The Canadian Laker August/September

CANADIAN LAKES, MI

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2021

BE A DIRECTOR OF THE CLPOC BOARD

Joyce's Choices TAKING NOTE OF

Tuba Bach canadianlakes.org

231-972-8300 CBLakes.com

We Have Buyers Looking In Your Neighborhood

Kathleen Adams 231-250-3197

Bob Manzagol 231-349-8096

Sue Kempton 231-638-3498

Joe Mako 989-303-8544

Kolina Mako 989-423-0452

Rockie Peacock 231-349-5533

Jim (JB) Bradley 231-598-4640

Peter Taylor 989-857-9017

Todd Lincoln 989-560-4884

Marshall Henry 231-598-0838

Michael Roberts 989-506-4275

Rich Marino 586-630-8773

Rick Kempton 231-349-8300

PASQUALI LAW OFFICES Mid-Michigan’s source for elder law, trust, and estate services

LADYBIRDS, LIFE ESTATES AND YOU

There is a growing enthusiasm for the use enhanced life estates, also known as Ladybird deeds in the planning context.

A “Ladybird” deed is a deeded conveyance provided for in Michigan Land Title Standard 9.3 whereby the grantor reserves an “enhanced life estate”, but names others who will take title to the property upon the grantor’s death. The practical effect of such a conveyance is that upon the grantor’s death, title to the property passes directly to the named individual(s) in the deed

without the necessity of a probate administration.

Compared to a traditional life estate (sometimes referred to as a “life lease”), the reservation of an enhanced life estate by way of a Ladybird deed does not result in any loss of property control for the grantor. Instead, the grantor is free to encumber or sell the property and keep the proceeds from any sale.

whether it is appropriate in the context of your family’s unique circumstances.

Call today if you would like to explore this tool as a part of your estate plan!

We advise all of our clients to carefully consider the pros and cons of using a Ladybird deed with counsel before deciding

Attorney Mark R. Pasquali

OFFICE #1

OFFICE #2

CONTACT

405 S. Mission St, Ste. E, Mt. Pleasant, MI

7062 9 Mile Road Mecosta, MI

(989) 400-4646 www.pasquali.law

A U G U S T / S E P T E M B E R 2 0 21

Hello Canadian Lakes!

W

e hope the summer has been treating you well. Summer in Canadian Lakes is busy, and oh so many memories are made. Going out on the lakes or cruising over to one of our golf courses will show you that. I captured our cover photo while making some memories of my own. I was able to take some shots of Morton Township Fire Department and its chief, Allen Sutherby.

The cover photo is of their rig at the Castle positioning the flag and preparing to raise it for our fireworks display. It was a cool sight to see up close. Many beaming faces of pride were seen as the flag was raised, and what a memory I have now. The fireworks display on July 2 was quite spectacular, and we are thankful for those who made it happen. There are still many upcoming events for you and your family to enjoy and make memories of your own. See the following page for more information on those events.

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SATURDAY, AUGUST 28

Summer Concert Series – The Kari Lynch Band (a Canadian Lakes favorite) returns with its alternative-country style, based in Nashville, at 7 p.m. at Reuther Pavilion.

September

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 4

Upcoming Events AT CANADIAN LAKES

August

FRIDAY, AUGUST 6

17th Annual Bullhead Tournament Fishing begins at 8 p.m. and ends at 2 a.m.

Saturday, August 7 in any of the Canadian Lakes water bodies (shore fishing is usually best). The entry fee is $10 per person (youth 16 and under are free but are not eligible for cash prizes). The weigh-in is 11 a.m. Saturday at the Pines Pavilion. Entries must be received by 4 p.m., Friday, August 6. Mail or deliver names and money to Sue Glazier, 8339 West Royal, 231-679-1938. Make checks payable to Sue Glazier. More information is available at the CLPOC kiosk or www.canadianlakes association.org.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 11

CLA Ice Cream Social at the Castle from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. or until the ice cream is gone. Spend time with your neighbors while

enjoying a dish of ice cream served by your CLA Board members. Event open to all CLPOC members, their families, and guests.

Ten door prizes will be drawn at 8 p.m., and you must be present to win.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 21

Summer Concert Series – Atomic Annie is a variety cover band presenting music you know and love with its own special twist from the ‘60’s to the ‘90’s, featuring alternative to modern rock/pop covers, at 7 p.m. at Reuther Pavilion.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 25

Bass Fishing Fun Night at 5 p.m. Just show up at Pierce Beach before 5 p.m. to register and fish for three hours. At 8 p.m. enjoy pizza and compare results from catch-and-release (with artificial lures only). Bring your own drinks.

c a n a d i a n l a ke s .o r g

Canadian Lakes Dog Days at 11 a.m.

Watch the amazing dogs jump into the water to retrieve a ball to see who can jump the farthest. Cheer on your favorite during the races. Other contests include Doggie Dash and the Dog Show. Check out the vendors of dog-related items and have a good time. To enter your dog, you may register beginning at 10:30 a.m. on the day of the event, which is held near the Royal Grille and Lake Laura.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 5

Classic Car & Bike Show 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. at the Castle.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 11

18th Annual Pike Tournament at 7 a.m.

Those eligible are Canadian Lakes members, their families, and guests. Any number may be in a boat, but this is an individual tournament.

Entry fee $20 each, children under 17 are free.

Meet at 7 a.m. and end with measure-in at 2 p.m., both at Pierce Beach on West Lake.

Send your $20 and name to Jeff or Natalie Abel, 9325 Edgewater, 904-753-2596 by 4 p.m., September 10. Details available on the CLA website or in the office kiosk.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15

Pike Fishing Fun Night at 4 p.m.

Rules similar to the Bass Fun Nights.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 25

CLA Annual Meeting and the CLPOC Meet the Candidates at 11 a.m. at the Highland Haus.

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Buying or Selling?

Call Tom Garner Associate Broker

231-629-6006 tgarner.c21@gmail.com

If you’re considering buying or selling in today’s WILD real estate market, you will want to make sure you have a knowledgeable Realtor to represent your interests. Escalation and guaranteed appraisal clauses, multiple offers, contingency waivers, agency relationships–these are all very important areas of real estate that will greatly affect the outcome of your SALE. If you have questions about any aspect of real estate, give me a call. As you can tell by the diversity of properties listed below–You will not find a better qualified Realtor to represent you.

$629,900

$650,000

Incredible log home with 7 Acres with over 500’ frontage on Lake of the Hills PLUS a Private stocked pond and a 3 stall pole barn.

$299,900

$289,900

$349,900

$159,900

Little Muskegon Riverfront Estate with 5 acres, 3 barns, ponds incredible house.

Additional house and 75 acres available.

$249,900

$239,900

Blue Lake Shared Waterfront Chalet. Sandy Royal Canadian Lakes Golf Front Ranch. Ranch house in Canadian Lakes, High Demand home on Golf Course. beach and dock with incredible Lake views.

Full CL amenities. Boat docking. Open great room. Secluded setting.

3 seasons room. Over 1 acres.

40 wooded acres of exceptions hunting. Ranch Log Home in Canadian Lakes. Near home with finished walk out and pole barn. Finger Lake and beach. Full Cl amenities.

$99,900

Village of Blanchard affordable ranch home. Low maintenance.

PE N D I N

$117,900

Remus area trailer and barn on 1 acre. Country living.

$145,000

$79,900

Chippewa River fixer upper home. incredible waterfrontage and views. 3 bedroom house.

G

$279,900

$129,900

$419,900

$129,900

20 Acre homestead with pond. Major updates Blanchard home with 2 garages. in this well maintained home in the country.

Major updates.

Canadian Lakes waterfront building Farm house on 80 acres in Big Rapids. Cute and Cozy ranch home adjoining site. Level setting. Great build site.

Pond Stream and great hunting.

Canadian Lakes and Lake Mecosta.

$154,900

4 Acres with 2 houses. Country living on paved road. Great potential.

$59,000

Lake of the Clouds waterfront lots.

2 exceptional lots for great price.

CLA Picnic 2021

Features 19 Be a Director of the CLPOC Board

26 Outdoor Mysteries: AmmuniA U G U S T / S E P T E M B E R 2 0 21

tion Shortage or a Simple Case of Suppy and Demand?

30 Taking Note Of Tuba Bach 38 Joyce's Choices 42 Second Annual Celebrate the Library Virtual Auction

c a n a d i a n l a ke s .o r g

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Canadian Lakes Property Owners Corporation

In Every Issue

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From the General Manager

46

Mobile Watch

48 Canadian Lakes

12 From the Board

Yard Waste

20 Marketing

49 CLPOC Board

22 From the CLA 34 Focus on Fishing 44 Canadian Lakes Safety

Minutes

53 Calendar of

Area Events

54 Let’s Get Social 56 Art Piece

Publisher Canadian Lakes Property Owners Corporation 10690 Pierce Road Canadian Lakes, MI 49346 P 231-972-7651 canadianlakes.org Production & Advertising SVK Multimedia & Publishing PO Box 586 Hudsonville, MI 49426 616.379.4001 SVKmp.com | jolsasvk@gmail.com Editorial Lindsay Halcomb, Marketing Associate Art and Editorial provided by Canadian Lakes Property Owners Corporation thecanadianlaker@gmail.com Volunteers Nancy Wallace Marilyn Yvon Joyce Wilcox Photography Chuck Richardson Di Schwartz Deadline Dates April/May – March 5 June/July – May 5 Aug/Sept – July 2 Oct/Nov – September 3 Dec/Jan – November 5 Submissions Canadian Lakes sanctioned groups and outside organizations are encouraged to submit articles, pending approval by CLPOC Board. Submit all copy as an email attachment to Editor at thecanadianlaker@gmail.com.

Credits are noted with articles and photos.

Guidelines for Articles Submit in Microsoft Word®, double spaced, preferably in Calibri font 11pt. or Arial font 11pt. For complete guidelines, contact thecanadianlaker@gmail.com.

Guidelines for Photos/Graphics Photos: Digital high-resolution photos.

Low resolution photos usually not accepted.

Graphics: Submit graphics in .pdf or .jpg format.

Cover photo credit: Lindsay Halcomb

Get Social With Canadian Lakes

The Canadian Laker is owned and published bimonthly by the Canadian Lakes Property Owners Corporation (CLPOC) as its official magazine and is mailed at standard rate to each property owner of record to the address on file with the corporation. The Canadian Laker is a trademark of the CLPOC. Copyright ©2021 by CLPOC, all rights reserved.

twitter.com/canadian_lakes

Although every effort is made to ensure accuracy of content published in The Canadian Laker, the CLPOC cannot assume any responsibility for content, warranties, and representations made in advertisements herein. Advertisements or sponsor recognition appearing in The Canadian Laker is not an endorsement or recommendation of the advertiser’s product or service by the CLPOC. All warranties and representations made are solely those of the advertiser and any such claims regarding an ad’s content should be addressed directly to the individual advertiser.

CLPOC reserves the right to refuse publication of any editorial content, advertisement, or unsolicited material.

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canadianlakes.org members.canadianlakes.org facebook.com/campcanadianlakes facebook.com/canadianlakes facebook.com/castleincanadianlakes facebook.com/royalgrille facebook.com/theroyalcanadianlakes facebook.com/thehighlandscanadianlakes facebook.com/thepinescanadianlakes canadianlakes_mi

Let us help you

order your next vehicle

The national vehicle shortage has changed the way many of us shop for our next car or truck. At Krapohl Ford & Lincoln, we continue to receive new vehicles weekly and are optimistic the pace will increase.

Our sales team will work with you to select and order a vehicle that meets your needs. You’ll lock in today’s incentives tied to ordering and will be among the early Ford and Lincoln customers to receive their vehicle as inventory builds.

Reach any member of our sales team at 989-772-2991 Dave Haywood General Sales Manager dhaywood@krapohl.com

Eric Brauher Sales Professional ebrauher@krapohl.com

Mike Helmer Assistant Sales Manager mhelmer@krapohl.com

Jeremy Skelton Sales Professional jskelton@krapohl.com

James Yun Sales Professional jyun@krapohl.com

Cody Gross Sales Professional cgross@krapohl.com

Patrick Church Sales Professional pchurch@krapohl.com

1415 E. Pickard in Mount Pleasant

From the General Manager

W GREG BABBITT General Manager gbabbitt@clpoc.org

hat a great place to spend time with family and friends! All I am going to say about restrictions is, it is nice not having any. After more than a year of shutdowns, social distancing, virtual meetings, and canceled plans, the community is ready to roar back to life. And to kick it off, what a great holiday weather weekend it was. The fireworks, 5K Run/Walk, Community Parade, golf events, fishing events, and summer picnic were just some of the exciting activities that we were able to resume. I am hopeful you enjoyed some of these traditional July 4th weekend activities.

Please keep in mind, these holiday events would not be successful without the work of many. In preparing for these there are always lots of additional tasks and extra hours of work required. So, I especially want to thank my staff members for all their efforts. They are always willing to do these additional tasks and work any extra hours required.

Also, I need to thank all the volunteers. These events would not be possible without the many volunteers who kindly donate their time and energy into making everything so successful.

COMMUNITY PROJECT You will be excited to know that by the time you are reading this the long-awaited beach rejuvenation project will be underway and hopefully nearing completion. You will want to check out the new sand at these five beaches: Pierce, Holiday, Lookout, Far West, and White Pine (Sunset Shores). This will be a nice upgrade for our avid beach-goers that will be enjoyed for years to come.

OFFICE 10690 Pierce Rd. Canadian Lakes, MI 49346 Phone: 231-972-7651 OFFICE HOURS Monday - Friday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Saturday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

MEMBER SERVICES Meghan Andersen Faith Markin Jane Hensley memberservices@clpoc.org

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CONTINUED MAINTENANCE We have many ongoing routine maintenance items for our staff, some of which are done behind the scenes and may go unnoticed: painting, cleaning, repairing, and so forth. Staff will also continue with roadside tree/brush trimming in identified areas. We will also continue with contractor maintenance, including common area mowing, roadside mowing, beach maintenance, and road grading and brining. We are preparing for some September asphalt road work, including overlays and repairs, in the various areas we have identified.

