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HMI SPOTLIGHT
– The Grayling Regional Chamber of Commerce announced that its February Spotlight member is HMI / Hal’s Masonry.
Owned by Brent Reas, the company was started in 1993. It employs six people and specializes in concrete, masonry, stone, hearths and mantles, and chimney repair. HMI is located at 6811 M-93 South in Grayling. For information call Reas at 989348-8179 or visit HMICT. com.
Reader Photos!
TIP UP TOWN QUEEN - Maddie Hiller was named the 2021 Tip Up Town Queen. The honor came with a $1,000 donation which the Roscommon County Commission on aging split with the Roscommon County Food Pantry and Freezin’ for a Reason Bikini Radar Run. Proceeds from the run benefitted Brad Lenox.
For info on advertising in print or online call Tracy at 989-275-1170
SECOND BOOK PUBLISHED
- Coming on the heels of his first book, “Echoes and Shadows,” Doug Wilson’s second collection of poetry, “Into The Black,” was published through I-Universe in September of 2020.
Unlike Echoes and Shadows—a lifetime compilation—Into the Black is a current work with poetry being written daily over the last year. This collection of poetry tackles the many facets of romantic love and the book is filled with what Wilson calls “snapshots of life,” moments and situations that most of us are familiar with and can easily relate to.
Wilson’s poetry is relaxed and down to earth. The poetry often touches the readers emotions and makes them think about their own experiences. There are 125 poems in this collection. Into the Black establishes Wilson as a developed poet, and he is especially proud of this book as it was a dedicated effort to build a collection of poetry that everyone can enjoy.
Doug is a 1968 graduate of Grayling High School and a 1972 graduate of Central Michigan University. He continues to live and work in Grayling.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, local book signing events have been postponed until Spring of 2021. Copies of both Echoes and Shadows and Into The Black are available at Tip’n The Mitten in Downtown Grayling or on Amazon.com. Wilson has a third book, “The Well of Sorrows” in development.
March 2021 senior news
Oscoda Senior News By Suzanne Barker
Welcome March! When it gets to this time of year, we are all looking for a hint of spring to let us know it is coming soon. Hope it is very soon!!
I know many of you are anxious to get your Covid-19 vaccines. Some have been successful at registering and getting an appointment, while others are still trying to get in.
Here at the center, we’re doing what we can to help. We have helped many register for the health department appointments. In mid-February as Rite Aid started doing vaccines, we also helped to get people registered and secure appointments at the pharmacy. We have no control over vaccine quantities or appointment availability, but we will certainly continue to try to help everyone who needs help to get registered.
The food drops happening this month are the CSFP (senior cheese box) on March 16 from 10 -11 a.m.; Together We Can Food Pantry drops are on March 11 and 25 from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the fairgrounds.
The council’s monthly board meeting is scheduled for March 8 at 9 a.m. All are welcome to attend.
We received word from AASA (Aging & Adult Services Agency) on Feb. 10 that we are still not allowed to open. So, in the meantime we will still be relying on the to-go window to get those lunch meals out to you. Please remember to call ahead to order.
Just a few other things happening this month to make note of. March 14 is once again time for daylight savings. It is time to spring ahead, so remember before going to bed on the 13th to set those clocks 1 hour ahead.
St. Patrick’s Day is on March 17, so take a moment on that day to dance a little jig or sing a few words from your favorite Irish tunes! The first day of spring is March 20. YAY!! I am sure most of us are happy about that! The beautiful full moon is on the 28. This past year has been rough, especially on the seniors. The isolation and unknowing are so difficult to deal with. It seems like such a long time already, but please have patience and know that there are people who care, and we will get through this together.
Barker is director of the Oscoda County Council on Aging. For more info call 989 826-3025
Fairview is blooming
By Richard Rensberry
FAIRVIEW - I love the smell of Star Gazer Lilies in February. Even better is walking into a flower shop where you are accosted by roses, stock, and a multitude of other natural flowers in bloom. Asia Cactus in downtown Fairview has brought this wonderland of blossoms into reality.
With Mother’s Day just around the corner the bells on the door of this new venture will be ringing. The proprietor, Merianne Tappan, will be busy, indeed. The need for flowers cannot be denied.
There are even more blooms on the horizon. Fairview Berry and Flower Farm, also of Fairview, will open its garden of delights for visitors to Pick-TheirOwn Berries and Flowers come spring of this year. This adventure is the dream of Michael and Suzanne Peychich.
With the arrival of this spring’s opening will also come their second book about the farm, called If I Were A Blossom. This book written for and about the farm is a production of QuickTurtle Books®, a new business located on Schmid Road not too distant from the Farm on Mast Road.
