Build a Healthy Meal
Page 2 — Reflections –– Summer 2015
REFLECTIONS PUBLISHER Elizabeth Gorske
10 tips for healthy meals
MANAGING EDITOR Eric Young EDITORIAL STAFF Sherry Barnum Tim Barnum Amanda Brancecum Kimberly Landenberg Jason Ogden Matt Varcak
ADVERTISING SALES Kim Ferguson Cozad Jama Gates Anthony Kachiros Carla Reeves COMPOSITION Sharon Ehlert
EMAIL sherrybarnum@ogemawherald.com Cover Photo
Photo by Sherry Barnum
Bob Escamilla takes a swing to test out one of his homemade bats.
Have an interesting story to tell? We would love to hear it. Call us at 989-345-0044 or email sherrybarnum@
ogemawherald.com
A healthy meal starts with more vegetables and fruits and smaller portions of protein and grains. Think about how you can adjust the portions on your plate to get more of what you need without too many calories. And don’t forget dairy—make it the beverage with your meal or add fat-free or low-fat dairy products to your plate.
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take your time. Savor your food. Eat
slowly, enjoy the taste and textures and pay attention to how you feel. Be mindful. Eating very quickly may cause you to eat too much.
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nutrients and may help to promote good health. Choose red, orange and dark green vegetables such as tomatoes, sweet potatoes and broccoli.
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add lean protein.
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take control of your food. Eat at
home more often so you know exactly what you are eating. If you eat out, check and compare the nutrition information. Choose healthier options such as baked instead of fried.
include whole grains. Aim to make at least half your grains whole grains. Look for the words “100 percent whole grain” or “100 percent whole wheat” on the food label. Whole grains provide more nutrients, like fiber, than refined grains.
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don’t forget the dairy. Pair your
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try new foods. Keep it
meal with a cup of fat-free or low-fat milk. They provide the same amount of calcium and other essential nutrients as whole milk, but less fat and calories. Don’t drink milk? Try soy milk (soy beverage) as your beverage or include fat-free or low-fat yogurt in your meal.
avoid extra fat. Using heavy gravies or sauces will add fat and calories to otherwise healthy choices. For example, steamed broccoli is great, but avoid topping it with cheese sauce. Try other options, like a sprinkling of low-fat parmesan cheese or a squeeze of lemon.
use a smaller plate. Use a smaller
plate at meals to help with portion control. That way you can finish your entire plate and feel satisfied without overeating.
Choose protein foods, such as lean beef and pork, or chicken, turkey, beans or tofu. Twice a week, make seafood the protein on your plate.
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make half your plate veggies and fruit. Vegetables and fruits are full of
interesting by picking out new foods you’ve never tried before, like mango, lentils or kale. You may find a new favorite! Trade fun and tasty recipes with friends or find them online.
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Reflections –– Summer 2015 –– Page 3
Bill and Kathy Rase remain active in 3 County Club for more than 25 years
By Sherry Barnum
If you grew up in Ogemaw, Arenac or Iosco County, chances are you played summer ball for the 3 County Club. Bill and Kathy Rase, 74 and 66, of Prescott have been actively involved in the 3 County Club for more than 25 years. Bill said the organization has been in their current location on Greenwood Road in Prescott since 1990 and is a 501(c)(3) charity designed to fund youth activities in three different counties. “Although we have been here since 1990, I have been active since the late ’70s,” Bill said. “Our mission statement is to try to take care of youth sports in Arenac, Iosco and Ogemaw counties. But we also try to help out with Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, cheerleading or whatever we can.” Bill said he got started in the organization when he moved up here 40 years ago. “My oldest son was in Pony League, and I was one of the coaches,” Bill said. “We had nine kids and nine different uniforms. So I thought if I could do something to make the kids proud of their team that would be great.” “And that’s how I got into this. I wanted the kids to look good playing sports and not have to wear hand-me-downs,” he said. “We sponsor a lot of teams and events. We are just a real poor community as far as businesses having money available for sports.” Bill said uniforms and equipment can be
Kathy and Bill Rase
quite expensive, and that is one of the reasons the 3 County Club exists. “We’ve been pretty successful in doing that, and we’ve never turned anyone down that has asked,” he said. Kathy said they have a grants meeting on the second Thursday in January every year. “We never turn anyone down,” she said. “We try to give something to everyone who asks for a grant for their kids. We give what we can and equal everything out by figuring out who needs more or less than the other guy, but we always give some-
