daytime contact number.

Letters are the individual opinion of the author and do not

Page 4 November 2020

reflect the opinions of the staff, advertisers or contributors to the Voice.

The Voice reserves the right to accept or reject any letter.

To submit a letter email it to: mconstance@upnorthvoice.com, mail to P.O. Box 113, Roscommon, MI 48653, or stop by the office at 709 Lake Street in Roscommon.

For info on adverting in print or online call Tracy at 989-275-1170

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Crawford COA news GRAYLING – Events scheduled to be held at the Crawford County Commission on Aging and Senior Center.

• Town Hall meeting regarding plans for the new building. The meeting will be held via Zoom on Monday, Nov. 9 at 2 p.m. A conference call number will also be available. Call the Senior Center at (989) 348-7123 or email Kaitlyn at ekgrieb@crawfordcoa.org for more info.

• Enrolling in Medicare to review current options” Need a hand with choosing the best plan for your needs? Appointments will take place

by Zoom or phone. If you’d like to set up an appointment or get info about reviewing plans yourself call Tammy Findlay at (989) 348-7123.

• Explore trails around Crawford and Roscommon County before the weather gets too cold! Meet up on Wednesdays at 1 p.m. until Nov. 11 to walk as a group through the woods. Social distancing measures will be taken. If you have any questions or need more information please contact Kaitlyn at (989) 3487123 or kgrieb@crawfordcoa.org.

• Introduction to Zoom class on Nov. 20 from noon to 1:30 p.m.

Walk through how to register for classes, log on, and use Zoom so you can take classes online. Try out Zoom and play with its features while someone is available to talk you through any challenges.

You can join in using a laptop or desktop computer, tablet, iPad, or smartphone. A call-in phone number is also available through Zoom, which functions like a conference call. Registration is required; call (989) 348-7123.

Out & About ▪ Continued from page 4 Chamber, 1625 W. Houghton Lake Dr., Prudenville, from 10am-1pm or the 2nd Tuesday of every month at Sawmill Rural Business Center, 702 Lake St., Roscommon, MI from 9am-12pm For more information contact: Diane Suvada (989)2755743.

B2B Breakfast. Second Thursday each month from 8-9am in the Village of Roscommon Offices.

In addition to great networking opportunities, Business-to-Business Breakfasts offer a different topic for discussion or learning each month.

Chamber Members are welcome; breakfasts are sponsored by area businesses and organizations. If you'd like to sponsor a breakfast, please contact the Chamber.

Lakeside Bar & Grill Trivia Night (Located inside the Lakeside Resort & Conference Center 100 Clearview Drive Houghton Lake) Trivia is every Wednesday starting at 6:30pm Weekly trivia winners are entered to win a night stay in the Honeymoon Suite.

General Election Nov. 3rd DON'T FORGET TO VOTE Airport Advisory Committee Nov. 12, 2020. 10:00am – 5:00pm at Airport Held in Commissioners Meeting Room- 911 Authority Board Nov. 9, 2020, 9:00am, regular meeting Nov.11th at 9am and all day Nov.25th Board of Canvassers special meeting (this meeting is to canvass election results).9am to 4pm Houghton Lake Library-HLPL Board meeting Wed. Nov. 18th at 5pm closed Nov.26th-28th Have a Happy Thanksgiving

SHOP LOCAL

Rotary sponsored food truck ROSCOMMON - Roscommon Area Christian Ministries said it was blessed with dry weather at its food distribution event on Saturday, Oct. 24, were blessed with dry weather.

Secretary Sue Shoemaker said in an email that client turnout was strong, with 277 families (65 more than September), 605 people (87 more than September), and 43 first-time families (three more than September).

“It was an efficient team,”

Shoemaker said, “You were an efficient team!”

Shoemaker said ministries offered special thanks to Roscommon Rotary, which sponsored the October truck.

The November distribution will be Saturday, Nov. 21 (Saturday before Thanksgiving), back at the Roscommon Area Public Schools Bus Garage. The final 2020 distribution will be Saturday, Dec. 12.

Santa Train postponed til 2021

REGION – The annual Lake State Railway “Santa Train” has been postponed until 2021, according to Coordinator Shasta Duffey.

“I received word, after a lot of discussion, the final decision is to not run the Santa Train this year,” Duffey said. “We are sad (we’re unable to) accommodate the communities for 2020.

“However, we are hopeful to move forward as planned in 2021.”

Mark Constance has worked with Duffey the past several years to help her organize the event at the local level.

Constance said Santa, Mrs. Claus (Duffey) and several elves travel North in an antique engine and rail cars from Lake State’s home base in Saginaw, stopping at depots in Standish, Roscommon and Grayling.

The train slows down at the West Branch depot as well.

Along with being held the same day of Roscommon’s “Christmas in the Village,” and a live radio

broadcast by WGRY from the Crawford County Historical Society in Grayling, Lake State collects donated toys for needy children through the “Toys for Tots” program as well.

“This is just a fun event,” Constance said. “Thousands of people turn out along the rail line and everyone is just so excited. It’s a great thing to be involved with.

“We appreciate the support of law enforcement and the volunteers who have helped with this over the past few years.

“We look forward to working with Lake State again in 2021.”

Find us on the web: UpNorthVoice.com and on Twitter: UpNorthVoice1

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November 2020 Page 5

Laurie Klonowski of Houghton Lake and Pam Robinson of Roscommon.

Above: Rhianna Paro and Jennifer Fensch of Roscommon.

Left: Joan Pierson and Cindy O’dell of Roscommon. ~Photos by Mark Constance

Girls night out!

ROSCOMMON – The Higgins Lake-Roscommon Chamber of Commerce held its annual “Girls Night Out” on Oct. 20. Several hundred people participated in the event in which stores were open from 4-8 p.m. and crafters filled Roscommon Village Hall. Anna Sylvester won the COVID Mask Contest.

Ar-Ty-Facts had a lineup part of the evening.

Kenda Mccreedy-Denlinger and Higgins Lake-Roscommon Chamber Director Tracy Smith.

Page 6 November 2020

Tammy Baudoux of Grayling and Holly Holm of Roscommon.

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Our Wildflower: Protecting the habitat of the Dwarf Lake Iris NORTHERN MICHIGAN — The official wildflower of the Great Lakes State is right at home anywhere it can get its feet wet along the rocky coast of Northern Lake Huron, but those places are getting harder to come by.

