Fowlerville News & Views Online Edition December 30, 2012
Winter fun enjoyed by area youngsters— The storm last Wednesday, Dec. 27, brought a couple of inches of the snow, more than enough for area youngsters to enjoy some winter fun. A favorite spot the following day was the ‘Rotary Hill’ at the Fowlerville Community Park. Among those sliding down the steep incline were these brothers: Spencer Sladick, left, a second grader, and Tyler Sladick, a sixth grader. They are the sons of local residents David and Michelle Sladick.
A huge heartfelt thank you to our sponsors--Fowlerville Fusion, an all-female junior high soccer team, would like to thank our sponsors, Duke's Pizza Plus, Fowlerville Dental and Smiles Orthodontics for their community support and generosity. Due to their support, our team is able to play an indoor season in the Novi area to improve skills during the winter months. Without the financial aid from Duke's Pizza Plus, our forward level sponsor, Fowlerville Dental & Smiles Orthodontics, our defensive level sponsors, our participation would not be possible.
Fowlerville Fire Report The department responded to 18 emergencies this week. Thursday, December 20 at 9:17 a.m. a medical emergency on Free Street in the Village was reported. Firefighters responded to a chimney fire on Gregory Road in Handy Township at 12:42 p.m. At 3:06 p.m. the department was dispatched to downed power lines on Owosso Road in Conway Township. A fourth dispatch was to a medical emergency on N. Grand Ave. in the Village. Personnel responded to assist at a medical emergency at Cedar River Estates in Iosco Township at 8:08 a.m., Friday, December 21. The department was dispatched to a tree blocking the roadway on Chase Lake Road in Conway Township at 4:23 p.m. At 5:17 p.m. Saturday, December 22, personnel responded to assist EMS on Cedar River Drive in the Village. A medical emergency was reported at 8:49 p.m. on Lovejoy Road in Conway Township with a third medical emergency being on Grand River Ave. in Handy Township. Sunday, December 23 at 11:22 a.m. a medical emergency on Linden Street in the Village was reported. At 6:36 p.m. firefighters were called to extinguish a fire in a storage building on Mohrle Road in Conway Township. At 4:35 a.m., Monday, December 24 the department responded to a vehicle fire on Allen Road in Handy Township. A motor vehicle accident with injuries on I-96 in Handy Township was reported at 4:57 p.m. Three medical emergencies in Iosco Township were reported Tuesday, December 25. At 2:13 p.m. the department responded to Bradley Road. The second dispatch was on Autumn View Lane and was received at 3:32 p.m. Firefighters responded to Dutcher Road at 7:41 p.m. Wednesday, December 26 at 12:45 a.m. a medical emergency on Mason Road in Iosco Township was reported. A second medical emergency, at 2:47 p.m., was on Cedar River Drive in the Village.
Fowlerville school board member ends 20 years of service By Steve Horton A testimonial was held at the Dec. 18 Fowlerville Board of Education meeting for departing trustee William ‘Bill’ Call, thanking him for his 20-plus years of service. Call, who attended his first meeting in July of 1992, decided not to seek another term of office. School superintendent Rick Heinrich, in his remarks, pointed out that Call had attended over 1,500 meeting over the course of those two decades. Also speaking at the testimonial were Assistant Superintendent Wayne Roedel, School Board President Mike Brown, former Assistant Superintendent Don Buggia, teacher Becky Sorensen, and former school board member Sue Kretchman. Call was no stranger to public service when he joined the local school board. He had served on the Fowlerville Village Council for 14 years, beginning in the mid-1970s, and during that tenure served six years as the Village president. Call said that he had been sitting on the Fowlerville Area Recreation Commission as the Village’s representative when the then Community Education Director, Lin Hibbard, encouraged him to seek an upcoming vacancy on the board of education. “There were two seats up for election,” he recalled. “I was elected along with incumbent Duane Herbert.” When he joined the group, Dave Peden was the superintendent. “We didn’t have any committees at that time,” Call said. “The board met as a ‘committee of the whole’ to hear presentations and proposals on specific matters. The meetings lasted until 10 or 11 o’clock. Then it was decided to form a discipline committee and then we
soon had three or four other committees. So our regular meetings were shorter, but I had more meetings due to being a member of a committee. I liked the shorter regular meetings, but you had a better understanding of everything that was going on when we met as a ‘committee of the whole’.” Continuity has been a plus for the Fowlerville school board, said Call. “Over my 20 years, there has been only 20 other board members I’ve served with and only three superintendents: Dave Peden, Ed Alverson, and now Rick Heinrich.” Call served as the board president for six years, starting in the mid-1990’s. Among the highlights of his long involvement on the board were the passage and implementation of two bond issues; the first that involved the construction of a new junior high building and then a few years later a second one that converted the junior high building into the current high school. Both of those issues included renovation work done at most of the other district buildings and an extensive upgrading of the athletic complex. “We had a lot of extra meetings during those two building programs,” he noted. “For the second bond issue, I sat on the committee that selected the architect and the contractor.” Call, who had a long career in the cable television industry, felt that this personal background along with his knowledge of computers has been a “plus” on the board as it made decisions on upgrading the district’s technology. Another asset that he felt he brought to the discussions and decision-making as a board member was his knowledge of the community from having grown up in Fowlerville and spening his adult life here. Sports and in particular football has been an interest of his, dating back to when he played as a Gladiator during his high school years. “I’ve helped out in the press box at home football games for over 20 years,” he noted. He’s also compiled a history of Fowlerville football dating back to when the first high school team played in the 1920’s. Call said that the various state and federal mandates effecting education have increased over the years. “It would be difficult to keep up with them without the help of our administrators,” he noted. “Also, the impact has been that the local boards don’t have as much discretion. That’s especially true with curriculum. I think there’ll be a big push to do away with the local boards of education and turn over those decisions to the Intermediate School District. I also think this might be the future of high school athletics; that there’ll be teams based on a region or a combination of the different kinds of schools in the area rather than representing a local public school. I don’t like it, but it seems to be heading in this direction.” A favorite part of being on the school board is graduation, Call said. “The ceremony reminds you of what education is all about. All the meetings and work are rewarded when you see the students with smiles on their