thing.” Bill said to be able to be a part of this is satisfying personally. “That’s what I’m in it for –– personal satisfaction,” he said. “I was disabled back in 1980. I was in management for General Motors and I had to basically reinvent myself, so I put all my energy in this for myself and the community.” “I’m not going to lie and say it was solely for the community, because it was for me also and to be able to do something useful,” Bill said. “Everyone donates their time for all different reasons, but we are
into it for ourselves, self-esteem and helping the community out.” Kathy said Bill had arsenic poisoning back in 1981 and was in a wheelchair. “He needed something to bring his selfesteem back up,” Kathy said. “He was even in wheelchair Olympics.” Bill, who was born and raised in Bay City, was inducted into the Bay County Hall of Fame for semi-pro hockey. “I have been active in sports my entire life until I was disabled in 1980,” he said. “Then I got into wheelchair sports and competed in Seoul in the Olympics. After that I really got into this.” Kathy said that is why he chose to get involved in the 3 County Club, so he could not only help himself but help the kids as well. “You have to admit that our community is so poor that there is not one family out there that could afford to lots of times pay for their kids to go to camp, so they would come to us,” she said. “We would then help them to be able to attend the camp activity. But one of our best endeavors that we have done in my opinion was buying a defibrillator for Whittemore-Prescott High School.” Kathy said they like to help out in any way possible. “There is a little guy out there right now in a wheelchair, and when you look at him –– that’s the reason we are here,” she said. “It’s those kids that need things he can’t
See RASES, 10
Escamilla shares love of baseball, bat making
Page 4 — Reflections –– Summer 2015
By Sherry Barnum
Coming from a large family of nine sisters and eight brothers, Bob Escamilla, 59, of Pinconning has always loved the game of baseball since he was a young boy. “I have played baseball all my life, starting with playing the game with my brothers and sisters,” Escamilla said. “When I was 10 years old, I didn’t make the team. I waited for a phone call that never came.” Escamilla said he continued to play sandlot baseball until the age of 12. “I played for Northwest Little League and continued on,” he said. “I
played high school baseball at Handy High School, pitched the state championship in 1975 and played baseball for Northwood University in Midland. I also played in the Sunday Northeast Michigan league and played ball in Saginaw and Flint.” Escamilla said in his later years he played in the Roy Hobbs League in Fort Myers, Fla., winning two World Series in 2007 and 2008 with his brother Tony, and still plays ball to this day. Escamilla said making bats was something he had always wanted to do
See ESCAMILLA, 9
Finished bats hang in Escamilla’s workshop.
Bob Escamilla dips a bat into a finish. PHOTOS
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SHERRY BARNUM
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Reflections –– Summer 2015 — Page 5
By Sherry Barnum
Ed Mervyn, 72, started coaching at Whittemore-Prescott in 1977 at the junior varsity level, and 1,000 games later he is still coaching. “I took over varsity in 1980 from Ron Sterling,” Mervyn said. “I made the move up to varsity because it was available. I had already had the kids that were going to be on varsity two years before, so that part was easy.” “We were pretty successful at the JV level and we had some talented kids on the JV level, so it was easy to move up,” he said. “It’s really something you dream about.” Mervyn, who is now in his 38th year, has coach more than 1,000 games and has had more than 600 wins and 300-plus losses. He also has seven district titles, one regional title and one semifinal
Above, Ed Mervyn accepts the 2013 District trophy. Right, Ed Mervyn talks to Greg Blust during his at bat.
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title. “I don’t coach for the trophies,” Mervyn said. “I really enjoy the game and the coaching aspect.” “I love all the kids I coach, and they responded well to baseball and they made it easy to coach,” Mervyn said. “Basically that was it. There wasn’t any outside influence that did it other than me enjoying working with the kids.” Mervyn said once the program took off, everything seemed to fall into place and made it easy for him to come back every year. In 2002, he was inducted into the Michigan High School Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame, and he said there are no words to describe his feelings of being in the hall of fame. “I don’t know if I can explain it,” he said. “I look at it as my name is in there, but it’s the kids that played for me that deserve all
“
the credit. They did all the hard work, so it just brings lumps to my throat when I talk about it.” Mervyn said he has had some great kids to work with, and without them none of this would have happened. “What really makes the program are the great kids and their parents,” he said. “Because the parents aren’t only there to support their kids, but the school and program as well.” Mervyn retired from Whittemore-Prescott in 2008 and shows no sign of stopping anytime soon. “My health is good and I have a super family that supports me, and a son that coaches JV and does an outstanding job there, and the community and administration has always been supportive, so I never set a time limit on how long I will continue this,” he said.
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Teddy Mann uses a custom-made knife — fashioned from a deer antler — to shave wood from a cane project.
