Weekly Choice - December 08, 2011

8/3/2019 Weekly Choice - December 08, 2011

1/16

FREE

112 E. Sixth St., PO Box 382, Gaylord, MI 49734 www.WeeklyChoice.com (989) 732-8160

Weekly ChoiceA ChoiceChoicePublication

The NehemiahProject, a spiritual-ly based communityhomeless facility in Petoskeythat has been in existence since1988. Courtesy Photo

EVENTS

Salvation Army Bell

Rings are a won-derful part of the

sights and sounds of

the holiday season. Discover

some of the history behind this

120-year-old tradition.

NehemiahProject

Positive News,

Sports andEvents

$#!&)!"

!*(

'''%#!!

#%!!%!"%!!!!!$

!"!(!#""#%%"!%"%)'% '#$*#+&

#%

20/20 PROJECT

Thursday, December 8, 2011

Never mind all the decorations, a Christmas tree looks fine with just a little snow on

it needles, and a big red bow, as demonstrated here at Martells Northwoods Tree

Farm. Keith Martell and daughter in law, Kate (Menkes) Martell.

$2.00 OFF$5.00 OFF

LOCATIONS INGAYLORD, GRAYLING, PETOSKEY,

EAST JORDAN & BOYNE CITY

*One coupon per customer. Not valid on Mondays

AUSABLE RIVER

Tobacco

OUTLET LOCATIONSCHATTERS MOBIL~ATLANTA

NORTHEND GROCERY~FREDERICCARDINAL PARTY STORE~GAYLORDSCHNAPPS & HOPS~GAYLORD

7-11~GRAYLINGHAWKS MINI MART~HAWKS

HILLTOP PARTY MART~HILLMANKEN'S MARKET & GAS~INDIAN RIVER

BUSY BEE~JOHANNESBURGTOMS MARKET~ONAWAY

VILLAGE MARKET~VANDERBILTBIG BEAR TRADING POST~VIENNA

DJS IGA~WATERSDOWNTOWN MARKET~WOLVERINE

$1.00OFF

COUPON

MIO, MI989-826-9411

(ANY $10.00 PURCHASE)

Premium

Cigars

OurPremiumRYO

Tobacco

& More!

Covering 40 Towns in Northern Michigan including Gaylord, Petoskey,

Cheboygan, Grayling, Lewiston, Mancelona, Mio, Indian River and surrounding area.

Choosing, and Caring for,that Special Tannenbaum

Photo by Jim AkAns

SalvationArmy BellRinging

Photo by Jim AkAns

Theres nothing quite like the

sounds of holiday music to lift

ones spirits to the joy and won-

derment of this festive season.

On Saturday evening, December

17th, the musical spirit of the holi-

days will be soaring high as eight

different musical performances;

including choruss, orchestras,

In loving memory' of all children

who are no longer with us, The

Compassionate Friends extends an

invitation for you, your family and

friends to join tens of thousands of per-

sons around the globe for the tenth

annual Worldwide Candle Lighting. You

are invited to bring a memory of your

child or pregnancy or a photo of your

child to be placed on the memory

board for the evening.

This event will be held at the

Evangelical Free (E-Free) Church in

Gaylord, located at 1649 M-32 East, on

Sunday, December 11th at 6:30 pm.

The Compassionate Friends (TCF),

Otsego County Chapter, sponsors of

this gathering, also urge people to

Light a candle wherever you are at 7

pm around the globe, in honor of all

children who have died ...that their

SEE CANDLE LIGHTING PAGE 4A

By Jim Akans

O Christmas Tree, O

Christmas Tree, Your branchesgreen delight us.

So begins one of the Christmas

seasons most treasured carols.

Yet with so many tree species to

choose from, and so many nee-

dles to sweep off the floor, how

can the fearless Christmas tree

hunter and gatherer be sure the

enduring holiday symbol that

graces their abode will indeed

offer delight throughout the yule-

tide season?

First of all, notes Keith

Martell of Martells Northwoods

Tree Farm in Gaylord, when

shopping for a tree, be sure to a sk

when it was cut. Many of the

Christmas trees sold in lots werecut as long ago as October, so

they are almost two months old

already. So its no wonder people

get disappointed when needles

begin to fall off as soon as they

get the tree home. Our trees are

definitely fresh cutweve been

told by some customers that our

trees actually sprout new growth

after being placed in the stand!

Ah, freshness, like when select-

ing produce, is the first consider-

ation. Yet if unsure about a trees

SEE CHRISTMAS TREE PAGE 4A

A ChristmasCollage HolidayConcert event at

Gornick Auditorium

Thats Our

ChristmasTree!

STORY

PAGE 10

GAYLORD1390 Main St. West

989-732-8200

NOW OPEN in Petoskey1327 Spring St. (in the K-Mart Plaza)

231-348-9600

The grand finale, featuring all of the talented group that performed throughout

the evening, was a highlight of the 2010 Christmas Collage concert.

ASE Certified Master Technicians

4LOCATIONSTO SERVE

YOU1641 S. Otsego, Gaylord 5615 M-72 West, Grayling

2663 US 23 South, Alpena 306 S. Third, Rogers City

Featuring

Inside...

SEE COLLAGE PAGE 4A

TheWorldwi

deCandleLightingServiceofRemembrance

at E-Free Churchthis Sunday

THIS WEEK

IN SPORTS

2011

TOPCHOICE

ALLAREA

VOLLEYBALL

TEAM

STORY

PAGE 2


2/16

Page 2 Choice Publications ... The Best Choice! December 8, 2011

CALL (989) 732-8160 FAX (888) 854-7441

EMAIL [email protected] NEWS FROM NORTHERN MICHIGANLocal NewsThrsda, December 8, 2011 Lcal News Line (989) 732-8160

In 1891, a Salvation Army captain in SanFrancisco resolved to provide a freeChristmas dinner to the areas poor. But how

would he pay for the food?From his days as a sailor in Liverpool,

England, the captain remembered a largepot, displayed on the Stge landing, calledSimpsons Pot, where passerby would tosscharitable donations. The captain presentedhis idea to city authorities and received per-mission to place a similar pot at the Oaklandferry landing at the foot of San FranciscosMarket Place.

In its conspicuous position, the pot drewthe attention of people going to and fromthe ferryboats. Another urn, in the ferryboat

waiting room, also attracted donations.Thus, Captain Joseph Mcfee launched a tra-dition that spread throughout the UnitedStates and then around the world.