This pint-sized perennial is known for its deep blue flowers that emerge mere inches above the ground for a fleeting few weeks in May and June—individual blossoms last just days. The rest of the time, its yellow-green leaves cling close to the ground, hiding in plain sight until springtime comes around again.

It’s a bit of a miracle this fragile flower exists at all: They grow in the thin, nutrient-poor soil that overlays limestone gravel and bedrock. The Northeast Michigan coast, rich with sand dunes and limestone deposits, creates the perfect habitat for the iris, found nowhere else outside the northern Great Lakes.

Along with a limited range that’s shrinking due to lakeshore development, the plant has been sought out by collectors who replant

or sell it elsewhere. For these geology, plants and water are all tied together.” reasons, the dwarf lake iris was added in 1988 to the list of federally Samantha Nellis is Watershed Planner for Huron Pines. She too threatened species. stumbled across a patch of dwarf lake Because it’s so rare, seeing the flower in bloom iris in full bloom along a wellis a treat for those who worn walkway witness it. Such during a visit to Cheboygan was the case State Park this for Tom Cook, spring. who had his first sighting in May “That was exciting at his seasonal and really property in surprising,” Presque Isle County. she said. “I was walking along “It’s amazing Dwarf lake iris blossoms growing low to a gravel road in to see,” he the ground this spring in Presque Isle said. “It grows County. Michigan’s state wildflower, the a campground, in along the side of dwarf lake iris is found exclusively in an area completely rocky soils on or near the coast of the the road, along flattened out northern Great Lakes. and mowed, and my neighbors’ ~ Photo courtesy of Tom Cook suddenly here’s driveways and this strip of beautiful irises. That’s along our driveway. It makes you cherish the place you live because how a lot of people seem to find them—they like those edges and it makes you realize this region gravel substrate.” is special and unique and how its Nellis helped craft a Huron Pines Dwarf Lake Iris Best Practice Guide, a reference for those who carry out restoration- or construction-related work in nine northern counties where dwarf lake iris is present. The fourpage guide offers ways to identify the plant and its likely habitat and recommends strategies for protecting and restoring the habitat through the course of a construction project

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such as road work related to a river restoration.

To help in another way, Huron Pines assisted Little Traverse Conservancy with acquiring Duncan Bay Nature Preserve, a 145-acre tract on the Cheboygan coast where the plant has been found.

These efforts, Nellis said, reach far beyond protecting a single species from extinction.

“When you work to bring back one species, you’re also protecting an entire system for wildlife and improving the resiliency of the ecosystem,” she said. “Every native species has an innate special quality.”

There are a few things you can do to identify and help protect the dwarf lake iris and its habitat: • Stay on marked trails and roadways, especially in areas near the Lake Huron coast.

• Use a smartphone app like iNaturalist, Seek or PlantSnap to help identify plants and flowers using your phone’s camera. (These apps are fun and useful for identifying all kinds of interesting plants, fungi and insects.)

• Take pictures, not plants.

• Avoid using chemical lawn fertilizers or salting driveways near areas where the iris is established.

SHOP LOCAL TODAY! November 2020 Page 7

Hello my friends.

Welcome to November.

Toad's Stool

By Warren Stutesman This has got to be the best month of the year, or maybe I am just prejudiced because my birthday and anniversary are in November. Then there is Veterans Day, the Marine Corps Birthday and Thanksgiving.

Oh, and lest we forget our state holiday, “Deer Season.”

Then there is another reason November is an awesome month: The migration of birds. My feeder is full morning until dark. I even had a first-time visitor this year, a female Cardinal stopped in for breakfast. I have over twenty species visiting, one of which is the Tufted Titmouse which happens to be a favorite of my wife.

I found one “Hen of the Woods” (Grifola Frondosa) this fall. They are such tasty mushrooms that it’s hard to believe some people will not eat wild mushrooms. Benefits of this mushroom is that it contains chemicals which might help fight tumors, stimulate the immune system, and lower blood sugar and lipid levels. Also known as Maitake it has a rich woodsy taste, crisp texture, and an excellent aroma.

For all the deer hunters, I should think that it may well be a nice year.

I have seen more deer in my travels this year than in the past few years.

Some of which have been bucks.

Several does I have seen were of a

Page 8 November 2020

UpNorthVoice.com

nice size.

I see that a camper at the Luzerne Express Campground and RV bagged a nice buck during one of the October seasons. Congratulations Boyd.

There are several seasons and zones for deer hunting in Michigan.

I suggest getting the rules and maps, and studying them to make sure you are following the rules. Nothing would ruin that hunt more than to find out you made a mistake.

While speaking of mistakes, please make sure that while following the game laws that you are also following the basic rules of safety.

Several friends read the Old Farmer’s Almanac and I know more must that I do not know of course.

They are predicting a warmer than usual winter with more wet than snow in our area. The snowiest part of the winter is expected to be late December, early and late January, late February, and early March.

Winter temperatures will be the coldest in December and late January, as well as late February.

So, if I am understanding this correctly, it will be snowy mostly when it is winter and cold should follow correspondingly.

Well that's all for this month, I would suggest we all bundle up to combat this future weather. Please be safe while hunting and let’s keep our woods and waters clean.

Warren “Toad” Stutesman

For info on advertising in print or online call Tracy at 989-275-1170

25 YEARS AS A LION - Roger Freed of the Higgins Lake-Roscommon Lions Club was honored for 25 years of volunteering in the community. Freed was given his quarter century pin by Lions District Governor Rod Leathers. ~Photos by Mark Constance

SHOP LOCAL TODAY!

LION RECOGNIZED BY INTERNATIONAL – Bill Curnalia of Roscommon was honored with the Melvin Jones Award. Curnalia is current club treasurer and last founding member, which was chartered in 1976.

Melvin Jones was the founder of Lions. The Fellowship Award (LCIF) is the organization’s highest form of recognition and embodies humanitarian ideas consistent with the nature and purpose of Lionism. Pictured are club Secretary Mike Ritchie, Curnalia, President Brian Brown and 11E2 District Governor Rod Leathers, who is a member of the Central Lake Lions Club. ~ Photo by Mark Constance

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November 2020 Page 9

Obituaries & Death Notices Jeffrey Lee Toms

Jeffrey Lee Toms, age 62, of Roscommon, died on Thursday, Oct. 22, 2020, at home in the presence and comfort of his family.