WOOD CARVER SEES BEAUTY IN EVERY HUNK OF WOOD
JAY OGDEN
By Jay Ogden
MIO — It’s not that Teddy Mann, a veteran, Chrysler retiree and self-proclaimed “amateur” wood carver, is picky about his projects, but he likes to look over planks of wood from area lumber mills before starting a project. “They’ll lay out boards for me and I’ll pick the ones I want,” he said from his Mio home, which serves as a workshop for Teddy’s many projects. “I’ll pick what I want, but then I’ll go for the scraps on the floor.” The carver got his start as a kid using scraps of wood to make projects. As a kid he and the neighborhood kids didn’t have money to buy toy cap guns, so they improvised. “I was a kid back when you could carry a jackknife to school,” he said. “We would make them out of the orange crate boxes, using the big piece of wood at the end. We would shape them, get some black ink on them, and they would be better than new.” Teddy’s Mio home is a testament to his love of woodworking. While many may have mass amounts of family photos, knickknacks or other items, nearly every surface of Teddy’s home is devoted to wood carving. Even the wooden floor of the home, installed by Teddy and his late wife Maryanne, is a sign that the family
was very into making wood projects. The pair helped found the Mio Wood Shavers Club. The club meets Thursdays at the Oscoda County Commission to carve as a group for hours. They have been doing this for a decade, and originally started because Teddy did not want to drive long distances — to Oscoda or Hale — for other wood carving clubs. Maryanne is gone now, but the club endures. Even though Teddy carves canes, figurines, birds and other items with extreme detail, he says he is just a hobbyist. “I’m an amateur, but she was a master carver,” he said. Although Teddy worked on projects for decades longer than his wife, she surpassed him. They would work on projects together — she would carve the cane head and he would carve the cane shaft. He said she also painted her items so lifelike that when she entered her items in county fairs judges would believe the items were actually ceramics. Teddy is a veteran of the U.S Army and got back into carving after serving during the Korean War. He lived in Royal Oak, joined the Metro Carvers and began to get into realistic carving. He worked on duck decoys — which have to resemble real ducks to attract them, but he didn’t like it.
See WOOD, 8
Northwoods Stompers 121 stomp their way into summer
Reflections –– Summer 2015 — Page 7
By Amanda Brancecum
The first Northwoods Stompers 121 dancing and camping weekend began at the Ogemaw County Fairgrounds May 22-24. The group is part of the National Square Dance Campers Association. They have state and national conventions. The statewide dance happens once a year. This year it is in Grand Rapids on August 20-22 at the Grand Rapids Crowne Plaza Hotel. They do two types of dancing, round dancing and square dancing. In round dancing, the people who call out the moves are called callers. “Round dancing is really ballroom dancing except they tell us the moves,” Roscommon Northwoods Stompers 121 dancer Bill Tudor said. In square dancing, the people who call out the cues are called cuers. Tom Claar from Bad Axe, a member of the group, compared what they do to the television show “Dancing With the Stars.” The different types of dances performed include the jive, waltz, fox trot and the cha cha. The only difference between the television show and the group’s dancing is the people calling out the moves. “With this, all I have to do is listen,” Claar said. Jim Davis of Saginaw, George Edwards of Hale and Bill Towner of West Branch started square dancing and round dancing as a group. The three decided in 1981 to begin a group called the Northwoods Stompers. The group at the fairgrounds consisted of
A group of four couples square dance in a pavilion at the Ogemaw County Fairgrounds Friday, May 22. The black specks are shredded tire pieces put out to prevent the dancers from falling. AMANDA BRANCECUM
13 couples. They went to workshops during the day and danced at night based on what they learned. Some couples only knew square dancing, while others knew round and square dancing. Rosey Kimble and Marty Kimble just
one of the couples at the event are from Byron. “One of my friends said, ‘Marty, we need one more couple,’” Rosey said. “He said yes, and we’ve been doing it since for 12 years.”
To find out where the Northwoods Stompers will be camping and dancing next, visit their website at www.considerthisministries.com or to find more information about how to get involved with a group nearby visit www.ceder.net.
Forward Celebrating 90 Years of Service to the Traveling Public Continues… This article is our 3rd installment in the Reflections Issues of 2015. This installment continues to focus on our growth and features the forward lodging division. This division includes the Quality Inn Forward Conference Center, the LumberJack Food & Spirits and the Super 8 Hotel of West Branch, as well as the Super 8 of Houghton Lake. The continued growth of Forward Corporation stems in part from meeting the needs of our local communities and the traveling public.
West Branch - Exit 212 – In the late ‘60s and early ‘70s, as the construction of I-75 continued north, Forward owners, Austin and Ben Buttrick, worked with local government officials to secure sewer and water services to the exit. This was necessary for any further development. The Forward Shell Service Plaza was one of the first businesses to build at this exit. The plaza offered the traveler a break from the road, an opportunity to refuel, get something to eat, pick up a beverage or shop the 24/7 plaza store. As new businesses joined the Forward Plaza at the exit, so did the north-bound travelers seeking overnight accommodations.
In 1986 the Quality Inn Forward Conference Center was added to this property. The conference center’s décor depicted Michigan’s rich lumbering history. The hotel featured 80 comfortable guest rooms, six meeting rooms, an indoor pool and whirlpool. The facility also housed a 24-hour coffee shop called the Logmark and a full-service restaurant called the Wanigan Dining Room, which was later converted to an Italian-themed restaurant and lounge called Avantis Italiano Ristorante. The Quality Inn Forward Conference Center was one of the first properties to receive Choice International Hotels’ prestigious Gold Hospitality Award, and currently ranks 86th from the top of over 1,200 Choice Hotels throughout the entire chain. Exit 212 was ready for further expansion. With the addition of hotel accommodations, the exit needed an anchor business or an attraction with pull power. After much speculation and research, Forward owners decided a regional outlet mall would be a perfect fit for the exit. Forward marketed the available property through mall real estate publications. Stanley Tanger, owner of Tanger Outlet Center in New York, answered the ad, visited the site and consummated the deal with Forward. Construction of the 30-store mall was completed and opened for business in 1991.