By Christmas 1895, thirty Salvation Armycorps in the West Coast area used the kettle.That year, The Sacramento Bee published adescription of the Armys Christmas activi-ties and mentioned the contributions. Two

young Salvation Army officers, William A.McIntyre and N.J. Lewis, instrumental in theoriginal use of the kettle, took the idea to theEast Coast.

In 1897, McIntyre prepared his Christmas

plans for Boston around the kettle. OtherArmy officers did not want to participate f or

fear of making spectacles of themselves.Nevertheless, McIntyre, with his wife and sis-ter, set up three kettles on Washinton Streetin the heart of the city. That year, the kettleeffort in Boston and other locations nation-

wide resulted in 150,000 Christmas dinnersfor the needy.

In 1898, The New York World hailed theSalvation Army kettle as the newest andmost novel device for collecting money.The newspaper also observed, There is aman in charge to see that contributions arenot stolen.

In 1901, kettle contributions in New YorkCity provided funds for the first mammothsit-down diner in Madison Square Garden, acustom that continued for many years.Today, families are often given grocerychecks for food baskets so they can preparedinners at home. The homeless poor are stillinvited to share holiday dinners and festivi-ties at hundreds of Salvation Army centers.

Kettles now are used around the world,including Korea, Japan, Chile and Europe.Everywhere, public contributions to the ket-tles enable The Salvation Army to bring thespirit of Christmas to people who would oth-erwise be forgotten the aged and lonely, ill,poor and disadvantaged, or inmates of jailsand other institutions.

In the United States, The Salvation s Armyannually aids more than 6 million people at

Thanksgiving and Christmas. Kettles havechanged since that first utilitarian cauldronin San Francisco. Today, some kettles havesuch devices as a self-ringing bell, a booth

with a system that broadcasts Christmas car-ols, even the capability for donors to use

credit cards! Though here in NorthernMichigan, the familiar sight of a Salvation

Army volunteer ringing their bell throughout

the holiday season is a tradition that

endures.

Whatever the innovation, though, the

same message Sharing is Caring still sup-

ports this timeless enduring program.

Photo by Jim Akans

Recently appointed Salvation Army Business Manager in Otsego County,Brian Jergenson, and Debbie Dunham, member of the Advisory Board, greet-ed the many guests last Tuesday attending the annual Salvation Army Soup &Sandwich Luncheon, a fundraiser for the Salvation Army and prelude to RedKettle Campaign. The event was hosted by the Gaylord Elks Lodge, who

offered their newly renovated facility for the gathering, as they graciously havefor the past several years.

Annual Salvation ArmySoup & Sandwich Luncheon

held last Tuesday

N O R T H E R N M I C H I G A N

Salvation Army Bell Ringers carry on120-year-old tradition

SCHEER MOTORS

GRAYLING

S CH E E RSTEER STRAIGHT TO

CRUZE LT

SONIC LT

SILVERADO LT 4x4CUSTOM SPORT TRUCK

MALIBU

LACROSSE

COLORADO

$23774

$24380

$33469

$22208

$33998

$24446/mo./mo.

/mo./mo.

/mo./mo.

Actual vehicles may not be as pictured. All rebates assigned to dealer. Cruze, Lacrosse, Malibu andSilverado are based on lease payments with approved credit through Ally Bank, 39 Months, 12,000miles/year, $1000 down plus tax and start up fees. Sonic and Colorado are based on approvedcredit of 75 months finance contract with $1000 down. All rebates assigned to dealer, plus tax,title, license and fees. All payments require GM Employee Discount eligibility.

2012

20122012

2012

2012 2012

TURBO!

e-ASSIST!

officialcontestentry formbelow

Fill out the following form and drop off at

one of our four convenient Verizon Stores

from The Cellular ConnectionAND The Charlevoix County News

and Weekly Choice

NAME: ___________________________________

STREET: _________________________________

CITY: ________________STATE: ____ ZIP: ______

TELEPHONE:_______________________________

EMAIL: ____________________________________*64MB IPAD1 VERSION.. ENTRIES MUST BE SUBMITTED ON THIS OFFICIAL ENTRY FORM.

ENTRY DEADLINE IS DEC. 23RD, 2011. DRAWING WILL BE HELD DEC. 24TH. ONE IPAD TO BE GIVEN AWAY.

1-800-New-Phone (800-639-7466)

OFFICIAL ENTRY FORM

TCC EAST JORDAN250 S LAKE ST.P.O. BOX 401

PHONE: (231)536-0119

TCC CHARLEVOIX153 M 66 N CHARLEVOIX, MI 49720

PHONE: (231)547-4498

TCC BELLAIRE316 SOUTH DIVISION

P.O. BOX 361

PHONE: (231)533-9200

TCC PETOSKEY1171 NORTH US HWY 31 SUITE B

PHONE: (231)439-0777

Drop Off Locations

SIGN UPTO WINAN

iPad*

hTDNA

iCoCxiovelrahC

toff

sweNytn

mfrtsetlai

LffOpor

fruofoeno

fehttuolliF

D

snoitac

oP

.P052

MRFYRTNELAICIFF

Vetneinevnocru

dnamrofgniwoll

leb

T

911-35)132(:EO

14..TSEKALS

NADROJTSAEC

serotSozir

tafopord

w

oP-weN-08-1

_____:EMAN

P

711

T

P

.P

613T

P

351T

)64-93-08(

________________

777-34)132(:E

O

BETIUS13YHSUTRON1

YEKOTEPC

002-35)132(:EO

13.

ISIVIHTUOSERIALLEBC

894-745)132(:EO

0279I,IOERAC66MXIOVELRAHC

____________

R32SIILADYRTNE

ISRV1AIM4*

____LAME

ENOHPELET

______YTIC

___

2CEDLHLIIARD110

ITOETTIMSETUSIRTE

_______________

____________

:EATS_________

_______________

YANEIBOTAIHT

RYRTNAICIO

S

____________

____________

_____PIZ____

____________

Liz HardingSales

We offer...Residential Commercial

Carpet Vinyl Rugs Hardwood

Ceramic Laminate Window Fashions

QUALITY EXPERIENCE EXCELLENCE

(989) 731-2003 FX (989) 731-9949

[email protected]

www.hickersonfloor.com

2234 M-32 West,Gaylord, MI 49735


3/16

December 8, 2011 Choice Publications ... The Best Choice! Page 3

WEATHER:

Thursday

High 24

Low 17

Friday

High 21

Low 16

Saturday

High 26

Low 25

Sunday

High 32

Low 27

Monday

High 34

Low 25

Tuesday

High 30

Low 24

RECORD TEMPERATURESDecember Avg. Avg. Record Record

Day Sunrise Sunset High Low Mean High Low

8 8:04 AM 4:57 PM 32F 19F 25F 49F (1966) -6F (1983)

9 8:05 AM 4:57 PM 32F 18F 25F 52F (1952) -3F (1962)

10 8:06 AM 4:57 PM 31F 18F 25F 46F (1971) -10F (1958)

11 8:07 AM 4:57 PM 31F 18F 24F 47F (1979) -13F (1977)

12 8:07 AM 4:57 PM 31F 17F 24F 48F (1990) -13F (1988)

13 8:08 AM 4:57 PM 30F 17F 24F 48F (1991) -15F (1960)

14 8:09 AM 4:57 PM 30F 17F 23F 57F (1975) -1F (1963)

15 8:10 AM 4:58 PM 30F 16F 23F 51F (1997) -4F (1958)

16 8:10 AM 4:58 PM 30F 16F 23F 47F (1997) -7F (1989)

17 8:11 AM 4:58 PM 29F 16F 22F 42F (2006) -9F (1981)

18 8:12 AM 4:59 PM 29F 15F 22F 39F (1997) -3F (1985)

Photos by Jim Akans

The weather may have been a bit frightful, but the joy and

excitement among the crowd at the Annual Santa Parade and

Shop & Stroll event in downtown Gaylord was absolutely

delightful last Saturday afternoon.

G A Y L O R D

Santa arrived at the end of the parade aboard an Otsego County FireDepartment truck and the children (as well as many of the adults) were

absolutely thrilled to see St. Nick.Gaylord Mayor John Jenkins presented Santa withthe key to the city.

Left: Emma,Tristan, Paytonand SummerGlasby were

among the first

of manychildren who

waited patientlyin line to visit

with Santaunder theGaylordpavilion.

The Harmonie Meisters serenade Santa, and thecrowd, under the pavilion during last Saturdays

event.

The Gaylord pavilion was sporting a whole new lookfor the Santa Parade and Shop & Stoll event, withthe newly installed decorative canvas sides helping

to keep things a bit warmer inside the pavilion duringthe event.

Santa arrives in Gaylord during

Annual Parade and Shop & Strolllast Saturday

LOCAL NEWSOn-line at www.weeklychoice.com

Published Weekly on Thursday.Afton, Alanson, Alba, Atlanta, Black Lake, Bliss, Brutus, Burt Lake, Carp Lake,

Cheboygan, Comins, Conway, Cross Village, Elmira, Fairview, Frederic, Gaylord,

Good Hart, Grayling, Harbor Point, Indian River, Johannesburg, Lakes of the

North, Levering, Lewiston, Lovells, Luzerne, Mackinaw City, Mancelona, Mio,

Oden, Onaway, Pellston, Petoskey, Topinabee, Tower, Vanderbilt, Vienna Corners,

Waters, Wolverine

Deadline Monday Noon.

Place Classified ads on-line at

www.WeeklyChoice.com20 cents/word, $2 minimum.

Notice to Readers: Typically, most advertising is honest and clear about special offers, however, pleasebe sure to read the contents thoroughly to avoid misrepresentation. Choice Publications does not war-ranty the accuracy or reliability of content and does not accept any liability for injuries or damages

caused to the reader or advertiser that may result from content contained in this publication. Errors inadvertising should be reported immediately. Damage fromerrors will not exceed the cost of the advertisement for oneissue. Choice Publication employees and family membersand listed advertisers employees and family members arenot eligible to win. Choice Publications reserves the right topublish or refuse ads at their discretion.

IFPA AWARD

WINNING PAPER!

Associationof Free CommunityPapers

Published by:

Choice Publications, Inc.112 East Sixth Street, PO Box 382, Gaylord, MI 49734-0382

Phone: 989-732-8160 Fax: 888-854-7441

Publisher:

Dave Baragrey [email protected]

General Manager:

Dave Baragrey [email protected]

Cell Phone: 989-350-9233

Web Master:

Chad [email protected]

Sports Editor:

Mike [email protected]

Sports:

Jeff [email protected]

News Editor:

Jim [email protected]

SALES:

Phone: 989-732-8160

Terry Becks

[email protected]

Charles [email protected]

989-370-5361

Joan [email protected]

989-732-2271

Barbara [email protected]

Rob [email protected]

989-370-2710

Sharon [email protected]

989-826-1053

""

"!!

"

Classified Ads

As Low As

$200weeklychoice

.comOr call: 989-732-8160

PATRICK

KWIATKOWSKI

& HESSELINK PLLC

AppealsCriminalFamily Law

Personal InjuryReal Estate LawEstate Planning

CorporateGovernment

1262 S. Otsego Ave. Gaylord 989-732-5952www.pklawfirm.com

\\\N

PKH

Law Firm


4/16



Christmas Tree Continued...freshness, there is a simple trick to help opti-

mize the trees ability to draw water after its

been placed in tree stand.

When you get the tree home, if its not

fresh-cut, Keith observes, saw about one-

half inch off base. That reopens the pores sothe tree can draw water freely. The tree

should use over a gallon of water the first

day. And never let a tree run low on water. A

fresh cut tree will last for at least a month if

kept hydrated.

What about species?

Among the most popular species are

Frasier Fir, Balsam Fir, Douglas Fir, Blue

Spruce Norway Spruce, Scotch Pine, Eastern

White Pine and Concolor. Generally speak-

ing, Firs tend to retain their needles best,

Spruces have stiffer branches (especially

good for heavy, homemade ornaments),

Scotch Pine has good needle retention and

sturdy branches (though the needles a re

sharp) and Concolor hold needles well and

have a slight, citrus odor, which is refresh-ingly unique.

Another option is a live tree, notes Betsy

Berry of Twigs & Blooms in Gaylord, who has

a limited number of live trees still available,

as well as several wreaths, garlands and

grave blankets. That way you have some-

thing left after the season. The limit, howev-

er, is about two days in the house or it will go

dormant. After being inside, its important

to slowly bring the tree back out to the cold

by keeping it in the garage for a few days.You should have the hole dug and covered

before the ground freezes so you can plant

it.

Dave Gearhart, of North Star Trees, Inc. a

wholesale tree grower in Wolverine, advises

that even a fresh cut tree should not always

be brought indoors too hastily.