The popular Truxor lake maintenance machine continues to be busy this summer in various lakes and ponds. Members are always excited to see it removing lake weeds in their areas. This continues to be a great weed control tool in certain areas; and the best part is that it allows us to remove the lake weeds from the lake, thereby not adding to the biomass/muck at the bottom of the lake.

ENFORCEMENT My staff continues to verify compliance with deed restrictions and the Rulebook. This is something we have to do; but please keep in mind, the last thing my staff or I want is to have to contact you regarding a violation. Unfortunately, lately I am receiving reports of increased violations and less cooperation with my staff members’ attempted enforcement. This needs to stop, as they are simply trying

T h e C a n ad i a n L a ke r

JIM SKARDA FOR FLOORING

to do their jobs. As part of purchasing in our private community, you agreed to abide by the restrictions, whether you liked them or not. Most members and guests are cooperative; but we certainly have some who are not. I am not sure what the answer is; but for those of you who choose not to be cooperative, fines will be imposed, membership privileges will be lost, and legal action may be taken. This is certainly not a message that I enjoy giving, but a friendly reminder does not work for some members or guests.

IN CLOSING As you know, Labor Day weekend is approaching quickly.

It will signify that our summer season is coming to an end, with fall colors and cooler temperatures ahead.

Some members will again begin thinking about their winter destinations. But in the meantime, I hope you will enjoy what we have left of summer. I appreciate each of you continuing to be safe and courteous as we all enjoy this amazing community.

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Canadian Lakes Islands

QUESTIONS HAVE ARISEN concerning the use of the common ground islands within Canadian Lakes. There are approximately 11 such islands of various sizes. Some of these islands continue to have erosion issues. The Lakes & Environmental Committee members believe it is important to preserve our islands to the best of our ability. We hope we can count on our members and their guests to assist us with this.

Here are some basic guidelines for island use: • Use in daytime only.

• Do not disturb trees, vegetation, or wildlife.

• To avoid damaging the shoreline, do not haul

boats or other items up onto the shore.

• Permanent structures are not permitted.

• Remove all litter.

• Remove all pet waste.

With your assistance and cooperation, we can keep the islands well-maintained and available for all members and guests to enjoy for years to come.

Photo credit: Lindsay Halcomb

Lakes & Environmental Committee

30+ years experience The difference between Ordinary and Extraordinary is the little Extra!

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Dan Bollman Associate Broker

23I-629-2680 Over 30 Years Experience | dan@century21whitehouse.com

I want to Sell Your Property. PLEASE Call ME! FEATURED HOMES

Canadian Lakes Main Chain of Lakes – Waterfront Home $429,000

Canadian Lakes Riverfront Home $369,900

Thinking of selling your home or cottage?

Please call me for a free market evaluation…you might be surprised at your value…in today’s high demand market!

PE N D I N

Lake Access Lot Canadian Lakes

$1,950

$1,650

$35,000

PR I C E D R E DUCE

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Canadian Lakes Lake Access

Lake Laura Lot Canadian Lakes

Little Muskegon River Lot Canadian Lakes

$24,900

Lakefront Lot Canadian Lakes

$29,900

Canadian Lakes - Lake Access Golf Course View

$1,750

From the Board

D President Paul L. Szymkowicz

CLPOC BOARD OF DIRECTORS board@clpoc.org OFFICERS President Paul Szymkowicz pls.clpoc@gmail.com John Colley Vice President jacclpoc@gmail.com Treasurer James French jbf.clpoc@gmail.com Secretary Linda Tilley ltilley.clpoc@gmail.com DIRECTORS-AT-LARGE Dan Altier altierdt@gmail.com Daniel Rice dozerrice1960@gmail.com Bob Halpin rbobhalpin@aol.com Jerry Junker juncker.jerald@yahoo.com Steve Wilcox doctorw.clpoc@gmail.com CLPOC BOARD MEETINGS Regular Monthly Board Meeting Fourth Saturday 9 a.m., Highland Haus

uring the fourth of July weekend there were so many great things going on in our community it is hard to list them all.

We had our fireworks show on July 2 and they were beautiful to watch from the water. Many friends and families watched from the Highland Haus and the Alpine Haus. A good time was had by all. Participants in the Canadian Lakes parade just traveled down West Royal Road waving and throwing candy to all the spectators. A big “thank you” to all those that helped set up and participated in this year’s parade. The CLA picnic was fantastic. Thank you to everyone who made this event possible.

On June 22 the last of the state-mandated restrictions that affected Canadian Lakes were lifted. All our amenities are now able to open to 100 percent capacity. All one needs to do is look around and you can see the positive effects in the community. Tee times at all three of the Canadian Lakes golf courses were booked throughout the holiday weekend. Currently, the outdoor pool is showing heavy use. Earlier this summer, the lake pumps were running, trying to raise the lake levels. One week Canadian Lakes received just over four inches of rain. Today, our main lakes are at capacity. The Royal Grille is also showing a marked increase in member use. Remember, even though the Royal Grille is open, please be a little extra courteous and patient when dealing with all the service aspects in our community. Everyone is striving to do their absolute best during these times. Most if not all the area’s pavilions were utilized over the holiday weekend. It was fantastic to finally see families and friends being able to get together to celebrate.

On June 26, the Board of Directors was able to meet in person.

It is difficult to believe that our last in-person Board meeting was in February 2020, 16 months ago. That is around 475 days. Although the Zoom platform performed very well for us over that period, I for one am glad to be able to go back to in-person Board meetings. Our Wednesday afternoon workshops will also be returning to in-person meetings. Those directors who can make it in person are encouraged to do so. Those who can’t meet in person can still do so on Zoom.

It is that time of year again when we start preparing for this year’s fall election. As in previous years, three director positions will become available. The three directors whose terms are expiring have the option to run for another three years; and as always, this election is open to any member in good standing who may wish to run for one of three positions. A committee has been formed to answer any questions that the membership may have about becoming a member of the CLPOC Board of Directors. Any interested individuals can send their questions or request the proper forms to the following email address: clpocnominating@gmail.com.

Until next time, please be safe and enjoy what our community has to offer.

All you need to do is look around and there can be no doubt that “The Good Life “is stronger than ever before.

Workshop Board Meeting Second Wednesday 5:30 p.m., CLPOC Office Conference Room

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ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION AMENDMENT ANNOUNCEMENT CLPOC Board of Directors Since the CLPOC was formed, the Articles of Incorporation have been amended numerous times. The Board of Directors intends to propose to the membership the adoption of amended and restated Articles of Incorporation. The purposes of this amendment and restatement are (1) to have all current provisions of the Articles of Incorporation contained in one complete document, (2) to reflect changes in the law, (3) to address inconsistent provisions or language that is no longer relevant, and (4) to clarify other points and concerns that have been raised over the years. The CLPOC Board will be fully transparent in this process and will give all members an opportunity to review any proposed changes prior to the requested approval vote on the Annual Meeting ballot. In the coming months, the CLPOC Board will provide members with information regarding the proposed amendments, along with the explanation/rationale.

CANADIAN LAKES PROPERTY OWNERS VISION STATEMENT Canadian Lakes is a premier recreational and residential community set in West Michigan’s scenic heartland.

As a unified community of private property owners offering an unequaled quality of life, Canadian Lakes fulfills the diverse needs of all members in a natural setting for present and future generations to enjoy.

This Core Vision is characterized by: • The natural beauty of the area and its desirability as a place to live • Outstanding recreational and social activities • Financial soundness and sustainability • Protection of property values through disciplined growth and the development and maintenance of a high quality infrastructure.

CORE VALUES • Our heritage: We value our history and its ideals of friendliness, mutual support, affordability, and shared responsibility for our natural environment.

• Participating in the activities we love: We value participating in activities we love with our friends and neighbors and supporting the diverse and changing interests of our members.

• Protecting property values: We value taking proactive steps to protect and enhance the investment members have made in their homes and in community amenities.

• Financial soundness and sustainability: We value a financial structure that enables us now and in the future to meet community standards for the quality of our properties, membership programs and services and safety.

• Shared governance: We value and depend on the leadership and participation of members in the governance activities of the community and on an informed membership.

• Volunteerism: We value the active volunteer community service of our members, both in Canadian Lakes and in the surrounding communities.

• Leading into the future: We value careful planning, openness to change, and taking proactive steps that will ensure our best future as a community.

c a n a d i a n l a ke s .o r g

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BOARD DIRECTOR SPOTLIGHT BOARD MEMBER

Bob Halpin

M

y wife Beth and I first came to Canadian Lakes as summer vacationers about seven years ago when her sister and brother-in-law moved to Canadian Lakes after he retired. I remember being struck by the beauty of Canadian Lakes and the fantastic weather in the summer.

Having grown up in southern Illinois outside St. Louis and living most of my career in places like Little Rock, suburban Washington, D.C., and Hampton, Virginia, I was only used to summers with miserably hot, humid days. The idea of playing summer afternoon golf in comfort and getting to wear sweatshirts in the evening was fantastic. I remember thinking, “I could get used to this!”

For the next several summers we came to Canadian Lakes. With each summer I got to know Canadian Lakes a little better, enjoying the family boat rides in the afternoons and evenings and playing golf on the various courses.

When I retired from IBM after 37-plus years at the end of 2017, and with our three boys grown and gone, Beth and I decided to sell the house in northern Virginia and buy a place in Canadian Lakes. We moved here in April 2018 and spent our first summer focused on fixing up the house and property for the long term. As a new resident, I was learning more about what a fantastic and welcoming community Canadian Lakes is. The organized golf leagues and tournaments that Dennis Wolfe put on made it easy to meet other people in the community who also love to play golf. Everyone was so welcoming.

The other thing I did that first year was decide to run for the Board.

I figured it would be a good way to contribute to the community as a volunteer and would help me learn more about Canadian Lakes—more

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“Having grown up in southern Illinois outside St. Louis and living most of my career in places like Little Rock, suburban Washington, D.C., and Hampton, Virginia, I was only used to summers with miserably hot, humid days.

The idea of playing summer afternoon golf in comfort and getting to wear sweatshirts in the evening was fantastic. I remember thinking, ‘I could get used to this!’” than I could find out on my own. Even though I knew very little about how the Board operated, I thought I would jump in. So, in fall 2018 I ran and was elected.

As my three-year term comes to an end this year, I look back to when I started and realize how little I knew then about Canadian Lakes, the Canadian Lakes Property Owners Corporation (CLPOC), the community, T h e C a n ad i a n L a ke r

In the past few issues of The Canadian Laker, the board directors have had the opportunity to tell us a little more about themselves. We have enjoyed reading about each of them, and we hope you have, too. To conclude our Board Director Spotlights, we happily give you Bob Halpin and John Colley.

and being a Board member here. Of course, I’m still learning, but certain things really stand out for me.

First, I had no idea how large and complex Canadian Lakes really is: more than 5,000 properties with more than 50 different sets of deed restrictions; more than 2,000 homeowners and another 1,600-plus property owners, all of whom bring a diversity of backgrounds and interests; a dedicated staff that serves the membership; and a corporate structure—the CLPOC—to support it all. Even our homeowners live their Canadian Lakes lives differently, with some staying here yearround, others splitting their year with summers here and winters elsewhere (we are in this category, heading back to Virginia in the winter), and still others who come up on the weekends. We have a vast array of amenities to choose from and a great volunteer social organization in the Canadian Lakes Association (CLA) that all help make Canadian Lakes so unique.

My time on the Board has been a great personal education about Canadian Lakes. First, I believe we are blessed here to have such an experienced, professional, and hardworking staff under the general management of Greg Babbitt. I have gotten to know Greg and his management team and can tell you that they are dedicated people who work long hours and successfully deal with the daily operational complexities that come with a large, diverse community such as ours.

Second, we have a great organizational and cultural structure that supports the Canadian Lakes community. The CLPOC provides a solid organizational base with an operational team, a nine-member Board elected by the membership for oversight, and Articles of Incorporation/Bylaws. We also have

a separate and organized volunteer group in the CLA that provides outstanding, seamless cultural and social value to the community.

Speaking of volunteerism, when I ran for the CLPOC Board, I didn’t realize how much time is involved in being a Board member. Besides the obvious monthly workshop and Board meetings, there is a lot of work through Board Committee work. Also, having spent time on several Board committees (Architectural Control, Strategic Planning) and as Chair of the Lot Default committee, I see the enormous amount of time other Canadian Lakes at-large members spend on these committees, too. Their contributions to the success of these CLPOC committees are every bit as important as the Board members'.

As I look back on my two-and-ahalf years on the CLPOC Board, I think its greatest strength is the diversity of the Board itself—which stems from the annual election and term structure that elects a third of the director team each

year. The current slate of directors has a good diversity of both professional experiences (business, education, legal) and Canadian Lakes interests (golf, boating, hunting, and so forth). Some of the Board members have lived in Canadian Lakes for decades; others, like me, arrived here in the past few years. This results in a well-rounded Board that brings different ideas for improving and moving Canadian Lakes forward. All Board members don’t always agree on what the best or right answer is for a particular situation.

Some might see this as problematic, but I think it is a sign of Board health— expanding its thinking, challenging itself to always examine its working assumptions, and looking to the future while respecting its past.

This particular Board has overseen the most important task of approving a five-year funding plan (currently in place) that provides us financial stability. It has also developed and approved a new, more inclusive approach to strategic planning with

the Community Planning Process, which brings CLPOC members, staff, and the Board together in charting key components of our community’s future.