The LumberJack Food & Spirits, located adjacent to the Quality Inn, replaced the former coffee shop and Italian Restaurant. Its up north and lumber jack concept was developed to meet customer expectations. In June of 1999, the renovation began. Owners Robin and Terry McTaggart and interior decorator Steve Metzler of Au Gres captured the essence of up north Michigan and its rich lumbering history by incorporating trees, water elements, antiques, lighting and mounted wildlife throughout the complex. Visitors are intrigued with all there is to see and enjoy. The menu includes appetizers such as white pine pucker pickles and features entrees like the house specialty LumberJack BBQ Spareribs. The desserts are decadent and the many microbrews and wine selection are crowd pleasers. LumberJack Food & Spirits was voted by the readers of The Detroit News as “One of the Best Places to Eat on Your Way Up North.” The LumberJack also offers outside catering services for special events. The Super 8 in West Branch, located behind the Quality Inn, was built in 1993 to handle the overflow of guests to the Quality Inn. It added 41 rooms to the exit. In 2001, another 36 rooms, an indoor pool and breakfast room were added, bringing its room count to 77.
The Super 8 of Houghton Lake was purchased, remodeled and open for business in 2003. This property consists of 69 rooms. It is located on M-55 at the intersection of US-127 in Houghton Lake. Both Super 8 Hotels are winners of Super 8’s “The Pride of Super 8” award. West Branch has grown to be a destination for shopping, dining, recreation and a great place to raise a family. Its growth and development is attributed to the many organizations that worked together to make it all happen. Whether the organization is a government entity enabling progress, a business providing a service or recreational activities, an event organizer, or a marketing group, it’s people working together with vision and purpose that makes the difference. The Forward family is pleased and proud to have been a part of it all.
The Forward properties in West Branch Township rank 3rd in the top contributors to the township’s tax base and in the top 10 throughout Ogemaw County. The Forward Lodging properties currently employ 117 people.
Wood: Mio carver cherishes imperfections in his projects
Page 8 — Reflections –– Summer 2015
FROM PAGE 6 “I found that I don’t like to make everything the way that it is supposed to be,” he said. “I just like to make it. Whatever the feeling of it is when I’m making it, that is what it is.” That is why Teddy scrutinizes the wood he uses. Whereas before he would cut around knots and weird imperfections in the wood, he now cherishes them. “There is a saying about carving,” he said. “They say that all you have to do is remove everything that doesn’t look like your project.” As far as knots, I love them; that is what I wanted to work with,” he said. “In the old days this would have been thrown away, but Mother Nature did a lot of work making that wood look like that in there.” Teddy said he did a lot of carving when he worked at the Chrysler factory, from which he retired in 2001. “I carved there all the time and I made signs for people’s cabins,” he said. “When they brought a machine in it would be wrapped in a box, and they would let me know and I would go get the wood off the crates. I had my own little desk and I would cut out different stuff, and they would want stuff for their cabin.” He said he inspected cars, but a good share of his time was spent turning the crates into signs. Examples of his signmaking ability are evident on his home, where there are dozens of carvings done by Teddy affixed to the building. “Someone one day asked how to find me in the factory,” he said. “My boss told them, ‘Follow the wood chips. When they stop he’ll be standing there.’” Teddy said he got paid a lot more at Chrysler than he’s made selling his canes. He estimates if he were getting Chrysler wages for a cane, it would be around a $300 paycheck. But he would rather give them to people who could use them.
Teddy Mann displays a handmade cane he worked on with his deceased wife, Maryanne Mann. JAY OGDEN
“And at the time it started I didn’t need one, but now I have to use one,” he said. “I give them to the senior center and give them to people who can really use them. The fun part is making them.” He said in the time it takes to make a cane, he has roughly $300 into one. Teddy said he even likes to give them to other members of the wood carvers club. He said the public is always welcome to pull up a chair and watch people carve or even join in with projects. He said beginning carvers should work on small projects and simple things to get the hang of things. “We have people who carve, we have people who do wood burning, and we have people who just come in and enjoy themselves,” he said. “So come and do what you
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enjoy. If you’re making a horse and it looks like a horse to you, then it’s a horse.” More information about the group can be found by calling 989-826-3025.
