Everything Men Spring/Summer 2023

Whether

you prefer to stay indoors or outdoors, we have the right products and expertise to get your project done right.

from the publisher

Marlanea McGraw Owner/Publisher

Welcome to spring! We had pretty mild weather through the heart of winter and then, BAM! March arrived and we got slammed. Glad we’re past that crazy month.

Now it’s time to check that fishing tackle and get it ready, tune up the lawn mower and other yard equipment, clean the grill, and do all the other “warm weather is coming” jobs. Pick-up softball games, shooting hoops in the driveway, barbecues with family and friends are all on the horizon. If you’re anything like me, you can’t WAIT!

Our cover article profiles Breathe Free Duct Cleaning. Be sure to read what owner Ryan Griffiths has to say about the services he offers and how they can improve air quality in your home or business. Ron Stoll share details about three great cars along with his enthusiasm for the muscle car community.

That’s just some of what this issue has to offer, and we hope you’ll benefit from what’s in our pages. Be sure to check out the ads, too; you might discover a local professional, service provider, or retailer who’s just what you’ve been looking for.

Marlanea

EVERYTHING MEN STAFF

EDITOR

Melissa McCance

SALES

Heidi Lanius

Hannah Sayles

Sherry Sheffer

Cyndi Young

Michelle Henthorne

GRAPHIC DESIGN

Dakota Harding

Angela Blake

PHOTOGRAPHY

Synergy in Motion Studios

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

James Campbell

Melissa McCance

Laura Loveberry

Don Winchell

William Chapel

Jessy Bigelow

Zack Bigelow

FOR INFORMATION on how to submit story ideas, concerns, or information on how to advertise, please contact Marlanea McGraw at (517)320-9235 or email sales@simplyhers.net.

Everything Men Magazine makes every effort to provide accurate information in advertising and editorial content, however, does not make any claims as to accuracy of information provided by advertisers or editorial contributors and accepts no responsibility or liability for inaccurate information.

Please thank our ADVERTISERS

Advanced Vein & Vascular Management- 56

Amazon - 53

Becker & Scrivens - 19

Belson Asphalt - 9

Board of Public Utilities BPU - 30

Bob Evans Farm - 30

Bras that Fit - 21

Breathe Free Duct Cleaning - 51

Broad Street Auto Service, LLC - 21

CASA - 29

Chris Hodos, Frank Beck - 29

City Collision - 29

County National Bank - 6

Cottage Inn Pizza - 35

D&D Heating & Cooling - 21

D-P Equipment Co., Inc - 5, 21, 40

El Cerrito Mexican Restaurant - 6

Frank Beck - 20

Gene’s Auto Service, LLC - 9

Glory to God - 17

Green Energy LP - 37

Griffiths Mechanical - 37

HD Mechanical LLC - 31

Hillsdale Hospital - 2

Hillsdale Medical Associates - 17, 31

Hillsdale Terminal - 30

Hillsdale Towing - 31

Identity Salon - 21

Imperial Weld & Repair - 30

Jilly Beans - 31

Jonesville Lumber - 3

Kelly’s Furniture - 19

Hillsdale Buick GMC - 7

Perennial Park - 51

Performance Automotive - 34

Pittsford Gas & Tire - 19

PRIME Fitness - 15, 30

Pub & Grub - 21

Ramshackle Brewing Co. - 38 Rob Sayles/

Stillwell Ford Lincoln - 51

Ryan & Bradshaw - 9

R S Custom Exhaust, LLC - 4

Spratt’s Trading Post - 23

State Farm- Jason Adcock - 31

Stillwell Ford Lincoln - 14

Southern Michigan RV - 25

Shows

On the Cover:

Breathe Free can help eliminate a leading cause of home fires: dirty dryer vents. A build-up of lint in your dryer vent is a fire waiting to happen, and the service team can easily make your home not only cleaner but also safer. Learn more about them on page 10.

Breathe Free Duct Cleaning

Delivering a breath of fresh air

One thing almost everyone looks forward to as the weather gets warmer is opening up the house to let in the fresh air. A good airing-out combined with some spring cleaning makes a home a nicer place to be. But what you might not think about is that as soon as your heat (Michigan nights stay cool for a while!) or air conditioning is turned on, your system is blowing dust, dirt, and allergens throughout your house.

Breathe Free Duct Cleaning in Jonesville can remove the dust, lint, pet hair, and other debris from your air ducts and detect if there are any problems with the airflow within your system. “People think the dirt in the ducts won’t be disturbed, but the fact is that anything can jar it loose—a kid bouncing a ball indoors or someone walking heavily—then it’s airborne,” explains Ryan Griffiths, owner of Breathe Free.

The service team consists of two technicians with specific training for duct cleaning who use a powerful, truckmounted system that will pull up to 12,000 cubic feet of air per minute. All of your registers are masked off and the cleaning is performed from a single location in the home. Compressed air is introduced into the ducts and special cleaning equipment loosens the debris from the duct walls. Suction then draws everything out of the ducts. In addition, the register covers are taken outdoors for cleaning and disinfection. All work is guaranteed 100%. “If we overlooked something or you feel something isn’t quite right, my team and I will be back to take care of it,” says Ryan.

While they’re at your home dealing with the air ducts,

Breathe Free can help eliminate a leading cause of home fires: dirty dryer vents. A build-up of lint in your dryer vent is a fire waiting to happen, and the service team can easily make your home not only cleaner but also safer.

An optimal time for duct cleaning is when you’re building a new home, remodeling the one you’re in, or buying an existing home. Construction means drywall dust, sawdust, and other debris, so get your ductwork cleaned once construction is completed. If you’re moving into an existing home, have whatever has collected in the ducts during the previous owners’ occupancy cleared out before you move in.

Along with cleaning the ducts, Breathe Free can install a REME-Halo unit on your furnace that will clean the air as it passes through your HVAC system. This low-voltage unit is attached to your furnace’s air supply, providing whole-house air purification. It breaks down mold spores, bacteria, viruses, and odors and passes an ionic charge

Story by Melissa McCance Photos by Synergy Studios

While they’re at your home dealing with the air ducts, Breathe Free can help eliminate a leading cause of home fires: dirty dryer vents.

to dust, dander, pollen, and allergens in the air. The charge causes those contaminants to stick together which means that more of them are caught by your furnace filter so there is less particulate matter in your home’s air.

Ryan stresses that air cleaning is the most important factor and installing the REME-Halo unit can be done separately from the duct cleaning. “If someone isn’t currently in a position to do both the duct cleaning and having the unit installed at the same time, the air cleaning should come first,” he says.

If your home doesn’t have air ducts, it’s still possible to have cleaner air. Breathe Free now carries desk top units that can improve air quality in your home or at your workplace. Feel better at work by breathing cleaner air in your office or cubicle. Make the employee break room a nice place to be by installing a desk top unit! There are also plug-in units for maintaining more healthful air quality when you’re on the road.

Breathe Free Duct Cleaning cleans commercial and industrial sites in addition to residences, and Ryan has seen quite an uptick in those calls in recent months. If you are a business owner or have input into maintaining optimum conditions for employee health and wellness, call Ryan to discuss the benefits of having workplace duct systems thoroughly cleaned.