faces coming down the aisle and the receiving their diplomas.” A least favorite part has been budget cutting and having to lay off staff. “The last few years have been difficult with the tight finances,” he said. “As part of this, I also haven’t enjoyed the contract negotiations where we’ve had to take away benefits and made other cuts to our employees. But we, as board members, are elected to make hard decisions.” *** Bill is the oldest of five children, born to Francis and Joyce Call. He was born in 1949 and spent his elementary school years attending various schools. These included Webberville, Williamston, Hartland, and Howell. “I was in sixth grade when the family came to Fowlerville and we remained,” he said. After graduating in 1968, he married classmate Judy Ruttman the following summer on August 15, 1969. He also went to work for Munsell & Garlock and then for Boss Engineering as a surveyor’s assistant. Three years later he took a job with Consumers Power, working as a draftsman with its right-of-way department. “I drew boundaries and put together legal descriptions for two years, then the company did a large downsizing that included my position,” he said. “My next job was with Clare Copeland when he started Copeland Rentals in Fowlerville. I was there for about five years.” Call then secured a position with the cable TV company Tele-Communications, Inc. (TCI) in Saginaw as the general manager for the Saginaw Valley and Thumb area. “I commuted there from Fowlerville for 24 years,” he noted. “At one time TCI was the largest provider of cable TV in the world, but when the owner died the decision was made to sell off parts of the company to other firms.” He then worked at the ‘Fowlerville News & Views’, performing a variety of tasks including overseeing the weekly delivery, office work, billing, and sales. He also did contract work for Comcast in Detroit when the company installed a fiber optic loop in the city. In 2008 he went to work for Handy Township and is now the zoning administrator. “My background in legal descriptions I learned as a surveyor’s assistant and working in the cable TV has helped with this position,” he said. His wife Judy, who was a data architect with Citizens Insurance, retired a couple of years ago after 40 years with the insurance company. The couple likes to camp during the summer in the Upper Peninsula and in the Traverse City area. They also keep busy with two young grandsons. “The two boys belong to our son Matt and his wife Kari,” Call noted. “Matt works as a case manager for the federal prison system. Our daughter, Amy, assists schools with the scheduling software that her company sells.”
IMPORTANT DATES: January 3 – School Resumes January 16-PTC meeting 3:45 January 18-No School January 21-No School January 24- Family Fun Science Night *** Please Help We Need clothing donations - The office at Smith is putting a request out for clothing donations. We pass out a lot of pants and shirts to students for many reasons, and we are completely out of pants and could also use larger size shirts. Pants or sweat pants sizes 5/6, 7/8 and 10 are the sizes we use the most. Shirts in children’s size Medium or Large would be the best. We already have plenty of small shirts, socks and underwear. Thank you in advance for helping out the students at Smith. *** AFTER SCHOOL NOTES – Phoned in messages are for changes to your child’s schedule that will happen after 3:35. If you are picking up your child before 3:35 you do not have to call the office prior to arriving at school. Just come to the office and sign your child out and we will call them from the classroom. *** DISMISSAL REMINDERS: If there are changes to your child’s dismissal from the building at the end of the day you MUST notify the office with a phone call before 2:55 pm. Dismissal is one of our busiest times of the day and we want to make sure your child is safe and goes to the appropriate place. Thank you in advance for your assistance. *** VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! Please contact our volunteer coordinator by emailing htsmithptc@gmail.com or send a note to your child’s teacher and she will pass it onto the PTC. Once you are on our volunteer list, we can include you on our Volunteer Spot service to coordinate and remind you of events. Thanks for all you do for our kids! *** Reminder to Parents – Children are not allowed to carry any medication, and they cannot transport any medication. Please do not send in cough drops, aspirin, Tylenol, etc. with your child without going through the proper procedure, filling out the necessary forms, and bringing the medication to the office. A parent/guardian must transport medication to and from school. Students must be aware that they are not allowed to administer medication to other students. Medication must also be in its original container and include the physician’s instructions.
Things I’d Like to Do Now that we’ve all enjoyed a beautiful Christmas with family and friends, perhaps we should begin to think about what we need to do to get 2013 off to a good start. Resolutions we call them. Rather weak promises that we likely won’t think about for long, but that we claim as almost sacred goals. I tend to agree with folks who refrain from making a big deal out of these annual “promises to one’s self” that a few put so much stock in. Still, as years pass and things that seem important get put aside in favor of habits and chores, I feel an urgency to try for what would seem to be improvements in the ways I spend my time. So indulge me a few moments please, as I share some of the things I’d like to do in this New Year. In no particular order of important, here are things I’ve thought about and at least resolve to think about a bit harder in 2013. I’d like to travel more. Since our two Alaskan vacations in 1987 and 1990, my wife and I have gone to the Maritimes in 2008 and to the Grand Canyon and points west last year. That may seem like quite a bit of travel, but when you have “itchy feet” like we do, it’s not enough. I’d like to learn more about the birds of Michigan. While the large and the obvious species are familiar enough, there are those shy and secretive breeds whose nests and calls are seen and heard in the woods around our cabin. Quite a few of their identities have remained a mystery. The same thing is true where the vegetation of our woods is concerned. We know most of the more common species of shrubs, trees and plants but there are still many that we haven’t yet identified. I want to become more proficient at reading tracks and their stories in the snow. Actually, it’s easier to determine the whereabouts and the activities of native creatures in the winter after a fresh snow than during any other season. I want to become more proficient at fishing with my fly rod; at catching fish on flies I’ve tied myself. There is something more fair about fooling a fish with feathers, yarn and tinsel than with a minnow or worm. It’s like getting a deer by “hunting” for it rather than shooting it over a bait pile.