Teddy displays two wood burning pieces of art done by his late wife, Maryanne Mann. JAY OGDEN
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Escamilla: sells 200-300 bats per year
Reflections –– Summer 2015— Page 9
FROM PAGE 4
since he was a young adult. “My father took a leg from an old table and carved by hand our first ‘Escamilla’ bat, not knowing that I would make and sell wood bats later on in my life,” he said. “When I purchased my first copy lathe, I decided that I was going to turn into a business, and I started making them in 2001.” Escamilla said he didn’t have any training but would experiment with a wood lathe. “I like working with
Above, Bob Escamilla poses for a picture with one of his custom bats. Right, is one of the baseball fields he built for the community. SHERRY BARNUM
wood, and it’s just something I wanted to do,” he said. Escamilla retired from Dow Chemical in Midland after working for 30 years as a pipefitter, and considers his bat making more of a hobby than a business. “There is fierce competition,” he said. “There are more than 300 bat manufacturers in the U.S. and they all try to undercut each other. A lot of the bat companies sell their bats from $90 to $160 per bat. I sell my bats from $60 to $70 per bat and use the same pro stock wood billets as the major bat companies do.” Escamilla said his business, is not a family business and he is the owner, bat maker and salesperson. “I usually sell 200-300 bats per years,” Escamilla said. “Our bats have been as far as South Korea, Arizona, California, New York, South Carolina, Ohio, Georgia, Florida and
other states, with the majority being in the Mid-Michigan area.” “My favorite bat to make is the Yaz bat,” Escamilla said. “I feel this bat has one of the best ‘pops’ of all my bats, but all my wood bats have ‘pop’ to them.” Escamilla also has two baseball fields out behind his shop that allow him to not only test out the bats he makes, but gives kids a place to play. “I've always liked Fenway Park and decided I would like to build my own baseball diamond,” he said. “I want to see baseball continue in this area and have my grandchildren and their friends have someplace to play. I also give hitting and fielding lessons and teach the mindset of the game to youngsters and young adults.” And when Escamilla is not making bats he likes to restore old street rods, work on the baseball fields he built and be a grandpa.
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Page 10 — Reflections –– Summer 2015
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Effective July 1, 2015, Villa Healthcare is excited to inform you that we have assumed ownership of the Bortz Healthcare Facilities throughout Michigan.
Villa Healthcare is changing the landscaped of the post-hospital care by transforming long-term care facilities into modern, post-acute care settings known for clinical sophistication, quality medical care, unexpected luxury, and exceptional levels of comfort and service.
Our goal is to provide patients with the optimal pathway to restore health vitality and independence to its highest level. Our clinical programs include short-term transitional care, rehabilitative care, specialized clinical programs, and long-term care. THE VILLA AT WEST BRANCH 445 S. Valley Street, West Branch, MI 48661 Phone: 989-345-3600
THE VILLA AT ROSE CITY 517 W. Page Street, Rose City, MI 48654 Phone: 989-685-2442
THE VILLA AT TRAVERSE POINT 2828 Concord Street, Traverse City, MI 49684 Phone: 231-941-1200
THE VILLA AT THE BAY 1500 Spring Street, Petoskey, MI 49770 Phone: 231-347-5500
THE VILLA AT GREEN LAKE ESTATES 6470 Alden Drive, Orchard Lake, MI 48324 • Phone: 248-363-4121
villach.com
Kathy holds back tears as she looks at Bill as they are presented with an all-expenses-paid trip to a bingo convention in the Upper Peninsula. SHERRY BARNUM
Rases: help local youth through charitable gaming FROM PAGE 3
get on his own, so when they come to us and ask for a grant so they can go to camp –– hell yeah. Could he go otherwise? Probably not, so that’s what it is all about.” “It’s about helping some kid fulfill their dream,” she said. “And when you have a Cubbie come to us and show us he made Eagle Scout and couldn’t have done it or stayed in Scouts had it not been for them guys years ago that started him out and kept him going.” Bill said although times have been tough, they have struggled through and still have funds in the bank to help out. “But this isn’t about Kathy and I,” Bill said. “It’s about every one of our volunteers here –– we couldn’t do this alone.” “We have some of those workers out there that are here every bingo helping us out, and we couldn’t do it without them,” Bill said. “I think we are the only organization around here that is just dedicated to helping the kids,” he said. “Other organizations do donate and have programs, but our whole existence is to help the kids.” Kathy said they do have an emergency fund in case someone comes to them and needs something.
“If the football team makes it to state finals and needs hotel rooms or something we help them out,” she said. “We had soccer teams in West Branch and Hale, now Cub Scouts, wrestling, football, baseball, golf and tennis and bowling. We just sent a bowling team from W-P to the state championship. We try to do a little bit of everything. If the entity is doing good and they don’t have funds to go to championships we’ll help them out in any way we can within reason.” Kathy said if it were not for the volunteers here they would not be able to exist. “We are a family here; it’s not just Bill and I, it’s those people out there,” she said. “If it wasn’t for the workers that are unpaid, no one here at all would get money –– it’s about our family, our bingo family, our players and workers alike.” Kathy said it used to be easy, but it is a struggle to get players through the door now. “We used to hang a sign on the building and we would have the place packed with people sitting on paint buckets, but now it’s a challenge to keep the doors open, and we worry about it every day,” she said.
“Bill and Kathy have had an enormous amount of impact on the community, and if it wasn’t for them I believe a lot of the sports wouldn’t be able to do the things that they do.”