Among the non-residential locations that have utilized the service are the Best Western in Coldwater, Greenfield School (Hillsdale ISD), Trillium Staffing, and Hillsdale Terminal. They can handle dust extraction and smoke collection systems as well as the HVAC ducts.

Breathe Free Duct Cleaning is now offering financing to help you make the move to a healthier environment. A 0%, 18-month option is available and there are other rates for longer terms. The business is located at 1252 East Chicago Road in Jonesville. You can reach Ryan by phone at 517-297-0909 or by messaging through the Facebook page or the website: www.breathefreeduct.com.

“Clean air is life.”

GADGETS

BLACK+DECKER’s Snake Light

This BLACK+DECKER light embodies flexibility and versatility in all the best ways. Built with a flexible gooseneck, it can be twisted, turned, and contorted any way you want it, allowing you to wrap it around a pole, hang it from the roof, lean it on your car, or conform it to whatever hands-free configuration works best.

The best gadgets for men are captivating, purposeful, and unique! If you’re after a special new toy, the following selection of interesting gadgets is for you. We’ve chosen highly-practical gadgets for everyday use, those for fun and entertainment, and even some quirky and intriguing items you never knew existed!

Thermacell Lighted Rechargeable Mosquito Repeller

Prepare for the inevitable mosquito season. This handy little Thermacell rechargeable-battery-powered repeller is just the thing you need, to not only keep the bugs away, but add a pop of lighting to your backyard or campground.

Makita Outdoor Adventure Lantern

Makita is one of the best-known and most-loved manufacturers of power tools, renowned for their high quality, durability, and affordability. Now, with their “Outdoor Adventure” line of cordless products, you can take Makita with you to any job site and camp site.

Their latest offering, the Outdoor Adventure 18V LXT Bluetooth Radio and L.E.D. Lantern, is a working and camping man’s best friend. With it, you’ve got access to FM radio stations (thanks to the antenna built into the lantern guard) as well as a Bluetooth connection to your mobile devices so you can play your music or podcast while working, hiking, or camping.

VSSL Insulated Flask with Bluetooth Speaker

Nights out in nature, at the lake, or in the campground just got a whole lot better with VSSL’s new insulated flask.

Not only does it have the capacity to store 8 fluid ounces of your favorite booze in its insulated tank, but the flask comes with a built-in weatherproof Bluetooth speaker that lets you play your favorite tunes anywhere, anytime.

Ring Car Cam

The Ring Car Cam was launched in 2020, but didn’t really make much of a splash (perhaps because most of us were staying indoors and working from home at the time). Now, it’s back and ready to upgrade your vehicle’s security.

The cam doesn’t feature a built-in screen, meaning it’s compact enough so as to be almost invisible from outside the car, but the dual-facing screens offer you a clear view of both the interior and exterior of your car.

All the footage is accessible via the Ring app, and you’ll also receive alerts straight to your phone if movement is detected inside or too-near your car or if your vehicle is being broken into.

Journey Rapid TRIO 3-in-1 Wireless Charging Station

Charge all your Apple devices on a single, sleek charging station. The Rapid TRIO 3-in-1 Wireless Charging Station by JOURNEY lets you power up your AirPods, Apple Watch, and iPhone all at the same time, using magnetic wireless fast-charging that will top up your devices’ batteries at lightning speed.

One really cool feature of this charger is the detachable Apple Watch charger, which you can unplug from the stand, throw in your bag, and carry with you for instantly accessible USB-C charging anywhere you go.

Nebula Anker Capsule 3 Laser Mini Projector

Simplify your home movie setup with this palm-sized laser projector. Weighing in at just 2.1 pounds, it’s insanely lightweight and compact, but projects sterling-quality 1080p HD images and video onto your walls. It’s got a 2.5 hour battery life—more than adequate for all but the longest feature films—and can easily be plugged in for fast-charging while you take a break or make a quick snack.

Thanks to the 8W DD+ speaker with Dolby Atmos sound, you can enjoy your movie or TV show without bothering to hook up your sound system. Best of all, you don’t even need to get up to control it—use Chromecast or Google Assistant to operate the projector from the comfort of your couch.

Eric Hoffman, Jeff Hess, Chris Finch, Roger Karr, Chad Gibler, Jim Cole, Rob Sayles, Jeremy Taylor, Christopher Finch II, Rob Grossheim, Tim Kempter, Steve Rzepka, Dustin Dihle, Charlie Balog, and Billy Fielhauer

“As I laid in the mud, scared to death, I prayed to God and told him if He got me out of here alive, I would act better and serve Him.”

I was drafted into the US Army on 5 January 1965, at the age of 21. I was not a good student in high school, so I didn’t even think of college. I was living at home and working in a dirty factory which I hated. So even though it was a little scary with the war in Vietnam, I was excited about going into the army. My dad fought in the South Pacific during WWII with the 25th Infantry Division. He had done his part, so I wanted to do mine.

I took basic in the middle of the winter at Fort Knox, Kentucky. Then I went to Fort Campbell, Kentucky, and, without any training, was put in the 86th Transportation Company Light Truck. They had a 2.5-ton truck called a “deuce and a half.” The first summer (1965), our whole company drove to West Point, New York, to drive the cadets around for their summer training. We stayed about ten miles from West Point at a place called Camo Natural Bridge. It was good duty as a bus took us to New York City about fifty miles away on the weekends. The World’s Fair was on, so we went there. I also went to Yankee and Mets baseball

games. If we wore our army uniforms, we got in free to the ball parks. We met some girls in New York and were looking forward to bringing our cars there the next summer. We were a little naive, as by next summer we were all on our way to Vietnam.

I was advanced party for our unit, so I flew on a C-130 transport plane. We flew for 56 hours in a plane with no actual seats. We flew from Fort Campbell, Kentucky, to Oklahoma, to California, to Hawaii, to Wake, to Guam, to the Philippines, then into Cam Ranh Bay, Vietnam. We were really beat. The rest of our company came by boat from Washington State. After a few weeks, they flew us to Tan Son Nhut Airbase in Saigon where we stayed in Tent City B. Then we went out to T.C. Hill at Long Binh about 14 miles north of Saigon. Our trucks finally arrived, and we started going out on convoys; some up to 100 trucks. We were in what was called Ill Corp Area. We convoyed all the way from the South China Sea almost to Cambodia.

We took turns, one guy would drive and the other rode shotgun. On the way back we would reverse the roles. Some of our main routes were

to Vung Tau on the South China Sea, and a scary place called Xuan Lod where the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment was clearing the rubber trees out to set up their base camp. We slept out there one night in our trailer with sandbags around us. There was close firing all night. It was a little hard to find sleep. We also went to Tay Ninh up by Cambodia. There was one mountain up there. We called it the “Black Virgin Mountain;” it was really Nui Ba Dinh. The U.S. Special Forces had an outpost on top of it.

We brought the Fourth Infantry from their ships to Bear Cat. I felt sorry for them as they had 365 days to go and was real short with only 16 days to go. I felt the Army was cruel, as they had an Army band playing “I Left My Heart in San Francisco” as they got off the ship. I was driving nights when our company got in a large ambush going to Xuan Loc one day. Some of our trucks got burned up. In the ambush seven Americans were killed, eight wounded. We lost four trucks and two ACAV 39s (Armored Cavalry Assault Vehicles.) None of the men killed were from our company.