Finally, when I see all the amenities and CLPOC operational support we have in Canadian Lakes, I think how blessed we are to have an annual membership price under $750. Quite a bargain! Having thousands of members cost-sharing our operational and infrastructure costs provides Canadian Lakes a unique platform for financial stability that few other communities enjoy. We get access to golf, beautiful lakes, pickleball, swimming, dining, winter snow removal, reliable road maintenance, and so much more for a price that in other communities might just get trash pickup!

But above all, I continue to come back to this realization: it’s the people— our members and employees—that make Canadian Lakes such a unique and special Michigan gem.

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For more information, or to find a surgeon who will do what’s best for you, visit McLaren.org/CentralGeneralSurgery

Which means, if you have a medical issue that requires surgery, you don’t need to travel far from home to receive the highest quality care.

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15

BOARD DIRECTOR SPOTLIGHT BOARD MEMBER

John Colley

“T

HE GOOD LIFE.” When I first heard the slogan, I must admit that it did not immediately ring home for me. In fact, I questioned whether it adequately characterized our community or life here.

It is a very simple type of slogan—11 letters, three words—basic.

My wife Kathy and I have been part-time residents of Canadian Lakes for the past seven years (we also have a residence in Georgetown, TX). During that time, we have had the good fortune to spend most of our holidays, summers, and other miscellaneous times at our cottage on East Royal, usually with our family and other friends joining also. We have hosted golf outings, bachelorette parties, showers, reunions, anniversaries, and birthdays. We and our guests have extensively utilized many of the fantastic offerings that are available here at Canadian Lakes, especially the lakes, golf courses, trails, fitness center, and the Royal Grille.

A recent career change that accommodated me working from home has provided me an opportunity to spend more time here in Canadian Lakes. I did not anticipate what effect that living here would have on me. It has been far beyond my expectations.

To be able to live (and work) while residing in a resort community is something that dreams are made of. I am thoroughly enjoying it! So are my family, friends, and dog, Missy.

The enjoyment and satisfaction that have come to our guests, relatives, and selves as a result of fully experiencing “The Good Life” is amazing! I have come to appreciate the slogan very much. I have come to appreciate the lifestyle that Canadian Lakes offers even more! It is truly a special place and community.

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I am currently completing my second term as a member of the CLPOC Board of Directors. I serve as Vice President of the Executive committee and also serve on the Finance and Strategy committees. I am the Strategy Committee and Finance Committee liaison for the Community Planning Process Marketing Group.

My involvement with CLPOC has been both enlightening and rewarding.

Enlightening in the fact that I have learned so much about all aspects of the community. Enlightening in the fact that I fully understand how the CLPOC operates. Enlightening in recognizing that we have a very dedicated and talented staff, including our general manager and department heads. Enlightening in recognizing and appreciating that we have a great group of talented members who are willing to provide time, expertise, leadership, and energy as volunteers for our CLPOC Board of Directors and subcommittees, the CLA, and other various committees and groups.

We are very fortunate to have these resources and assets available to us.

My involvement with the CLPOC T h e C a n ad i a n L a ke r

has also been rewarding. First and foremost, the opportunity to serve as a representative of our community on the CLPOC Board is an honor that I take very seriously. Serving on the Board has allowed me to interact with great people. Whether it is a staff member, director, member, our outside legal counsel, or our outside accountant, being on the Board has afforded me the opportunity to work with people who care, are dedicated and passionate, are talented, and have strong moral character, all in the best interest of the CLPOC. Extremely rewarding! It has also been rewarding to see the progress that we as a corporation have made during my tenure on the Board. As a corporation, we are currently on very sound footing.

So, what does the future hold for Canadian Lakes? My guess is that it holds great promise. I feel that Canadian Lakes is at a sort of transition point. A transition that is occurring naturally and somewhat unnaturally. Demographically, there is a shift in ownership underway in our community. Folks who have been here for decades (or since the early development) are transitioning out and making way for new folks to come to the community and enjoy the things that they and their families have enjoyed for years. This is a natural transition that provides for continuity of the well-being of the community.

There is also a transition or movement that could be considered unnatural but is proving to be a changing force in how work is performed today—namely, working from home. Although it took a pandemic to create and prompt the change, the utilization of remote conferencing for work has made living in a particular place a non-issue. Given the choice (and the opportunity), who would not want to be on a conference

call while looking past your monitor at the lake, golf course, or woods outside? The current supply, demand, and price levels of home sales reflect the increased desire for people to get their piece of “The Good Life.” Life and work balance is achieved—a good thing for sure.

What do we have to do to ensure that Canadian Lakes continues to thrive and be the type of resort-oriented community that we have all come to appreciate, utilize, and call home? That question is currently being worked on by two committees; the Lot Default Committee, and the Community Planning Process. Through the very hard work of the members on these committees, this fall the community will be presented with a comprehensive analysis that will provide a roadmap with options for many exciting initiatives that will be put forth to the membership for approval. These initiatives involve improvements and upgrades as well as prioritize the needs and wants of our community.

These are exciting times! Looking forward, with a vision and proper support, we can see great things for Canadian Lakes. It is our community. It is up to us to look out for its best interests. Keeping it robust, safe, thriving, and desirable is our responsibility. Being able to live “The Good Life” is our reward. Enjoy!

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Be a Director of the CLPOC Board

BY PAUL SZYMKOWICZ

N

ow is the time when the Canadian Lakes Property Owners Corporation (CLPOC) begins the nomination process for new board directors. Each year three board members are elected to a threeyear term. Terms run with the calendar year, starting January 1. The CLPOC governing documents place only one requirement on the candidates: they must be members in good standing.

Directors conduct the business of the CLPOC in accordance with the Articles of Incorporation. Directors are charged with performing activities to promote, enhance, and improve the value of CLPOC membership. Directors set the budget and financial plans and approve community architectural designs and strategic plans for the CLPOC. Each director shall attend one board workshop per month and one board meeting a month and participate in at least one board committee that meets monthly in most cases.

Attendance is encouraged at all times, either in person or remotely. If you are a member in good standing and are considering becoming a CLPOC board director, you must obtain a nomination petition from the CLPOC office. The completed petition must be returned to the Nominating Committee by 4 p.m. on August 31. You are required to obtain at least 10 signatures of members in good standing on the petition and provide a 100-word-orless biography. This should give a brief description of your reasons for applying and your qualifications to become a board director. This will be published in The Canadian Laker for the membership to read. Your biography must also be emailed to the Nominating Committee in Word format when your petition is returned.

After your nomination is cleared and approved for the ballot, you will receive three questions to answer. This must be done in 350 words or less for all three questions. These questions and responses will be published for the members to read. You must also email your response to the Nominating Committee in Word format. A photo will be needed for this publication as well. Deadline is September 3, 2021.

The “Meet the Candidates” forum will be held after the board meeting in September. At that time, members in attendance will ask you questions. These questions can be addressed to you as one or to the entire panel of candidates.

This session will be live on the member

website and saved for later viewing.

In November, ballots are counted the morning of the CLPOC Annual Meeting. Election results are announced at the Annual Meeting of the Members that afternoon. Contact the Nominating Committee at clpocnominating@ gmail.com with questions. Committee members are: Nominating Committee Chairman Paul Szymkowicz, Jerry Juncker, and member-at-large Jo Alex.

Direct all questions related to the nominating process to Paul Szymkowicz at clpocnominating@gmail.com.

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Marketing

Canadian Lakes Marketing

JESSICA SLENDAK Marketing Director jslendak@clpoc.org

Marketing Associate Lindsay Halcomb lhalcomb@clpoc.org Assistant Webmaster Lee Ann McCormick canadianlakes.org

GET SOCIAL WITH CANADIAN LAKES canadianlakes.org members.canadianlakes.org

twitter.com/canadian_lakes

facebook.com/campcanadianlakes facebook.com/canadianlakes facebook.com/castleincanadianlakes facebook.com/royalgrille facebook.com/theroyalcanadianlakes facebook.com/thehighlandscanadianlakes facebook.com/thepinescanadianlakes

Instagram: canadianlakes_mi

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I

often wonder how many people read The Canadian Laker. I do think our readership has increased more over the last year or so based on the increase in comments I have received. We have run out of issues here at the office sooner, too. Still, out of 4,000-some members, in the June meeting I heard that communication is not good enough. The Member Bulletin is emailed to more than 3,000 members each Monday and Thursday. The members website, www.members. canadianlakes.org, is filled with all departmental and Board information and recent news. I maintain eight Facebook pages, an Instagram and Twitter page with information; and we have a YouTube Channel and Google-plus account. The Board meets twice a month, and both meetings are broadcast on the members website—yet it’s still not good enough. I do admit, besides Facebook, our social media is less than stellar.

Lack of staff is the culprit here. Lindsay Halcomb, marketing associate, has recently stepped away from her full-time position and is responsible solely for The Canadian Laker and some email marketing initiatives, moving some social media to the back seat on the priority list until a full-time associate comes back on the marketing team.

The Canadian Laker is sent to all members, either in digital form or in their mailboxes, and requires no effort on their part. Members have to register for a profile on the members website. They have to have a Facebook page or be on Instagram to see our social posts. A member has to sign up to receive the Member Bulletin, so the horse has to drink the water I lead them to, in some cases. To hear communication is not good enough fuels me to write again urging members to use the members website. There are 3,509 activated profiles on the website; however, I’m not able to tell how many of those profiles are actually active users. A newsfeed on the site is separated by departments and provides recent news and updates. Under the administrative tab, departmental contact information is given so you can connect with department heads to get your questions answered. Under the governing tab, all the Board and committee information is listed; and you can watch all the meetings here, too. Documents and forms can be found here, along with Board meeting minutes and financials. Familiarize yourself with the members website, because all the information is there.

Another great way to get information is to attend meetings! The Board meets twice a month. Workshops are held the second Wednesday and regular meetings are held the fourth Saturday. If you can’t make it in person, both can be viewed—you guessed it— on the members website! Getting involved is the best way to get informed.

Speaking of getting involved, nominations are now open for the Board. Consider volunteering and running for the CLPOC Board of Directors. This publication has a lot of information about how to go about that. You can also send an email to clpocnominating@gmail.com to get the full scoop. There’s no better way to see how the corporation really works than by becoming a Board director.

Completely switching gears, I’m excited to tell you that Canadian Lakes Landing still shows bright blue at LMCU (formerly Fifth Third) Ballpark this ball season.

Due to COVID-19, the new advertiser was not able to fulfill its commitment as the new partner after our commitment had expired. Instead of the space remaining empty, the ballpark kept our signage intact and continued advertising the space as Canadian Lakes Landing. Open air events are extremely sought-after, so the space is completely booked for the 2021 season. All this exposure is not costing us a thing.

Our partnership with the franchise has proved to be very beneficial to our marketing plan. I am very grateful to the Whitecaps!

T h e C a n ad i a n L a ke r

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From the CLA

G by HAROLD WOLF President haroldwolf63@gmail.com

ood day, my fellow Canadian Lakers!

Well, it’s hard to believe the July 4th weekend is behind us.

Before I share all the fun things the CLA Board members have been up to, I’d like to take a minute to give a personal “thank you” to Lindsay Halcomb for all you do—your support is very much appreciated.

The CLA Board members have been very busy since I wrote my last Laker letter, and it’s been GRRREAT! (I got that line from Tony the Tiger. Marsha worked at Kellogg Company for 40 years, and so I have heard it a lot!) It seems so nice planning events, hosting those events, and seeing so many happy Canadian Lakes members out and about. On June 9 the CLA hosted the Ferris Community Summer Band concert at the Castle. The weather was perfect, the band was wonderful, and the turnout was fantastic. The band members received a nice surprise when they were given cupcakes after the concert decorated in Ferris State colors with music note decorations on top (GRRREAT idea, dear!).

We recently started a Welcome Wagon program. Our committee has put together a packet full of helpful information about our CLA, which two of our CLA Board members will deliver to new house owners. Our intention is to help make sure our new members get off to a good start in their new community. You can help us with this simply by contacting me if you know of a new owner or you get a new neighbor in the future.

You can reach me at haroldwolf63@gmail.com, or phone 269-209-9871.

We had our first Poker Run Contest and Shopping Spree Contest winners in June. Our CLA Board came up with these new contests to make sure no matter what the COVID-19 restrictions were, our CLA members would have something fun to look forward to, as well as have a chance to win some amazing prizes. Best Poker Hand winner is Denise Webb, who won a 2021-2022 Lakeside Motor Sports boat storage. For winning Most Cards Collected, Chris LaFave won two

Denise Webb won boat storage from Lakeside Motor Sports.

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T h e C a n ad i a n L a ke r

Chris Lafave won two rounds of golf from Tullymore.

Left top: Mary Taylor claiming her mini car detailing from Scott's Body Shop Left bottom: Marcia and Duane Bomba receiving free boat storage from EMS Right: Janet Lampron won the gift certificate package.

Below: Ferris State Summer Community Band performing at the Castle

rounds of golf at Tullymore Golf Course. Mary Taylor won a car detailing from Scott’s Body Shop in Big Rapids.

Winners of our Shopping Spree Contest were Marcia Bomba, who won a 2021-2022 EMS boat storage; and Janet Lampron, who won a $200 gift card package. We collected 2,000 receipts totaling over $46,000 spent by our CLA members in our local advertising businesses. If you would like an opportunity to win some amazing prizes, it’s not too late. Our next Shopping Spree Contest will begin Friday, July 30, and run until Monday, November 29. Our next Poker Run Contest will run from Friday, August 27, to Sunday, September 12. If you are not already a CLA member, now is the perfect time to COME JOIN THE FUN! It will be the best $25 you have ever spent.