Nina Thelma Baker

Nina Thelma Baker, age 75, of Houghton Lake passed away on Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2020. Memorial contributions in memory of Nina are asked to be directed to InTeliCare Hospice.

Larry Raymond Youngs

Larry Raymond Youngs, age 71, of Houghton Lake passed away on Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2020 Memorial contributions in memory of Larry are asked to be directed to the family.

Delores Kinsora

Delores Kinsora, 90, of Grayling, MI passed away on Oct. 16, 2020.

Cheryl Lynn Arwood

Cheryl Lynn Arwood, 63, of Grayling, MI passed away Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2020.

Francis ‘Frank’ Marion Cowger Sr

Francis "Frank" Marion Cowger Sr., 98, of Mio, Michigan, passed away at Munson Medical Center in Traverse City on Oct. 6, 2020.

Cherie B. Donnan

Margaret Gunsell

Margaret Gunsell, 75, of Frederic passed away peacefully at home Oct. 9, 2020.

Donna Cheney, 72, of Lovells Township, passed away on Oct. 5, 2020.

Willard Edwin Pfaff

Willard Edwin Pfaff, 87, of Grayling, passed away on Sept. 21, 2020. In Lieu of flowers, donations

Cherie B. Donnan, age 91 of Mio, Michigan, passed away at The Home at Wellspring Lutheran Services in Fairview, Michigan on Friday, Oct. 9, 2020.

Terrie Lee Dickinson

Terrie Lee Dickinson, age 69 of Comins, Michigan, passed away on Friday, Oct. 2, 2020.

Karen Barker

Karen Barker (Connor) 62,

Gregory Michael Johnston

Cynthia Harris, age 76, of Roscommon, died on Thursday, October 15, 2020 in Roscommon.

Joseph Walker Schade Joseph Walker Schade, age 64, of Roscommon, died on Monday, October 12, 2020, at home in the presence and comfort of his wife.

The family prefers memorial contributions be made in Joe’s name to the Amber’s Pere Cheney Restoration Fund.

Marjorie Elizabeth Cooper

Marjorie Elizabeth Cooper, 83, of Grayling, MI passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her family Sunday, Oct. 18, 2020.

Kathleen Ann Johnston

Kathleen Ann Johnston, age 56, passed away on Sunday, Oct. 18, 2020 at her home in West Branch.

David Joseph Whitman David Joseph Whitman, age 60, of St. Helen, passed away on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2020.

Susan Gale Dennison

Susan Gale Dennison, age 67, passed away on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2020 at her home in St. Helen.

Memorial Contributions can be made to the family.

Thomas Arthur Vincent

Thomas Arthur Vincent, age 68, passed away on Thursday, Oct. 15, 2020 at his home in West Branch, MI with his loving wife by his side.

Memorial contributions can be made to First United Methodist Church in West Branch.

Gregory Michael Johnston, 62, of Higgins Lake passed away on Monday Oct. 12, 2020 at Ascension St. John Hospital in Detroit following an accidental fall. Memorial contributions in memory of Gregory are asked to be directed to the family.

Cynthia Harris

of West Branch, passed away on Monday, Oct. 19, 2020.

Bethany Joan Weber

Bethany Joan Weber, 87, passed away on Monday, Oct. 12, 2020 at her daughter’s home in West Branch.

In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations be made to the United States Library of Congress, Service for the Blind.

can be made in memory of Willard Pfaff to Wellspring Lutheran Services, 1390 Maple Dr., Fairview, MI 48621, memo: To the activities group for residents.

beloved wife, mother, sister, grandmother, and a friend to many, of Atlanta, MI passed away Friday, Sept. 18, 2020 at her home with her husband and children by her side.

Keith R. Richards

Roger James Van Wormer

Mary Eunice Mathews

Steven Lloyd Papple

Robert Raymond Burdick

Keith R. Richards, age 65 of Curran, Michigan, passed away at his home on Sunday, Oct. 18, 2020.

Memorial donations may be directed to the Mio Baptist Church.

John E. ‘Jack’ Lee

On Monday, Oct. 12, 2020, John E. "Jack" Lee, 85, of Fairview, Michigan, passed away. Memorial donations may be directed to Make-A—Wish Foundation.

Roger James Van Wormer, age 64, passed away on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2020 at his home in West Branch.

Steven Lloyd Papple, age 57, of West Branch, passed away on Monday, Oct. 19, 2020 at his home in West Branch. Memorial contributions can be made to the family.

Larry Lloyd Winter

Larry Lloyd Winter, age 75,

Mary Eunice Mathews, age 81, passed away on Sunday, October 11,2020 at her home in West Branch surrounded by her loved ones.

Robert Raymond Burdick, age 74, passed away on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2020 at his home in Prescott, with his wife by his side. Memorial Contributions can be made to the family.

Foundation sets up Assessment Center fund ROSCOMMON - The Roscommon County Community Foundation (RCCF) is thrilled to announce that a fund for the Northern Michigan Children’s Assessment Center has been created. The Fox Run Ladies Golf League created the Northern Michigan Children’s Assessment Center Fund to help supplement the operating expenses of the center.

The fund may be used for needs such as staff and volunteer training, equipment, or as determined by the assessment center board of directors.

Pictured (l-r) are Roscommon County Undersheriff Ben Lowe, RCCF Executive Director Suzanne Luck, golfer Carole Ostling, NMCAC Executive Director Becky Yuncker, and golfers Kathy Freer, Joanne Lederman, Vicki Burnside and Merry Maiani

Inspired? You can support the Northern Michigan Children’s Assessment Center Fund by making your donation payable to RCCF at

P.O. 824, Roscommon, MI 48653 or by visiting our website at www. myrccf.org to donate online.

Get connected with causes that

Support our local businesses Page 10 November 2020

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matter to you! Contact Executive Director Sue. Luck for information on how you can give a gift that supports your community.

Start next year’s pollinator garden now The Nature of Things By Chris Engle NORTHEAST MICHIGAN - The aisles of supermarket garden centers have cleared out and transitioned to holiday merchandise. Seed packs have been swapped out for cinnamon-scented pinecones as a fiercely fragrant reminder that Christmas is sort of near.