Theresa Shewman Service

Robert Shewman Owner/Operator

A couple weeks ago my kids expressed interest in working out, which is incredible to me. It isn't the first time—my oldest Brooke got into a bit when she moved in with us and started playing basketball at Pittsford High School. And I had Lucas really get into it through his high school career as well. He's made it a staple in his life through college, and I'm sure after graduation this spring, he'll also take it into the next stage of his life. Now my youngest ones are showing interest. I never pushed fitness on them; I figured that when the interest arose that I'd be there to guide them and help them along the way as they gained more interest. This usually happens as they see a physical difference or notice improvements in sport or play. Make no mistake though, it's not easy as many of you readers know... (Exercise, I mean, or being a parent for that matter.)

The world is a confusing place, and as of late I feel it's gotten a lot worse. Being masculine is now a bad thing?! I have to disagree there. Look, as men I feel we have a responsibility to teach our youth to be strong, independent, honorable, and, at times, unwavering individuals. To me, that's masculine. My opinion is that the worst thing we can teach anyone is to be evasive, cowardly, people-pleasing, mass-following groupies! That would definitely NOT be masculine.

Looking back over my life, I've made a lot of mistakes. Made unintelligent, rash decisions that have caused life-altering ripples. However, most my life has been based around doing "man" stuff. I was a football player in high school, tried it in college and in the semi-pro ranks. I was in the Air Force. I ran/run businesses. I've competed Strongman and now into bodybuilding. One thing all of these were made better with my very personal relationship with fitness. My entire life has been enriched with it!

Now that I'm aging, I am seeing other benefits of this prolonged relationship. Each phase of my life has taught me more about myself and how to channel my energy and alter my gym life into what I needed it to be. The biggest example being my injury to my back in the military when I was told that lifting was no longer going to be able to be such an influence in my life going forward. Good thing I didn't listen to them!! Looking back, I don't blame them for what they said. I mean, it was a blanket statement to cover themselves from any backlash if I were to get injured. But back then . . . I was pissed! In the end, I went back to the drawing board and taught myself how to do things around my problem area. I went on to do some pretty awesome things with fitness and met a lot of bad ass individuals along the way.

All of that is cool and all, but that's now really what I set out to do here. I mentioned that I've altered my game plans here

and there along the way. Finding tools that help me get to where I want to go. One of these tools is getting blood work done REGULARLY!! Yea, I'm not one for doctors and maybe that's got something to do with my history and that back injury. Or maybe it's how I feel that they don't seem to be out to make or keep people healthy, instead want to shove prescriptions at us and not taking time to educate the general public on proper health and wellness.

Truth is, most doctors don't truly know how to take care of themselves (there are definitely exceptions to this, but as a whole). Anyway, redirect—I've worked with my coach and learned how to read the data that we get from bloodwork and am able to adjust daily life accordingly based on the information gained. Cholesterol, testosterone levels, Vitamin D levels, hormones, and many, many other things that a FULL blood panel will give you.

Unless you do this regularly, you don't truly know what's going on in your own body. You could have a workout regimen and eat healthy and still have high cholesterol; it can be hereditary. I take Vitamin D and last time I got blood work, it was pretty low. Sometimes these things are minor and can be fixed

Family owned since 1976

Frank Beck Chevrolet is your trusted dealership and the reason why our loyal customers keep coming back.

From the time you enter, you can expect to be treated like family. We offer an extensive inventory, competitive lease specials, finance options, and expert auto service.

Customer Satisfaction is #1 HHHHH

Happy with the service received. Got new tires put on my car and the price is very comparable with other tire places.

Linda G.—Hudson

I have no worries! They do their job and make sure I get what I ask for.

Patricia V.—Jonesville

Our GM Certified Service department has the expertise to perform a wide range of GM services. From routine maintenance to critical repairs, we take the stress out of servicing your vehicle.

Mike Moyer does a very good job of interacting with the customer and relates to their requests. He listens and ask questions to understand their issues and then he takes that information and does a problem analysis on their vehicle to resolve the problem. Mr. Moyer is a valuable asset for Frank Beck’s Chevrolet because he treats the customers like family and wants them to be satisfied by the work that is performed to keep their vehicle in top notch condition.

Bill W.—Hillsdale

I was treated very well and the staff was very professional and the body work that was done is excellent. Thank you

Dorwin M.—Concord

Always a great experience. Everyone is so nice. Get me in as soon as possible. Never go anywhere else.

Sherryl W—Jonesville

Service Manager Mike Moyer

Spratt’s Trading Post, Inc A STAPLE IN HILLSDALE SINCE 1956

by Elyse

“We want to be that store that from gas to grass, we have you covered,” says Chad Spratt of Spratt’s Trading Post, Inc., located in Hillsdale, MI.

Spratt’s is a family business and has been a staple in Hillsdale since it was first founded in 1956 by Jerry Spratt, Chad’s grandfather. Now, Thomas Spratt, Jerry’s son, is the sole owner of Spratt’s but plans to one day pass it on to his sons, Kurt and Chad.

“It’s been here our whole lives. We grew up next door to the business,” Kurt says. “It’s in our blood. We aren’t going anywhere.”

Spratt’s prides itself on serving a wide range of needs for the Hillsdale, Jackson, and Branch county areas, but propane has long been a focus.

As Chad and Kurt have gotten more involved in the business, they have evolved some of the services Spratt’s provides, but continue to maintain the most important thing: taking care of the customer.

“Through the years, we’ve transitioned our services,” Chad says. “But over all else, we provide our customers with continued service, even after sales.” This is something Spratt’s will continue to focus on, Chad explains.

“We’re not a box store. You don’t buy it and that’s it. You come here, you buy something you know, and then you can call us and ask us questions,” he says. “We know what we’re talking about and what we sell. We take care of everything and we service everything we sell.”

Spratt’s also focuses on its relationship with the community and serving it.

“We are local in the community and donate to a lot of different organizations,” Kurt says. “We are a local company and we support local.”

Spratt’s runs delivery services for propane around Hillsdale. It also provides rental services. “We’ve got all kinds of rentals,” Chad says. “We have chippers, trailers, dozers, lifts, and more. We do a lot of things. As we’ve evolved as a company, we’ve taken on a lot more variety of services.”

Spratt’s sells a wide variety of lawn products and services for farms, lawns, gardens, and commercial mowing equipment, including snow blowers. It even hooks up generators. “We sell and service everything from chainsaws to weed trimmers,” Chad says. “We always try to have great service, even after the sale.”

Spratt’s is located at 3000 State Rd Hillsdale, MI 49242. They can be reached by phone at 517- 437-3773. Its hours are Monday - Friday: 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. and Saturday: 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Apel

Stihl BG50 Blower

MS271 Farm Boss

MS251 Wood Boss

READY TO CAMP

New models. New features. Same passion.