What a day in Canadian Lakes July 3 was—full of festivities! It all began at 7 a.m. with 260 golfers playing in the Firecracker Open. At 8 a.m. our Young Anglers Annual Fishing Contest began, with 120 youngsters hauling in a lot of fish! Then at 8:30 a.m. 125 people participated in the 5K Fun Run/Walk. At 1 p.m. we had the Canadian Lakes Independence Day Parade, with hundreds of people lining the street and doing their best to catch the candy tossed out by parade participants. Our Canadian Lakes Pickleball Club held an introductory clinic to pickleball beginning at 2 p.m., where they introduced 10 CL members to the sport. Finally, the CLA Summer Picnic started at 5 p.m.

What a fun-filled event to finish out the day! We had approximately 500 Canadian Lakes members come out

and enjoy the beautiful weather, live music, the balloon guy making his fun creations for the kids, Ant Hills where the kids received fun toys, lawn games, horse-drawn wagon rides, and food—all FREE and provided by the CLA. Thank you to the Morton Township Fire Department for burning those hot dogs to perfection. I also want to thank all of our volunteers. Without you, none of this is possible. And to my fellow CLA Board: congratulations on a job well done! Your attention to detail and dedication to providing the very best for your Canadian Lakes neighbors are truly inspiring. Thank you all!

Speaking of volunteers, two of our CLA Board members will be leaving our Board at the end of their three-year term limits this year. So now would be the perfect time to join the CLA Board and help us continue providing fun, educational, and entertaining events. The CLA has plenty more fun events in the planning process for August and September, so COME JOIN THE FUN!

c a n a d i a n l a ke s .o r g

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Summer Concert Series Continues Our first summer concert on July 5 was a success! The 126th Army Band out of Grand Rapids entertained Canadian Lakes members and their families and friends in a rousing concert of patriotic music. What a great addition to the July 4th weekend!

Two concerts are scheduled for August.

Each begins at 7 p.m. at the Reuther Music Pavilion at Pierce Beach on the Main Lake.

Bring lawn chairs—or your boat—pack some snacks, and enjoy an evening of top-notch entertainment by the water. In case of rain, check the Canadian Lakes emails for updates.

Here are concert details:

Concerts may be affected by future COVID-19 restrictions.

Updates will be posted in the Canadian Lakes News and The Community Connection e-newsletters and on the Canadian Lakes Reuther Music Pavilion Facebook page.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 21 Atomic Annie, a female-fronted group, provides high-energy fun! This variety cover band presents music you know and love, with its own special twist—from ’60’s and ’70’s rock to ’80’s MTV classics to ’90’s alternative to modern rock/pop covers. This group’s unique style will have you singing along.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 28 The Kari Lynch Band, a Canadian Lakes favorite, returns with its alt-country style.

Based in Nashville, the group members are originally from Grand Rapids. Talented singers, songwriters, collaborators, and performers, they deliver an exciting, powerful, and memorable performance.

Known for powerhouse lead vocals, solid harmonies, and dynamic live shows, their program spans musical genres and resonates with listeners of all ages.

These concerts are made possible by the generous sponsorship of Lakeside Motor Sports and Ice Mountain.

Thanks to Dave Spieker for his efforts in bringing the concert series back, as well as to committee volunteers Danielle Maneke, Susan Morris, Marilyn Yvon, Jim Brakora, Kathleen Reau, Jim Benoit, and Diane Spieker.

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25

Outdoor Mysteries

AMMUNITION SHORTAGE OR A SIMPLE CASE OF SUPPLY AND DEMAND?

BY CHRIS ZIMMERMAN

I WILL NEVER FORGET speaking to an old grouse hunter who once told me, “When I was a kid, my dad gave me five shotgun shells and told me ‘now bring me five of something.’”

The man was old enough to have survived the Great Depression, when everything from gas to rubber was rationed. Shotgun shells were used to kill an assortment of game—grouse, pheasant, rabbit, squirrels, hares, ducks, snipe—that fed the family during tough times.

Back in the day, poor shooting skills weren’t an option.

Fast forward to 2021. Even though times aren’t tough, it feels like ammunition is being rationed because it’s not readily available. Sporting goods stores from Remus to Big Rapids and across the Midwest are in dire need of ammunition.

The Mecosta County Rod & Gun Club will be celebrating its 75-year anniversary next year. In addition to trapshooting, the club has a sporting clays course, access to a small lake, and the rifle and pistol range. Sporting clays starts at 1 p.m. on Saturdays, while trapshooting begins at 10 a.m. on Saturdays.

Annual membership dues are $45, which entitles the member to access the facility. The lake on the back of the property looks quite fishy. A small fleet of rowboats is available for member use.

On the third Sunday of the month, the club hosts an “egg shoot.” Raw eggs are placed on a stand, 100 yards from the shooter. Members use a small (.22 caliber) rifle and take aim at the eggs. The eggs explode when hit by the bullet. It’s a social event that’s fun for the whole family.

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T h e C a n ad i a n L a ke r

Randy Rice is the president of the Mecosta County Rod & Gun Club, located at 10600 11 Mile Road in Mecosta. “Yes, I’d say there is an ammo shortage,” he said. “It’s all but impossible to buy it on a regular basis.”

Rice has a theory for why most sporting goods stores are consistently out of shells and bullets. “Gun sales are at an all-time high, and those folks want to make sure they have enough ammo for their new firearms,” he said. “The other reason for the shortage is hoarders. They buy all the ammo they can, then sell it on the internet at a huge markup.”

That huge markup notion seems to be a recurring theme with John Dougherty, who owns JD Arms gun shop in downtown Remus. “Not that long ago, I usually paid about $30 for a box of 30/30 shells. Now I have to buy them online for $60 and sell them here at the shop for $65.” Dougherty believes that the materials needed to make ammunition are in short supply, as well as the labor to make them.

Bullseye, John.

The president of Federal Ammunition, Jason Vanderbrink, issued a statement regarding the ammunition shortage. As you might imagine, COVID-19 prohibited people from working in the ammunition factories, while commodity availability made production difficult. Acquiring brass, lead, and plastics was a challenge when everyone was at home or in quarantine.

Things are getting back to normal now, and federal factories in Minnesota, Remington factories in Arkansas, and a Hevi-Shot plant in Oregon are pumping out ammo 24/7. They are all designed to meet the demands of shooting sportsmen across the country.

“We are doing the best we can to get your favorite loads out the door,” Vanderbrink said.

Lots of shooters are counting on plenty of ammo, including the Big Rapids High School trapshooting team.

They practice and host other schools at the Mecosta County Rod & Gun Club.

Chippewa Hills and Reed City are among those high school teams that participate in the trapshooting competition.

“Trap” in this instance does not refer to a device used to ensnare mice or small, fur-bearing mammals. “Trap” has nothing to do with a situation in which people lie in wait to make a surprise attack, either. According to Wikipedia, trapshooting “is one of the three major disciplines of competitive clay pigeon shooting. The other disciplines are skeet shooting and sporting clays.”

Clay pigeons are about the size of a saucer and shaped so they fly through the air like a small Frisbee®. When hit with a B-B fired from a shotgun, they break easily. When hit with multiple B-Bs, they turn to powder—a satisfying sight for shooters of all abilities.

In an organized trapshooting event, shooters are positioned at five stations behind the trap house. One at a time, the shooters call for the pigeon by yelling “pull!” That command directs the “trapper” to fling a clay pigeon from the trap house.

Each shooter takes turns firing at the clay pigeons as they fly at varying angles away from the house. It is remarkably similar to an upland hunting scenario where grouse, pheasant, or woodcock fly away from the hunter. After five rounds, the shooters switch stations and they repeat the process until each shooter has shot 25 rounds. Scores are tabulated based on how many clay pigeons they break. A perfect score is 25/25. In my experience, anything over 20 is pretty good.

According to urban legend, the term “trap” comes from the practice

of shooting live birds released from a “trap.” Back in the day, the birds were live pigeons. Live birds have since been replaced with clay pigeons, but the term “trap” has taken hold.

Provided you can find ammunition, trapshooting at the Mecosta County Rod & Gun Club is a good time. It’s great practice for the upcoming bird seasons, and the members at the club are friendly and helpful. I highly recommend it.

Chris Zimmerman is a resident of Canadian Lakes and the author of six Michigan-based novels. Look for more “outdoor mysteries” in upcoming issues of the Canadian Laker.

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27

2021

Tuba Bach

Tuba Bach TAKING NOTE OF

S

BY JOYCE B. WILCOX

SEVERAL WEEKS AGO, upon taking the first sip of my morning coffee, I was having one of those déjà vu moments in life. As I sat across the table from Dr. Edward Mallett in the quiet Big Rapids restaurant where we’d scheduled our Tuba Bach interview for The Canadian Laker, I felt he and I had actually met before. The truth is that we’d probably seen each other dozens and dozens of times, only we’d never officially been introduced.

This innovative Tuba Bach founder, artistic director, and very talented tuba and euphonium artist whom I’d had the pleasure of seeing on stage for many years was the same personable, witty, down-to-earth man seated at my table.

Whether you meet Mallett up close or even when he’s on stage and you’re seated in the back row of an auditorium, his warmth, humor, and dedication to his music are ever present. It’s no wonder that he’s been able to bring so many other talented entertainers to play alongside him on stage and that this is Tuba Bach’s sixteenth season. This is definitely priceless entertainment presented free of charge!

For your information and enjoyment, the

30

2021 Tuba Bach Festival runs on consecutive Saturdays and Sundays, September 11 through October 12. All performances are at Immanuel Lutheran Church at 726 Fuller Avenue in Big Rapids, with Saturday performances at 7 p.m. and Sunday matinees at 4 p.m. See the fall schedule for the dates of the various performers.

In addition to the Tuba Bach Festival, some exciting new performances will take place throughout the year. Sunday afternoon concerts featuring Michigan State University students and faculty members, all held at the Immanuel Lutheran Church, will also grace the Big Rapids stage. The dates and times are to be announced.

I was pleased to be served a little history with that coffee and breakfast that morning. I learned that Mallett attended Central Michigan University for his undergraduate studies and Michigan State University for graduate studies, with a Master of Music degree and Doctor of Musical Arts degree.

He taught for an accumulative ten years at Hope College, Albion College, and North Carolina Central before returning to Big Rapids with his wife and sons. In 2006 Tuba Bach was born and Big Rapids was forever changed.

T h e C a n ad i a n L a ke r

2021 TUBA BACH FESTIVAL Tuba Bach’s Artistic Director DR. EDWARD K. MALLETT joins an outstanding roster of world-class musicians for the 2021 festival season

September 11-12

THE MCLAIN FAMILY BAND

The First Family of Kentucky Bluegrass Royalty RAYMOND, RUTH, AL, ALICE and DAXSON start the season off with a bang!

September 18-19

NOVA DUO Violinist ANNA KHALIKOVA and pianist/composer NOAH MALLETT in an elegant program featuring music by Brahms, Glinka, Mallett and Schoenfield September 25-26

THE FUNKY MITTEN FIVE

New Orleans-style brass band with JIM ALFREDSON on the B-3 organ, LUTHER ALLISON on drums, MICHAEL DEASE on trombone, JASON HAINSWORTH on sax and ED MALLETT on sousaphone

October 2-3

BROADWAY IN LIVING COLOR

Stage and screen star KAREN MARIE RICHARDSON and Tuba Bach’s favorite pianist, ALVIN WADDLES present hits from some of Broadway’s greatest musicals

October 9-10

THE GOLDEN AGE OF THE THEATRE ORGAN

Travel back to the early decades of the 20th Century to an era of small-town America opera houses and silent movies, with organist DAVID WICKERHAM

October 16-17

THE MUSIC OF KANSAS

Prog Rock music with a low brass twist!

MICHAEL DEASE and REMUS WEBB on euphoniums, PHILIP SINDER and EVAN ZEGIEL on tubas, violinist ANNA KHALIKOVA, drummer NOAH MALLETT and keyboardist/vocalist ED MALLETT All concerts presented with no admission charge — PRICELESS ENTERTAINMENT !

Performances held at Immanuel Lutheran Church 726 Fuller Ave., Big Rapids Saturdays at 7:00PM; Sundays at 4:00PM Sunday concerts also livestreamed on YouTube and Facebook — direct links at tubabach.org

Tuba Bach WWW.TUBABACH.ORG

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ty of their other

and ship Bach

other N!

WWW.TUBABACH.ORG

Tuba Bach

Tuba Bach 2021 with

Alfreda Burke and Rodrick Dixon and the

Jo Ann Daugherty Trio Sunday, December 19 at 4:00 PM Immanuel Lutheran Church also Livestreamed on Facebook and YouTube

No Admission charge Priceless Entertainment!

With a mission statement that reads, “Enriching the lives of adults and children in Big Rapids and West-Central Michigan through exemplary performances and programs presented by worldclass musicians,” you can begin to grasp the value of this venue. What you don’t realize until you attend a performance is how well Tuba Bach is recognized within the international music community. Musicians from around the world enjoy the opportunity to share the stage with Mallett, including highly acclaimed Grammy® award winners, Grand Ole Opry regulars, stars of stage and screen, as well as little-known jewels from across the globe giving sparkling performances. Simply put, I will toot Tuba Bach’s horn, at least on paper, to announce to audiences what the rest of the music world knows: Tuba Bach is well-known and well-received worldwide.

Mallett believes that concerts should be interactive and fun for both the audience and the performers.

For this reason Tuba Bach concerts contain a variety of genres of music and a diverse roster of musicians.

Classic Mallett is hardly purely classical music. His Tuba Bach concerts contain an eclectic assortment of genres, including jazz, country, blue-grass, pop, folk, gospel, and rock, as well as songs from Broadway musicals and just about any other type of music that’s music to your ears.

Talented artists have graced the Tuba Bach stage to accompany this distinguished director with their 32

excellent performances on 28 different instruments, from accordion to xylophone and everything in between. Mallet said that in his 16 years as the Tuba Bach artistic director, out of the hundreds of musicians he’s featured, only one visiting artist declined his invitation to perform, apparently hesitant to step out of the Bachs and perform alongside a tuba. In other words, Tuba Bach is the place to be!