If you pick a tree when it is very cold, its a

good idea to let it set in the garage for several

hours so it thaws. He adds, It can be easier

getting the tree into the house while it is still

baled, set it in the stand, and then cut the

baling twine. Also, keep the tree away from

heat registers and other heat sources. Wood

heat and spaced heaters are especially dam-

aging to a tree because its a drying heat. A

humidifier is a good idea to put moisture

back into the air. The very most importantthing is to be sure the tree always has a

source of water.

And dont forget to add a wreath to that

holiday greenery dcor. The term hails from

the Middle English word; wrethe, defining

a twisted band or ring of leaves or flowers ina garland. The circular shape symbolizes

eternal life, and the addition of holly can be

traced back to the ancient Druid Priests, who

considered holly sacred.

Above all, buy a tree from a reputable mer-

chant and dont hesitate to ask questionsregarding tree selection and care. Finding

that special tree should be an exciting

adventure, and as Charlie Brown demon-

strates year after yeareach Christmas tree

has its own special character.

ensemble groups and soloists will present a

tapestry of festive holiday sounds as the

Gaylord Area Council for the Arts (GACA)

presents A Christmas Collage concert at

Gornick Auditorium in Gaylord. This is the

second year in a row GACA has offered this

holiday musical treat, and this years event

promises to be even bigger than last yearssuccessful show.

Trish Duley, President of GACA, states,

One of the most attractive aspects of this

event is that those who attend get the benefit

of experiencing a wide variety of music, from

all age groups, all in one concert. That's

pretty special when you think about it.

Its very special indeed. This year the

Christmas Collage musical line-up will

include;

Its very special indeed. This year the

Christmas Collage musical line-up will

include;

- The Alpine Bells directed by Dawn

Leichtnam

- The Gaylord Community Band directed

by Ralph Schweigert- The Harmonie Meisters directed by Dale

Hanson

- Gaylord Youth Orchestra under the

direction of Wayne Wyrembelski

- The Community Chorus directed by Jan

Johnson

- The Gaylord Community Orchestradirected by Jim Van Eizenga

- A Childrens Chorus directed by Aaron

Hotelling

- Plus a special solo vocal performance by

Gaylord High School Chorus Director, Chris

Hodges

Each performance will move seamlessly tothe next, creating a rich, continuously

changing musical program. As with last

years warmly received concert, the

Christmas Collage will culminate with a

grand finale featuring a ll of these talented

musicians performing together on stage.

This is a rare opportunity to enjoy such a

wide range of talented area musicians in a

single performance setting. The wonderful

variety of musical styles, genres and formats,

from rich vocal harmonies to intricate

instrumental tones and textures, is certain to

set the stage for a very memorable holiday

concert experience.A Christmas Collage performances will

begin at 7:30 pm, and the concert is antici-

pated to run approximately 90 minutes.

Tickets, which are just $5 per person, may be

purchase up until noon on Friday, December

16th at Saturn Booksellers, Musik Haus, the

Gaylord Information Center and the

Community Arts Center. There may be a

limited quantity of tickets still available at

the door at Gornick Auditorium the night of

the performance, December 17th.

We choose to keep the price very afford-

able, adds Trish Duley. The Gaylord Area

Council for the Arts sees this as our gift to

the communitywe want everyone to be

able to enjoy the holiday music.

Dont miss the opportunity to attend thisunique holiday musical evening at Gornick

Auditorium. For further information, visit

the GACA website at www.garlordarts.org.

Candle Lightingcontinued...

Dont forget to add a wreath, a symbol of growth and eternal life, to that holiday

greenery dcor.

light may always shine.

TCF is an international, nonprofit, self-help support

organization, which offers friendship, understanding, and

hope to families who are grieving the death of a child. The

mission of the Compassionate Friends is to assist f amilies

toward the positive resolution of grief following the death of

a child of any age and to provide information to help others

be supportive.

In the event of inclement weather please tune to Eagle

101.5 WMJZ for information. A make up date of Monday,December 12th at 6:30 has been set aside if needed.

For further information call (989) 732-5027.

Photo by Jim AkAns

The Gaylord Youth Orchestra, under the direction of Wayne Wyrembelski, will be

among the musical performers at A Christmas Collage held at the Gornick

Auditorium on Saturday, December 17th.

Photo by Jim AkAns

Collage continued...

Sunday, December 11from 12-3

Book your own appointment on line at www.akhairstudio.com

or call 989-732-1000


5/16

Strawberry Patch ReSale-Consignment

helps Mio area residentsbuy and sell quality goods


H I D D E N T R E A S U R E S

Patch ReSale-Consignment store offers area residents an excellent opportunity to sell their

quality used items, and purchase a wide variety of clothing and household goods at very

reasonable prices.

The Strawberry Patch ReSale-Consignment Shop is located in Downtown Mio next to

the Rite Aid store, and is open Monday through Saturday from 10 am until 6 pm.

To add your business listing E-Mail of

f

ice@Week

l

yC

hoice.com

BOYNE CITY

Challenge Mountain

Resale Shop1158 S. M-75

Boyne City

231-582-5711

www.challengemtn.org

CHARLEVOIX

Consign Design100 Van Pelt Pl., Charlevoix231-237-9773www.consigndesign.net

Bergmann CenterResale Shop8888 Ance Road231-547-9624www.bergmanncenter.org

Kellys Antiques &Furniture Barn06176 Old US 31 S., Charlevoix

231-547-0133www.dkellyantiques.com

ELLSWORTH

Good SamaritanFurniture & More Store6517 Center St.Downtown Ellsworth231-588-2208thegoodsam.org

FREDERIC

Pineview Military Surplus7328 Old 27 NorthFrederic989-348-8300

GAYLORD

A-2-Z Resale1829 Old 27 South,

Gaylord989-732-9500

Goodwill Retail andDonation Center

1361 Pineview Dr. (near Lowes)Gaylord989-705-1747www.goodwillnmi.org

Great RoomsQuality Pre-Owned Furniture148 W. Main StreetGaylord989-745-5184www.greatroomsgaylord.com

GAYLORD

Angels at WorkResale1523 S Otsego Ave.Gaylord989.448.8615

Venus & Blue Jeans340 West Main St.Gaylord989-731-2600www.venusandbluejeans.com

HARBOR SPRINGS

New Beginnings Thrift Shop650 W Conway Rd.Harbor Springs231-348-2980

Habitat forHumanity Restore8460 M-119

Harbor Springs

231-347-8440

HARBOR SPRINGS

Quality Sports & Tools

Consignment1221 W Conway Rd.