NEW 2022 GULF STREAM RV VINTAGE CRUISER 23MBS

Gulf Stream Vintage Cruiser travel trailer 23MBS highlights:

• U-Shaped Dinette Slide

• Pass-Through Storage

• Outdoor Snack Kitchen

• Jack Knife Sofa

• 6 Cu. Ft. Double Door

Refrigerator

JACKERY SOLAR GENERATOR 1000

1002Wh Capacity with 2x SolarSaga 100W Solar Panels, 3 x 1000W AC Outlets, Portable Power Station Ideal for Home Backup, Emergency, RV Outdoor Camping

NEW 2022 GULF STREAM RV VINTAGE CRUISER 19RBS

Gulf SGulf Stream Vintage Cruiser travel trailer 19RBS highlights:

• Two Burner Cooktop

• Front RV Queen Bed

• Pass-Through Storage

• 32” Radius Shower Campers available at Southern Michigan RV. Visit their website SouthernMichiganRV.com

Michigan Campgrounds for

Michigan Campgrounds for

This summer, escape the hustle and bustle, spend quality time with friends and family, and develop a newfound appreciation for Mother Nature at some of these scenic campgrounds in Michigan.

Tahquamenon Falls State Park

Take in the sights of one of the largest waterfalls east of the Mississippi at Tahquamenon Falls State Park in Paradise. The Upper Falls reach 50 feet high and more than 200 feet wide, making it a must-see attraction. There’s more to explore with 40 miles of hiking trails, 13 inland lakes, and approximately 20,000 acres of natural area.

South Higgins Lake State Park

Head to Roscommon to take a swim in crystal-clear Higgins Lake or grab a metal detector and try your luck searching for hidden treasures along the shoreline. Experience tranquility and observe wildlife while traveling the camp’s nature trail.

Wilderness State Park

Participate in a host of recreational activities including hiking, fishing, and biking across 10,500 acres of campground in Carp Lake. Enjoy 26 miles of beautiful Lake Michigan shoreline and watch amazing sunsets over pristine water. The air is so fresh that breathing here is a kind of luxury.

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

Explore these enormous sand dunes along Lake Michigan in Empire by guided tour or wandering on your own. Swim at one of the park’s beaches or take in the sweet smell of maple syrup while hiking through a lush beech-maple forest.

Ludington State Park

Lace-up your hiking boots, or grab your bike, and hit the park’s 18-mile trail amongst peaceful wildlife. At this beautiful park in Ludington, camp and set sail

a Weekend Getaway a Weekend Getaway

Porcupine Mountains State Park

Bring a map when traveling in the “Porkies” to help navigate this 60,000-acre state park in Ontonagon. Take your pick from a variety of campsites including modern, rustic, and yurt lodging. Enjoy scenic waterfalls, trek across miles of hiking trails, or feel the sensation of stepping back in time as you explore the ancient Porcupine Mountains.

across picturesque Lake Michigan or soak in the sun along the sandy shoreline of Hamlin Lake.

Huron-Manistee National Forest

Get lost in a forest of Jack Pine trees and fall in love with miles of sparkling rivers and streams in Manistee. Canoe along the peaceful Pere Marquette River or catch fish from Benton Lake. Take delight in the forest’s remarkable ecological features including dry sand prairie remnants, coastal marshlands, dunes, oak savannahs, fens, bogs, and marshes.

Lakeport State Park

From canoeing to shooting hoops to tossing horseshoes – there’s something for everyone at this campground in Lakeport. Gaze into the unbridled waters of Lake Huron and take comfort in modern amenities offered at one of 250 campsites.

Your trip begins at michigan.org.

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

Behold the beauty which lies in the Central Upper Peninsula at this park’s dramatic, multicolored sandstone cliffs in Munising. Hike alongside wildflowers and ride the waves of Lake Superior in a kayak. For another priceless view of the lake, travel atop the Au Sable Light Station that towers 87 feet above the ground.

My first recollection of a goal or heading in a direction started with the sport of wrestling and wasn’t necessarily by choice. My dad became a wrestling coach at Western High School in the early 60s. It didn’t have a wrestling program at the time. Though my dad had never wrestled himself, he first learned it from a book, started the program, and then coached it for many years with more than a little success. It seemed his strategy was to recruit guys that were troublemakers in the school. “If you think you’re so tough, try this.” Many of those fellas would drop in now and then and thank my dad well into his golden years.

Witnessing this assured me as young kid that wrestling would be my destiny as well. However, by the time I was in the sixth grade and my first opportunity to go out for the sport I wasn’t so sure. By then I was a little pudgy and discovered fears of wimping out I didn’t even know I had. It was time to face the sport or face my dad. I chose the sport with much reluctance.

The only thing I had going for me was learning moves at home on the dining room floor. It would help little by little. I didn’t have much going in middle school. A few victories held the potential that with persistence and hard work more would come. When I was a freshman, I made the varsity but only by losing 15 pounds to enter a weight class where I was the only one. OK, so I’m not pudgy anymore but still pretty green.

I remember my first varsity tournament all too well. It was a large, 16-team tournament with the best in the area. I recall looking at my weight class chart in the hallway. Why did my opponent have #1 and senior next to his name? Well, he was a senior and the number one seed in my weight class. My first thought was, why me? I lost 15 pounds for this. I then had to wait in the noisy gym for the announcement over the speaker for my match and the mat number to go face this cat. I was horrified.

I’d heard it said never look straight in the eye of your opponent in wrestling, but I did. They were right. This guy was only 112 pounds, but he was 18, had hair ON his face and chest and arms that hung down to the mat. He had won the state championship last year and I was pretty sure he was going to win again. I looked at my coaches who were usually quite coachy and they were speechless. There was nothing to say. The starting whistle blew, and I was in a knot and pinned in 26 seconds. Now I look at my coaches still not only not speaking but wouldn’t look at me, either.

Where’s this going? Well, I went down a long hallway and had a sit and a pout. Pathetic. But hey, there was another dude and another who joined me in same boat. A glimmer of relief: it was in the early moments of despondence I began to see a bigger picture. It was the upper classmen who had paid their dues and were now standing high on the podiums. The hard lumps would lessen down the road. Stick it out and learn

dreaded losses compel victory.

Little did I know this would apply to my inward losses as well. Life’s unforeseen occurrences left me in despair. Where is this going...familiar. I needed a coach for this stuff and began to wonder if there was such a thing. What a pit.

Well, there is! I would eventually stick wrestling out though my senior year. I achieved some of my most rewarding victories as well as heartbreak. I caught a bit of senioritis my senior year, lost focus at the state meet and fell short. That regret would live on.

Eventually, my choice of choosing Jesus Christ as my life coach would live on also. No regrets. Some tough opponents and matches for sure. Divine assurance and participation with Him who started the program and doesn’t need a book but a better look at the picture given us on only now from the inside. Our creator, our recruiter. Bringing many SONS to glory.

With snowflakes falling outside, I open my Bible, snuggling under a blanket. Ah. Peaceful.

I read, “Thus they provoked Him to anger with their deeds, and the plague broke out among them. Then Phinehas stood up and intervened, and the plague was stopped. And that was accounted to him for righteousness to all generations forevermore.” (Psalm 106:29b -31 NKJV). I studied another reference, “Now when Phinehas . . . saw it, he rose from among the congregation and took a javelin in his hand; and he went after the man of Israel into the tent and thrust both of them through . . . So the plague was stopped. . . . Then the LORD spoke, . . . “Phinehas . . . has turned back My wrath. . . he was zealous for his God . . .’” (Numbers 7a, 8a,c, 10b, 13b NKJV).