I’d like to become more involved with actual environmental projects than I have in the past. I recycle but perhaps I could work on wetland restoration, river, lake and stream cleanups and the promotion of clean water and air projects. I’d like to learn to identify more of the wild, edible plants. Once I get past morel mushrooms, blackberries, elderberries, bracken ferns and sassafras, I really haven’t worked very hard on the many other wild plants available as food. I want to get started on two books that have been rattling around in my head for years. A lot of my friends have been kind enough to say they’d like to read them and I’ve so far let these good folks down. And most of all, in 2013 I’d like to continue enjoying the great outdoors in as many ways as possible. I think the creatures and other life forms among God’s creations are precious and beautiful. They are the sources of daily surprises and an education that continues for a lifetime. There, I’ve said it. And it occurs to me that I’ve allowed little if any time for the seasonal chores that I must find time to accomplish. Oh well, I guess dealing with them goes without saying. Happy New Year, and may you deal successfully with your own list of resolutions, resolves or whatever!
-Thank YouThe Williamston Band students and parents want to thank our community for making our First Scrap Metal Drive a huge success! We want to thank the following businesses that supported our fundraising efforts - Aldi, GLS Heating & A/C, Hunt's Auto Body, Graff Collision Center, Siegel Body Shop, Ron's Automotive, CarQuest, Wood & Sons Corn Bin, and Ridenour Auto Repair. Also, a special thank you to Tom Johnson and Fred Campbell for working hard with us all weekend. Thank you, Williamston, and look for our Scrap Metal Drive next year! Vicki Schneider Williamston Band Booster President
“I really like going to the career center every day. I get to meet a lot of nice people and I get the opportunity to do something I like,” said Byrne. The thing Byrne is going to miss the most about Webberville High School is all the friendly and kind people he sees every day. He really enjoyed all the school activities going on, such as homecoming, prom, spirit week, sporting events and a lot of other activities. “I really want to thank my parents for always being a support, not only through high school but through my life generally,” said Byrne. Byrne also wants to thank his class of 2013 for all the funny times they had together and he is looking forward to having many more with them his senior year. Byrnes advice for the future graduates is “Have as much fun as possible during high school--be open and enjoy it because it is over before you know it.”
-Sierra Club Events-
Senior Spotlight— Shawn Anthony Byrne By Stine Wincentsen “Shawn will always be remembered for his smiling face and his ability to always come up with a funny joke or two,” said senior Owen Judd. Shawn Anthony Byrne is the son of Beth and Kevin Byrne and brother of Hayley and Skylar. Byrne transferred to Webberville High School in 2011 his junior year. He has participated in multiple school related activities such as student council, wrestling, and football. “The thing I miss most about having Shawn on my team is his big interest in wrestling and his fun loving personality,” said wrestling Coach Mr. Josh Moulton. Byrne is very concentrated on being ready for graduation and for that reason decided not to do any sports this year. Byrne’s favorite things to do is to spend time with his family, go to bonfires and hang out with his friends Jenifer Smith, Adrian Joeseth, Owen Judd and many more. “Shawn is a great person to hang around. He is funny, sociable and always seems to find the good in most situations,” said best friend Jenifer Smith. Byrne’s plans for his future are to go to college and study business management and the culinary arts. Byrne attends the Capital Area Career Center for Culinary Arts. It is his absolute favorite subject, and he really hopes to apply it later in his life.
ANNUAL WINTER OWL WATCH WALK AND POTLUCK OUTING: Join the Crossroads Group of the Sierra Club for their fascinating and popular, annual outing to watch the nesting owls in Brighton State Recreation Area on Saturday, January 12. The potluck begins at 5PM at the home of Lee Burton and Roberta Shaw-Reeves at 6277 Cowell Road, south of Brighton, with an introduction to owls and their calls. At 7PM all participants will walk into the nearby Brighton State Recreation Area to call for owls. Bring a flashlight, a dish to pass, beverages and warm clothes for a winter walk in the woods. Sierra Club members and nonmembers are welcome to attend this local, free outing. For more information and directions, contact Lee and Roberta at 810-231-9045 or at lee.burton@michigan.sierraclub.org. "REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS OF MICHIGAN" PROGRAM: Join the Crossroads Group of the Sierra Club when they host "Reptiles and Amphibians of Michigan" presented by David Mifsud, aka "TurtleDave", a herpetologist, a professional wetland scientist and a professional ecologist. TurtleDave will bring live animals so we can learn all about these fascinating creatures, what's being done to protect and conserve them, as well as what you can do to help. Members, nonmembers, families and students are welcome to attend this free program at the Brighton District Library on Wednesday, January 16 at 7PM. Learn more about TurtleDave and his work at http://www.herprman.com. For more information about Crossroads Group programs contact Mary Novrocki at menovrocki@comcast.net or visit www.michigan.sierraclub.org/crossroads.
WEBBERVILLE SCHOOLS DISTRICT NEWS Art Show in the Spartan Center-The Governor's Traveling Show of winning artwork from the 2012 Michigan Youth Arts Festival will be on display in the Spartan Center from January 21 through February 1. 30 pieces of high school student artwork from across Michigan, including a painting by finalist Kierstynn Holman, are included in the show. An opening reception will be held from 4:00 until 6:00 PM on Monday, January 21; parents and the general public are encouraged to attend.