Harbor Springs

231-487-0152

www.qtsconsignments.com

INDIAN RIVER

Finders Keepers Antiques& Consignment Shop3639 S. Straits Hwy.

Indian River

231-238-5000

MANCELONA

Mancelona Food Pantry

& Resale Shop201 N. Maple St.

Mancelona

231-587-9606

MIO

Strawberry Patch ReSale ConsignmentDowntown Mio989-826-1503

ONAWAY

Second Chance Thrift Store20420 State St., Onaway989-733-9671

PETOSKEY

Challenge Mountain

Resale Shop2429 US31 North, Petoskey231-348-3195www.challengemtn.org

Goodwill Retail andDonation Center1600 Anderson RoadPetoskey231-348-6947www.goodwillnmi.org

Hidden TreasuresNorthern Michigan Treasure Hunters Guide to areaantique, consignment, resale and thrift shops

In the Rough, Professionally Paintedor Completely Restored

Over 7,000 sq. ft. of Furniture, Ant iques & Goodies

06176 Old U.S. 31 South, Charlevoix, MI 49720

E-Mail: [email protected]

FURNITURE BARN

(231) 547-0133 Cell (231) 8 81-0353

Web: dkellyantiques.com

CUSTOM & ANTIQUEFURNITURE


Photo CourtEsy of toni millEr

Photo CourtEsy of toni millEr

TERRIFIC KIDSAll kids are terrific and here at South Maple Elementary and North Ohio Elementary we are acknowledging kids for good character. The Kiwanis club of Otsego County is helping us with this

endeavor. Students who exhibit good behavior by following our school rules will be recognized by staff for doing so. One student per class will be selected to receive a Terrific Kid award, button,and pencil. The student names will be announced on our morning announcements. They will also have their picture taken to hang on our Terrific Kid bulletin board. This is an excellent oppor-tunity for staff, students, parents and the community to connect on a social/emotional level because good character is just as important as good grades!

here are te

terrific kid

fr sut

maple

Eleetary

cl fr te

week edig

12-2-11

Back row: Judy (Kiwanis), Emily Heffner, Riley DeFeyter, Bridget Sucharski, Ashley Zack, LukeDipzinski, Joe Boswood, Fred (Kiwanis).Middle row: Dawson Edmonds, Makayla Willson, Jake

Butler, Skylar Rhoades, Alana Knepper, Nicholas Fischer, Emily Schlak. Front row: Kaylee

Berkshire, Cyntia Miley, Chelsea Moore, Joe Fox. Absent: Bridgette Peak, Marcus Granger

here are te

terrific kid

fr nrt

oi

Eleetary

cl fr

te ti week

Front Row: Taylor Moegenberg; Makayla Conrady; Savannah Wilson; Yasmean Dorris;

Brendan Foy; Reagan Kowalsky; Nazhae Dorchy; Blake Smithling;Tyler Budzinski; EmilyLamblin. Back Row: Anna Baker; Lily Graham; Reid Davis; Rowan Anderson; Melissa

Tomko; Eliana Hoggard; Jacquelynn Short; Emma Zinke; Kiwanian, Mr. Chuck Bump and

his Terrific Dog, Roxi

989-732-9501

Toll Free 877-407-4446

Where your pet is treated with respect and dignity.

989-370-3378 or

989-370-0951

Old Fashioned

Family Fun Horse Drawn

Sleighrides

Rustic Cabin Dinners

Reservations Required

Gaylord

CALL SLEIGHRIDE CENTRAL

By Jim Akans

Established in their present location inDowntown Mio approximately seven yearsago, Strawberry Patch ReSale-Consignmentstore offers area residents an excellentopportunity to sell their quality used items,and purchase a wide variety of clothing andhousehold goods at very reasonable prices.The shop, which was founded by SharonGardulski, Pastor of the Freedom WorshipCenter, is operated by a dedicated group ofthirteen volunteer from the Mio area.

We have many different types of items inthe store, states Gardulski. That includesfurniture, appliances and other householditems, and we have a lot of new and usedclothing, including coats in mens, womensand childrens sizes, as well as several itemsthat would make excellent Christmas gifts.

The inventory at Strawberry Patch ReSale-Consignment is brought in by local individ-uals who receive 40-percent of the amountthose items sell for. Strawberry Patch takescare of the tagging and marketing of thoseitems, and after a 60 day period, unsoldclothing is sent to an Amish warehouse facil-ity that distributes that clothing to people inneed all over the world.

Our location is a great resource for peo-ple in the Mio area, observes Gardulski.Major shopping areas, such as Gaylord,

Alpena and West Branch, are all an hour ormore drive away. So this is a convenient,local spot where people can make someextra money selling items, and shop for a

wide assortment of clothing and householditems.

The Strawberry Patch ReSale-Consignment Shop is located in DowntownMio next to the Rite Aid store. The facility isopen Monday through Saturday from 10 amuntil 6 pm. For additional information,please call (989) 826-1503.

Positive Commentsfrom our ReadersWe encourage our readers to submit positive comments

about a person or business in Northern Michigan. Send

your positive comments to [email protected]

Sharon is an AngelRecently, someone asked me if I knew

anyone that I considered to be an angel on

earth and instantly I thought of my friend

Sharon Techel. I first met Sharon when I had

the pleasure to work with her a t Kmart

pharmacy in 1993. Sharon and I worked

very closely together in a small, intimate

setting and I became acutely aware of what

a caring and compassionate person she is

and how she was able to touch the hearts of

everyone she came in contact with because

of her loving manner. She was my right arm

at the pharmacy and over time we shared all

the details of our lives including much

laughter and many tears. Sharon was right

there for me when I met my husband, got

married and had my first two children. She

filled in for my own family and threw myfirst and only baby shower. I watched her

children grow into beautiful and productive

citizens as well and learned a lot about

good parenting from her.

After Kmart, Sharon and I were able to

work together at Nelsons Drug Store until

they closed and then again at Wal-Mart

where Sharon still works. Sharon is one of

those rare and special people that seem to

be illuminated by an inner light. I Believe

that light comes from her faith in GOD and

the fact that she cares so deeply about peo-

ple and always reaches out to others. All of

our customers knew Sharon by name and

knew that she would go the extra mile for

each of them including hand-delivering

medication to shut-ins and attending the

senior dances at Alten Zimmer. I know that

GOD is supposed to love us all equally but I

have a hard time believing that he might not

favor Sharon just a little bit because she is

so faithful and because she tries so hard to

do the right thing all the time and because

she is truly a good person..beautiful

inside and out! I know that I do!