What?! God shouts loud on this quiet morning. The LORD ignites a fire in me! He jolts my memory of Phinehas. In the Old Testament, the people sinned against God by seeking little-g gods called idols. Uh! Oh!

But Phinehas “stood up.”

Phineas intervened, stopping a plague. God credited it to Phinehas as righteousness. In Old Testament ways, that meant killing people sometimes. Sheesh. Today, it means to stand up for big-G God. Stand against the culture of the day that worships idols. It’s against our Holy God. I am NOT saying to kill anyone, but we need to stand, intervening for the true God.

God’s presence came boldly, reminding me to STAND against a culture that dishonors God. You and I can be zealous for God in our community. People often seek truth in wrong places. We can share authentic satisfaction. It comes from worshipping the real God – not unfulfilling false gods.

Let’s be like Phinehas, the great champion of God.

Let’s stand upright for the LORD in an upside-down world. We can study God’s Word, directing us to holiness. Grab zeal from God to impact our world for good. We do not find true fulfilment in idol worship. An idol is something or someone that becomes more important to us than the God of the Bible.

Idols never satisfy completely. They’re counterfeit gods (identity, money, things, status, physical appearance, entertainment, sex, comfort, phones, technology, family, or fame). Fake gods leave us sorely disappointed. Our loving response to mankind’s quest in wrong places – sharing the fulfillment found by faith in the big-G God. Reading the Bible awakens my zeal. You and I can grab God’s charge like Phinehas did. Take a stance.

Are we standing for big-G God in our culture that’s engulfed in little-g gods?

Note: Normally these articles involve an interview with the car owner and the article is put together by a staff writer. This time, tight schedules and an internet glitch that hid my first emails prevented me meeting Ron face to face. Once we finally connected online, we decided to do the “interview” by email with Ron answering some questions which I’d use to write the article. However, his passion for great cars came through so clearly in his responses that I decided it would be better to let him the tell the story of these vehicles.

—Melissa McCance

The black car is a 1969 Ford Fairlane Cobra. My brother bought this car in 1970 after we spotted it at a dealership in Indiana when we were visiting our grandparents. I bought it from him in 1977. I always liked the car and it is a really rare car. In the 45+ years I’ve owned it, I have never seen one exactly like it. It was ordered with the formal roof rather than the fastback roof which was more popular in higher production numbers than the formal roof models.

It is all date code and numbers matching. It has the R code, Ram air 428 Cobra jet engine with the top loader, RUG series four-speed transmission. It also has the original nine-inch Ford traction lock rear end. It came with a 3.50 gear ratio. I do have the original wheels for this car, but I did not have them on in this picture.

Many of my best memories were riding around with my older brother in this car, listening to the Beach Boys’ “Endless Summer” album on the eight-track tape

player. All my cars have a lot of stories and memories that come alive whenever I drive one of them.

The red 1965 Mustang is a car I redid for my wife for our 20th anniversary which was 22 years ago. I drive it to cruise-ins more than any of the other cars I have. It has a 289 high-performance engine that I rebuilt myself. I put a Tramac, T5, five-speed manual transmission behind it. I also put in power rack and pinion steering and power disc brakes on it so that it steers, stops, and shifts like a newer car but still has old-school V-8 power.

The third car is a replica of a 1903 Oldsmobile. I use it for parades and for giving the grandkids rides in the driveway.

I know these days you can go to a local dealership and buy a car off the showroom floor that will outperform these old muscle cars, but these cars are legendary to guys like me and many others. I have always enjoyed cars and the freedom

of the road that they represent to me. I have been blessed by meeting so many like-minded folks and consider it a great hobby, surrounded by quality

I can say there are a lot of things I would do different in my life if I could redo it, but having cars for a hobby is one thing I would not change. It’s just a part of who I

Car & Motorcycle Shows Near You!

Hillsdale

Hillsdale County Historical Society 2nd Annual Car Show

Sat Jun 10 2023 at 8:00 AM

Location: Hillsdale Poorhouse, 180 N. Wolcott St, Hillsdale, MI | Hillsdale, MI

This car show is a fundraiser for the Hillsdale County Historical Society. $10 donation/ show car, spectators free. All makes and models, motorcycles too. Trophies awarded. First 100 receive a dash plaque. Food vendor on site. Visit our museums and bake sale.

Lenawee Jackson

Adrian Cruise In Car Shows. First Friday every month

May - October 5-8 PM

Downtown Adrian - Enter at Church & Main St. Hot Rods - Classic CarsTrucks - Rat RodsMotorcycles.

SUPER CRUISE JUNE SHOW

Bands and Door Prizes!

Cruise In & Concerts take place the 4th Friday of the month between May and September. Downtown Jackson 5-8 PM

Branch

Kilgore International

Monday Nite Cruise In! 1st monday in May - 1st monday in October. Everyone welcome! 595 W Chicago St, Coldwater MI

The 35th annual Coldwater swap meet and car show. Mothers Day Weekend

May 13th & 14th Branch County Fairgrounds Show cars & motorcycles!

Rich and Ryan Galloway

As a four-year-old girl, I played with Barbies during the day, but, when dad came home, I was glued to his side awaiting our next adventure and a new lesson.

One of my first memories in life was sitting in the old chicken coop at our old farm in Litchfield, watching my dad skin rabbits. It was dark and cold out that night. He’d spent all day rabbit hunting with his friend, and we had a mess of rabbits to get ready to cook up. On this day, I learned how to skin a rabbit. Sure, it was kind of gross, but it was a valuable lesson—nature always provides.

Growing up with my dad was a constant adventure. We went fishing, built a hot rod, tinkered with model airplanes, did basic household repair, and he always taught me something new on these adventures.

Lessons from dad were subtle most of the time. I did a lot of observing, and I picked up quickly on how to do a task. Within every task was a story, a memory, or something that tied them together. I’d learn about how he was taught as kid to do these things, like the countless stories of Mr. Khron’s shop class, and the many goofy shenanigans my grandpa and dad got into. These moments taught me a great deal about patience and everlasting bonds.

I look back at these memories-lessons and realize my dad is the reason I have no fear when it comes to the hard stuff. He is the reason that no matter what the situation, I’ll figure a way out. I recently listened to the song “Things a

Man Oughta Know” on the radio and realized I can shoot a shotgun and I can catch a fish. He never treated me like a princess or made me feel helpless. Sure, he got frustrated with me occasionally, and I had the fear instilled in me if I moved the flashlight to the wrong spot when fixing an engine, but I learned. He also taught me about loving myself first, and that love isn’t a fly by night experience.

I know my dad won’t be around forever, but I plan to take advantage of all the time I have left with him. I recently got my motorcycle endorsement and a beautiful Honda Rebel that my dad gave me as a birthday present. Already, the new memories and lessons have started filling up my soul. When the ground thaws and the wind is warm, our knees will be in the breeze taking on the world in a new adventure.

I’m happy to say that I’m a spoiled daddy’s girl. I have a lifelong friend, a co-pilot that taught me what to look out for in life, and how to do it. I’m spoiled in the sense that all these lessons that dad taught me throughout the years are more valuable than all the gold in the world. Now on to a new adventure and lesson in life!