That’s ok because we don’t have to go store shopping when it comes to planning next year’s wildflower garden. Northern Michigan’s native wildflowers that bloomed this summer have gone to seed and are ready to disperse themselves with the help of wind, wildlife and enterprising humans interested in planting pollinator gardens. The great outdoors is our seed aisle and there’s not a single spiced pinecone within smelling distance out here.

A pollinator garden is any assortment of native Michigan plants whose blossoms and nectar draw native honeybees, butterflies, beetles and hummingbirds. Nonnative

ornamental flowers and shrubs can also attract pollinators, but our endemic insects have evolved alongside native plants and they rely on one another to thrive. The monarch butterfly caterpillar, which is entirely dependent on milkweed, is one example of this relationship.

Lucky for us, milkweed is one of the easiest native wildflower seeds to identify this time of year. Its bulbous, teardrop-shaped seed pods are bursting with fluffy white hairs waiting to carry its seeds away on a breeze. Any meadow or ditch where you saw milkweed this summer should be loaded with seed pods right now, which can be collected whole or pulled apart for individual seeds.

One consideration — and this goes for all native wildflowers — is that seed pods must be mature when harvested. An immature seed pod will not hold viable seeds, so timing is key.

“The one thing I have learned over the years is to practice patience,” said Abby Ertel, a hobby gardener and Community Program Lead for Huron Pines. “You can’t collect a seed head the minute it closes and forms. We just harvested some seeds from plants we’ve been watching all late summer and fall until the heads started to split open and the seeds were brown in color.”

Milkweed seeds erupt from their mature seed pod. This native plant is popular among pollinating insects, especially the monarch butterfly, making it a good candidate for pollinator gardens. - Photo courtesy of Huron Pines

Waiting too long is also no good.

Birds and other wildlife seek out these seeds for their high calorie content and will beat you to the punch, so check your plants often and catch seed heads when they’re ready. Take only what you will use and leave the rest for wildlife.

Once gathered, most seeds will need to go through the process of stratification, a dormant phase they’d experience in their natural environment over winter. This can be simulated by sowing seeds in containers of damp sand, paper or vermiculite and storing them covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 months.

If you have some extra seeds, consider sprinkling some directly on the ground where your garden will be and let nature do its thing.

At Au Gres-Sims Schools, where ▪ See NATURE OF THINGS on page 12

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November 2020 Page 11

Nature of things Continued from page 11

the environmental science class designed and built their own rain garden on campus in 2019, students are in the process of collecting and experimenting with seeds from their own native plants. They have a 30-foot-by-50-foot greenhouse to aid in their gardening experiments to determine which methods work best for germination.

“Rather than buying seeds or seedlings from a nursery, we have the perfect crop in our rain garden,” said instructor Luke Freeman.

“We’re installing a heat source in the greenhouse to try growing plants

over winter. Let’s try the impossible, defy nature, and shock these seeds into growing. Since we have so many to play around with, we’re able to learn as we go.”

In total, his students have nine different species of plants to experiment with, including Joe-Pye weed, monkeyflower and snowberry.

Collecting seeds is a family friendly activity that can be done on a whim — even a thoughtfully folded dollar bill can serve as a seed envelope in a pinch — and will pay dividends in the form of sweet blossoms crawling with all kinds of good, happy bugs.

Festival of Trees scheduled

GRAYLING – The Grayling Promotional Association is pleased to announce its annual Festival of Trees will happen this year, despite the COVID. The event is scheduled for Nov. 13-28 in the Mini Mall. The Barely Used Christmas Store will be located at 204 Michigan Ave, in the former

Tip’n the Mitten store.

Tickets for the festival are $2 each or six for $10. There will be 60 trees this year and 30 baskets. The tree drawing will be on Nov 29. at noon.

All proceeds go back into making Grayling a better and prettier town to live in!

For info on advertising in print or online call Tracy at 989-275-1170 Page 12 November 2020

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Smoke on the horizon

By Ken Elmore

Since the dawn of man, we’ve learned that gazing out and observing smoke off in a distance usually means trouble is on its way.

Almost instinctively we heighten our awareness and prepare for whatever, even if it’s just paying closer attention to our environment, or gathering what we can and going toward safer places. Well, emergency services spotted the trouble on the horizon months ago and sure enough, we’ve all been immersed in it for some time now.

Even as we negotiate our way through the smoky haze of uncertainty trying to find our way forward as a society, rest assured that emergency services remains undaunted in its commitment to you and your safety.

I spoke with Chief Nick Sergeant recently about the new normal and what challenges it presents. Chief Sergeant is the head of the area wide Fire Chiefs Association and has heard first hand from other Chiefs the changes and difficulties COVID19 has imposed on every department, not only medically, but firefighting also. All the while he continues to steer his own department of Markey Township through the maze as well.

These are good men leading a lot of good people down an uncertain path in an effort to provide the best service possible. As we said, these

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November 2020

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folks saw the smoke on the horizon a while ago and in true fashion began to prepare, question, make ready and face head on these new challenges.

You see, emergency services are permeated with individuals that when faced with difficulty, do not put their hands in the air and say “oh what are we going to do?”, rather, they roll up their sleeves and say “ok, let’s figure out how to handle this”.

Virtually every Chief in every community has echoed the same concerns and at the same time has prepared and met these concerns head on. From acquiring new safety gear, to implementing and training on new protocols and procedures. From new methods of training at home or in very small groups, or online studies, we’re all working hard to adapt and move forward.

The challenges of course, are real. Many of our people have had to deal with losing jobs, or having to stay home or endured drastically modified work schedules. Financial consequences have impacted most everyone, and when you need to find a way to pay the bills, it alters occasionally your ability to respond.

Home schooling is not exactly conducive to our “drop and run” mentality, yet respond they do.

Each department has examples of ▪ See SMOKE ON THE HORIZON on page 3 B

Jasper’s way of deer hunting

By Slim Randles

Old Jasper Blankenship went out to hunt deer the other day, the same way he’s done for decades now. Deer season has changed a lot for Jasper over the many years he’s been at it. As a kid, he couldn’t wait until he was old enough to get a license, because he wanted to bring a buck home to show his family. Not just any buck, either, but a big one.

As a young man, he wanted to see how many hunting seasons he could have in one year: duck, goose, quail, pheasant, deer, about anything that moved.