Amy Beningo, Rph Glens Pharmacy


6/16


LOCAL NEWSNew stories updated daily on-line at www.weeklychoice.com

GRAYLINGDriver Safety ProgramThursday, December 8thfrom 8:30am -4:30pm at theCrawford County

Commission on Aging &Grayling Senior Center. Aclassroom driver refreshercourse for drivers aged 50and older. AARP developedthis course to help driversimprove their skills and pre-vent crashes. This coursecovers the age-related physi-cal changes in perceptionand reaction time, local driv-ing problems and rules of theroad. The certified AARP vol-unteer instructors will bepresenting this coursethrough a combination ofgroup discussion and video-tapes. There are no tests, andall participants who com-

plete the course will receive acertificate of completion thatmay be eligible for an auto-mobile insurance discount.The fee for this course is $12for members and $14 fornon-members with checksmade payable to AARP. There

will not be a fee for Veterans.For more information or toregister please call 348-7123.Sponsored by the CCCommission on Aging.

GAYLORDCookies for a CauseThe Northern Lights is host-ing a benefit for theFriendship Housing CenterDec. 8 at First CongregationalChurch, 218 W. 2nd St. at6:30pm. Enjoy cookies bever-ages and listen to local talent.Donation will benefit theFriendship shelter.

GRAYLINGBusiness after hoursSponsored by Smith &

Associates, P.C. and The OleBarn, Thursday, December8th from 5:30 7:30pm at TheOle Barn Entry Fee: $5 costfor Members and the $10 costfor Not-Yet-Members. DoorPrizes, 50/50 Raffle, Food,Networking & More!!

PETOSKEYVitalCare Adult Day

Center Open HouseThe VitalCare Adult DayCenter will host an openhouse with light refresh-ments from 4-6pm on

Thursday, December 8. VitalCare, an affiliate ofNorthern Michigan RegionalHealth System, has moved tothe former Benjamin B. BlumHospitality House located at525 West Mitchell Street inPetoskey. In addition tohousing the Adult DayCenter, the building is alsothe new headquarters of the

VitalCare nursing office.

CHARLEVOIXSingles for ChristSingles for Christ dinnergroup for all area singles 50

years and older will meetFriday, December 9 at 5pm at

Grey Gables, 308 Belvedere.Bring a $10 gift and 2 dozenChristmas Cookies as we willbe going to Yvonnes, 4105Sequanota Rd. after dinnerfor a movie and/or games.Reservations required soR.S.V.P. by calling Frieda at231-347-5747 or e-mail [email protected]

GAYLORDHockey seasonpassesGHS Blue Devil Hockey adultseason passes ($50) and stu-dent season passes ($30)available at Gaylord HighSchool or call Mary at 989-

732-4981. Includes 12 homegames. Join us for the homeopener weekend games on12/9 and 12/10.

GAYLORDPet picturesGet your pets picture taken

with Santa! Saturday,December 10th, 10am 2pmat Wags to Whiskers PetSupply. All proceeds go toFriends for Life of OtsegoCounty.

INDIAN RIVERBazaarIndian River Eagles Bazaar,Sat Dec. 10, 10am - 5pm.Lunch 11-3 at Eagles Hall,

5743 S. Straits Hwy. Raffles,lots of items for sale. Do youhave stuff to sell? Tables, $15.231-238-7589, Shirley. AllProceeds for cancer.

HARBOR SPRINGSHoliday Open HouseJoin the merchants of down-town Harbor Springs Dec. 10,6-9pm for their annual cele-bration of the holiday sea-son. Events include livemusic, in-store specials, spe-cial dining, and more.

GAYLORDFree Massage Day

Ahhhh....it's time for one ofour favorite days of the year -our semi-annual free mas-sage day Dec. 10! Saturn cus-tomers (you must show areceipt from today's book-

store purchases) can enjoy afree, 10-minute chair mas-sage from our friends atKneaded Relief! Relax those

weary, book-totin' shoulders.At Saturn Booksellers, down-town.

GRAYLINGCoats for kidsThe Kiwanis Club of Graylingis now collecting Coats forKids. Collection boxes arebeing placed at many differ-ent places around town as

well as at the GraylingChamber Office. Collection

will run through the 2ndweek of December.

GRAYLINGA Christmas CarolSaturday, December 10th at7pm and Sunday, December11th at 2pm at KirtlandCenter -Celebrate the season

with music, caroling, art dis-plays, seasonal refreshments,family fun and a movingpresentation of this quintes-sential story of redemptionperformed by the KirtlandCommunity Theatre. TicketPrices: $16 (A/B) & $12 (C/D).Raise money for your churchor non-profit organization

with a ticket sales drive foreither performance of A

Christmas Carol. Your groupwill earn $5 for every ticket itsells to benefit your cause.Call for details 989-275-5000ext. 375 or visit http://pub-lic.serviceu.com/ticketing

PETOSKEYSenior danceThe Cedar Swamp Boys willreturn for a dance sponsoredby the Retired & Senior

Volunteer Program (RSVP) onSunday, December 11 from2pm to 5pm at the PetoskeyFriendship Center. Music willbe played for round dances,

waltzes and squares, anddancers with all levels of

dancing ability will be out onthe floor having a good time.These dances are also popu-lar with non-dancers whoenjoy listening to good musicin the company of goodfriends. The public is invited.

Admission is $4. Attendeesare asked to bring finger foodto share; beverages will beprovided. Please note thatthe dance will be cancelled ifthe weekend brings 3 ormore of new snow. For moreinformation, contact theFriendship Centers of EmmetCounty Council on Aging at(231) 347-3211 or (888) 347-0369.

GAYLORDBreakfast with SantaThe Knights of Columbusinvite you to have breakfast

with Santa on Sunday, Dec.

11 from 9:30am 12:30pm.Held at the K of C Hall on

Wilkinson Road. Breakfast isall you can eat includingscrambled eggs, pancakes,ham, potatoes, sausage, bis-cuits & gravy and pastries.

Adults $7. Children under 12free. Everyone welcome

GAYLORDLight a candle for chil-dren who have diedThe Otsego County chapterof Compassionate Friends ishosting service of remem-brance as part of a worldwidecandle lighting at theEvangelical Free Church, M-

32 East on Dec. 11 at 6:30pm.This service is in lovingmemory of children who areno longer with us. You areinvited to bring a photo ormemory of your child orpregnancy to place on thememory board for theevening.