WEBBERVILLE SECONDARY SCHOOL Middle & High School Musical– Join the 6th–12th grade theater students as they present “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat” on Saturday, January 12. There will be an afternoon performance at 2:00 pm and an evening performance at 7:00 pm. Tickets will be $5 each and will be available at the door. *** MS/HS Final Exams–The final exams for first semester will be held Tuesday, January 15–Friday, January 18. A final exam schedule will be posted to the district website. The end of the semester is January 18. Students and parents, check PowerSchool to make sure that all work is done and assignments are turned in before the semester ends. *** The Rivalry–Showdown in Motown!–The Webberville Spartans boy’s basketball team will play against the Morrice Orioles on Friday, February 1 at The Palace of Auburn Hills! This very special game will tip off at 3:20 pm. Purchase tickets and watch the varsity basketball game, and then stay to watch the Detroit Pistons take on the Cleveland Cavaliers (7:30 pm tip off). Ticket prices are $20 for upper level seats and $40 for lower level seats. Contact Coach Travis Brown for more details and to purchase tickets, 517-521-3447 ext: 329 or tbrown@webbervilleschools.org. *** Webberville Spirit Shirts–The Athletic Department will be selling Webberville spirit shirts to middle school and high school students. If you buy a spirit shirt you are able to enter ANY high school winter sport for free! The cost of the T-shirt is $25. If your family already has an athletic season pass, the cost of the T-shirt is only $10. Order forms are available in the secondary office. Return the order form and payment to the office.
Livingston County Health Dept. announces ‘Radon Action’ Month January is Radon Action Month – an opportune time for Americans to test for radon in their homes. Radon is a health risk facing millions of Americans. The Livingston County Department of Public Health (LCDPH) joins with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ), and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in a major campaign to educate Americans about the dangers of radon exposure and to encourage them to take action to identify and fix radon problems. Because families are spending more time indoors during the winter months, January is a good time to test for this radioactive, invisible, odorless gas. Exposure to radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States. EPA estimates that approximately 21,000 lung cancer deaths each year are radon-related. Radon comes from the natural (radioactive) breakdown of uranium in soil, rock and water and gets into the air you breathe. Radon enters buildings through openings in the foundation floor or walls (sump openings, crawlspaces, floor/wall joints, cracks, etc.). Radon can become trapped in buildings, and thus, lead to elevated and harmful radon levels. One in eight Michigan homes is likely to have an elevated radon level. According to a study conducted by the MDEQ, radon is present in elevated levels in about 40% of Livingston County homes. Radon is tasteless, odorless, and colorless, and it has no warning symptoms (it does not cause headaches, nausea, fatigue, etc.). Testing is the only was to know if you and your family are at risk from radon. LCDPH is offering free short-term radon test kits January 1 through January 31. Test kits are available at the Environmental Health Division Office, located at 2300 East Grand River, Howell. EPA recommends that houses with radon levels of 4 picocuries per liter or more of radon should be fixed to prevent accumulation of the gas indoors. Radon test kits are also available for purchase at local hardware stores, home improvement centers, some supermarkets or directly from a laboratory. Radon problems can be fixed by qualified contractors for a cost similar to that of many common home repairs, such as painting or having a new water heater installed (anywhere from $500 to about $2,500). For more radon information, contact the Livingston County Department of Public Health at (517) 546-9858, or the State of Michigan Radon Program at 1-800-RADONGAS. Radon information can also be accessed via the web at www.lchd.org or www.michigan.gov/deqradon.
OFFICE HOURS: Administration Office 7:00 am – 3:30 p.m. Counseling Office 6:00 am - 2:30 p.m. *** IMPORTANT DATES: Jan. 3--Return to School Jan. 15--Senior Pictures Due Jan. 17-18--½ Day Exams Jan. 18--Semester Close Jan. 21--No School *** Yearbooks are on sale now! The price is $60. Order now online at smart-pay.com. *** Seniors or SENIOR PARENTS...There still is LIMITED space available for senior ads in the yearbook. Please fill out the form on the website and turn it into the office or email it to yearbook@fvl.k12.mi.us with your message and JPEG images. The yearbook staff will take ads on a first come first serve basis until the rest of the spots are filled. *** SENIORS...senior pictures are due by January 15. Please bring them in on a disc labeled with your name to Mrs. Hardenbrook, room D214 by that date to be considered in the yearbook. OR you or your photographer can email them to yearbook@fvl.k12.mi. us as well. *** Senior parents to order your caps and gowns go to www.migradgear.com. Packets for Fowlerville graduation invitations and announcements will be distributed in February for ordering. *** Let It Snow -The Fowlerville Snow Club is anxiously awaiting the first snow! The club is open to 5th through 12th grade students. We ski/board at Mt. Brighton every Wednesday, beginning January 9 and run through February. For further information, please contact Ms. DeLuca 517-223-6250. *** The Sophomore Class is collecting old cell phones and ink jet cartridges. Please donate them to Mrs. Tomassi (class sponsor) room D-207 at the high school. Help us raise money for prom and senior year! *** Parents having trouble using Zangle to view grades, email questions to connect@fvl.k12.mi.us *** Target – Take Charge of Education–Through Take Charge of Education, families, teachers and members of the community have an easy way to raise money for our
school. When you sign up and designate Fowlerville High School, Target donates up to 1% of every purchase you make with your RED card (Target® Visa® Credit Card, Target Credit Card or Target check Card) to our school. If you shop at Target stores and use their cards, please consider designating Fowlerville High School to receive the Target 1% donation! *** Ordering Transcripts for College Now Online (Michigan eTranscripts) Please visit the Fowlerville High School website for more information.