By Zack Bigelow Co-Owner/Head Brewer Ramshackle Brewing Company

Life of Beer

Beer, it has four letters. It has four ingredients at its base: barley, water, yeast, and hops. Beer is that simple, but so complex. For years, I myself thought of beer as a bitter alcoholic drink. Once I tried craft beer, I was hooked. Hooked on the vast flavors and how it seemed the people making it looked like an everyday person you may be next to in line at the grocery store.

My story started like many in my industry. Bell’s Oberon. A beer that gently opened the doors to those big barrel aged stouts, double IPAs, and finally sours. The local party stores at first were my guide to exploring different styles of beers, learning all about different parts of the world through their beers. Sometimes there was a style or kind of beer that just did not sit right with me at this stage, but when I found a beer that stopped me in my tracks it stays with me to this day.

With my local area fully explored, my wife and I would take on our duty to spend weekend trips all across Michigan to the many breweries in our great state. The best part we would figure out later—folks at breweries are great people. We have learned so much about the area we would visit, even more than any tourist maps or travel brochures could put on paper. Sitting at one of any of the breweries we visited, we sat next to factory workers, doctors, CEOs of various companies, and sometimes, if we were lucky, one of the brewers

who put their hard work on the product we loved.

The brewers were like rock stars to me. I would listen to them and see their passion in how those four simple ingredients mixed together become something else. We were lucky to live so close to the Dark Horse Brewery in Marshall in the mid-2000s. Those guys showed us some of the behind-thescenes things a time or two. Watching them turn barley, hops, water, and yeast with help of hard work into some of the greatest tastes I could imagine was magical.

I’ve heard people talk about finding their calling and how it’s like a neon sign on a moonless night. I found mine; I just felt it in my toes. I had to try making my own beer. The trailblazers in the industry already laid down the road for me with the books, videos, research papers, and, most importantly, the culture to willingly share ideas and help. I bought the books. I watched the videos and read the research papers. I was ready to start. I just needed equipment, time, and, above all, be all right with beers not turning out the way they should.

Even though beer has been around since the dawn of time, it can and will be one of the simplest yet hardest things to make. So next time you stop at your local brewery or even buy a sixer from the store to take home, raise a glass to those that make it for ya!

Cheers!!!

At DP Equipment we have all of the ELECTRIC outdoor power tools you will need to get the job done!

Hunting, Tracking, Decoy Dogs

Black Mouth Cur

A large dog known to defend and are terrific at hunting and tracking which all contributes to their ability to make excellent decoy dogs!

Dachshund

Although a surprise to most this breed is great for hunting and tracking. They are well known blood trackers who also excel at hunting prairie dogs and rats.

Chesapeake Bay Retriever

This loyal breed’s high energy makes them a great bird dog that excels in retrieving!

Beagle

Their small stature and ability to pick up scent make them amazing hunters and trackers. They are known for rabbit hunting but can also hunt other small game.

Tracking, &

Labrador Retriever

Known for being amazing family dogs, they make amazing waterfowl and wild game hunters. Originally, they were known for fishing!

Jack Russell Terrier

The traits that can make them a bad family dog are what they are known for when it comes to being a good hunting dog. Being aggressive, they hunt for badgers, foxes, and rats!

Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever

Small and intelligent retriever that hunts for waterfowl. Also great for pheasants, grouse, and quail.

Patch Hound

Related to beagles, they are strong and resilient. Known for their strong noses, they are used for hunting coyotes and rabbits.

Pudelpointer

German breed that loves an active hunting lifestyle. They hunt for game birds and are also great for shed hunting!

There are countless hunting dog breeds around the world. Here are some of the most popular and a few that may surprise you!

B ragging r ights

For some of us, it’s more than just hunting. It’s one of the best things in life and we’re proud of it.

JV - Jackson MI

Zack Harding Jackson MI

Kenny Wrobbel Osseo MI

Stephanie Ray Addison MI

Kenny Wrobbel and Sons Osseo MI

Cody and Shay AddisonAshby MI

Henry & Grandpa Jackson MI

Blake Fish Jackson MI

Dave Firrone Hillsdale MI

Josh JacksonDaneMI

Daniel Esham Jackson MI

Mason Belt Jackson MI

Henry Jackson MI

Levi PittsfordChestney MI

Stephanie Ray Addison MI

JV - Jackson MI

GRILLING &SMOKING

Recipes & More...

Best Cuts Of Meat

For Grilling

Chicken:

Thighs

Lamb: Chops

Pork:

Shoulder Steak

Beef: Ribeye Steak

Did You Know?

Certain breeds are better for grilling, especially when it comes to pork. Red Wattle and Berkshire breeds are known for their amount of marbling making them a better choice for grilling.

Oak & other hardwoods are great for smoking meat because they burn slower and hotter than other wood.

Ingredients

•6 lamb chops

•1 tablespoon fresh rosemary

•2 large cloves garlic, crushed

•1 teaspoon smoked paprika

•1 teaspoon fresh thyme

•1 teaspoon white pepper

Grilled Lamb Chops

Instructions

1.Salt and pepper the lamb chops. Set aside.

2.In a food processor or mortar and pestle, blend the rosemary, garlic, smoked paprika, thyme, and white pepper.

3.Rub the lamb chops with the herb mixture, ensuring each chop is covered evenly.

4.Place the chops in an airtight container in the fridge while marinating. Let the flavors penetrate for at least an hour or overnight in the fridge for best results. The longer, the better.

5.When ready to grill, bring lamb chops to room temperature. Remove the chops from the marinade.

6.Heat your grill or a cast-iron grill pan until hot.

7.Cook the lamb chops for 3½-5 minutes per side (flipping once) until browned to the desired doneness.

Ingredients

•1 whole American rack of lamb

•2 tbsp of olive oil

•Salt & pepper

Herb Butter Paste Ingredients

•1/4 cup of unsalted butter

•2 tbsp of olive oil

•2 tbsp of parsley finely chopped

•1 tbsp of cumin

•1 tbsp of minced garlic

•Salt & pepper

Smoked Rack of Lamb

Instructions

1.In your smoker, build up heat until you reach an even 225F.

2.In a bowl, mix all the ingredients for the Herb Butter Paste thoroughly.

3.Rub rack of lamb with olive oil and season with salt & pepper. Rub the Herb Butter Paste evenly on the side without bones.

4.Place lamb in smoker at 225F for 1.5 hours or until the internal temperature is at 135F (mediumrare). About 15 minutes before pulling the lamb out, start a hot fire in order to sear the outside layers.

5.When the lamb is ready, pull it out of the smoker and quickly sear the lamb on both sides for 1 minute each.

6.Let lamb rest for 8-10 minutes. Enjoy!

Ingredients

•3 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs

•1 tablespoon brown sugar

•1 tablespoon Lawry’s seasoning salt

•1 tablespoon garlic powder

•1 tablespoon smoked paprika

•1 ½ teaspoons onion powder

•1 ½ teaspoons freshly cracked black pepper

•2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

Grilled Chicken Thighs

Instructions

1.Preheat the grill to high heat.

2.In a large bowl combine the brown sugar, salt, garlic powder, paprika, onion powder, black pepper and the olive oil. Add in chicken thighs and toss until coated. Cover and set aside.

3.Reduce heat on grill to low and add the chicken. Cook undisturbed until slightly charred, about 5 minutes. Flip the chicken over and continue cooking until the other side is charred, about 5 minutes longer. Continue flipping until the chicken reaches 165°F on an instant read thermometer, about 5-7 more minutes. Remove from the grill and arrange on a large platter.