Since Mallett doesn’tB believe sitting stillFOR on OUR 16 JOIN TUBA ACHinIN 2021 stage, he doesn’t think his audience should be OFchallenges PRICELESS ENTERTAINMEN passive either. He his fellow musicians to come out of their genre comfort zones and his audiences to be moved at times to come out of their seats. He’s a strong believer that the movements of music performed on stage should initiate movement within the hearts, minds, and bodies of the listening audience as well. When asked what kind of music he prefers, Mallett smiled and responded, “Probably the music that I’m playing at any given time.”

Tuba Bach was created to present quality music by talented musicians free of charge to the community. Mallett remembers being excited about attending free concerts in his Enriching the lives of adults and children in Big R youth performed by the Canadian Brass. He and West-Central exemplary perf understands now that theseMichigan concertsthrough would have and programs presented by world-class musici been nearly impossible for him to attend if he’d had to pay admission. With Tuba Bach festivals, he strives to duplicate those musical opportunities by providing excellent entertainment at no cost to the audience.

Of course, nothing in life is truly free, and these remarkable musical memories are created through the generosity of sponsorships, grants, and incredible donors of all ages. With the six consecutive weekends of Tuba Bach concerts performed every fall and the other seasonal concerts sprinkled throughout the year, measure by measure the expenses add up. The cost of paying for visiting performing artists, their lodging, the venues, the music, the programs, the publicity—and anything else you can imagine that’s necessary—can total a whole lot of not-so-free-bills to pay. Mallett is personally thankful for every donation and simply asks that if you’re able to donate, you do it so that those less fortunate can continue to share in this musical experience. These programs could not continue without the generosity of others.

So join Dr. Edward Mallett and all his musical friends as you relax, enjoy, and move as the music moves you. Whether you haven’t been to a Tuba Bach Festival or if you’ve been to them all Bach-toBach for the past several seasons, you won’t want to miss this 2021 season of talented artists and their priceless entertainment!

If you have any questions or would like to contribute, contact Tuba Bach at mallett@ tubabach.org or call (231) 796-0712.

T h e C a n ad i a n L a ke r

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FOCUS ON

FISHING CL Bass Tournament Results

BY DALE DOEPKER For questions about the Fishing Club or about fishing in Canadian Lakes, contact Dale Doepker at dtroutman97@aol.com or 231-972-8663

Saturday, June 19, was a great day for bass fishing, and 22 boats entered the tournament. Here are the results: • 1st place – Tim and Will Ford, 18.98 pounds for five bass • 2nd place – Jason Snyder and Scott Vinton, 18.80 pounds • 3rd place – Cornevale and Cornevale, 18.41 pounds; also largest bass at 4.38 pounds • 4th place – Aaron Eckert and Eckert, 16.95 pounds • 5th place – Justin and Jessica Courtright, 16.84 pounds; also second largest bass at 4.29 pounds The third and fourth places were won by teams that had not placed in the money before! The total winning weight of five fish was about average for the past 10 years, but the largest fish was lower than most years. All boats brought in five fish, which were all released live. One boat did not come to the weigh-in. Thanks again to Jason Snyder for serving as director of this event.

STATE LAW REQUIRES: • Watercraft and trailers must be free of all aquatic organisms and plants before transporting or launching.

• Remove drain plugs and drain all water from bilges, ballast tanks, and live wells before moving watercraft.

• Avoid releasing unused bait into the water.

Bass Tournament Winners

• Release fish only into the same water body where they were caught to avoid the spread of invasive species and fish diseases.

Bass Fun Night Events

LAKE MAPS Contour maps of the lakes within Canadian Lakes are now available online at www.canadianlakesmgmt.org.

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Jason Courtright with tiger muskie he caught during the CL Bass Tournament on June 19

The next Bass Fishing Fun Night is Wednesday, August 25. Just show up at Pierce Beach before 5 p.m. to register and fish for three hours. At 8 p.m., enjoy pizza and compare results from catch-and-release, with artificial lures only. Cash awards go to the longest bass and most total inches of bass 14 inches and over. If you do not have a boat, come anyway and someone will take you on theirs. Entry is $7 for club members and $8 for others. If you do not boat from Pierce Beach, you must still register at Pierce Beach and return there. Wednesday, September 22, will be a Pike Fun Night, with rules similar to the Bass Fun Night.

T h e C a n ad i a n L a ke r

Grace Janowicz, age 5

Mason Eisenberger, age 12

Pierce Mooney, age 11

Wyatt Malder, age 8

Results of 19th Annual Young Angler’s Contest The Young Angler’s Contest was successful again this year, with more than 120 kids participating. We gave out 120 gift bags and 28 awards to kids who fished, plus free snack bags and bottled water. The CL Fishing Club thanks the 18 or so volunteers who gave of their time and effort to make this annual event a success. We also thank the donors of the gift bags, which helped enable this event. Included in the gift bag, donated by Ace Hardware, which every kid received, was an MDNR fish poster, MUCC Tracks magazine, small

flag from Coldwell Banker, a 3-foot tape ruler from Ace Hardware, some miscellaneous fishing items, and a Ziploc® bag for the fish entry. The largest bluegill entered was 8.4 ounces by an 8-year-old; and second was 8.04 ounces, by an 11-year-old. We also sold out all the Fishing Club tee-shirts and most of the caps and received generous donations from attendees. This was our first year without a picnic meal and raffle, but it was still a very well-received event.

18th Annual Pike Tournament Event, Saturday, September 11 This event is from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Registration deadline is 6 p.m. Friday, September 10. Eligible are Canadian Lakes members, families, and guests.

Multiple people may be in a boat, but this is an individual tournament. Entry fee is $20 each, free for children under 17. Start with a meeting at 7:45 a.m. and end with measure-in at 2 p.m., both at Pierce Beach on West Lake. Only artificial lures are allowed, one rod per fisherman. Trolling is allowed. If you do not boat from Pierce Beach, you must still register at Pierce Beach and return there. All pike and muskies caught are to be measured, documented on a form provided, and released immediately (honor system). Pizza and bottled water will be provided at 2 p.m.— bring your own other refreshments. Cash prizes to those paying the entry fee: longest pike or muskie (photo required), second longest, most total inches of pike 24 inches and over, and most total pike and muskie of any size. Prizes can be won in combination. Tournament director is ineligible. Get your $20 and name to Jeff or Natalie Abel, 9325 Edgewater, 904-753-2596, by September 10. Bulletins with full details are available on the CLA website or in the office kiosk.

Photo credit: Di Schwartz

OSPREY REPORT Three osprey babies have been sighted on our nesting platform at Buchanan Road, between the Main Lake and Lake of the Clouds. We wish them well and hope they grow up like their parents.

PURPLE LOOSESTRIFE Purple loosestrife is an invasive species that crowds out native plants. We encourage everyone to remove it, wherever you observe it growing. Remove the roots, if possible; but even just removing the flowers and seeds will prevent it from spreading. Cover the top with a garbage bag before removing to prevent any seeds from falling on the ground. Bags of purple loosestrife can be safely disposed of along with any refuse going to a landfill.

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Bullhead Tournament, 17th Annual Event, August 6

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Fishing begins at 8 p.m. Friday, August 6, and ends at 2 a.m. Saturday, August 7. Fish in any of the Canadian Lakes water bodies. Shore fishing is usually best.

The entry fee is $10 per person. Youth 16 and under are free, but not eligible for cash prizes.

Weigh-in is 11 a.m. Saturday, August 8, at the Pines Pavilion.

Forty percent of the money collected will be deducted first to cover the cost of refreshments. Bullhead wrangler award pays three places: 15%, 10%, 5% for heaviest fish.

These awards come first. Bullhead master award pays three places: 15%, 10%, 5% for most total weight, 9 inches and over only. One award per person; tie-breaker is heaviest in the other category. For youth, there will be separate prizes for most total weight and heaviest fish.

All Canadian Lakes members, families, and members’ guests are welcome to participate. Fishermen can fish together, but weigh-in is individual, so fish must be kept separate. Gear is restricted to MDNR fishing regulations— three rods and two hooks per rod. The minimum size is 9 inches to qualify—release all smaller. Please measure each to help the weigh-in person.

Pack all fish on ice in a cooler for bringing to the weighin. This is a catch-and-keep tournament, and all fish kept will be cleaned and/or returned to the fishermen. All participants must bring in their fish, regardless of number! Entries must be received by Friday, August 6, at 4 p.m. Mail or deliver names and money to Sue Glazier, 8339 West Royal, 231-679-1938. Checks should be payable to Sue Glazier.

Snack bags and bottled water will be available at the weigh-in for participants. A bulletin with full details is available on the CLA website or at the CLPOC office kiosk.

Annual Youth and Largest Fish Contest Reminder Both the Youth Big Fish Contest and the Largest Fish of the Year Contest run all year, from October 1, 2020, to September 30, 2021. There is one entry form for both. If it is an entry for the Youth Big Fish Contest, 14 years and under when caught, the information for the angler must be filled in as to age and so forth. Every youth who enters, regardless of fish size, will receive a trophy, so long as it is for a species trophy they do not already have. All entries will be eligible for the Largest Fish Contest trophy, if the minimum length is met. Entry forms are available on the website and at the CLPOC office kiosk. Keep track of your catches and take photos if possible, so you can enter them by the deadline of October 10, 2021. Remember to release live all bass, pike 24 inches and over, and all muskies.

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Canadian Lakes Optimist Club Forming NOW!

BY MICHELLE KAUFFOLD

A

re you a positive person with a desire to help others? If your answer is YES, you will be happy to know there is an Optimist Club coming to the Canadian Lakes area. It is for people like YOU! We are looking for like-minded individuals to better the lives of children in our community.

Optimist International, established in 1919, is one of the world’s largest civic service organizations. Its sole mission is to better the lives of children in every community through one of 2,600 Optimist Clubs. Each year Optimists conduct 65,000 service projects that reach more than six million young people throughout the world.

Many Optimist programs are available to students in our area. One of the original programs created by Optimist International is the oratorical contest,

which started in 1928. Others include Essay Contests, Junior Golf, Respect for Law, Youth Appreciation, and Tri-Star Sports. Once fully chartered, our club will decide which programs we can run and work in conjunction with the Canadian Lakes Association to add to “The Good Life.”

The exact schedule of meetings is not set. For August, we’ll meet Tuesdays from 5 to 6 p.m. at the Alpine Haus.

Contact Michelle Kauffold for more information: Newmichelle@att.net or 313-510-6300.

Our upbeat outlook and our commitment to creating a more optimistic future for kids is what differentiates Optimist Clubs from any other volunteer opportunity.

There are clubs all over our state, and we would be part of the Michigan

District Optimists as well as Optimist International. I have been a past president, member of the Board of Directors, Oratorical Chair, and Club Foundation representative for the Roseville, MI Optimist Club. At the Michigan District level, I have been Lt. Governor, Assistant Governor, Committee Chair for Essay Contests, Optimist of the Year and Personal Growth & Involvement. I currently serve as District Secretary/Treasurer.

I was a charter member of the Roseville, Michigan, Optimist Club since it formed in 1992. I was a music educator for more than 30 years. Through Optimism I discovered a new way to work with students and provide unique opportunities.

Come to a meeting to learn more about the Optimist Club and how you can improve the lives of area children.

International Service Organization Looks To Help Local Youth

LOON PRECAUTIONS We have two loon babies from the Far West Lake nest and one from the East Lake nest. Please stay at least 100 feet from any loons, so as not to disturb them.

If you are idle in the water and they approach you, enjoy them, but be careful when you motor away. The Lake of the Clouds loon nest was not successful this year.

THE WORLD’S FOURTH largest civic service organization has chosen Canadian Lakes as its next venue for helping youth. Volunteer members of Optimist International will be spending the next few weeks in our community with the goal of organizing a new Optimist Club.

“We are excited about helping the children of Canadian Lakes,” said Michelle Kauffold, who is organizing the local expansion effort. “We are looking for some other like-minded individuals who would like to help us improve the lives of children in our community.”

Optimist Clubs are known throughout the world for ‘Bringing Out the Best in Kids.’ Since each Club is autonomous, Optimist volunteers decide how to serve the needs of the children in their community. In some areas, Clubs conduct scholarship programs, sports activities, mentoring programs, after-school programs, and childhood cancer initiatives.

In Canadian Lakes, Kauffold says, the new club will obviously focus on the community’s youngest members, but the club is seeking input from local leaders to identify a specific need and purpose.

“Those who best know what our community needs are those who live here, full or part time," Kauffold said. “If you have an opinion about how we can best serve the community’s youth, please let us know. We will be having ‘Meet ‘n’ Mingle’ events at the Alpine Haus. Everyone is welcome to come!”

Optimist International is composed of 100,000 members in more than 3,100 Optimist Clubs in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean and other nations. Carrying the motto “Bringing Out the Best in Kids,” Optimist Clubs conduct 65,000 positive service projects that reach more than six million young people each year. For more information, call 313-510-6300 or log on to www.optimist.org. c a n a d i a n l a ke s .o r g

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Joyce’s

CHOICES

BY JOYCE B. WILCOX

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Travelers driving in Michigan are told, “If you seek a pleasant peninsula, look about you.” This simple state motto affords residents and visitors the opportunity to appreciate experiencing Michigan to the fullest. Everywhere you look, there’s a sight to behold.

From lush forests to endless lakes and from sand dunes to sand traps, there’s something for everyone.

Visitors walking into the Wilcox home are told, “If you seek a riveting read, look about you.” Whether you’re family or guest, there’s an opportunity to explore literature and expand your world through the hundreds of books in our home. Every room in the house is decorated with books. From antique desktops to quaint nightstands and from coffee tables to several inviting bookcases, books are on display so there’s something for everyone to read.

When asked to write an article about books for The Canadian Laker, T h e C a n ad i a n L a ke r

it was not a difficult decision for me.

