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Thursday, December 15, 2016

Two sections 24 pages

Oceana’s

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Herald-Journal

Roots blamed for Shelby sewer backup

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Falcons’ 3-2 zone sparks 15-0 run in win over rival Wildcats Page B1

County gives blessing to explore Cedar Point area property purchase Page 6a

Spitler Elementary Principal Amy Taranko named Michigan’s 2016 Outstanding Practicing Principal Top of her class

“Taranko’s

professional growth is a model for her staff and fellow colleagues.

She has never been satisfied with what she knows, but has continued to seek out collaboration with others to help foster learning,”

— Mark Platt HPS Superintendent

Hart’s Spitler Elementary Principal Amy Taranko reads The Polar Express to fourth grade students in Bob Schulz and Sara Nordland’s classrooms Tuesday, Dec. 13. Taranko was named the Michigan Elementary & Middle School Principals Association 2016 Outstanding Practicing Principal Wednesday, Dec. 7.

By Amanda Dodge OHJ

contributing writer

The 91st annual Michigan Elementary & Middle School Principals Association (MEMSPA) Conference is an event that education leaders from across the state look forward to each year. As part of the three days of training, is the much anticipated banquet on the second night of the conference (Dec. 7) where the winner of the prestigious Outstanding Practicing Principal award is announced. At this year’s conference, as the presenter provided a vague description of the winner, which grew more and more specific, Spitler Elementary Principal Amy Taranko was in disbelief, until they opened the doors to reveal her family, friends and colleagues, as she was announced the winner.

“It was very surreal. Here

Andrew Skinner • Oceana’s Herald-Journal

I was sitting in a room with outstanding administrators from around the state, many (of whom) have become close friends and colleagues. I am always in awe of things they

have done in the field of education,” Taranko remarked. “It is overwhelming in the best possible way.”

Taranko has been an educator in the Hart Public School sys-

Have yourself a rural little Christmas

Brad Youngstrom’s Christmas store has been Golden Township’s best kept secret—until now

By Mary Beth Crain OHJ Contributing Writer

Nestled deep in the countryside of Golden Township is a best kept secret—the Christmas on the Farm store.

Aside from a couple of small red signs at the corner of Lake and Ridge roads, you basically have to follow your nose several miles up the road, until you come to 6894 Lake Rd. There you’ll find a friendly-looking farm house, a couple of old red barns and a small shed. Turn left into the driveway and you’ll see a modest sign, surrounded by a holiday wreath, which reads, simply, “Christmas Gifts.”

Once you’re inside, however, you’re in for a treat. These aren’t just any old Christmas gifts—they’re one-of-a-kind treasures, both vintage and hand-crafted items personally designed and executed by proprietor Brad Youngstrom.

Christmas on the Farm was literally a spur-of-the-moment enterprise. Youngstrom, the former owner of floral shops in Hart and Pentwater, got the idea on Thanksgiving.

“It just came to me,” Youngstrom says. “I thought, wouldn’t it be cool to have a

CHRISTMAS ON THE FARM continued on 7a

Andrew Skinner • Oceana’s Herald-Journal

Artist and Designer Brad Youngstrom displays a handcrafted Santa Marienette doll, one of the many unique creations and vintage finds at his Christmas on the Farm store at 6894 Lake Rd. in Golden Township.

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INDEX

Church . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8a Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . 9-11b Court, Cops, Gov’t . . . . . . . 5b Obituaries . . . . . . . . . . . . 10a Outdoor . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12b

School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4b Social . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9a Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B1-3 Stuff to do . . . . . . . . . 11-12a Viewpoints . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4a

tem since 1993, until completing her Master of Arts Degree in School Principalship and becoming the principal of the Hart Upper Elementary, which later merged into Spitler El-

ementary. For the past eight years as principal, Taranko has worked diligently to raise staff

TARANKO NAMED OUTSTANDING PRACTICING PRINCIPAL continued on 6a

County board tours former ISD building

A second building to potentially serve as a new location for offices in the approximately 100-year-old Oceana County annex building in downtown Hart was given a look by the Oceana County Board of Commissioners Dec. 8.

Board members agreed to take a look at the former Oceana County Intermediate School building on Griswold Street following their regular board meeting. The building became part of the West Shore Educational Service District when the former Oceana ISD and the Mason-Lake ISD consolidated in 2012. The consolidation move was controversial as the two ISD boards voted to go forward with the consolidation plan without a public vote even though many people in Oceana demanded one. The ESD board’s buildings and grounds committee has recently recommeded the sale of the Hart office building, which is expected to be available at the end of May 2017.