GAYLORDSaks WellnessseminarLearn about what we do at aseminar Dec. 13 at Saks

Wellness Center, 1477 S.Otsego. The session begins at6:30pm.

PETOSKEYStaying Financially FitNorthwest MichiganCommunity Action Agency

will be hosting a workshopon Staying Financially Fit onDecember 13, from 6pm to9pm, as part of a series of

workshops on financial fit-ness. The series workshopsare offered free to the publicat NMCAA, 2202 MitchellPark. To register or to find outabout the future workshops,please call 231-347-9070.

GAYLORDWeight Loss

ChallengeFour Star Nutrition hasannounced that they willhold a 21 Day Weight LossChallenge starting December14. call 989-448-8618 formore info. or to sign up

GRAYLINGChristmas DinnerThe Community is invited toattend a Christmas Dinner atthe Commission on Aging &Senior Center on Thursday,December 15th from 4-6pm.Menu includes Roast Beef

with Gravy, Parsley Redskins,Peas & Pearl Onions, FruitCocktail and Minted

Brownies. The meal is only$5.25 per person with a sug-gested donation of $2.50 forpeople over 60. Dinner isopen to the public. TheSenior Center is located at308 Lawndale St.; Grayling.For more information con-tact the Senior Center at(989) 348-7123.

GRAYLINGCookie & Soup JarsThe Commission on Aging &Senior Center has Cookieand Soup Mixes in a Jar forsale. Cookie and Soup Jarsare selling for $5 each. These

jars made wonderful gifts for

the Holidays. All proceeds goto support the Programs and

Activities at the Commission

on Aging & Senior Center.Cookie Jars are available inlocal Businesses and at theSenior Center. For moreinformation you may contact

Helen at 348-7123.

PETOSKEYMessiahGreat Lakes Chamberorchestra presents theMessiah Dec. 15 & 16, 7pm atSt. Francis Xavier, Petoskey.General Adm. $14 advanced$15 at the door. Students 18 &under, people with disabili-ties & active Military Free

Adm. Advanced Tickets avail-able on Treatickets.com or bycalling GLCO @ 231-487-0010

GAYLORDChristmas light tourDecember 15 The Otsego

County Commission onAging along with the OtsegoCounty Bus System invites

you to take part in theChristmas Light Tour from 6-7:30pm; register by calling989-732-9977.

GAYLORDCraft showThe Lat Minute ShoppersDelight Holiday Craft Show isFriday, Dec. 16 Sunday,Dec. 18 at the WisconsinStreet Hall (former JimmyJukebox & Jets Pizza) 610South Wisconsin St.. Hours:Friday, 4-8pm, Saturday, 9am 5pm, Sunday, 10am 4pm.

Tons of holiday crafts! Doorprize drawing on Sunday at4pm. Enter every day. Bring

your camera and take pic-tures of your children visiting

with Santa.

GAYLORDBlood driveDecember 16 at GaylordEvangelical Free Church tohost a Blood Drive fromnoon 5:45pm.

GAYLORDCommunity orchestrarehearsalThe Gaylord Community

Orchestra has begun rehears-ing for the ChristmastimeCommunity Concert on Dec.17. The string section isrehearsing in the band roomat St. Mary School on N.Otsego from 7-8:30pm eachMonday. The winds and per-cussion will join theserehearsals in a few weeks. Forinfo call Gary Waldo, 989-619-3136 or Joanna Bozin989-732-3080.

EAST JORDANChristmas Art SaleJordan River Arts Council ishosting an art sale thru Dec.18, 1-4pm.

CHEBOYGANLowe FamilyChristmasSpectacular

Versatile on many instru-ments, the nine Lowes offeran amazing blend of show-stopping classical, Broadway,Irish, jazz, bluegrass, old-time favorites, spectaculardance, 6-part harmony,gospel, a stirring patriotictribute, and more! This high-energy, fast-paced varietyshow will leave you breath-less! Monday, December 19,7pm. Reserved Seating -

Adults: $30; Students: $12.50.

Please call the Opera Houseat 231-627-5841 for moreinformation or tickets

PETOSKEYHoliday Art BazaarShoppers! Visit the CrookedTree art center, 461 EastMitchell St. thru Dec. 20 forspecial items for those spe-cial people on your gift list!Best selection ever. We know

you'll find some amazing andoriginal ideas for your holi-day gift giving. Free gift wrap-ping.

GRAYLINGChristmas Carol SingA LongPlease join us for dinner atthe Commission on Aging &Senior Center on Tuesday,December 20th at 5:00 pmfollowed a Christmas CarolSing Along at 5:30 pm. Thecost of the meal is $5.25 witha suggested donation of$2.50 for seniors 60 and over.The Senior Center is locatedat 308 Lawndale St. If youneed more information callHelen Nolan at 348-7123.

GAYLORD3 on 3 BasketballTourneyOtsego County Parks andRecreation will host a holiday3 on 3 basketball tournamenton December 29th, 30th, and31st. Tournament is for 3rd -8th grade boys and girls.Each grade bracket will belimited to the first 6 teamsthat register. 4 players perteam. Each team is guaran-teed 3 games. Cost is $40 perteam. Games will be officiat-ed. Registration deadline isDec. 26. Stop by the OtsegoCounty Community Center,315 S. Center St. Gaylord orcall 989-732-6521 to register.

GRAYLINGStatewide PageantMiss Pride of the Peninsulaspageant will be held onJanuary 22nd, 2012 at 3 PM atthe Joseph Stripe Auditoriumin Grayling High School. TheMiss Pride of the PeninsulasOrganization is proud to wel-come 20 contestants fromaround the state to the pag-eant.

GRAYLINGLine dancingThe Crawford CountyCommission on Aging hasrestarted its Line Dancingclasses again this fall. Thefree classes for are facilitatedby Ann Doty. The group prac-tices weekly on Wednesdaysat 10am. No dance experi-ence is needed to attendthese classes and no sign upis necessary. For more infor-mation, contact the SeniorCenter at (989) 348-7123

GAYLORDLuggage needed forfoster kidsLutheran Child and FamilyService of Michigan is inneed of suitcases or dufflebags that are in new or likenew condition to give to thechildren in Foster Care.