In addition to reading more than 40 books a year, I also collect them. My shelves are lined with books ranging from antiques to new arrivals that are penned by first-time authors, must-have novelists, and old favorites.

Throughout much of my adult life, I’ve made notations in reading journals and used sticky notes in books upon discovery of a descriptive passage that hits home. What could be more exciting than encountering an unexpected plot twist or solving a mystery?

If nothing else, what could possibly compare to discovering a previously unfamiliar word that has potential to expand your vocabulary? Simply put, I love a well-written book.

For years family and friends have asked me for book recommendations, so sharing my thoughts with you is a natural transition. Books are like friends; and just like the rest

of my dear friends, my books come from many different places and vary in age. Some books are fresh off the new release shelf of bookstores; many are from garage sales and have been around the block a few times; and others are considered classics and are older than my librarian’s grandmother.

Joyce’s Choices won’t critique books, but instead will briefly summarize, highlight, and recommend interesting and compelling reads in a variety of genres. Rather than ranking books on a five-star system, you can safely assume that any book I recommend will be rated from three to five stars. Basically, if I feel a book isn’t worth reading, then I won’t be writing about it. This means that I believe a novel merits reading because the author knows how to grab and hold your interest and has mastered writing a well-developed plot that moves the story along. It also means the novelist knows how to create interesting characters you’d either want as friends, family, or spouses; or there are characters so evil you hope you never meet.

Much like a colorful bouquet of fresh flowers, I will select eclectic books for each article. Since not every book is for every reader, I hope that somewhere along the line you’ll find one that piques your interest. Of course, I also hope you’ll find one that’s your new favorite. Perhaps you’ll also discover one that you just can’t put down. But most of all, I hope there’s one that takes you outside your genre box and opens new possibilities, one page at a time.

Between laughter and tears the reader is introduced to the families and friends of one of the town’s busiest matriarchs, Dorothy Smith. She’s an enterprising housewife known as Neighbor Dorothy, broadcasting homemaking tips over the radio waves from her living room. We learn of local news and national news through war times and peace times and everything in between. The town itself emerges as a character as it matures and changes through the years, while the reader also becomes fast friends with the rest

of the delightful cast of characters of Elmwood Springs, Missouri. Big things can happen in a small town. And with Fannie Flagg’s vivid narration, rich dialogue, and well-paced storyline, the reader can actually hear the music, smell the coffee, and taste the biscuits.

The Fifth Assassin by Brad Meltzer The world will never seem the same after you’ve indulged your imagination and treated yourself to this political thriller by prolific author and master of suspense, Brad Meltzer. Having

Standing in the Rainbow

by Fannie Flagg Yes, the author is that Fannie Flagg.

The former writer and actor of television’s Candid Camera fame and author of Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe is still at her craft. This book is Flagg’s fifth of 10 novels she’s written, and it doesn’t disappoint if you’re looking for an irresistible trip to the heartland spanning 1936 through the 1990s. Just like an irresistible pie fresh from the oven, this book is oozing, but with eccentric characters, small-town life, and Flagg’s wit.

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perfected his craft with crisp dialogue, segued storylines, and incredibly short chapters, the author delivers plot punches like a prizefighter. Add to that a remarkably resourceful protagonist, villains you love to hate, and a writer’s resounding grasp of history and you have a novel that doesn’t miss its mark.

While this is the second book of the Culper Ring Trilogy, Meltzer has mastered writing in this genre and the novel clearly can stand alone. Weaving historical facts with historical fiction, the author is able to link the assassinations of Lincoln, Garfield, McKinley, and Kennedy while providing a roller coaster ride of intrigue. Enter Beecher White, a current-day archivist working at the National Archives in Washington, D.C., and the ride begins. Beecher discovers this link and what he believes will be a potential fifth assassin’s attempt to kill the current President.

The reader is immediately held captive until the end of the book to discover the actual who, where, when, and why along with Beecher White. With the fast-paced writing and continuous plot twists, you better be prepared to reside comfortably in your reading chair from prologue to last chapter. Of course, books one and three of this trilogy can be considered at a later date.

The Women of the Copper Country: A Novel by Mary Doria Russell Mary Doria Russell manages to strike gold while telling her historical tale as she digs deep to uncover the unbearable working and living conditions of life in the small mining town of Calumet, Michigan, in 1913. The reader experiences the many hazardous, frustrating, and deadly situations of the men mining underground through the eyes of their wives, mothers, and daughters. Strength of character and will, as well as the talents of a very versatile writer, turn this potentially dark narrative into one of hope and perseverance.

The story brings to light a year in the life of 25-year-old Annie Klobuchar Clements as she grows tired of working hard to make ends meet while her husband labors in the dangerous mines. She lives in constant fear of 40

gles in her marriage and in making a living. The stage is set for a fascinating and surprisingly hilarious sibling rivalry spanning 60 years.

As a non-beer-drinker, I was skeptical of enjoying this book when it was randomly suggested by my book club.

Stradal needed to prove himself as a writer if he expected me to swallow this storyline, and he didn’t disappoint. Not only was it an interesting and entertaining read, I also learned about the entire craft beer brewing process. Although beer was invented by women, J. Ryan Stradal knows how to serve up a final draft for all that ales you.

receiving one of the weekly company calls to wives regarding a mining accident. Annie decides to take a stand for the entire town, rally support, and demand changes from the mine owners. Through obvious extensive research, the author enhances the storyline with authentic moments in history sprinkled with actual participants such as Governor Woodbridge Ferris, President Woodrow Wilson, and Mother Jones. Combining her elegant prose with her compassionate comprehension of the underdog in our society, Mary Doria Russell has achieved a memorable, compelling historical novel.

The Lager Queen of Minnesota

by J. Ryan Stradal If you’re looking for the perfect summer read to quench your thirst, look no further. This enchanting fictional family saga of generations of strong women spotlights the relationship between two sisters, Edith and Helen, born just either side of 1940, and their struggles to come to terms with their father’s decision to leave their expected shared inheritance to just the younger sibling.

As Helen takes her inheritance and builds one of the most successful light breweries in the country, Edith strugT h e C a n ad i a n L a ke r

Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant by Anne Tyler Anne Tyler does what she does best in Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant: portraying the mundane, everyday experiences of life while injecting them with wit, wisdom, and humor.

Pearl, the hardened and flawed matriarch of the family, is abandoned by her husband and forced to raise her three children on her own. She does what she can, but the siblings grow apart; and as adults, they all have their own version of their failed upbringing.

Youngest son Ezra, the family saint and eternal optimist, stays home to care for his mother while he opens a restaurant, as his siblings go about their reckless lives. As Ezra prepares meals his clients are homesick for, he attempts to create the family environment at work that he never had at home. He tries desperately to host family gatherings, but something always interferes. He seems unable to grasp that as much as he tries to set places at the table for June Cleaver’s kids, it’s Roseanne Barr’s clan who comes to the table. But Ezra keeps trying.

With 23 novels to her credit (most of them bestsellers), a Pulitzer Prize, and a few other novels in contention for that same coveted award, Anne Tyler’s writing is like that gourmet bag of chips of yore. Bet you can’t read just one!

Remember, if you seek a riveting read, look about you.

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Second Annual Celebrate the Library Virtual Auction

BY JULIANE SCHAFER AND FRAN VOCI

When: Friday, August 13, 10 a.m. until Saturday, August 21, 1 p.m.

Where: The auction link will be posted on the Morton Township Public Library’s website, www.morton.michlibrary.org/.

In 2020, we learned that virtual auctions can be fun, easy, and safe. Join us this August to do it again to support our wonderful, resourceful Morton Township Public Library in Mecosta.

To view the auction items, simply click the link on the library’s website prior to the event. There you will find beautiful color photos of auction offerings with complete lists of basket contents.

To bid, you will need to create an account. Once you join the bidding, the virtual auction will alert you by email if you have been outbid and offer you the opportunity to raise your bid. At the conclusion of the auction, you will be notified if you win any items. Items may be paid for with cash, check, or credit card at the library or with a credit card on the auction site.

View auction items in person during normal library hours throughout the auction period: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

All auction items have been generously donated by area businesses and residents. Proceeds will help the library in its quest to support literacy and lifelong learning through physical and electronic book collections, technology access and assistance, and educational programming for all ages.

Celebrate with us as we experience a return to full service at this great community resource.

If you haven’t visited our library, stop by soon—you will be surprised at this gem in our midst.

Popular Labor Day Weekend Event Returns

BY FRAN VOCI

JOIN US IN welcoming back the hugely popular used book sale at the Castle.

It takes place Saturday, September 4, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; and Sunday, September 5, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Do not miss this popular event.

Throughout the year, our friends and neighbors donate used books to the Morton Township Library. After the library chooses any materials useful for their collection, the Friends of the Morton Township Library take over.

After sorting, the Friends stock the used bookstore, located in the library, with the most popular authors and titles. An inventory is built up throughout the 42

T h e C a n ad i a n L a ke r

year to bring to the Castle for a huge display of books for all interests. This year we will have a large selection of Civil War books for both the casual reader and the serious student of the Civil War. The book sale is well sorted by categories and is spread out on the main floor of the Castle.

We will have many open windows and ceiling fans to provide a comfortable shopping environment.

Also visit the Friends’ Used Book Store at the Morton Township Library. It’s open year-round, Tuesdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., with a surprising selection of popular authors and titles.

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Safety

Canadian Lakes Safety

I

ROB MICKEY Safety Department Director rmickey@clpoc.org

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hope you are all enjoying your summer so far! It is great to see things finally starting to turn the corner after the past year we have had. I’d like to extend a special round of thanks to our Mobile Watch volunteers, as they have truly stepped up to assist in so many ways around Canadian Lakes during the pandemic. If you see them in your travels, please do give them a wave of thanks!

Here are a few reminders as we continue to roll through summer: Dogs – We have reached a critical point with this situation. I have seen a jump in loose/lost dog calls, aggressive dog calls, and dogs offleash. If you cannot properly care for and control your animal, then please refrain form having a dog in Canadian Lakes. So many of these situations are a danger for everybody involved, including the dogs. In addition, many of the calls we receive involve repeat offenders. There are unavoidable times when dogs run off or get out. The ridiculous part is that even after multiple events, nothing seems to be done to correct the problem. Please see that your dog is properly controlled and kept safe.

Boats – Following Labor Day the main ramp will no longer have an attendant and the gate will be locked. Please call ahead to schedule an appointment to remove your boat, or you are unlikely to receive immediate service. To put things in perspective, during a summer season close to 2,000 boats pass over the main launch ramp; and on some weekends more than 150 went in and out on the same day—so please plan accordingly. Finally, all watercraft MUST be off Canadian Lakes waters by November 1.

ATVs – The only approved areas for ATV operation are on streets and roads within Canadian Lakes. The trails by the Castle, Lake of the Clouds, and near the dog park have been made by people continuing to violate this rule. This process not only ruins the surrounding terrain but also endangers pedestrians who walk these nature areas. Just because you see a trail does not mean it is approved for motorized use.

RV and Trailer Owners – Please make sure these vehicles are moved to a proper storage location per our Canadian Lakes deed restrictions. My office actively conducts patrols to identify RV and trailer parking violations, and you will be notified.

Vehicle Parking – There is absolutely NO overnight and/or longterm parking allowed within street medians in Canadian Lakes. It appears people have been using these areas for overflow parking and so forth. There have been several issues throughout the development with vehicles parked in medians and along the streets on blind curves.

These are safety hazards to not only motorists but also to the vehicle owner.

Thank you all for your time, and enjoy the rest of your summer!

T h e C a n ad i a n L a ke r

Micki Armon

lakeslodging@gmail.com

231 972-8303 8510 100th Avenue Canadian Lakes, MI 49346

Always interested in new homes!

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2021 Annual Mobile Watch Appreciation Picnic & Golf Outing

BY ROGER STOBERT MOBILE WATCH COORDINATOR

THE ANNUAL MOBILE WATCH picnic and golf outing are events that allow the community to show its appreciation for all that the Mobile Watch volunteers do. This includes performing weekly patrols of Canadian Lakes, helping stranded and lost residents and visitors, as well as watching for suspicious activities and safety violations like leaf burning.

They also help Canadian Lakes Safety control traffic during the Independence Day parade, fireworks display, Winter Carnival, and other large-crowd events.

These events are sponsored by local businesses, the CLA, and the CLPOC. The Mobile Watch annual picnic will be held on Wednesday, August 25, at

we insure your car. we insure yourpeople car. because some because sometopeople never learned park. never learned to park. simple human sense simple human sense

CHRIS ZIMMERMAN

132 W Wright Ave Shepherd MI 48883 989.828.4441 Chris@chriszimmermaninsurance.com

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T h e C a n ad i a n L a ke r

the Pines Pavilion beginning about 4:30 p.m. All current Mobile Watch volunteers, Canadian Lakes Safety employees, and their spouses/significant others are welcome and should mark the date. Attendees should bring a place setting, beverages, and, if desired, a dessert. Everything else—burgers and hot dogs, buns, condiments, and salads—will be provided. Attendees, please inform your Area Captains if you plan to attend and how many will be joining you.

The Mobile Watch annual golf outing will be held at the Pines Golf Course on Wednesday, August 25, beginning with a shotgun start at 9 a.m. As with previous outings, some interesting and fun surprises await the players on various holes. All current Mobile Watch volunteers, Canadian Lakes Safety employees, and their spouses/significant others are eligible to participate. Contact Roger Stobert, 231-288-0148 or spankky@charter.net, if you plan to play.

Want to join in on the Mobile Watch appreciation activities but not a member? Contact Roger Stobert, 231-288-0148 or spankky@charter.net, if you want to join or have any questions related to the Mobile Watch.

You Say Tomato

Serving all of Canadian Lakes

Remodel, new construction service and water softeners sales

You say tomato And a sun-kissed image is what I see, Ripened on the vine

By Mother Nature, just for me.