Ingredients

•1 (4- to 5-pound chicken) whole chicken

•1 tablespoon salt

•1 tablespoon brown sugar

•2 teaspoons black pepper

•2 teaspoons smoked paprika

•1 teaspoon minced fresh thyme leaves

•2 cloves garlic, grated

Smoked Whole Chicken Instructions

1.Stir together the salt, sugar, pepper, paprika, thyme, and garlic. Rub the chicken inside and out and under the skin of the breast and thighs with the spice mixture.

2.Let sit in the refrigerator for 2 to 8 hours.

3.Prepare the smoker with fruitwood chips. Smoke the chicken at 250 F/120 C until the thermometer inserted into the center of the chicken breast reaches 160 F. This will take about 3 hours—or 45 minutes per pound.

4.Once cooked, remove from heat and tent with aluminum foil. Let chicken rest for 20 minutes.

5.Carve chicken and serve with your favorite sides. Enjoy!

Ingredients

• 4 shoulder blade steaks

•salt and pepper for seasoning

PORK STEAK MARINADE

•1/4 cup olive oil

•1 cup flavorful lager or beer of your choice

•2 cloves garlic, minced

•1/2 tbsp cumin

•1/2 tbsp smoked paprika

•1 tsp salt

•1/2 tbsp dried oregano or 3-4 sprigs fresh

Grilled Pork Shoulder Steaks

Instructions

Mix the marinade ingredients and generously coat the pork steaks. Let marinate, refrigerated, from 1 hour to overnight.

1.Take the marinated steaks and let them come to room temperature.

2.Heat your grill to medium-high (about 400 F for gas or 375 F for charcoal, coals will have a faint coat of ash).

3.Scrape off the marinade from the steaks and discard it. Grill for 5-8 minutes on each side, depending on how thick they are until the internal temperature reaches 145 F. For well done, cook them to 160 F. Season with salt and pepper a little before you flip them (the first side) and a few minutes before you remove them from the grill (the other side). Juices should run clear.

Ingredients

•1 pork shoulder, 6 to 8 pounds

•1/3 cup Dijon mustard

•handful oak and apple wood chunks

Dry Rub

•1/4 cup dark brown sugar

•1/4 cup smoked paprika

•3 tablespoons salt

•1 tablespoon white pepper

•1 tablespoon black pepper

•2 teaspoons onion powder

•2 teaspoons garlic powder

•1/4 teaspoon cayenne powder

Mop Sauce

•1/2 cup apple cider vinegar

•1/2 cup olive oil

•1 tablespoon Lawry’s seasoning salt

•1 tablespoon black pepper

•1 teaspoon hot sauce

Smoked Pork Shoulder

Instructions

1. Preheat your smoker to 250°F.

2. Brush the pork shoulder with Dijon mustard.

3. In a medium-size bowl, combine brown sugar, paprika, salt, white pepper, black pepper, onion powder, garlic powder and cayenne pepper. Mix with your fingers to break up any lumps.

4. Generously rub the pork shoulder with the dry rub until covered completely.

5. Whisk together apple cider vinegar, olive oil, salt, black pepper and hot sauce in a saucepan. Bring to a boil and cook for 5 minutes.

6. Place pork shoulder in the smoker and toss 4-6 wood chunks onto the hot coals. Cook for about 8 hours until the internal temperature of the meat reaches 200°F on an instant read thermometer. Mop the shoulder every hour with mop sauce to keep it moist.

7. When the pork shoulder reaches its targeted temperature, remove it from the smoker and cover with aluminum foil. Let rest at room temperature for 1 hour.

8. Shred the pork shoulder using meat claws or pull it apart with your hands, protected by nitrile kitchen gloves. Serve and enjoy.

Ingredients

•4 bone-in ribeye steaks

•1 1/2 tablespoons smoked paprika

•1 tablespoon garlic powder

•1 tablespoon ground black pepper

•2 teaspoons salt

•2 teaspoons onion powder

•1 teaspoon red chili flakes

For the compound butter:

•4 tablespoons salted butter, softened

•1 clove garlic, minced

•2 tablespoons fresh basil, minced

Grilled Ribeye Steaks

Instructions

1.Prepare the grill temperature to high heat (400-450 degrees Fahrenheit), clean and oil the grill grates.

2.In a small bowl, prepare the dry rub then apply spice rub generously to all sides of the steak.

3.Place steak directly over a hot grill. Grill steaks for 3-4 minutes per side for medium-rare steak.

4.While the steak cooks, prepare the compound butter. In a small bowl, add softened butter, garlic and herbs. Stir well to combine, then place in the refrigerator until it’s time to serve.

5.For medium rare steaks, pull from the grill when the internal temperature of your steak reads 125-130 degrees Fahrenheit using an instant-read thermometer.

6.Allow the steak to rest for about 5 minutes. While it’s resting, holdover cooking will occur, raising the steak’s internal temperature 4-5 additional degrees.

7.Top with herb butter. Serve warm

Ingredients

•12 to 16 lb Prime grade whole packer brisket

•1 tablespoon onion powder

•1 tablespoon garlic powder

•1 tablespoon smoked paprika

•1 tablespoon Kosher salt

•1 tablespoon dark brown sugar

•2 teaspoons black pepper

•1 teaspoon oregano

•2 teaspoons chili powder

•1 teaspoon cayenne pepper

•1 teaspoon ground coriander

Smoked Brisket Instructions

1.Trim the brisket while it is very cold using a sharp knife. Trim the fat cap down to about ¼” thick and remove the silver skin from the backside.

2.Season: Combine seasonings in a small bowl or spice shaker, then evenly season the brisket on all sides. Let the brisket sit out at room temperature for 1 hour.

3.Prepare the smoker: While the brisket comes to room temperature, prepare the smoker according to the manufacturer’s instructions for indirect cooking with a water-filled drip pan in place. Bring the temperature between 225° and 275° F. Add 3 to 5 fist-size oak, mesquite or your favorite wood chunks for smoke.

4.Smoke the brisket: Place the brisket in the smoker with the thickest end closer to the heat. Leave the lid closed for at least 3 hours. Cook until the internal temperature reaches 165° F and a dark brown bark is formed, about 6 to 8 hours.

5.Wrap the brisket: Remove the brisket from the smoker and tightly wrap it with aluminum foil. Place it back in the smoker and continue cooking until the internal temperature of the thinner side reaches between 200 and 205° F about 6 to 8 more hours.

6.Rest: Carefully transfer the brisket to a large cooler or cutting board to rest for at least 1 hour and preferably 2 hours or until the internal temp drops to 140 to 145° F. You can line the cooler with a towel to further insulate the brisket to keep it warm.

7.Slice and serve: Slice against the grain into ¼” slices just before serving. Enjoy!

FREEORV WEEKEND

Twice a year, residents and out-of-state visitors can legally ride Michigan's 4,000 miles of off-road vehicle trails and routes and the state’s six scramble areas (Bull Gap, Black Lake Scramble Area, Holly Oaks ORV Park, Silver Lake State Park, The Mounds and St. Helen’s Motorsport Area) without an ORV license or trail permit. All other ORV rules and laws still apply, and the Recreation Passport is required where applicable.