- Connie Powell 3 County Club volunteer
Dishes that are perfect for a summer barbecue
Reflections –– Summer 2015—Page 11
Cherry Limeade
Ingredients: 1 can limeade frozen concentrate, any brand 1 2-liter bottle of Sprite (or equivelant soda) 1 10-oz. jar of maraschino cherries, with juice 1 lime pebble ice (optional)
Directions: • Chill all ingredients in fridge until cool. • Slowly pour Sprite, melted limeade and cherries into a large pitcher and mix slowly to preserve carbonation. • Fill glasses with pebble ice, then pour in your limeade. • Slice limes to garnish, and enjoy. INFORMATION
COURTESY OF THEIDEAROOM.NET
FIRST FITNESS
520 W. Houghton Ave. (Next to Mercantile Bank) • 989-343-1238 facebook.com/firstfitness.wb
Bisquick blueberry cobbler
Ingredients: 3 cups of blueberries 6 tablespoons of butter or butter substitute 1 1/4 cups of original Bisquick 2/3 cup milk 1/2 cup sugar 8x8 or 9x9 pan
Directions: • Preheat oven to 350 degrees • Melt the butter –– Melt 6 tbsp. of butter and put in a microwave-safe bowl. Pour it in the pan. • Mix bisquick, sugar and milk. • Combine all ingredients –– Pour the mix over the melted butter and combine. • Sprinkle blueberries evenly over the mix in the pan • Bake for 42-47 minutes or until crust is brown. INFORMATION
COURTESY OF INSTRUCTABLES.COM
NOTICE TO ALL ARENAC COUNTY SENIOR CITIZENS: Sunrise Side Senior Services 131 Clyde Street • Omer
WE OFFER THE FOLLOWING IN-HOME SERVICES: Light Housekeeping, Personal Care, Home Delivered Meals and Respite Services.
Make your health a priority this year! Hours: Mon.-Fri. 6am-8pm, Sat. 8am-4pm, Sun. 1pm-4pm Mercantile Bank Account Holders Discount: $25/mo. • Seniors (62+) $17.50 Other Rates: 1 month $35 • 3 mo. $90 • 6 mo. $168, 1 year $300 • Day pass $6 • Week pass $20, 10 Punch pass (no expiration) $30 New and upgraded equipment! Variety of commercial grade equipment with something for everyone. Private exercise room with Pilates classes Tues./Thurs. 5:30 pm and Step Aerobics Wed. 5:30 pm and Sat. 9 am. $5/class. No membership required. Side exercise room open for member use during non-class hours. Clean and friendly atmosphere. 2 certified personal trainers on staff to help get you started and meet your goals.
ON-SITE SERVICES THAT WE OFFER: Adult Day Care Center, Loan-Closet, Activities, Informational Speakers, Crafts, Best Foot Forward Exercise Class, Medicare/Medicaid Assistance Counselor, Alzheimer’s Support Group, Project Fresh Coupons, and Congregate Luncheons - Monday thru Friday at noon. We’ll answer all your questions! We play Bingo at 10:30 am Monday, Wednesday & Friday. Euchre is played following lunch on Tuesday and Thursday.
EVERYONE IS WELCOME - JOIN IN, JOIN US... Arenac County’s “one-stop” for all Senior Citizens who need assistance.
WE ARE HERE TO HELP... JUST GIVE US A CALL
989-653-2692
Page 12 — Reflections –– Summer 2015
20-Minute BLT Pasta Salad
Ingredients:
• 1 lb. bowtie pasta • 1 cup Italian salad dressing • 1/2 cup creamy ranch • 1 lb. thick-cut bacon, fried until crispy then cut into strips or crumbled • 2 large ripe tomatoes, diced • 10 leaves of romaine lettuce, washed, dried and chopped into bitesized pieces • 1 very small onion, diced • Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
1. Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Add pasta and cook until al dente, about 10 minutes. 2. Drain pasta and rinse under cold water until cool. 3. While water is coming to a boil, heat a skillet over medium heat, add bacon strips and cook until crispy, about 4 minutes on each side. Transfer bacon to a paper towellined plate. 4. Place cooled pasta in a large serving bowl; set aside. 5. In a small bowl combine zesty Italian dressing and ranch, mix well. Add dressing to pasta and toss well to coat. 6. Add bacon, lettuce, tomato and onion to pasta bowl, mix well to combine, and season with salt and pepper as desired. Serve at once, or chill until needed.
INFORMATION
COURTESY OF BAKERBYNATURE.COM
Originally established in 1906, our business is one of caring compassion and service to area families for over a century. We offer a warm, comfortable place to gather with friends and family to honor the memory of a loved one. We personalize our services to meet your needs and budget. We offer funeral services, cremation, preplanning and headstones. Feel free to contact us at anytime with any questions.