616-238-7333

oberlinplumbing@gmail.com

Be it better boy, Heirloom, beefsteak or brandy wine, Amish rose or early girl, Even persimmon sounds just fine.

They come in several colors, Although most folks prefer the reds, There are bright yellows, oranges, and purples Starting out as green in most tomato beds.

They come in many sizes With silhouettes like pears or grapes, Some look like cherries or baseballs, Or they take on oblong shapes.

THINK

I’ve eaten them on burgers, And added them to salads, From soup to guacamole, They tickle every palette.

LOC AL

Some tomatoes are like popcorn, Fun to eat just as a snack, Because they’re very tiny They pop when chewed and that’s a fact.

A support

But the best way to enjoy a tomato Is with some lettuce and lots of bacon, Slathered with some mayo, On some wheat toast that you’ve been makin’.

your

Yes, when you say tomato, It brings childhood memories back to me, Because when you say tomato, I will want a BLT. And just like that mouse in the story That you give a cookie to, When I eat one BLT, I’ll probably ask for two.

Joyce B. Wilcox // Writer’s Quest

Neighborhood Pharmacy

10075 BUCHANAN RD. | CANADIAN LAKES, MI 49346 PH: 231-359-1661 | FX: 231-359-1665

c a n a d i a n l a ke s .o r g

47

Canadian Lakes Yard Waste Site Information

A

BY ROGER STOBERT YOUR VOLUNTEER YARD WASTE COORDINATOR

231-288-0148 spankky@charter.net

48

s open burning of yard wastes is not allowed in Canadian Lakes and to preclude the dumping of these wastes on neighboring lots and common areas, the Yard Waste Site was established to provide CLPOC members in good standing with a place to dispose of their residential yard waste free of charge.

The Yard Waste Site is located on the south side of Pierce Road between 110th Ave. and Tullymore Dr. The site is OPEN every Wednesday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., April through November, except Easter Sunday and other holidays falling on a Wednesday or Sunday. Access at other times is not available.

Items allowed to be brought to the Yard Waste Site include tree and shrub branches and limbs less than 4 inches in diameter (place on the east side) and plant-based materials normally associated with residential yard maintenance such as grass clippings, leaves, and discarded mulch (place on the west side).

T h e C a n ad i a n L a ke r

To gain access, you will need a current CLPOC ID, vehicle sticker, or guest pass. Contractors doing yard maintenance for members may also use the facilities, but they must provide the CLPOC ID, guest pass, or the lot number and member’s name to gain access.

Items NOT allowed to be left at the site include household trash, including organic wastes such as rinds, peels, and cores; campfire ashes; and yard waste containers, whether biodegradable or not.

Please dump your yard waste as far off the access road as possible and preferably on top of or behind previously deposited wastes. This helps maximize the amount of yard waste that can be accommodated before the need for costly waste push-backs.

When entering the site, please SLOW DOWN! This is not only for the safety of those using the site and the attendants, but also to minimize the dust created. If you see dust behind you, you’re going too fast!

Wood chips may be obtained

by CLPOC members on an asavailable basis. These wood chips, when available, are located at the far southwest corner of the facility.

Thanks to all the dedicated yard waste attendants who volunteer their time to ensure this facility is only used by those authorized and that the rules are followed.

Should you have any questions, the friendly attendants will be happy to help; or you can contact Roger Stobert, yard waste coordinator, 231-288-0148 or spankky@charter.net.

CLPOC Board Minutes CLPOC BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING Saturday, May 22, 2021 (Virtual Via Zoom) 1. Call to order: The meeting was called to order by Paul Szymkowicz, President at 9:00 a.m. Board members present were: John Colley, Vice President, James French, Treasurer, Linda Tilley, Secretary, Dan Rice, Dan Altier, Jerry Juncker and Steve Wilcox. Director Halpin was absent.

2. Staff members: Greg Babbitt, Kim Dowell, Jessica Slendak 3. Approval of the Agenda: Motion by French / Support Rice Passed 8/0 AUSTIN AND MORTON TOWNSHIP REPORTS: Neither Austin nor Morton Township submitted a report for this meeting.

1. President’s Report: President Szymkowicz wished everyone a safe and enjoyable Memorial Day. The Canadian Lakes annual garage sale will be held on Friday and Saturday before Memorial Day. There will be a lot of traffic in Canadian Lakes during the sale, please exercise extreme caution on the roads. As the holiday approaches our lakes will be congested, again please be cautious as you enjoy your holiday weekend.

2. Financial Report: Controller Dowell reviewed the draft financial statements (not included in the agenda packet this month).

Noted that this month 250 lots have outstanding 2020 balances, 174 lots have outstanding balances from 2019.

COMMITTEE REPORTS: 1. ACC: Secretary Tilley reported that no requests for approval have been received for this month.

2. CLA Liaison: Director Rice reports the CLA BOD meeting held in May was held in person at the Highland Housel. Please refer to the CLA Website and the Lite Lines for complete minutes and details for the May meeting.

Random membership appreciation award Winner for May was Tom and Jane Foster. Please renew your membership for 2021.

3.

4.

5.

6.

$25 gives you access to many family-friendly, enjoyable events, plus opportunities to win prizes. The CLA Shopping event started Feb 1 and continues to run through June 21. Refer to the Lite Lines for information on the Poker Run. You must be member to win.

Executive: The committee met to discuss several legal items. There will be a short executive session after today’s meeting.

Finance: Treasurer French reported that 69 lots went back to the state.

Small claims are still being pursued, albeit slowly, as all courts are not yet open. Controller Dowell and her staff are pursuing the collection of outstanding membership fees. The success of the collection efforts are shown in the lower outstanding lot numbers. The committee and staff are preparing for the annual audit.

Lot Default AdHoc: Director Halpin was absent. No report was submitted.

Strategic Planning: Director Altier reported that the committee met on the 10th where they reviewed the IT process and set a timetable for the Community Planning process. Jim Schwarzenruber has removed himself from the group to pursue other interests.

GENERAL MANAGER’S REPORT: 1. The Agenda packet contains reports on amenity usage and safety activity.

2. Each month one of the department heads will attend the board meeting to present their reports in person. This month Shayna Hancock reported on the Royal Grille activities.

3. Please note: The departmental reports, normally listed here, have been posted on the Canadian Lakes website for your convenience.

4. Limitations on the amenity use will continue as required by the state.

5. Community buildings are now and following current COVID guidelines. c a n a d i a n l a ke s .o r g

6. General Manager Committees have begun meetings for this year.

7. The Fawn Lake dam is leaking, the engineers are trying to determine the source and a solution.

8. The beach renovation project is on hold due to unavailability of the original contractor.

9. The Community Garage sale will be held as planned. The traditional 4th of July events will go forward as in prior years. The 4th of July fireworks celebration will be held on Saturday, July 3rd.

10. Consent Calendar: The notes from the Board Workshop on April 14, 2021 and the minutes from the Board Meeting April 24, 2021 and the receipt and filing of the April, 2021 Check Disbursements were presented for approval. Motion by Tilley, Support by Rice Approved 7/0.

11. Members Comments on Items for action or discussion: None received.

12. Items for Action: None ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION: 1. Nominating Committee: President Szymkowicz asked for volunteers from the board of directors to chair and serve on the committee.

2. Campground Utility Vehicle: A replacement Utility Vehicle is needed for the Campground $29,120.00 is needed from the Replacement Reserve Fund.

3. Move to suspend the rules by Wilcox, Support Rice Approved 7/0 4. Move to purchase a campground utility vehicle for $29,120, with the understanding that any funds received from the sale of the current vehicle will be deposited in the Replacement Reserve fund Motion by Wilcox, Support Rice Approved 7/0 5. Replace Six bunkers at the Royal Golf Course: This is an in-house project by staff. The cost of material will be covered by the Replacement Reserve fund. $23,801.00 is budgeted.

49

CLPOC Board Minutes 6. Move to suspend the rules by Wilcox, Support Tilley Approved 7/0 7. Move to approve the project with a cost not to exceed $23,801. Wilcox, Support Rice Approved 7/0 8. Replacement of the Pines Park Pavilion Roof: It was not planned to replace the roof this year, the wear and tear is too severe to wait. The lowest contractor’s bid is $3,960. and it will be covered by the Replacement Reserve fun.

9. Move to suspend the rules by

Wilcox Support French Approved 7/0 10. Move to approve the replacement of the Pines Park Pavilion roof, not to exceed $4,400 by Wilcox, Support Rice Approved 7/0 11. Resolution to approve the Michigan Liquor Control Commission Liquor License.

12. CASTLE: Event scheduled for September 25th, a Wedding Reception. The Board is being requested to approve this event application for a special license to

“Let me help you through your next door!”

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Service Beyond the Sale

Call for a free market analysis!

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serve alcohol at this location on the requested date.

13. Move to suspend the rules by French, Support Wilcox Approved 7/0 14. Move to approve the above stated special liquor license by French, Support Rice Approved 7/0 15. Replacement of the Royal Pro Shop Furnace and Air Conditioning Units. The units are quite old and in need of replacement. The lowest contractor’s bid was $9,579 and will be covered by the Replacement Reserve account.

16. Move to suspend the rules by Colley, Support Rice Approved 7/0 17. Move to approve the replacement of the Royal Pro Shop furnace and air conditioning units by Colley, Support Tilley Approved 7/0 MEMBERS’ COMMENTS: 1. Louis Weijers, Member Lot Number: 48 & 49. We emailed the office for an appointment so I can pay our annual dues, boat fees, etc. and >72 hours we are still waiting for a response.

2. Donna Fry, Member Lot Number: NS088 When will the office be open to traffic, without having to make an appointment?

3. Directors’ Comments: None 4. Member Communication Requirements: The general manager is asked to let the membership know that the Beach Project is stalled due to the contractor’s issues.

The General Manager and staff are working to find alternate solutions to the problem. Also to remind the members that most departments are currently understaffed or have new employees in training. We ask for your patience at this time.

5. Recess to Executive Session: 9:53 am 6. Adjournment: Adjourned at 10:19 a.m.

7. Notes: The next Board Workshop is scheduled for Wednesday, June 9, 2021 at 5:30 p.m.; the next scheduled Board Meeting is at 9:00 a.m. on June 26, 2021.

8. The May 14, 2021 Board workshop was cancelled.

CLPOC Board Minutes 9. Today’s meeting was viewed by 2 people.

Respectfully submitted by Linda Tilley (Minutes are printed as submitted.)

CLPOC BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING Saturday, June 26, 2021 (Highland Haus) 1. Call to order: The meeting was called to order by Paul Szymkowicz, President at 9:00 a.m. Board members present were: John Colley, Vice President, James French, Treasurer, Linda Tilley, Secretary, Dan Rice, Bob Halpin, Dan Altier (via Zoom), Jerry Juncker (via Zoom) and Steve Wilcox.

2. Staff members: Greg Babbitt (via Zoom), Kim Dowell 3. Approval of the Agenda: Motion by French / Support Wilcox Passed 8/0 AUSTIN AND MORTON TOWNSHIP REPORTS: 1. Neither Austin nor Morton Township submitted a report for this meeting.

2. President’s Report: President Szymkowicz noted that this was the first face-to-face board meeting in about 475 days. Feb of 2020 was the last meeting held at the Highland Haus. Last of the state mandates have been released and Canadian Lakes can get back to normal.

Thanks to the members present for attending or viewing online.

3. Financial Report: Controller Dowell reviewed the draft financial statements. Canadian Lakes remains on track financially. Note: As of the end of May, 244 lots have outstanding 2020 balances and 171 lots have outstanding balances from 2019.

Efforts to collect are ongoing.

COMMITTEE REPORTS: 1. ACC: Secretary Tilley reported that two late arriving requests for new homes were reviewed and approved by email this month.

2. CLA Liaison: Director Rice reports the CLA BOD meeting

3.

4.

5.

6.

was held in June in person at the Highland Haus. Please refer to the CLA Website and the Lite Lines for complete minutes and details for the May meeting. Random membership appreciation award Winner for John and June Hipple.

Upcoming events: June 26, over 40 crafters are signed up for the Annual Craft Show, July 3, Young Anglers Fishing Contest, 5K Fun Run/Walk and the Annual Summer Picnic. July 23-25 Pickleball Tournament. The CLA shopping Spree ended on June 21. There were over 2,000 receipts entered for over $46,000 in sales to our local merchants. The Poker Run winners received generous prizes from some of our local merchants. Please renew your membership for 2021. $25 gives you access to many family-friendly, enjoyable events, plus opportunities to win prizes.

Executive: The committee met to discuss several legal items, the Gypsy Moth situation and the Hot Dog Man. There will be a short executive session after today’s meeting.

Finance: Treasurer French reported that the committee was able to meet face-to-face. Small claims are being pursued. Dowell and her staff are pursuing the collection of outstanding membership fees. The success of the collection efforts are shown in the lower outstanding lot numbers. The committee and staff are preparing for the annual audit. A Replacement Reserve and Funding Plan sub-committees are now able to meet.

Lot Default AdHoc: Director Halpin reported that the committee met 3 times plus with the State Land Bank for two workshops since the last board meeting. The proposed date for presenting the report is before Labor Day. Strategic Planning: Director Altier reported that the committee met to review the timeline for reporting. Because the IT subcommittee members are very busy at work, Treasurer Tilley will now be spearheading the review. c a n a d i a n l a ke s .o r g

GENERAL MANAGER’S REPORT: 1. The Agenda packet contains reports on amenity usage and safety activity.

2. Each month one of the department heads will attend the board meeting to present their reports in person.

This month Casey Smith reported on the Facilities and Compliance Department.

3. Please note: The departmental reports, normally listed here, have been posted on the Canadian Lakes website for your convenience.