This year's free weekends take place June 10-11 and Aug. 19-20, 2023.

Typically, there is an entrance fee at Holly Oaks ORV Park (although no Recreation Passport requirement), but the fee will be waived both weekends this year.

Three Free Weekend - The first Free ORV Weekend (June 10-11, 2023) also lines up with Summer Free Fishing Weekend, when fishing licenses and the Recreation Passport requirement are waived. Don't miss "Three Free" weekend - two full days when Michigan residents and visitors can grab a fishing pole, ride the off-road trails and visit state parks and boating access site - all free of charge.

Consider purchasing an ORV license or trail permit for the season. Fees generated through the sale of ORV licenses and trail permits are reinvested back into the ORV system. These important dollars help fund trail expansion, maintenance, and infrastructure improvements such as bridge and culvert construction and repair, as well as law enforcement and the offsetting of damage created by illegal use. The cost is $26.25 for an ORV license and $10 for a trail permit for a total of $36.25.

Buying a new vehicle can be intimidating! How do you know for sure if you can trust your salesman to hear your concerns and care about your interests? After all, car salesmen have quite a reputation!

Rest assured, though, that not all car salesmen have the same motivations. Some truly want what’s best for you and they’ll be there for you long after the sale is over Rob Sayles at Stillwell Ford Lincoln is one of those guys. He refuses to mislead to sell a car, and he works hard to get you what you want. He’s

established quite the clientele base over the past nearly fourteen

years he’s been with Stillwell Ford Lincoln and many of his clients have become repeat customers, often referring friends and family to him Check out Rob’s reviews at www.dealerrater.com.

UrgentHILLSDALE

w AQM THE CttILDQEN

CASA IS LOSING ITS PRIMARY FUNDING

Due to State budget cuts, we are losing our primary source of funding, but there are many ways that you can help keep our program in the community!

HILLSDALE COUNTY

Providing New Winter Clothing for Local Children in Need

COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

is offering a donor match program! The foundation will match donations made through them, up to $10,000! Donations can be dropped off at the Foundation or mailed to them at P.O. Box 276 Hillsdale, MI 49242. Online gifts can be made at their website https://abouthccf.org/

KROGER COMMUNITY REWARDS

Visit the Kroger website to link your plus card with Hillsdale CASA and a percentage of quarterly sales are donated directly back to us.

AMAZON SMILE

We are a registered charity with Amazon Smile. Select us as your charity of choice and a percentage of sales will be donated back to us.

Community Action Agency in Hillsdale County partners with Hillsdale County Community Foundation, The Beth Ann Blanchard Children’s Memorial Fund, and Walmart to sponsor the “Warm the Children” campaign to buy new, warm winter clothing for Hillsdale County children in need.

Helping Hands Pregnancy Resource Center (HHPRC), formerly known as Alpha Omega Care Center is located at 46 South Howell Street, Hillsdale, MI. Our mission is to empower men and women to make life-affirming decisions about pregnancy and sexuality through Christ-centered compassion, resources, and education. Established in 1987 under the name of “Alpha Omega Women’s Care Center”, we are the only Crisis Pregnancy Care Center in Hillsdale County. We are a non-profit agency; all our services are provided at no cost to our clients and are received through generous donations from individuals, businesses, and churches throughout Hillsdale County.

Material Assistance: Help for parents who choose life. Once a month, parents can come in for diapers, wipes, formula, baby food, and clothing at no cost.

Pregnancy Tests: No cost, lab-quality pregnancy tests are offered at Helping Hands.

QUALIFIED CHARITABLE DISTRIBUTIONS

Talk with your financial advisor or accountant about Qualified Charitable Distributions from your IRA, gifting appreciated assets, and donation of real property.

SERVICES INCLUDE:

DESIGNER PURSE BINGO

How it works: Applications are taken (during the application enrollment period) and families and children are served as donated funds become available. Volunteers then go shopping with families. Children must be 16 and under at time of sign up. Families may participate every other year.

Ultrasounds: Coming soon! Fundraising is complete! We hope to offer this service at no cost in early Autumn, 2021 and provide an amazing opportunity to save babies and affirm life.

Designer Purse Bingo will be held September 25th and we are looking for businesses, organizations, or individuals to sponsor purses. Please contact Heather Upton for more info. 517-425-4145 or casaofhillsdale@gmail.com

Earn While You Learn (EWYL): Moms earn “baby bucks” while learning through parenting classes. A wide array of topics span prenatal care through the toddler years, parenting and step-parenting, life skills, as well as special circumstances such as adoption. “Baby Bucks” can be spent in our Blessing Store on new baby/toddler clothing as well as baby tubs, pack ‘n plays, new cribs and mattresses, high chairs, etc.

100% of all donations are used to purchase warm clothing for the children!

Find us on Facebook at Hillsdale CASA, Inc - Child Advocates #changeachildsstory

Numbers: According to our 2019 records, we saw 419 clients. We provided 5,111 diapers and 4,267 items of clothing. Thirty-nine parents attended parenting classes, 303 clients came to our center for material assistance. Fifty-eight potential parents came in for no-cost pregnancy tests. Helping Hands volunteers logged in 1,846 hours.

Name and Logo Change: “Alpha Omega” has special and significant meaning to many in the Hillsdale County community, so WHY did we change our name? We chose a name that clearly and simply represents our mission and services to those who need our help.

For more information contact CAA in Hillsdale County: — 517-437-3346.

Vitally Important Parent (VIP): Dads are important, too! These classes are just like EWYL, but are focused on the important role fathers play in the lives of their children. “Dad Dollars” are earned and can be spent in the Blessing Store, as well.

Visit Helping Hands at www.helpinghandsprc.org and follow them at facebook.com/hhprchillsdale

517-612-7293

Epoxy Countertops

The Options are Endless!!

MARCH IS BLOOD CLOT AWARENESS MONTH

Close to a MILLION people a year suffer from blood clots in the legs and lungs. This is also known as deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and Pulmonary Embolism (PE). Almost 50% of patients with a blood clot in the leg continue to have a condition known as POST THROMBOSIS (CLOT) DISEASE. The symptoms range from pain and swelling to open ulcers and leg sores.

If you have had a blood clot in the legs or lungs, we encourage you to take advantage of the resources that we have available on our website; veinsandvascular.com at Advanced Vein and Vascular Management and learn more about your risks.

As we are celebrating our 25 years of providing great vascular service to our community, we will be providing FREE SCREENING AND VASCULAR CONSULTATION, NO CHARGE, NO INSURANCE required, with Dr Abushmaies, for the months of March and April, to manage the following issues:

• How to best manage post-clot legs symptoms?

• How to prevent further clots in the future?

• How to best manage blood thinner when indicated and in duration?

Please make an appointment by logging to our veinsandvascular.com or call our office at 517-797-5265

Advanced Veins and Vascular Management

Advanced Veins and Vascular Management a nationally-accredited ambulatory vascular center has been providing excellent vascular care to Hillsdale and the surrounding communities In the last 30 years, dramatic and transformational changes have happened in the field of vascular surgery The traditional open surgical procedures, performed in the operating room, are replaced by a non-surgical or minimally invasive approach performed in the ambulatory vascular setting.