The Farms’s first book, also written and produced by QuickTurtle Books®, is called Berry Sweet and is about the Farm’s wonderful fresh berries. Besides flowers and berries you will also be able to purchase many home grown QuickTurtle books and/or cards at both locations.
I hope everyone will take notice and shop these newest additions to our business community. Seeds must be planted before they grow, and the seeds are now in the ground. Watch them and our community bloom.
Sudoku sponsored by:
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Printed using Brain Bashers Sudoku
Puzzle Copyright © Kevin Stone See answer on page 7
Correction: Photos from the Hale Antique Snowmobile Show in the February issue of Up North Voice were taken by Kristi Major.
Visit our New Website: UpNorthVoice.com Like Us on Facebook: @UpNorthVoice It’s the things you can’t see
Home Country By Slim Randles
Doc had just finished bringing us up to date on the world’s fight against the covid-19 virus when ol’ Windy Wilson raised his eyes.
“Now don’t ya find, Doc,” he said, “that the worse stuff in this old life is the junk ya can’t see?”
Doc looked puzzled, so Windy continued. “Aw, you know. It’s them mitrascopic stuff that are really dangerous to us.”
Doc nodded.
“Now you jest take in there a braymer bull? He can stomp a guy inta furry, pink Jell-o. And then dance on them bullfighters whilst they’re a-tryin’ to git yer carcass outa the reenur. But see this here now. That there bull is purty dang big. Big enough to ride, right? So that means he’s big enough so’s you kin get outa his way if he comes a-stompin.”
Windy, our favorite camp cook, cowboy, philosopher, and interpreter of the English language, sipped on his coffee and looked at us each in turn. “Now, can you see them coronary vibration bugs? No way! Too dang small. They’ll sneak up on a guy, get married and have pups and then kill ya deader’n a hammer!
“Thass why, at the conjugal finish a-my thinkin’, I’m puttin’ them bugs in secondary place on my list of alltime tiny mean stuff.”
“Only second place?” said Herb, “What’s worse’n dying, Windy?”
“Cactus hairs,” he said. “A-course. Ya know, them miterscopic stickers that you can’t see when your eyes is nekkid. But ya know they’s there, doncha? Oh yes, Aunt Sarah, I’ll say ya do!”
Windy nodded, agreeing with himself. No one else did, but that isn’t necessary with Windy.
“Only way ya kin tell ya got ‘em is when ya brush up agin’ somethin’, like a shirt cuff or somethin’. Hurts like the Civilian War, it does, but ya can’t see it.”
He leaned forward and whispered. “It’s flambastically insidulouss!
“And you kin tell ‘em I said so.” -------------
Brought to you by the folks who take the shiver out of ordering a quiver for you archers, Cedar Ridge Leather Works, in Nashville. Ask for art@archeryleather.com
MOORE COMMITS - Katelyn Moore of Grayling High School committed to running cross country and track at Lake Superior State University. She plans to study Kinesiology. ~ Photo courtesy of Nate Maury
Roscommon's junior varsity team fell to Pine River Feb. 15.
Sports are back!
Emma Hoover of Fairview works past Hale Freshman Felicity Hicks. Fairview’s Sam Smith prepares to drive toward the hoop.
Sports are back!
Katelyn Bowers sets up for a pass in Fairview’s varsity game against Hale’s Claudia Cadwell.~ Photo by Bobbi Ross
Fairview’s Sam Smith prepares to drive toward the hoop. ~ Photo by Bobbi Ross
BOWLING KICKS OFF – Members of the Charlton Heston Academy bowling team include (l-r) Lexi Klienert, Carisa Ryan, Amber Lage, Samantha Lage, Haley Jarosz and Kayla Graham. ~ Photo by Sharon Graham
KANARY COMMITS - Drew Kanary of Grayling High School committed to playing football at Michigan Tech and plans to study Environmental Science. ~ Photo courtesy of Nate Maury
Sample life’s simple pleasures
It is said that the two things that one cannot avoid are death and taxes. For discussion's sake, let us take the former, death. It takes life from us in various ways, such as suddenly, maybe by accidents; or longer, through intense suffering; or quietly, in our sleep. We never know when exactly it will occur, so all we have is today and sometimes not even that.
What I have discovered is—no, not the fountain of youth—but how to enjoy the time I have on Earth. Many of us are close to or are entering the winter of our lives, but this advice is also applicable to the young as well. Sure, most of us have aches, pains, lost mobility, and tire easily. This has restricted certainly mobility, but one can still do something that you will find enriching and rewarding.