County board members have previously discussed purchasing the Our Savior Lutheran Church building on Water Road just south of the Polk Road intersection, but some renovations would

COUNTY BOARD TOURS FORMER ISD BUILDING continued on 6a

• Contributed photo

Michigan Farm Bureau President Carl Bednarski, left, presents the 4-H Excellence Award to Jill and Hollis Rockwell III.

MFB honors Rockwells with 4-H Excellence in Agriculture award

Hollis and Jill Rockwell of Hart were honored with 4-H Excellence in Agriculture awards Tuesday night at Michigan Farm Bureau’s (MFB) 97th Annual Meeting in Grand Rapids.

The awards were established to recognize volunteers who exhibit excellence in creating positive learning environments, participate in the learning process, understand and appreciate society’s diversity and become active citizens through service and leadership.

The Rockwells along with Penny Sween of Ingham County were the recipients of $1,000 grants for volunteer

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training, supplies or curricula to enhance 4-H programming locally and statewide.

The Rockwells have been part of the 4-Star Beef 4-H program in Oceana County since 2008.

Hollis, an Oceana County Farm Bureau board member, serves as vice president of the Oceana County Fair 4-H Market Livestock Committee and also has served as its president.

He is helping organize the Young Farmer/Membership Field Day next June and has been instrumental in planning logistics for 4-H involvement

ROCKWELLS HONORED

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6a

• December 15, 2016 • Oceana’s Herald-Journal

County gives blessing to explore property purchase

Oceana County Parks and Recreation Commission member Pete Lundborg received the county board of commissioners blessing to explore purchasing an adjacent parcel to Cedar Point County Park on Lake Michigan to alter the park’s entrance.

The parks and recreation commission explored the possibility of purchasing a different parcel adjacent to Cedar Point on the Golden/Pentwater township line last year. Lundborg told the county board of commissioners Dec. 8 that through the public input process many people expressed an interest in seeing the Cedar Point Park gated. Lundborg pointed out that the current entrance to the park is a county road and cannot gated, but an adjacent parcel to the south could provide opportunities. According to Lundborg, the adjacent property cannot be developed because it will not pass a perc test. He said it could take two years to receive any potential grant money for the purchase to become available.

Shelby gives conditional green light to alley walkway SHELBY — Following a lengthy discussion, the Shelby Village Council all but greenlighted a concrete walkway across one of its alleys to improve access to the Ladder Community Center.

Council gave approval contingent on both parties coming to a written agreement that would spell out maintenance costs and liability issues.

The community center made the request construct the walkway to improve access to the center across the gravel alley for the elderly population. Ladder Community Center Codirector Brian Beckman said gravel alley becomes muddy following rains in the summer months and is difficult for older people to cross during the winter months. According to Beckman, the center served over 400 senior meals during November and feared many would stop coming during the winter months if access wasn’t improved. Beckman said the center has access to a more than $1,900 donation through the Community Foundation of Oceana County.

Council members had concerns about on-going maintenance issues and who would be responsible for costs. Some members also questioned who would assume liability should someone become injured while crossing on the walkway. Others also wanted reassurance that the proposed walkway by the community center would be strong enough to support motor vehicle use through the alley.

Taranko named Outstanding Practicing Principal and student expectations and to meet those goals.

Her hard work has not gone unnoticed, as she received the MEMPSA Regional Principal of the Year in 2014. She explained that there are 14 regions that MEMPSA has divided the state into, and Hart is in region 12.

In a statement released by MEMSPA they had much praise for Taranko. “As a professional, Amy is a role model.

From MEMSPA region 12 president, Curriculum Council Task Force to additional professional course work, Amy shows by example how leaders stay current, informed and collaborative.”

Taranko said that regional winners are notified in advance of their achievements, but the big prize is kept very much under wraps. It wasn’t until after she won the Outstanding Practicing Principal Award this year that she found out who nominated her and how many contributed to her victory. Taranko was nominated by Title I teacher Michelle Hansen and fourth grade teacher Sara Nordlund.

Her nomination also included numerous letters of recommendation from parents, past and present board members and teachers. Taranko said that it is “very humbling and special” to now have those letters in hand and be able to cherish the words written about her.

During the banquet, Taranko said it was so exciting to see her husband and Hart Public Schools Band Director, John Taranko, their two daughters, her parents who flew up from Florida, Hart Public Schools Superintendent Mark Platt, Hart Board of Education President Jeff Gebhart, and a few members of Taranko’s staff. “I wish all of my staff could have been there,” she added.