As a middle-aged man, he turned to the technology of hunting and wanted to learn about the newest gizmo that would make you quiet, make you invisible, make you irresistible to deer.

But things are different these days. Oh, Jasper still enjoys going through all the outdoor magazines and orders catalogs, and each year he buys some new gizmo

that guarantees to bring home the meat. But he just chuckles at them, even as he orders them. Hunting, to him, means a reattachment to nature, a return to his roots. It is a time to see if his personal skills are still adequate. It is also a time to sit on a ridge and look around and appreciate what is there. And if what isn’t there happens to be a deer, well, that’s all right, too.

Venison isn’t getting any easier to pack back to camp after all these many seasons, either. But there is something in the hunt, something in being allowed to silently stalk the nameless essence of fall, something in moving in near invisibility. There is something.

Sometimes it’s just nice to go out there and see what happens.

-------Brought to you by The Backpocket Guide to Hunting Elk, by Slim Randles. Practical advice from a registered guide, at www.amazon. com.

Pine needles and potatoes View From the Comfy Chair

By Joel Vernier One of the beautiful things I love about living in Michigan is the 4 seasons.

Yes, some days we have all four seasons in one day. Each season has its own sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and of course, seasonal yard work.

Fall is upon us, or I should say it is upon the ground and everything else around my house.

If I ever move again, it will be either a condo with groundskeeping or a smaller home with no trees with leaves or the ubiquitous pine needles.

(Yep, I had to look up the definition of ubiquitous. (It means; "Existing or being everywhere, especially at the same time; Omnipresent!

That definition fits my property perfectly this time of year! Pine needles are everywhere! Pine needles can cause mold and mildew to grow, causing the ground's surface, resulting in loss of grass over time.

It seems that the damage may not be due to the acidity of the pine needles, pH 3.2 – 3.8. I have been told to supplement my lawn with lime to help the pH. Let's get right down to the issue; I have so far this year picked up the pine needles on my lawn four times. I have a new lawnmower, and thankfully it will pick up 95% of the needles, but I have to empty the bag every 2 rows.

The challenge is that every time I get done getting them up, I look

up at the trees, and it seems most of the pine needles have already fallen, but as soon as the wind picks up or it rains, the grass is covered once again with a pine needle blanket.

My fall & spring ritual is to climb up and down the ladder about 30 times to get the pine needles off the gutter screen, the screens work great keeping things out of the gutter, but the pine needles lock on to the top of the gutter screen and prevent water from getting into the gutter.

Fall continues, and the next assault on my lawn, of course, is the leaves falling like a snow blizzard in January. When I was younger, I loved raking leaves into a big pile and jumping into them. Today my dogs love to run through them and scatter them all around so that I have to rake them up to collect them.

On a couple of occasions when the weather was right, and I could obtain a burning permit, I would burn the leaves, and wrap some big potatoes in foil and place them in the burning pile. By the time the burning was done, it was time to enjoy a game of "Hot potato" and then when they cooled down a bit to open the foil and eat them sitting by the smoldering fire. We would eat them plain, no salt, sour cream, or anything. They would warm you up right away!

One day, I may hire a lawn service once the house is paid off, but for now, this is my Fall hobby. Fall appropriately named because things fall to the ground, and I have to pick them up. Time for a well-deserved nap!

"Remember, every day is a gift! Some are just a little more fun to open than others. – © Joel M. Vernier 10/12/20 Author of: "The Guinea Pig In The Freezer." joelmvernier@aol.com

Smoke on the horizon ▪ Continued from page 2 B personnel that have gone above and beyond in this time of need to ensure that our commitment to you remains true.

All we ask of you is the possibility that you may help us by being a little more vigilant yourselves. Nothing drastic, just a few habits that might help avoid potential problems. Things like taking that extra moment before heading out to make sure things that need to be turned off, are indeed off, avoiding potential fire risk.

Be aware that many doctors are now seeing patients again so don’t delay if you have medical needs.

They are following protocols to ensure safety, so don’t wait until that minor problem develops into a medical emergency requiring an ambulance and multiple crews. Just a few things folks, but our main objective here is to reassure you that emergency services continues to strive to provide the best for you regardless.

Each new month seems to bring new troubles our way, but for now let’s hope that the next smoke on the horizon we see is just the neighbor firing up the grill. Stay safe folks!

Your concept, Our expertise 989-275-1170

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November 2020

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Your Duck is Dead...

A woman brought a very limp duck into a veterinary surgeon. As she laid her pet on the table, the vet pulled out his stethoscope and listened to the bird's chest.

After a moment or two, the vet shook his head and sadly said, "I'm sorry, your duck, Cuddles, has passed away."

The distressed woman wailed, "Are you sure?"

"Yes, I am sure. Your duck is dead," replied the vet.

"How can you be so sure?" she protested. "I mean you haven't done any testing on him or anything. He might just be in a coma or something."

The vet rolled his eyes, turned around and left the room. He returned a few minutes later with a black Labrador Retriever.

As the duck's owner looked on in amazement, the dog stood on his hind legs, put his front paws on the examination table and sniffed the duck from top to bottom. He then looked up at the vet with sad eyes

and shook his head.

The vet patted the dog on the head and took it out of the room.

A few minutes later he returned with a cat. The cat jumped on the table and delicately sniffed the bird from head to foot. The cat sat back on its haunches, shook its head, meowed softly and strolled out of the room.

The vet looked at the woman and said, "I'm sorry, but as I said, this is most definitely, 100% certifiably, a dead duck."

The vet turned to his computer terminal, hit a few keys and produced a bill, which he handed to the woman.

The duck's owner, still in shock, took the bill. "$150!" she cried, "$150 just to tell me my duck is dead!"

The vet shrugged, "I'm sorry.

If you had just taken my word for it, the bill would have been $20, but with the Lab Report and the Cat Scan, it's now $150.

Can I borrow that book of yours How to Become A Millionaire?

Sure. Here you are.

Thanks - but half the pages are missing.

What's the matter? Isn't half a million enough for you?

Why is money called dough?

Because we all need it.

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November 2020

A mild-mannered man was tired of being bossed around by his wife so he went to a psychiatrist.

The psychiatrist said he needed to build his self-esteem, and so gave him a book on assertiveness, which he read on the way home.

He had finished the book by the time he reached his house.