Important Information for the 2012- 2013 School Year: January 18- End of marking Period No School K-8
January 21- No School Holiday-Martin Luther King Jr. Day January 24-25–Hearing screening for 4th grade students January 29– KPTN Meeting 3:45 Kreeger Media Center February 1– No School -Teacher Professional Development February 15-18 – No School – Mid Winter Break February 25-27- Hearing Re-Screening for 4th grade students *** Box Tops, VG Receipts, Campbell Soup Labels: Remember to keep collecting Tyson A+ labels, Vg's receipts, and Campbell's labels, in addition to Box Tops! *** Meijer’s Community Rewards and Target Program: Kreeger Elementary is enrolled in the Meijer’s Community Rewards Program. When you apply for a Meijer’s Credit Card or Meijer’s Guest Card, be sure to use the Kreeger number 199139. The Meijer’s Corporation supports schools by returning a portion of qualified customer purchases to the school! When using the Target program remember to mention Kreeger Elementary. Remember, “Every little bit helps!” Thanks for your support. *** Frankenmuth Fundraiser Limo Rides: Limo rides will be scheduled for students who sold $200.00 or more in our Frankenmuth Fundraiser after we have collected all the money. Students who qualify will be taken in a limo for a free Wendy’s lunch. Special notes will be sent home with those winning the rides, as the date gets closer.
playing cards with his family and listening to his sister LuAnn talk about her day at work. When asked about how he feels about being nominated for student of the week, Jake said, “The first thing that I thought was, ‘How did I get this and why?’ I was confused at first, but it made me realize that you don’t have to sell yourself out to get this. Be polite, nice, and keep you head up every single day.” This is why he was nominated not by one teacher, but by six. If you see him, make sure to congratulate Jacob Border on being this week’s FHS Student of the Week!
January 7--Student Council Meeting
Student of the Week-Jacob Border By Christopher Blum
Congratulations to this week’s Student of the Week, Jacob Border! Jacob, or Jake as he’s known to his peers, is a senior at FHS, and is also the son of Clara and the late LTC Jerry Border. He is the youngest of 14 siblings, with 3 of them being brothers and the other 10 being sisters. Mrs. Aldecoa says that, “The really great thing about Jacob is his incredibly positive outlook on life, especially given the challenges that he had to overcome as a young child.” Jake’s schedule consists of English, Art I, Personal Relations, Gym II, Trigonometry, and Band. His favorite class is art, because “I haven’t had Art in a while, and even though I’m not that talented (at art) I enjoy making things that I didn’t know I could do.” Jake’s favorite teacher is Ms. Curd, as she pushes him to do well and makes him feel like he can talk to her about whatever life throws at him. After graduating, Jake plans on attending Baker College in Muskegon to learn how to be a chef. Jake’s favorite part about Fowlerville High School is how polite and courteous the teachers are. However, if he could change something about FHS, Jake would like to see more options regarding possible classes to take. If he could give any advice to the underclassmen, Jake would say, “Keep your head up even though you might be going through a rough time and just have fun.” In his free time, Jake participates in the FHS cross country team, as well as track and field. He also enjoys
Students return to school on Thursday, January 3, 2013 The staff at the FJH wishes you and your family a safe and happy holiday. *** GIRLS' BASKETBALL TRYOUTS begin Thursday, Jan. 3, FJH gym. 2:30-4:30 - 7th 4:30-6:30 - 8th Girls must have physical on file to try out. Wrestling practice for grades 7-8 will begin on Monday, Jan. 14; 2:30-4:30 FHS Aux gym - Wrestlers must have a physical on file to attend practice *** Let It Snow: The Fowlerville Snow Club is anxiously awaiting the first snow! The club is open to 5th through 12th grade students. We ski/board at Mt. Brighton every Wednesday, beginning January 9 and run through February. If you have any used equipment you would like to sell, please feel free to bring it to the meeting. For further information, please contact Ms. DeLuca 517-2236250. *** Magazine Orders: If you would like to check, go to www.magtrak.com and look up your order or call our customer care line at 1-800-251-1542 and they will look up your order for you. Magazines take about 8-10 weeks to start to deliver and depending on the magazine they may start at different times.
Upcoming Programs at the Fowlerville District Library Follow us on Facebook & www.fowlervillelibrary.org. Registration usually opens 2 weeks prior to the event unless otherwise noted. *** Library Holiday Closings: The library will be closed Dec. 31 & Jan. 1 to observe the New Year holiday, reopening on Wednesday, Jan. 2 at 9:30am. We wish everyone safe and happy holidays! *** Announcing eBooks! As a gift from the Fowlerville District Library to our patrons, we are proud to announce that we now offer eBooks! Our eBook collection is supported by Axis 360 digital media and presented by Blio. This technology is new to us as well, please be patient with us as we do our best to assist you with this new technology. *** PRICES REDUCED Retired & Refurbished Computer Sale: ONGOING We are selling our retired computers at a reduced rate. All systems are professionally prepped and set up. Ready to go to your home! Included in the price of a computer is the following: refurbished computer, keyboard, and mouse. Monitors and Microsoft Office software packages are available as add-on accessories and are separately priced. All purchased software package will be installed prior to delivery to the library and the purchaser will receive all of the discs for their computer. For more information, visit the library and see the Computer Sale Specification Sheet on display. *** Did you get a new Kindle, Nook, eReader, or Tablet as a gift and wonder now what???? 2 sessions Monday, Jan 7 2:30-3:30 or Monday, Jan 14 5:30-6:30 Come to our special post-holiday workshops and learn about your new device! Bring your new device and questions! *You must register to attend. Register in person at the Circulation Desk. There is a $5 refundable cash deposit per class payable at the time of registration. Registration is open. *** Intro to eBooks at the Fowlerville District Library: 2 sessions Thursday, Jan 10 2:30-3:30 or Thursday, Jan. 17 5:30-6:30 pm. Come learn how to check out our brand new collection of eBooks! Bring your device and library card. *You must register to attend. Register in person at the Circulation Desk. There is a $5 refundable cash deposit per class payable at the time of registration. Registration is open. *** Bingo: Monday, January 7 5:30-6:30pm. Ages 4-144. Ring in 2013 with a fun family game night at the library!