In the MEMSPA release, three of Taranko’s staff, Tracey Laakesonen, Amanda Balkema and Ann Herrygers had this to say about her, “We didn’t realize when Amy Taranko first became the principal of Spitler Elementary that we would be embarking on a great journey.

The Hart Pirate teachers were from different ships when the elementary buildings merged into one with a new ‘captain.’”

“Mrs. Taranko’s professional growth is a model for her staff and fellow colleagues. She has never been satisfied with what she knows, but has continued to seek out collaboration with others to help foster learning,” Platt noted.

The focus of the MEMSPA Outstanding Practicing Principal award is instructional leadership, student relations, staff relations, parent relations and professional growth. According to the impact she has on Spitler Elementary and through the writings of those around her, Taranko exemplifies all of these through how she has “started student data review meetings at Spliter,” “fosters relationships with students by developing and supporting many traditions such as “Lil Pirate” of the month lunches,”

from Page 1a

Andrew Skinner • Oceana’s Herald-Journal

“This is an

Above, Amy Taranko, principal of Hart’s Spitler, is surrounded by fourth grade students Bob Schulz and Sara Nordlund Tuesday morning, Dec. 13 after her reading of The Polar Express, a Spitler holiday tradition.

Left, Taranko accepts her Outstanding Practicing Principal award from Michigan Elementary & Middle School Principals Association Executive Director Paul Liabenow.

award for all of us. I did not get here on my own.

If I did not have such a fabulous staff, I would never be here.

I adore them all, they are my family. I mean it from the bottom of my heart,”

— Amy Taranko Spritler Elementary Principal and Michigan’s 2016 Outstanding Practicing Principal

and “as a promoter of shared leadership, (she) encourages small and large staff achievements.” According to MEMSPA, “her school is thriving due to her commitment to school culture” and “to increase and improve communication with parents, (she) implemented the ‘Communication’ folder program.”

Taranko is looking forward to attending the National Association of Elementary School Principal’s Conference next

October, where she said that the Outstanding Practicing Principals from each state will meet in Washington D.C. to see who has been chosen as the National Outstanding Practicing Principal. Though she cannot confirm this, she said that more than four sources have told her that she will also be meeting the president while at the national conference. Taranko said that she will receive more information, materials, and forms to fill out for the national conference after Christmas break.

Currently, she is visit-

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from Page 1a

of volunteers in their children,” Oceana County Farm Bureau P&E Co-Chair Kathy Walicki and Michigan State University Extension 4-H Program Coordinator Lori Cargill wrote in their nomination of the Rockwells. “Hollis and Jill take every opportunity to teach their children and the children they interact with about the day-today decisions that farmers have to make, the practice of good organizational skills and record keeping, and the time and effort required to raise a quality animal. Their volunteer efforts are a prime example of what today’s youth can strive for.”

County board tours former ISD building

from Page 1a

be required to convert the space into offices. Another pitfall is the building currently has propane heat and the county might need to run a natural gas line to the facility along with a high speed internet line.

County Commissioner Larry Byl said he expressed his dissatisfaction to WSESD Superintendent Randy Howes about pulling WSESD programs out of Oceana County, but encouraged fellow commissioners to take a tour of the Griswold Street building.

He also said the property comes with additional property which could be used for other purposes.

ing classrooms to uphold the Spitler Elementary tradition of the Polar Express Canned Goods Drive. Taranko said that she reads “The Polar Express,”

by Grand Rapids native Chris Van Allsburg, to each class and rings the bell noted in the story.

As a special treat, if enough canned goods are collected (the goal is one for each student), the entire school gets to watch “The Polar Express” film on

Entertainment

Rockwells honored in the fair.

Jill, an active member of the Oceana County Farm Bureau Promotion and Education (P&E) Committee, is part of the volunteer effort for the 4-H Folk Festival, 4-H Spring Break Day Camp and 4-H Community Wide Yard Sale and Bake Sale, which supports people in Oceana County struggling with life-changing events. She also assists kids with caring for their animals at the fair.

“The example Hollis and Jill have set with their community involvement in Farm Bureau and 4-H has fostered a new set

• Contributed photo

the big screen in the auditorium. “We’ve never not made our goal,” Taranko said. “The kids are extremely generous this time of year.”

Still humbled by her win, Taranko could not help but to continuously thank those around her for the accolade.

“I said that night, that nobody gets here on their own. I feel that a lot of people share in this recognition and honor, to my family and parents and the staff here at Spitler who are top notch,” she said. “This is an award for all of us. I did not get here on my own. If I did not have such a fabulous staff, I would never be here. I adore them all, they are my family. I mean it from the bottom of my heart.”

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