4. Limitations on the amenity use have been lifted by the state.

5. Community buildings are now and following current COVID guidelines.

6. General Manager Committees have begun meetings for this year.

7. The Fawn Lake dam is leaking, The engineers will report on their findings and recommendation to remedy.

8. The beach renovation project was awarded to a new contractor.

Holiday Beach will be the first to receive new sand in mid-July. The other beaches will be renovated one at a time to minimize the inconvenience to members.

9. The Community Garage sale was held over the Memorial Day weekend. The traditional 4th of July events will go forward as in prior years. The 4th of July fireworks celebration will be held on Friday, July 2nd.

10. Consent Calendar: The minutes from the Board Meeting May 22, 2021 and the receipt and filing of the May, 2021 Check Disbursements were presented for approval.

Motion by Tilley, Support by Wilcox Approved 8/0. (Correction: the April 14, 2021 Board Workshop mentioned in the video was cancelled.)

11. Members Comments on Items for action or discussion: Carl Norris commented on the condition of the lakes and beaches. He is looking forward to planned improvements and continued improvements.

ITEMS FOR ACTION: 12. 2021 Nominating Committee: The committee will be Chaired by 51

CLPOC Board Minutes President Szymkowicz, members are Director Juncker and Jo Alex.

13. Motion by Rice/Support Wilcox Approved 8/0 ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION: 1. Resolution to approve the Michigan Liquor Control Commission Liquor License.

2. The Event is a Golf Outing scheduled for August 3rd and 4th at the Castle. The Board is being requested to approve this event application for a special license to serve alcohol at

this location on the requested date.

3. Move to suspend the rules by Tilley, Support Wilcox Approved 8/0 4. Move to approve the above stated special liquor license by Wilcox, Support French Approved 8/0 5. Members in Good Standing. The date for determining that members of record in good standing will be entitled to notice and to vote at the Annual Meeting of the Members.

The standard date is September 30, 2021, which will be voted on during the July meeting.

NEW TO CANADIAN LAKES? Welcome! If you haven’t

already, please contact Member Services at 231-972-7651 or memberservices@clpoc.org to schedule your appointment to get membership cards, vehicle stickers, and any other amenities privileges you’d like.

Then,

please visit our members website at members.canadianlakes.org to register. You’ll find a ton of great, useful info and you’ll automatically be signed up to receive the Members Bulletin email.

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T h e C a n ad i a n L a ke r

6. Refurbishing the Castle Turrets.

Repair of the damaged blocks and upper eyebrow windows and clean and repaint the turrets. Costs will be $32,400.

7. Move to suspend the rules by Wilcox, Support French Approved 8/0 8. Move to approve the above stated purchase by French, Support Wilcox Approved 8/0 9. Replacement of Golf Course Equipment. The Tee & Approach Mower should be replaced. A small utility vehicle is also needed to replace the current vehicle. There will be funds available from the Replacement Reserve. Bids are being sought.

10. Members’ Comments: Mike Burke expressed concern over the gypsy moth problems and asked that Canadian Lakes work with Morton Township for any treatments needed in the Spring. Carl Norris asked that the sand bars partially blocking the area behind Pierce Beach be addressed. Margery Raush also addressed the gypsy moth issue and discussed some things homeowners can do to help. Rick Lowe asked about an item erroneously added to the agenda packet that was not addressed during the meeting.

11. Directors’ Comments: Directors thanked the members for attending the session in person. Staff members were commended for their diligence.

12. Member Communication Requirements: Timing of the beach renovations and information on the Nominating Committee and where to find information for members wishing to run for a board position.

13. Recess to Executive Session: 10:13 am 14. Adjournment: Adjourned at 11:00 a.m.

15. Notes: The next Board Workshop is scheduled for Wednesday, July 14, 2021 at 5:30 p.m.; the next scheduled Board Meeting is at 9:00 a.m. on July 24, 2021.

16. Today’s meeting was viewed by 6 people.

Respectfully submitted by Linda Tilley (Minutes are printed as submitted.)

CALENDAR EVENTS of AREA

CALENDAR EVENTS of AREA

August

6 Shinedown with THEORY and Pop Evil 6 17th Annual Bullhead Tournament 7 7 Bullhead Contest Finals 7 11 CLA Ice Cream Social 7 14 Kid Rock with special guest Grand Funk Railroad 6 15 Kid Rock with special guest Tesla **2nd Show** 6 21 PBR Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour 2 21 Summerfest 4 25 Bass Fishing Fun Night 7 26 Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit 5 28 Alabama 50th Anniversary Tour 2 28 Keith Urban with special guest Lindsay Ell 6 28 18th Annual Pike Tournament 7

September

6

1 The Price Is Right Live! 5 5 Classic Car & Bike Show 7 10 Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons 5 11 Lucky Duck Race 4 11 18th Annual Pike Tournament 7 12 The Doobie Brothers 50th Anniversary Tour 2 13 An Evening with Michael Bublé 2 16 ArtPrize 2021 2 16 Judas Priest 50 Heavy Metal Years 2 16 Randy Rainbow: The Pink Glasses Tour 5 17 Artworks Fundraising Gala 4 17 GR Symphony Presents Back to the 80’s 5 18 Choose To Stay – Remembrance Walk 4 18 GR Symphony Presents Back to the 80’s 5 18 Tim McGraw with Lauren Alaina 6 22 Pike Fishing Fun Night 7 52 24 Hasan Minhaj: The King’s Jester 5 24 Megadeth & Lamb of God with special guests Trivium & In Flames 6 25 CLA Annual Meeting 7 26 Snoop Dogg & Wiz Khalifa 6 30 Blake Shelton 2

October

1 & 2 GR Symphony Presents Grand Rapids Symphony LIVE! 5 1 Youth & Large Fish Contest 7 3 Dan + Shay The (Arena) Tour 2 3 Chelsea Handler 5 8-10 Monster Jam Triple Threat Series 2 15 Grand Rapids Griffins 2 15 Fall Festival 4 15 & 16 GR Symphony Presents The Joy of Mozart 5 16 Fall Festival Parade 4 16 REO Speedwagon 6 22 & 24 Opera GR Presents Don Giovanni 5 23 CLA Halloween Dance 7 29 & 30 GR Symphony Presents Russian Celebration 5 30 Boyz II Men 6 31 CLA Trick or Treat 7

INFORMATION IS FROM THE FOLLOWING WEBSITES:

1. Ferris State University — www.ferris.edu/arts 2. Van Andel Arena, Grand Rapids — vanandelarena.com; 616-742-6600 3. Central Michigan University — cmich.edu/Calendar 4. Big Rapids area — cityofbr.org, Community Calendar; 231-796-7640 5. DeVos Performance Hall, Grand Rapids — devosperformancehall.com; 616-742-6500 6. Soaring Eagle Casino, Mt. Pleasant — soaringeaglecasino.com; INFORMATION IS FROM 888-732-4537 THE 7. Canadian Lakes Association — FOLLOWING WEBSITES: canadianlakesassociation.org 1. Ferris University — www.ferris.edu/arts 8. ArtState Works, Big Rapids-www.artworksinbigrapids.org 2. Van Andel Arena, Grand Rapids — vanandelarena.com; 616-742-6600 T h e C a n a d i a n L a ke r 3. Central Michigan University — cmich.edu/Calendar 4. Big Rapids area — cityofbr.org, Community Calendar; 231-796-7640 5. DeVos Performance Hall, Grand Rapids — devosperformancehall.com; 616-742-6500 6. Soaring Eagle Casino, Mt. Pleasant — soaringeaglecasino.com; 888-732-4537 7. Canadian Lakes Association — canadianlakesassociation.org c a n a d i a n l a ke s .o rg 8. Art Works, Big Rapids-www.artworksinbigrapids.org

53

Let’s Get Social, Canadian Lakes DAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

2nd 2nd 2nd

WEDNESDAY 1st 2nd 3rd

2nd 1st 2nd 3rd

THURSDAY

4th 4th 1st, 3rd

FRIDAY SATURDAY

1st 4th 2nd

NOTE: All activities are open to Canadian Lakes property owners, family members, and guests. Property owners are asked to obtain guest passes from the CLPOC office.

TIME

ACTIVITY

SEASONAL

9:30 am 2nd 3:30-5 pm 6:30 pm 6:30 pm 9 am 1 pm 7 pm 7 pm 7:30 pm 2-3 pm 9-11 am 10 am 9:30 am 10 am-4 pm 11:30 am 12:30 pm 1 pm 1 pm 4:30 pm 4:30 pm 7 pm 7 pm

Melody Makers (ladies) Apr-Jul/Sept-Dec. 1 pm Dotted Cubes (bunko) Canadian Lakes Men’s Chorus Apr-Dec. Euchre Club Camera Club Every other Mon Morton Township Meeting Odd months Pool Cue League Oct-Dec/Jan-Mar. Table Tennis Morton Township Meeting Even months Austin Township Meeting Monthly Exercise/Dance Class Drop-In Mixed Tennis Seasonal Garden Club Apr-Nov. Book Babes Book Club Apr-Dec. Quilt Club Mah Jongg Apr-Oct. Mixed Bowling Sept-May Duplicate Bridge Weekly CLPOC Workshop/Agenda Mtg Main Conf. Room Girl Scout Troop 4788 Canadian Lakes Players Canadian Lakes Fishing Club Apr-Oct. Morton Twp. Planning Comm. Jan/Apr/Jul/Oct

Highland Haus Alpine Haus Highland Haus Alpine Haus Highland Haus 290 Main, Mecosta Member homes Alpine Haus 290 Main, Mecosta 14132 Pierce, Stanwood Alpine Haus Alpine Haus Courts Highland Haus Member Homes Highland Haus Alpine Haus Remus Lanes Alpine Haus 231-972-7651 Alpine Haus Highland Haus Alpine Haus 290 Main, Mecosta

Variable Variable 7:30 am 10-11 am 1 pm 1 pm 1 pm-3 pm 9-11 am 11:30 am 3:30 pm 9 am 1:00 pm 1-3 pm

Treasure Seekers Fishing Fun Night May-Sept.

Men’s Christian Book Study June-August Exercise/Dance Class Needles and News See Lite Lines Drop-in Bridge Model Yacht Club Apr-Oct. Drop-In Mixed Tennis Mah Jongg Apr-Oct. Writers Quest CLPOC Monthly Board Meeting Highland Haus Euchre Tournament Oct-April Model Yacht Club Apr-Oct.

Destinations Vary Main Beach Royal Grille Alpine Haus Alpine Haus

Indoor Pool & Fitness Area - 972-2123 (CLOSED on Tuesdays) Lap Swimming: Mon, Wed-Fri 7-8 am Adult Open Swim: Mon, Wed, Fri 9-10 am, Thurs 7-9 am Open Swim: Mon, Wed, Fri 11 am-8 pm, Thurs 7-9 am, Sat, Sun 9 am-8 pm Outdoor Pool/Pines Pavilion - 972-4462 May 28-Sept. 7, 11 am-6 pm Pickleball - Contact: Jeff Butzin 586-599-9684 Legacy Park Daily 9am - 12pm (Apr.-Oct.) Tennis - Open play daily at all courts (see above for drop-in mixed tennis) Thursday Ladies 9-Hole Golf - Contact: Sandy Engott 848-933-0759 jengott@aol.com Ladies 18-Hole Golf - Contact: Deb Macaddino 231-972-4874 Euchre Tournament - Contact: Kathy Lawyer 231-972-3054 vklaw@charter.net Alternate contact: Diane Kennedy 231-972-3176 Writer’s Quest - Contact Joyce Wilcox: 734-223-7841 joycewilcox@gmail.com Alternate contact: Griz Holbrook 231-972-1947 grizh@yahoo.com Girl Scout Troop 4788 Club - Contact: Jennifer Cady 231-629-2259 cady-jb@hotmail.com Alpine Haus 4:30pm-6pm meets bi-weekly (Oct.-June) 54

Canadian Lakes Weekly Scheduled Activities

LOCATION

Edgewater Park Royal Courts Alpine Haus Alpine Haus 231-972-7651 Highland Haus Edgewater Park

CONTACT 231-796-2460 586-549-7705 231-359-1114 231-972-7920 989-560-2124 231-972-7138 231-972-7327 231-408-7716 231-972-7138 231-972-7472 231-972-0029 231-408-8801 231-972-5702 231-972-8869 616-581-6734 231-972-1115 231-215-5556 231-972-4858 231-629-2259 231-972-7447 231-972-8663 231-972-7138 231-359-1023 TBA 231-972-5132 231-972-0029 231-598-2203 TBA 231-629-1004 231-408-8801 231-972-1115 734-223-7841 231-972-3054 231-629-1004

Men’s Tuesday 9-Hole League - Contact: Tim Hannon 248-231-2990 timhannon@comcast.net CL Camera Club - Contact: Troy Smith 989-560-2124 smithtd1969@gmail.com MARSP - Contact: Mary Salisz 231-972-8084 marysalisz@gmail.com Alternate contact: Chris Wernette 231-972-7336 chrisandsandy@yahoo.com Canadian Lakes Dog Club- Contact: Jim Ashbaugh 231-359-1464 jimash550@yahoo.com Great Ideas- Contact: Dave Fisher 810-919-1765 ppwig@aol.com Men’s Summer Christian Book Study- Contact: Tom Keef 231-972-5132 tomkeef@centurylink.net Alternate contact: Joe Rausch 989-292-9980 rauschjoe@gmail.com Monday Men’s 18-Hole Golf League - Contact: Larry Klein 231-972-8361 larev@charter.net Canadian Lakes Optimist Club - Contact: Michelle Kauffold 313-510-6300 newmichelle@att.net

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Toes in the Waves | Dry Pastel on Paper 20x30

Artist Gloria Oostema Facebook Oostema Fine Art Website gloriart.weebly.com Gloria's artwork can also be seen at the Mary Case Gallery in Ludington, MI. 56

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