Seating is limited, register early to attend. *Registration starts Dec. 21. *** Brick Building Club: Tuesday, January 8 at 4pm. Ages 4-5th grade. Join your son or daughter in building a creation based on the given theme. *Register each month to attend. Registration starts Dec. 21. Questions? See Beth at the library. *** U of M Natural History Museum’s Workshops: Just Like Me? Saturdays at 12 on Jan. 12, Feb. 9, Mar. 9. Families. Sign up for these hands-on “Family Reading and Science” workshops. All of us seem so different from the outside but is that really true? *Limited spaces available, remember you are registering for all three workshops. Registration begins December 29. *** New Year Glow Party: Friday, January 18 5-8pm. 6th12th grades. Join us for our annual New Year’s celebration! We are adding a special “glow” element as we ring in 2013! Pizza, pop, and more provided! *Register to attend. Registration begins January 4. *** Computer Classes at the Library: Registration began Monday December 3. For a full list of classes consult your Winter 2013 newsletter, visit the library or our website. *You must register to attend. Register in person at the Circulation Desk. There is a $5 refundable cash deposit per class payable at the time of registration. There is limited seating available for all computer classes.
Brighton Library hosting program on Recyling Efforts at State Level Jan. 22 Kerrin O'Brien, Executive Director of the Michigan Recycling Coalition, will be at the Brighton District Library on January 22 at 7 p.m. to talk about "Recycling Efforts at the State Level." Ms. O'Brien will describe the work and purpose of the Michigan Recycling Coalition and discuss recycling challenges and opportunities. She will also share insights on recent legislation, the future of the Bottle Bill and Michigan Recycling Coalition's vision for a Best in Class Recycling System for the state. Please join us on January 22 for this informative discussion.
Aroun d the Winter has finally found us! Obviously use care when driving on our slippery roads, and lecture those teenage drivers! Experience makes good drivers. Make sure you have windshield washer fluid, put an extra gallon in the trunk for emergencies. Check your wiper blades and tire pressure. The chart for proper pressure is typically listed on the driver’s doorframe. Look at the amount of thread left on the tire while checking pressures. The local stores have either salt or sand to add weight to the trunk of your car for extra traction. Two or three fifty-pound bags would be a good starting point. Keeping your call full of fuel will also help. Anyone that didn’t have a windshield brush/scrapper in their car probably already figured that out! If you’re in an accident and no one is hurt, try to get the vehicles cleared off the roadway. You don’t want to either slow traffic or cause others to hit the damaged cars. I know it is cold, but sitting in a disabled car can be dangerous if another car hits you. If you see a disabled car report it, don’t think ‘they have a cell phone’. Finally, watch out for plow trucks. There is a lot going on in the cab of that truck. Even if the driver is using care, don’t get behind them until you know they can see you, because they can back up suddenly. As you’re out feeding the birds and critters, check that you’ve disconnected your garden hose(s). If the hose is attached, the frost-free valves will not work properly and you could break a pipe. If you have a high efficiency furnace with the plastic PVC sidewall vents make sure they are clear. If the vents are covered with snow your furnace will not start. It must see positive airflow or the burner will shut down. Be careful when shoveling, try and push snow rather than lift it to help prevent back injuries. If you have not been active, your family and friends (as do I) care about you. Don’t shovel or at the very least, take it very slow. You don’t want to have a heart attack! You should salt for safety. If your concrete is new, call your installer for his/her opinion if the slab is ’old enough’ to use salt. Keep in mind falling and breaking a hip is a big problem, but even larger for our ‘seasoned’ citizens. Salt is effective to around 29-ish degrees, but it can damage your lawn and generally you have to use more. Calcium chloride melts ice even in cold 14-ish degree weather and generally you can use less. It is not supposed
to harm grass, but unless you use large amounts in one spot you shouldn’t have an issue. There are also mixtures of salt and calcium or other similar ice melters, and these may be at a ‘better’ price point. Use a plastic cup or spreader to distribute the material; don’t use your bare hands. Keep in mind that those small (overpriced) ‘trunk’ containers of ice melt are more than likely the same material that is in the fifty-pound bags. Find a large mouth plastic jug from a product you’ve used (cat litter, laundry soap, etc.) clean it and refill with the larger bag. If you were feeding the birds and critters all year, they need you most now. Don’t forget your outdoor friends and they will provide you with a season full of their beauty. Nothing gets the morning started better Around The House, than watching that squirrel hanging by one foot off the feeder trying to grab that sunflower seed and falling into a snow bank! Happy New Year! As always past articles are archived on our website www.power24hrs.com and we welcome your questions at JustAskHandyAndy@hotmail.com.
Plainfield United Methodist Church serving chicken supper January 12 A chicken and biscuit supper will be served at the Plainfield United Methodist Church on Saturday, January 12 starting at 5 pm. A free will donation will be accepted and takeouts will be available. The church is located at 17845 M-36, north of Gregory. For more information please call (517) 851-8932.