How to avoid growing bored in retirement
From the moment young men and women walk into the office for their first day as a working professional until the day they officially retire, the notion of planning for retirement is never far from their minds. But when the day to hang up the briefcase and donate all those business suits arrives, some retirees wonder what to do next. Some retirees know exactly how they will spend their days when they no longer have to work, while others who decide to play it by ear may find themselves battling boredom. For those among the latter group, it’s important to understand that many retirees find themselves bored once they no longer have to focus on a career. Jobs keep men and women busy and provide a sense of purpose in their lives, so it’s understandable that retirees feel bored once those jobs are no longer a part of their lives. But just because you no longer have an office to go to every day does not mean life cannot be as fulfilling or even more fulfilling than it was when you were still working. You just need to find something to avoid succumbing to retirement boredom. • Work part-time. Though it might seem odd to start working right after you retire, a part-time job can provide the type of structure you have grown accustomed to without all of the responsibility that comes with a fulltime career. Part-time jobs can range from consultancy work that makes use of your professional experience to something entirely different like landscape maintenance at a nearby golf course that gets you out of the house and enjoying the warmer seasons. Whichever you choose, make sure it’s something you find fun and interesting. • Embrace a new hobby.
Working professionals often say they wish they had time to pursue a hobby. Now that you are retired, you have all the time in the world to do just that. Whether it’s perfecting your golf game, writing that novel, learning to cook like a gourmet chef or whatever else you might have always wanted to do, retirement is a great time to do it. • Get in shape. If retirement boredom has started to negatively affect your mood, one great way to conquer your boredom and improve your mood at the same time is to start exercising. Exercise is a natural mood enhancer. When the body exercises, it releases chemicals known as endorphins, which trigger positive feelings in the body. In addition, regular exercise has been shown to reduce stress, boost self-esteem and improve sleep. Working out at a gym also is a great way to meet fellow retirees in your community, and the energy you have after exercising may give you the boost you need to pursue other hobbies. • Volunteer. If a part-time job is not up your alley, then consider volunteering in your community. Volunteers are always in demand, and volunteering with a local charity can provide a sense of purpose and provide opportunities to meet likeminded fellow retirees, all while helping to quell your boredom. Retirees who love to travel can combine their passion for volunteering with their love of travel by signing up to work with an international relief organization that travels abroad to help the less fortunate. Upon retiring, many retirees initially find themselves coping with boredom. But there are many ways to avoid the restlessness of retirement.
Managing concerns about falls Submitted by Sharon Burdine Ogemaw County Commission on Aging
Have you turned down a chance to go out with family or friends because you were concerned about falling? Have you cut down on a favorite activity because you might fall? If so, “A Matter of Balance: Managing Concerns About Falls” is a program for you. Fear of falling can be just as dangerous as falling itself. People who develop this fear often limit their activities, which can result in severe physical weakness, making the risk of falling even greater. Many older adults also experience increased isolation and depression when they limit their interactions with family and friends. “A Matter of Balance” can help people improve their quality of life and
remain independent. “A Matter of Balance” is designed to reduce the fear of falling and increase activity levels among older adults. By attending eight two-hour sessions held once a week, participants learn to set realistic goals to increase activity, change their environment to reduce fall risk factors and learn simple exercises to increase strength and balance. Ogemaw Commission on Aging is offering “A Matter of Balance: Managing Concerns About Falls” on Fridays, beginning in the fall, from 9:30-11:30 a.m. This class is free. A workbook is provided and refreshments will be served. Class space is limited. For more information or to register contact the Ogemaw Commission on Aging at 989-345-3010 ext. 1802.
Reflections –– Summer 2015—Page 13
210 Wilson Street Alpena, MI 49707
Live on the Sunrise Side
Call 989-356-6725
www.LutherCommunityManor.com
• Live in a comfortable, affordable, smoke-free retirement apartment where “community” is our middle name. • For seniors 62 and older. Rent is based on 30% of adjusted income. • Utilities and maintenance included. Onsite property manager and service coordinator. • Exercise/computer room and monthly activities.
PARAMOUNT Rehabilitation Services Physical Therapy ¥ Occupational Therapy ¥ Speech Therapy
Your Orthopedic Specialists 4489 M-61, Ste. 6 Standish, MI 48658
989-718-3171
Come See Us Today! Prsmichigan.com
Green
Hardware
Grilling Season is here! Propane
$9.99 20-lb. fill
10% Discount For
Grills & Accessories Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express honored at participating Ace Stores
2106 S. M-76, West Branch 989-345-0020 www.greenace.com
Page 14 — Reflections –– Summer 2015
Our primary focus is to provide aid and assistance to those people who need temporary help.
THANK YOU!
Thanks to our community and volunteers, in the last 3 years we have provided almost $200,000 in temporary assistance directly to members of our community who are in need.
With our store we generate income and share that income with the community to help with: • electrical bills • heating • transportation costs • medical bills • prescriptions • property taxes Also... • clothing • furniture
ST. VINCENT de PAUL “Much More Than a Store”
3444 W. M-76 West Branch
Buresh
Serving families with compassion since 1897
Funeral Homes and Cremation Center
Cemetery Monuments Complete Pre-arrangement Needs
Twining 15 W. Maple Ridge Rd.
989-867-4237
Au Gres 101 E. Michigan Ave.