The man stormed into the house and walked up to his wife.

Pointing a finger in her face, he said, "From now on, I want you to know that I am the man of this house, and my word is law! I want you to prepare me a gourmet meal tonight, and when I'm finished eating my meal, I expect a sumptuous dessert afterward. Then, after dinner, you're going to draw me my bath so I can relax. And when I'm finished with my bath, guess who's going to dress me and comb my hair?"

"The funeral director," said his wife.

Theology - Kid Style Dear God ... Please put another holiday between Christmas and Easter.

There is nothing good in there now.

Amanda Dear God ... Thank you for the baby brother, but what I asked for was a puppy.

I never asked for anything before. You can look it up. Joyce Dear Mr. God ... I wish you would not make it so easy for people to come apart. I had to have 3 stitches and a shot.

Janet God ... I read the bible. What does beget mean? Nobody will tell me. Love, Alison Dear God ... How did you know you were God? Who told you?! Charlene Dear God ... Is it true my father won't get in Heaven if he uses his golf words in the house? Anita Dear God ... I bet it's very hard for you to love all of everybody in the whole world. There are only 4 people in our family and I can never do it. Nancy Dear God ... I like the story about Noah the best of all of them. You really made up some good ones. I like walking on water too. Glenn

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On their 40th wedding anniversary and during the banquet celebrating it, Tom was asked to give his friends a brief account of the benefits of a marriage of such long duration.

"Tell us Tom, just what is it you have learned from all those wonderful years with your wife?"

Tom responds, "Well, I've learned that marriage is the best teacher of all. It teaches you loyalty, forbearance, meekness, self-restraint, forgiveness --and a great many other qualities you wouldn't have needed if you'd stayed single."

Ring Barer

A little boy was in a relative's wedding. As he was coming down the aisle, he would take two steps, stop, and turn to the crowd.

While facing the crowd, he would put his hands up like claws and roar.

So it went, step, step, ROAR, step, step, ROAR, all the way down the aisle.

As you can imagine, the crowd was near tears from laughing so hard by the time he reached the pulpit.

When asked what he was doing, the child sniffed and said, "I was being the Ring Bear."

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Stevenson heads state conference PETOSKEY – The Michigan Association of Registers of Deeds (MARD) welcomed its new president, Roscommon County’s Michelle Stevenson, during the association’s 106th Annual Educational Conference.

Michigan’s Registers of Deeds secure our state’s real estate economy by ensuring all property transactions are accurately recorded and secured against fraud and theft. Registers are elected by voters every four years in each of Michigan’s 83 counties.

"It is my honor to serve as incoming president for MARD. On behalf of the entire 2021 Board of Directors, I want to thank everyone for their participation this year, including our 2020 Register of the Year Stewart Sanders. We will take the baton and keep moving MARD forward in the new year," said

Stevenson.

MARD also honored members who are retiring from office in 2020.

Local public servants included Jeri Winton of Oscoda County.

The year 2020 proved to be a challenging one as COVID-19 closed most county government offices for an extended period, even as real estate transactions continued and even increased in many areas of the state.

Home sales boomed, especially in vacation areas, as did mortgage refinancing due to falling interest rates. Knowing that Michigan’s real estate economy would have ground to a halt otherwise, Registers of deeds offices worked overtime to develop alternative systems to keep transactions, and Michigan’s economy, moving.

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Selling raffle tickets were (l-r) Cassy Coon, Cassidy Stewart, Lynn Layman, and Julie Stewart.

Pink out!

Mio players Alexis Hurst (2) and Sabrina Anderson (12) attempt to block off a spike by Fairview's Maddy Major.

FAIRVIEW – The Mio and Fairview volleyball teams held their annual “Pink out” to bring attention to Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The schools followed COVID protocol as much as possible, limited the number of attendees to 200, including teams, spectators and officials. ~ Photos by Mark Constance

Checking people in at the front door at Fairview High School were (l-r) Kaitlyn Oates and Melony Haskin. Official Julia Moran is pictured in the center.

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Left: Fairview Varsity Coach Stacy Ford gets ready for warmups.

Below: (l-r) Faith Schanck, Sabrina Anderson and Raquelle Miller prepare to hang posters prior to the match.

Johnson joins staff beneficial to all of us at AuSable REGION – Rachel Johnson of Media,” Constance said. “As we Roscommon has joined the staff move forward with the expansion of of AuSable Media Group, LLC, as our digital portfolio, she will be the Digital Content Producer. person focusing on our improvement Johnson is married with four in that area.” children and resides in Roscommon.

AuSable Media She worked with Group is located AuSable Media several at 709 Lake Street years ago and is happy in Roscommon. to become part of the At the current organization again. time, it produces a “I enjoy taking printed version of photos and spending time with my family,” Up North Voice, as well as websites at Johnson said. “I’m UpNorthVoice.com excited to join the team and CrawfordVoice. and look forward to the com. It also hosts 11 opportunity to put my Facebook pages and graphic design skills to Rachel Johnson five Facebook groups, use.” as well as Twitter and Publisher / Editor Mark Constance said Johnson will be Instagram feeds. a great addition in her new capacity.

The company specializes in the design and production of high-end “I believe Rachel brings a great commercial printing products and attitude and experience that will be promotional items.

For information on AuSable Follow us on Facebook Media Group call 989-275-1170.

Grayling Chamber ‘Spotlight on Business’ Fuhr’s Grayling Car Care

GRAYLING – Fuhr’s Grayling Care has been named the Grayling Regional Chamber of Commerce “Spotlight on Business” honoree Owner Ray Fuhr is a Ford Factory Trained Senior Master Technician with 14 years of factory training in auto and diesel. In 2016, he had the opportunity to purchase Grayling Car Care from Mark and Deanne Swiercz, and took the leap into business ownership.

The community has been receptive to the change. They were named Reader’s Choice for best auto mechanic in 2017-2019.

Fuhr’s handles all traditional auto repairs including brakes, engine repair / replace, transmission repair / replace, electrical and tune-ups, as well as windshield replacement. Ray said he employs two other mechanics as part of the operation, including Josh Huey and Tim Strohaver. “(We) would like to thank the community for your support,” Fuhr said. “We truly appreciate your

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business, and we are so grateful for the trust you have placed in us. Go Vikings!”