Capital Area District Library Events December 31—January 6 WEBBERVILLE: Table Games (Adults) Date: Jan. 2. Start Time: 12:30 PM. Description: Bring a friend and join this casual group of adults who enjoy games such as Scrabble, cribbage, and more. Use our games or bring along your own. Library: Webberville (WE) *** LEGO® Club (Ages 5-10) Date: Jan. 3 & 17. Start Time: 3:00 PM. Description: Drop by to build and create with your friends. You supply the imagination--we supply the Legos®! Library: Webberville (WE)
Livingston County Comment s
Happy New Year! Following are some of the initiatives of various Livingston County departments and/or boards. *** Livingston County Department of Planning: Livingston County Receives SEMCOG Sustainable Community Recognition: On November 8, 2012 Livingston County was presented with the Sustainable Community Recognition Award at the General Assembly of the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG). SEMCOG recognizes member communities through its Sustainable Community Recognition Program http://www.semcog.org/sustainablemembers.aspx for incorporating sustainable activities into their community management practices. According to SEMCOG "For local governments, sustainability is about achieving economic prosperity while protecting the environment and providing a high quality of life for residents." Implementing SEMCOG-supported initiatives helps local governments achieve and maintain sustainability. The Livingston County Planning Department and the Livingston County Planning Commission initiated participation in this recognition program, and took the lead on assembling information about Livingston County sustainable activities. SEMCOG staff met periodically with County Planning staff to discuss several potential eligible activities, and by working together the following list of ten (10) sustainable community activities was identified: Implementation of green infrastructure on public property: Planning and management of Lutz County Park and creation of the County Planning resource document entitled: Livingston County's High-Quality Natural Areas. Use SEMCOG data to develop your community Master Plan, Strategic Plan, or Capital Improvement Plan: Utilization of SEMCOG data in the Livingston County Comprehensive Plan (master plan), and display of SEMCOG data on the Livingston County Website. Reliable, quality Infrastructure/Actions to Address Traffic Safety: Preparation of an access management study for the Grand River Avenue corridor in partnership with SEMCOG, MDOT and the Livingston County Road Commission.
Reliable, quality Infrastructure/Actions to maximize infrastructure efficiencies: Development of an asset management plan for the road infrastructure entitled: Gravel Road Capacity Analysis Livingston County, Michigan. Fiscally sustainable public services: Use of benchmark data on Livingston County website to compare municipal expenditures to other local communities. Fiscally sustainable public services: Development and utilization of a multi-year (five year) budget forecast for the Livingston County budgeting process. Actions to maximize infrastructure efficiencies: Development of a coordinated multi-year (six year) Livingston County Capital Improvement Plan/Inventory. Assistance to Manage Land Resources: Adoption of a five-year Livingston County Parks & Open Space Plan that determines the amount of parkland within Livingston County, and identifies if demand for additional parkland exists based on local needs. Desirable Communities: Implementation of marketdriven and targeted development priorities/policies that focus on development of neighborhoods and encourage infill and rehabilitation of existing housing. This was accomplished through the creation of a Place-based Targeting Strategy for the Community Development Block Grant County Allocation Program in partnership with the Oakland Livingston Human Services Agency. Economic Prosperity: Identification of ways that Livingston County can assist our local business community “It is a pleasure to recognize my home county for their sustainability efforts,” said Michael Sedlak, SEMCOG Chairperson and Green Oak Charter Township Clerk. “Through a combination of strong elected leadership and committed staff, Livingston County has accomplished much as they strive to be sustainable now and in the future.” through participation in the Advantage Livingston strategic growth plan. Livingston County proudly joins our local communities of Green Oak Charter Township and the City of Howell as recipients of the Sustainable Community Recognition Program Award. *** Livingston County Department of Public Health News: National Radon Action Month: January is Radon Action Month and this is an opportune time for Americans to test for radon in their homes. Radon is a health risk facing millions of Americans. The Livingston County Department of Public Health (LCDPH) joins with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ), and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in a major campaign to educate Americans about the dangers of radon
exposure and to encourage them to take action to identify and fix radon problems. Because families are spending more time indoors during the winter months, January is a good time to test for this radioactive, invisible, odorless gas. Exposure to radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States. EPA estimates that approximately 21,000 lung cancer deaths each year are radon-related. Radon comes from the natural (radioactive) breakdown of uranium in soil, rock and water and gets into the air you breathe. Radon enters buildings through openings in the foundation floor or walls (sump openings, crawlspaces, floor/wall joints, cracks, etc.). Radon can become trapped in buildings, and thus, lead to elevated and harmful radon levels. One in eight Michigan homes is likely to have an elevated radon level. According to a study conducted by the MDEQ, radon is present in elevated levels in about 40% of Livingston County homes. Radon is tasteless, odorless, and colorless, and it has no warning symptoms (it does not cause headaches, nausea, fatigue, etc.). Testing is the only was to know if you and your family are at risk from radon. LCDPH is offering free short-term radon test kits January 1 through January 31. Test kits are available at the Environmental Health Division Office, located at 2300 East Grand River, Howell. EPA recommends that houses with radon levels of 4 picocuries per liter or more of radon should be fixed to prevent accumulation of the gas indoors. Radon test kits are also available for purchase at local hardware stores, home improvement centers, some supermarkets or directly from a laboratory. Radon problems can be fixed by qualified contractors for a cost similar to that of many common home repairs, such as painting or having a new water heater installed (anywhere from $500 to about $2,500). For more radon information, contact the Livingston County Department of Public Health at (517) 546-9858, or the State of Michigan Radon Program at 1-800-RADONGAS. Radon information can also be accessed via the web at www.lchd.org or www.michigan.gov/deqradon.
Webberville United Methodist Church hosting women’s retreat January 12 Webberville United Methodist Church, 4215 E. Holt Rd, Webberville Sisterchick group will hold a women's miniretreat, Sisterchicks in Gondolas, Saturday, January 12. The retreat is open to all women 18 years and up. It is a day of faith, fun, and Sisterchick friendship. Lunch will be lasagna, salad, bread and a snack will be served. During the day there will be devotions, white elephant, and craft time. The day activity will feature Dr. Ann Pushies who is returning for a second visit to Sisterchick with "Laughter Yoga". Price is $15, 10-3pm and bring a wrapped white elephant gift. Reservations or questions, please contact Judy Christie, 517-294-3321.