989-876-8525
Other locations: Oscoda, Prescott, Hale & Tawas City
• • • •
HIGH SPEED INTERNET & PHONE FRIENDLY - LOCAL - RELIABLE ALL YOUR TECHNOLOGY NEEDS QUESTIONS? WE ARE HERE TO HELP
Client aid services: 989-701-2581
989-345-0779 (store)
Tues. & Thurs. 10 am - 4 pm
Mark Lewandowski, D.D.S. Welcomes Renowned Orthodontist to West Branch
¥ Mark Lewandowski, D.D.S. Cosmetic and General Dentistry
¥ Patrick LeVasseur, D.D.S. Practice limited to Endodontics
¥ Dr. Dale J. Davis, D.D.S. Dr. Lisa M. Davis, D.D.S., M.S. Practice limited to Orthodontics Invisalign, Invisalign Teen or Traditional Braces
If your smile isn t becoming to you, you should be coming to us.
Davis & Davis Orthodontics is currently one of Michigan’s largest Invisailign practices. Davis Orthodontics uses the latest technology including a 3-D scanner, creating a before and after picture (before treatment is proposed) so you can see the results before you even start treatment. Dr. Dale Davis has lectured for both Align Technologies and Henry Schein Orthodontics nationally. Dr. Davis earned his dental degree from the University of Michigan where he graduated 3rd in his class in 1992. Both he and his wife Lisa graduated with their degrees in Orthodontics from the University of Illinois at Chicago School of Dentistry. Drs. Dale and Lisa Davis are members of The American Association of Orthodontics, The Great Lakes Association of Orthodontics and The Midland Association of Orthodontics. He has run 11 marathons and has recently finished his 12th Make-A-Wish bicycling tour fundraiser where 900 bikers travel 300 miles in 3 days to grant a wish for children with life-threatening illnesses. Currently both doctors live in Midland with their family of 4 children, Alec, Madeline, Elizabeth and Julia, and have practiced together in the same town for the past 20 years. All your treatment can be started and completed in West Branch, eliminating your valuable time in transportation, time away from work and fuel costs.
www.midlandsmiles.com
CALL AND MAKE AN APPOINTMENT FOR YOUR DENTAL OR ORTHODONTICS NEEDS TODAY.
989-345-1391 420 E. Houghton Ave. ¥ West Branch Like us on Facebook
Remember when?
Reflections –– Summer 2015—Page 15
. From the archives..
Gov. John Engler stopped by Surline Middle School during his visit to Ogemaw County on Sept. 19. The governor was in West Branch for several hours, as part of his tour of all 83 Michigan counties. Do you remember the year?
This postcard picture mailed in 1910 shows Ernie Blamer's general store. This building burned down about 1950. Later a store owned by Glen Brune was built in the same location. This building was then Mitchell's Market. The white building was the SeymoreSanderson store. The building north of that one was the Luzerne Post Office, then the Hagaman residence. The roadway in the picture is westbound M-72. Do you know
what building is there now?
Do you remember when a replica of the Santa Maria, Columbus’ flagship, docked in Au Gres while on a tour, which took it up the Lake Huron shoreline to several other stops?
PHOTOS
COURTESY OF
CODY ROSSEN, THE OGEMAW COUNTY HERALD AND THE ARENAC COUNTY INDEPENDENT
The first correct answers called in to our office will receive a complimentary 6-month subscription. Call today - Arenac County Independent: 989-846-4531; Ogemaw County Herald: 989-345-0044 or Oscoda County Herald: 989-826-5047.
Page 16 — Reflections –– Summer 2015
Rose City Drug
Next to Family Fare 2640 North M-33 Rose City, MI
The Connection To Your Health. 989-685-2141 ¥ Toll Free: 877-444-2141 www.rosecitydrug.com Also visit us at
WE ARE THE PHARMACY That Really Cares about our PATIENTS ...
We beat or meet all our competitors’ prices!! (on most medications) We offer automatic fills on all your prescriptions. We can fill MOST prescriptions within 10 minutes Our Parata Max Robotically Controlled Prescription Machine guarantees accurate & sanitary prescriptions.
We bill Medicaid, Medicaid HMO, Medicare Advantage plans for 90-day prescriptions including retired teachers & auto workers.
Medical Supply Shop 130 E. Cedar St. Standish, MI
989-718-3331 For medical supplies & equipment
Michigan s most unique gift shop... We have a gift for even the pickiest person on your shopping list! New Yankee Candle, Pure Radiance Woodwick Candles, Diffusers & Scenterpiece Products have arrived! supporting 10 of today’s most important and necessary charitable initiatives.
New Michigan inspired clothing now in stock. Get yours before it’s gone!
All 21st Century vitamins
Buy One Get One Free
Valid August 1-31, 2015, while supplies last. Some limitations apply. See store for details.
SEE US TODAY FOR: ¥ Wheelchairs ¥ Lift Chairs ¥ Wound Care ¥ Ostomy Supplies ¥ Nebulizers ¥ Scooters ¥ Incontinence Supplies ¥ Bathroom Aids Crutches, Walkers, Canes, Splints, Slings & Braces