Fuhr’s Grayling Car Care is located at 4430 M-72 East in Grayling. They are open M-F from 8:30 a.m. To 5 p.m. They can be reached at 989-348-3200, graylingcarcare@yahoo.com, or on Facebook at Fuhr’s Grayling Car Care.

November 2020

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Up North

Voice ATLANTA Roy & Sons Gun and Ammo The Baklava Shop and More Freddie’s IGA

Where to Find Us!

QTA Walgreens Grayling Eagles Mich. Works Grayling Chamb. Of Comm.

The Brook COMINS Crawford County Library The Woodworkers Grayling High School Shoppe Grayling Elementary Comins Market 7-Eleven Skyline Event Center Blarney Castle-EZ-Mart EAST TAWAS Forward Shell Big Boy Medicine Shop Tawas Bay Beach Resort Goodale’s Bakery Village Chocolatier North Country Clothing Brew Krew AuSable Gifts Klenow’s Market Grayling Visitors Bureau Razor’s Edge Old Dam Party Store Nordic Sports Grayling Greenhouse FAIRVIEW Camp Grayling Mio Church of God Munson Medical Center IGA (Bill’s) Crawford Co. Coun. Aging Fairview Family State Savings Bank Restaurant Grayling Rest Fairview Apartments The Hair Station Habitat for Humanity Skip’s Sporting Good Fairview Hardware Sylvesters Trophies The Family Bookshelf Tip’n the Mitten Fairview Area Schools Matt LaFontaine Auto BP/Deli HALE FREDERIC J & M County Fair Store Beacon & Bridge Forward’s (Shell) Frederic Inn Forward’s (Marathon) Big Bob’s Restaurant & GAYLORD Pizzeria Gobblers of Gaylord Roger’s Food Pride Salvation Army Bear Store Ash Tobacco Shop Subway HOUGHTON LAKE Otsego County Building/ EZ-Mart City Javacology Bigby Coffee Shell Gas Bob Evans Berkshire Hathaway Hampton Inn Family Fare Family Fare Joe’s Coney Island B J’S Restaurant Houghton Lake Library Otsego County Sports Houghton Lake High Complex School Ace Hardware Collins Elementary School GLENNIE Vic Bond Gordon’s Bait/TackleLoud Dam Kilkare Rest Chat N Chew Restaurant Midge & Co. Realtors Glennie Party Store Nails Two Ace Hardware Book Worm R.C. Coun. On Aging Roger’s Food Pride Lyman’s Store Alcona Park Wilds True Value GRAYLING Back Door Saloon Admiral Gas Station Houghton Lake Insurance Fick & Sons Citgo Family Fare Nesters’ of Houghton Feeney Ford Lake Page 8 B

November 2020

Great Lakes Accounting Tourism Bureau M. Mich. Med. Health Park Best Choice H.L. Lakeside Resort Northshore Hardware Country Peddler Northshore Lounge LEWISTON Family Fare Marathon ( S&K Foods) Sunrise Convenience Store Iron Kettle Lewiston Ace Hardware Midlakes Market-Sunoco Marathon (Parmalee Trading) LUPTON Parkview Acres Sunoco Sunrise Cafe’ Lowell’s Corner Store LUZERNE Luzerne Hardware Luzerne Express Ma Deters Restaurant MIO Highland Lumber Pioneer General Store Oscoda Co Council on Aging Ray’s Mug and Jug Blair’s Sonoco Paddle Inn AuSable Valley Motel/Inn Family Fare Shell Marathon Mio Pizza Century 21 Oscoda County Courthouse Oscoda Co. Chamber Com AuSable River Tobacco Ace Hardware Mio AuSable Schools Maplewood / Stone Manor Moose Lodge OSCODA Robert J Parks Library Top 5 Pizza Wiltse’s Restaurant Family Fare Shell-Louie’s Fresh Market IGA Marathon Roger’s Family Food AuSable Inn

Mama’s Kitchen Wellman’s Party & Bait Rest All Inn

989-980-9781 UpNorthVoice.com

Fred’s of Roscommon St. Helen Power Sports Rite Aid Hen House Restaurant Family Fare Patrick’s Pro Hardware Shell Marathon PRUDENVILLE Kens Tire Old Michigan Tobacco St. Vincent DePaul Marathon Stephanies Studio Northern Floor & Blind AuSable Creamery Suds Laundry Design Sunny Spot Chucks Tire Duke’s Hull Building Center Fultz Insurance Korbinski Marina Tim’s Collision Plus Chamber of Commerce Georges Barber Shop County Car Wash Township Building Comfort Center B C Pizza Library (Richfieled Kronner Pharmacy Township) Fifth Street Market Kiss Me Coffee Charleton Heston Gardiner’s Jewelry Lady of the Lakes School Academy Bob’s Butcher Shop Basil & Mike’s Auto Sheffield’s Automotive Rosco. Comm. Senior Gold Rush Jewelry Louie’s Fresh Market The Brook Retirement L.M./ Edward Jones Fire House Center Office Sarahs Family Hair Care Lighthouse Nursing Dr. Boggs Optometrist St. Helen Dentistry/Dr. Competion Auto Dollar Daze Tozer Office W & W Auto Macon Marine Ankle & Foot Express Rental TAWAS CITY Dewey’s Auto Nieman’s Family Market H.L. Chamb. Of Roscommon Sheriff Dept Commerce Sav Mor Drugs Dave Smith Barber Shop Walmart Romeo’s Market Dan Decker Acct Top Tire Augies on the Bay Brabant & Coltrane Atty. Iosco Co. Chamber of Salvation Army Commerce Northern Family Dental ROSCOMMON Shell Mid Mich Medical Higgins Lake Chiro Wagner-Walsh Funeral Higgins Lake Greenhouse VIENNE CROSSING Home Big Bear Trading Post Woodlawn Dental Roscommon Vet Clinic Waters Coldwell Bank Realty Hart Ford Gobblers Markey Tire & Auto Roscommon Library State Park Store Munson Med Building WEST BRANCH Country Corner Party Lear Corp.