Liberty Tax offering free tax series seminar beginning January 2 Liberty Tax Service-Howell is announcing a new, 3-day seminar series to be held at their Howell office beginning January 2, 2013. Topics will engage participants in basic, practical application of the tax code as it applies to the 2012 individual income tax return. Discussions will focus on adjustments to income, deductions, and credits. In addition to federal returns, some of the many changes to Michigan returns will also be presented. Besides pensions, there are changes to exemptions and credits, including the Michigan Property Tax Credit. No prior tax experience is necessary to attend, and participants are under no obligation to Liberty Tax. “There’s no down side to attending these free seminars,” said Patricia Schenck, Enrolled Agent and owner of Liberty Tax Service-Howell. “Many people make the same mistakes year after year on their returns, often overlooking a tax advantage multiple times. Such errors could be reduced by attending one or more of these seminars, and participants may even apply for seasonal employment with Liberty Tax Service.” On average, one change is made daily to the tax code, which is 9,000 pages long. These changes, combined with a confusing income tax code, ensure that the tax industry employs a million people each year. Add in the uncertainty of the pending “fiscal cliff,” the increasing impact of the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare), an undecided AMT patch, just to name a few subjects, and it’s easy to see why over 60% of consumers turn to professional experts to prepare their tax returns. “The seminars will run from January 2 through the 4,” said Pat. “There will be morning and afternoon sessions with ample time for questions and review.” For more information on the seminars and/or topics, interested people are encouraged to call the Liberty Tax ServiceHowell office at 517-540-1040 and ask for Pat.
Senator Stabenow nominates local students to West Point academy U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow announced today that she has nominated 36 Michigan students including one from Fowlerville for placement at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, M.D., the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, C.O., and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, N.Y. Jacob Olechnowicz of Fowlerville has been nominated to the U.S. Military Academy. “It’s exciting that so many exceptional students from our state are willing to serve our country through military service,” said Senator Stabenow. “These individuals have demonstrated their excellence in and out of the classroom, and I am confident that they will represent Michigan well.” Students seeking appointment to a service academy must first obtain the nomination of their U.S. Senator, their U.S. Representative or the Vice President. Students nominated by Senator Stabenow’s office went through a competitive application process that included interviews by community leaders. Now that the students have been nominated, they must await acceptance for admission by the academy to which they have applied. The following students have been nominated by Senator Stabenow to a service academy (by region): Southeast Michigan: United States Air Force Academy Marshal Chen – Troy Lindsay Culp – Dearborn Collin Fifer – Novi Alexandra Hutchinson – Dearborn Ciarra McCarthy – Plymouth United States Merchant Marine Academy Aditya Bajaj – Northville Michael Hermosilo-DeBoer – Belleville United States Military Academy Dionte Burton – Westland Linda Erickson – Plymouth Samuel Keller – Ann Arbor Saul Park – Canton Erin Savage – Troy Thomas Spicuzza – Leonard United States Naval Academy Akbar Arsiwala – Northville Michael Bundas – Saline Chandler King – Ann Arbor Andrew Misiolek - Lambertville Samantha Myers – Dearborn Heights Rachel Stein – Beverly Hills West Michigan:United States Air Force Academy McKinzie Arnold – Caledonia
Seth Carozza – Rockford Benjamin Dorsey – Muskegon Troy St. Peter – Fremont United States Merchant Marine Academy William Fry – Sturgis Kevin Clinthorne – Rockford Issac Kremers – Ada United States Military Academy Sarah Baermann – Grand Rapids Matthew Ziegeler – West Olive United States Naval Academy John Brooks - Ada Mid Michigan: United States Military Academy Jacob Olechnowicz - Fowlerville United States Naval Academy Alexandra Hafer – Saranac Austin Littley – Coldwater Genesee/Great Lakes Bay: United States Merchant Marine Academy Alejandro Mata – Bay City United States Military Academy Jacob Fong – Saginaw United States Naval Academy Aaron Dupree - Flint Upper Peninsula: United States Air Force Academy Sean Ryan – Iron Mountain
Williamston Eagles Club hosting Cash Bash on Saturday, January 12 Win big money on Saturday, January 12 at the Williamston Eagles Club Cash Bash. A cash bash with top prizes of $2,000, $1,500 and $500 are part of the event. There will be 50/50s, $2 and $5 betting boards and the last 10 tickets drawn will be guaranteed at least $50. Tickets cost $50 and include dinner and drink tickets for two. Additional beers and well drinks are just $1.75. You can also take part in a live auction and party into the night to the sounds of the DJ. The Eagles Club is located at 835 High Street in Williamston. Call after 2 pm for tickets or more details at (517) 655-6510.
Fowlerville Library By Cheryl Poch As we say good-bye to 2012 and look forward to 2013, let’s take a look back some 72 years ago to the 1940’s. A fascinating time. Back then there were no televisions, no computers, no cell phones, no automatic washers or dryers. People used bus transportation as their means of getting around and families usually had only one car in the family. And the ‘good-times’ did roll...there were no drugs like today, there was a very low crime rate, patriotism was very high, children used their IMAGINATON to play (they did not rely on video games, smart phones and face book!) (My opinion) There was no terrorism, there were a lot of picnics and family reunions, farmers worked together, the speed limit was 55, there were drive inns for food and drive-in-movies! Children could walk down the sidewalks without worrying about being kidnapped or worse! Back then the average cost of a new house was, $4,075.00, average wages per year $1,750, cost of a gallon of gas 12 cents, average cost for house rent $32 per month and the average price of a new car was around $850. Along with World War II came rationing on the U.S. home front. During the Second World War, you could not just walk into a shop and buy as much sugar or butter or meat as you wanted, nor could you fill up your car with gas whenever you liked. All these things were rationed, which meant you were only allowed to buy a small amount. The government introduced rationing because certain things were in short supply during the war, and rationing was the only way to make sure everyone got their fair share. Even chicken wire fencing was rationed. Can you imagine today if we had to ration our children’s video games or their cell phones or say no more social networking? Or how about the gas we use in our cars or for recreational fun? It really makes you think about what is important when you look back only 72 years ago and see how the world had to survive and adapt to certain situations. Till next year – “Be warm inside and out.”