Let's take winter, for example. I have retired from snowshoe racing, and cross-country skiing anymore because of physical limitations. However, those limitations haven't hindered me from other activities, and I have adjusted. For example, I've taken up walking for extended periods of time, approximately an hour or more. During that time, I have become acquainted with several new neighbors. In addition, I have also enjoyed time spent in prayer.
Other times, after a recent snowfall, I enjoy tracking and identifying some of the animals by prints in the snow. I can also see where they traversed my land. Another piece of enjoyment comes from during the day making campfires outdoors. It not only warms me when outdoors for long periods of time; it also offers me respite where I can take a break and enjoy the moment by, for example, observing some of the animals, birds, and clouds.
Above all, during these times, I enjoy moments when I can pray and praise God in His creation. The solitude affords me the opportunity to clear my mind and soul of concerns and reflect on positive events as the day unfolds.
So, as I found my personal niche for winter enjoyment, I would encourage you to seek your own simple winter pleasure. It just may add a renewed revitalization to your life.
Are we hoarders?
View From the Comfy Chair By Joel Vernier
I was just waking up from a welldeserved nap.
The television was on in the background, and I woke up to a reality show called; "Hoarders." It is a show I had never watched before. As I was not totally awake, I decided to watch the show and to give myself time to fully awake. I wasn't sure how to process this show.
I found myself grossed out by some of the things that people saved, such as dead cats. There were boxes and boxes and bags and bags of stuff rising up to the ceiling and small footpaths to allow you to navigate thru the rooms full of stuff. Talk about high fire risk, and the people on the show also mentioned it did not smell like a lavender field!
Then family and friends got together, and they performed an incredible clean-out that took several days. There was a lot of emotion from the "Hoarder" as things went out the door, but in the end, it seemed okay; they were happy to have their house back.
I thought to myself, how could that happen? What is wrong with people?
Then a thought struck me right in the stomach; "Was I A Hoarder?" My daughter would say yes!
I went down into the basement, one side is finished, and the other side is not finished. I opened the door, and it somehow looked different to me. Lots of boxes and storage containers, and yes, garbage bags full of stuff. No, it cannot be. I could not be a hoarder! I committed to clean out the things in the unfinished portion of the basement tomorrow.
It's interesting that tomorrow, becomes today and today becomes yesterday. So when tomorrow came, it was today and not tomorrow. Basically, tomorrow never comes.
A couple of weeks went by, and I forgot about cleaning out the stuff. I went to the basement to get ice cream out of the freezer, and I awakened my commitment to get rid of stuff!
The goal I came up with is that if I had not used the item in one year, it either goes to the Mission or it gets pitched. That should clean things up.
I found several boxes and bags of my daughters' stuff. It had been here for years. I called her up and told her to come over and get the stuff. She came over (I bribed her with carryout dinner.) She went through the stuff, fond memories all.
Then she said, "Dad, I don't have room for this right now. Can you keep it, and I will make room for it and get it later? I said yes, after all, she is my only daughter!
That was about a year ago.
Well, I'm not a Big League "Hoarder" like on television, but I guess I'm a minor league one. Are you A "Hoarder?" A simple look around will answer that question.
I guess it's time for a nap; I will decide what to do with this stuff later! "Remember, every day is a gift! Some are just a little more fun to open than others. – © Joel M. Vernier 02/18/2021 Author of: "The Guinea Pig In The Freezer." joelmvernier@ aol.com
Sudoku Answer
Puzzle can be found on page 3
Puzzle Copyright © Kevin Stone Brain Bashers
NEW MI MOBILE DIGS – Mi Mobile of Grayling recently relocated to 2323 South I-75 Business Loop in Grayling. Owner Scott Longedyke said the move was prompted by an increase in business. “We needed the extra space,” he said. “To carry more product, make it easier to get around and be more comfortable for our customers.” Mi Mobile carries cell phones, charges, Bluetooth speakers and cases. It also handles cell phone and pad repairs. Regular hours are M-F from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information contact Scott at 989-915-8170.
GRAYLING - During this COVID-19 pandemic, The Crawford Baby to Toddler Closet have new hours, only not dates.
The ‘Closet’ is now open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. the first and third Thursdays of the month. Curb service only, but you can choose your items from the entrance of the red door at the back of the church.
Please call us at 989-889-4745 if possible, to give us your information, number of children and diaper size.
They are still saving Spartan Family Fare Receipts and can use the check for non-recyclable items such as diapers, wipes, underwear, socks, and many times, shoes
Support our local businesses
Pictured are Mi Mobile owner Scott Longedyke (right) and Technician Chris Jones.