MidMichigan Medical Store Hart Buick West Higgins Hardware ROSE CITY Dean Arbour Ogemaw Vet Clinic Salon Cut & Ms. Gage Original Computer Genie Family Fare Evergreen Party Store Compassionate Care Vet Ace Hardware Century 21 Clinic Rose City Cafe’ E. Higgins Lake Hardware Mac’s Place Rose City Greenhouse Town&Country West Branch Collision Supermarket Faull Inn Hospice of Helping Mel’s Pine Pantry Rose City Library Hands The Bird & the Bear (Ogemaw District Steuernol/McLaren Fun. Library) Sports Barn Home Rose Valley Winery Cornerstone Construction Team Hodges Auto Pioneer Hills Marina Brian’s Fruit & Meat SAND LAKE Market Dinges Marathon Family Fare COOR Lake Breeze Sears Store Roscommon Elementary Indian Lake General School Timmy Tire Store Roscommon Middle Tanger (Main Office) SOUTH BRANCH School Jose Lake Store & Resort Java Junction (Tanger) Roscommon High School WHITTEMORE Sunoco ST. HELEN M-65 Bait Shop Mr. B’s Jim’s Collision St. Helen Hardware Roofs of the North Senior Center Roscommon Auto Recy.

Nester’s of Roscommon Horizon Senior Center Mercantile Bank St. Helen - Roscommon Monument Shell Station N. Mich. Metal Roofing

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4-H to waive fees

REGION - MSU Extension recognizes that the COVID-19 pandemic and other associated factors have put a financial strain on many families. Therefore, the Michigan 4-H participation fee of $20 per person or $60 per family has been waived for the 2020-21 4-H program year which runs through August 2021. Some events may continue to have registration fees, but no annual participation fees will be

collected or expected for the current program year.

Due to concern for the health of youth, families, volunteers, and staff, all 4-H programming is currently being held online, with new programs and activities rolling out weekly.

Most are offered at no cost.

To learn more about 4-H, visit https://www.canr.msu.edu/4h/, or contact your county’s MSU Extension office.

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Turn a new leaf: ‘Fall’ into giving ROSCOMMON - Blood supplies have been severely reduced due to the Covid-19 virus, we need your help. There continues to be a low inventory of O+ and O- blood. This situation will likely continue through the end of this year if blood drive collections do not rebound.

On Monday, Nov. 2 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., the Roscommon County Commission on Aging’s Houghton Lake Center is having another blood drive supporting Versiti Blood. The theme is “Turn a new leaf Fall into giving.”

Anyone attempting to donate will

receive a pair of their home team socks, while supplies last. Also, those who donate will have their blood tested for Covid antibody. If you test positive for the antibody, you can become a convalescent donor. Even though these types of donations are still experimental, it is highly hopeful that this will become a benefit for those that are suffering from Covid.

If you decide to donate make sure to eat a healthy meal and drink plenty of water before donating.

Donors can schedule an appointment with Deb at 989-3660205 ext.103. Walk-ins are welcome.

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The Cleveland Hotel (on the left) is pictured in 1921 with the train leaving Comins in the background. Credit to the Steiner Museum.

The Legend of Carrie James

The hotel is pictured about 1980. Photo courtesy of Nelson Yoder.

At the time, this was a common practice due to the lack of building COMINS - The building known materials in the yet as the Carrie James undeveloped area. This in Comins has been was done by horse and a local landmark as the year was 1919. long as anyone can Clarence, who had remember. only one hand, had a The building young local man by was originally the name of Bill Emig from Lewiston in dismantle the boarding Montmorency County. house in Lewiston and A local man by the bring it to Comins. name of Clarence While here the building Cleveland, for which became the Cleveland Carrie James the road in town was Hotel. named, acquired the Later Carrie James and her building and had it brought over from husband, John, came over from Lewiston piece by piece to Comins.

Roscommon County, purchased

By Cody Rosen

had made its mark on Comins. Many the building and named it the Hotel other buildings could not escape the M-33 in 1929. It was not until many years later that the building would be wrath of the tornado, but the Carrie James did. called the Carrie James Hotel.

Most recently the building was a The hotel had many guests in the restaurant, but had been up for sale early part of the century, many of for the last couple of years. New which were hunters and fisherman. owners are Over the expected to years the open another building was restaurant sold and in the old turned into Carrie James different shortly. businesses, The one of which building has was a small seen many print shop changes and known as business ventures over the last 100 Mallory House owned by Ralph years in “The Ghost Town With A Mallory. The building was also an Lot Of Spirit!� We can only wait and art studio and museum owned by a see what the next adventure will be. notable local, Nelson Yoder.

-Rosen can be reached at Back on July 3, 1999; the historic phoenixdownunder@yahoo.com. building survived the tornado that The Carrie James was one of the buildings to have survived the 1999 tornado.

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November 2020

UpNorthVoice.com

Veterans Memorial Park receives new monument

By Joe Brinn

OSCODA - A granite columbarium was recently added to the Veterans Memorial Park of Northeast Michigan in Oscoda.

A columbarium is a place for the respectful and usually public storage of cinerary urns (those holding a deceased's cremated remains).

The columbarium consists of 48 Niches (Compartments) that can hold the cremains of Honorably Discharged Military Veterans who served in the U.S. Army, U.S. Marines, U.S. Navy, U.S. Air Force or U.S. Coast Guard. Each niche can hold two urns with cremains, the Veteran as well as their spouse.

Made of the highest-grade granite, each niche front cover can be custom laser engraved with both text and images based on the desires of the veteran or their family member.

The concept was presented to Veterans Park Board Director Rose Mary Nentwig by Sharee Koenig, a memorial consultant with Crow Memorials in Alpena. It was built in Lansing and delivered to Oscoda, where it was installed with the help of Kalitta Air and their boom truck.

The columbarium was placed in the center of the Pentagon Service Monument at Veterans Park.

The interior of the monument is illuminated for visitors who wish to

stop by to pay honor to their veteran who has passed and interned within this unique columbaria.

The unique location of this columbarium, at Veterans Memorial Park in Oscoda, makes this a perfect final resting place for those who have served our country. It is surrounded by hundreds of Memorial Blocks and one of a kind custom engraved memorial benches honoring military veterans.

Veterans and or their family members can pre-purchase a niche. For more information on the memorial blocks or benches contact Rose Mary Nentwig at 989-8209747, or Joe Brinn at 989-906-2155.

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FIRST DEER - Degen Bednarik of St. Helen shot this 4-point buck while hunting with his dad, Steve.

Degen used Darton Ranger III compound bow.

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November 2020

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