Without luggage of duffelbags they often transporttheir belongings in garbagebags. For more information

at [email protected] or989-732-1040

NORTHERN MICHIGANFoster Care HomesneededThere is a shortage of homesin northern Michigan for fos-ter children needing place-ment. We prefer not to movechildren out of the schooldistrict they are living in so

we need to have homes allover. Also, we are especiallyshort of homes that acceptteenagers. Lutheran Childand Family Service ofMichigan offers a no obliga-tion orientation for parents

that are interested in open-ing their homes to foster chil-dren. We accept singles as

well as couples; working par-ents as well as stay at homeparents. For more informa-tion at [email protected] 989-732-1040.

MACKINAW CITYSenior dinnerThe Wawatam Area Senior

Center Dinner Hours have

returned to their winter

times. Monday, Tuesday,

Thursday, and Friday at 5:00

A Unique Shop Featuring HealthyProducts from Near & Far

*$#.-&*'!%%"-&*(**,##(%#+,#%,"*,#,#('*+

0-*.1(&(),"01,-*(),"01*!'#*+1)#+1(%*+,((+1%%'++-))%#+#,+1++!"*)0

#',

/,,(*(,"*+(0%(*

%%'++"()

DuerksenFarms

ThanksgivingTurkeys

now takingorders

ShetlerDairy

Products

ShirleysCafe

10% Off allFrontier

Variety of allnatural,organic,vegan &

gluten-freeproducts

NOW

AVAILABLE

is now available at Johnson Oil Marathon

Marathon

REC 90Marathon REC 90 is 90 octane Lead Free Gasolineperfect for recreational vehicles.

RECOMMENDED FOR ALL CARBURETED VEHICLES INCLUDING:

BOATS ATV'S MOTORCYCLES LAWNMOWERS CLASSIC CARS

This high octane fuel can also be used in newer fuel injected vehicles

FEATURES OF THIS FUEL INCLUDE:

BETTER MILEAGE

NO PHASE SEPERATION PROBLEMS

MORE PERFORMANCE

CONTAINS MARATHON STP ADDITIVES

JOHNSON OIL

MARATHON

Available exclusively at...

Corner of 4th Street and Otsego Avenue502 S. OTSEGO AVE. GAYLORD 989-732-6014

RECREATIONAL UNLEADED GAS

MICK BORSTOver 25 years Experience

989-370-0115HOLIDAY BUDGET

SPECIALS

8- MINI VANS2000-2007 MODELS

19-SPORT UTILITY& CROSSOVERS

2002-2010 MODELS

7- 4X4 TRUCKS2002-2010 MODELS

CALL FOR MORE INFO.

Ford Lincoln

117 Lake St., Roscommon, MI 48653

HARTHARTHART

Johannesburg, MI

Ph. 989-732-6122

Cell 989-390-1404ONLINE:

dowkermech.com

Are you readyfor winter?Call us today about ourFall Clean & CheckMaintenance Service!

Clark DowkerMechanical Contractor, Boiler Installer

STATE LICENSED & FULLY INSURED

Weil McLain & Buderus Boilers Heil & Fraser-Johnston

High Efficiency Furnaces and AC Bosch Geothermal Heat Pumps

** WERE DOING WORK IN YOUR AREA **

Toll Free 866-582-6804

MacNaughtons Pest Control , Inc.

PROFESSIONAL WILDLIFE & INSECT CONTROL

DON'T YOU WANT TO BE PEST FREE??

FREEESTIMATES

ALL TYPES OF INSECTS:Ants Spiders RoachesEar Wigs Flies Termites Fleas Bees/Wasps

PESTS AND SMALL CRITTERS: Squirrels Mice SkunksRaccoons Bats Moles Exclusion Work

BOYNE CITY, MI E-MAIL: [email protected]

Lube, Oil Changes& DetailingPRO SERVICES

AUTO & TRUCK REPAIRGaylord 989-731-4447Atlanta 989-785-4647

!


7/16



pm -- Salad and conversation

begins at 4:30 pm. Sunday

dinner served at 1:00 pm --

salad and conversation at

12:30.

GAYLORDDemocrats meetOtsego County Democrats

meets 3rd Tuesdays. 6 PM

United Way Building. Call

Carol at 989-732-2591 for

info.

CHEBOYGAN COUNTY

100 ClubThe Cheboygan County 100

Club proudly announces its

creation. The Cheboygan

County 100 Club is a non-

profit organization estab-

lished to provide financial

assistance to families of

Cheboygan County firefight-ers, law enforcement officers,

first responders or ambu-

lance personnel injured, dis-

abled or killed serving

Cheboygan County. Anyone

interested in making a dona-

tion or inquiring about a

membership please contact

Richard Kolb at (231) 818-

0585

GRAYLINGDeliverable FuelsAssistanceNEMCSA (Northeast

Michigan Community

Service Agency) has money

available to assist low-income families with the

delivery of fuels such as

propane, fuel oil and fire-

wood. There are guidelines

which must be followed.

Crawford County residents

who think they might qualify

should contact Beth at 1-866-

270-0687 for prescreening. If

applicants meet all eligibility

requirements, an application

will be mailed or faxed at thecustomers request. All appli-

cations are on a first come-

first served basis.

ANTRIM, CHARLEVOIX, EMMET &

OTSEGO COUNTIESMammogramsMammogram appointments

are available for low-

income/uninsured/underin-

sured women. If you have

uninsured employees or if

mammograms are not a cov-

ered benefit in their health

insurance package, please

encourage your female

employees to schedule a

mammogram at the HealthD e p a r t m e n t .

Uninsured/underinsured

women age 40 to 64 who live

in Antrim, Charlevoix,

Emmet, and Otsego counties

and who meet income guide-

lines are eligible. Income

guidelines are generous--

women from a family four

can have a household

income of nearly $56,000 and

qualify. Appointments are

available now! Call the

Health Department of

Northwest Michigan at 800-

432-4121 during regular

business hours.

Mammograms save lives!

GRAYLINGMSU NutritionEducationThe Crawford County

Commission on Aging &

Senior Center will be hosting

MSU classes on nutrition

education. The theme will be

Creating Healthy Habits

Building a Toolkit. The class-

es will deal with such topicsas Cooking for One or Two,

Enhancing Food Flavor; How

Friendly is Your Kitchen,

Treat Yourself like Company

and The Wise Consumer. The

classes will be held on

Tuesdays and Fridays in

December and January from

9:30am - 11am. The classes

are free, but you are required

to register. For more infor-

mation, contact the

Crawford County


Senior Center at 989-348-

7123.

GAYLORDSweater DriveOtsego Memorial Hospital

has been designated as an

official drop off location for

the CMU Public Television

5th Annual Mister Rogers

Neighborhood Sweater

Drive. Community members

are encouraged to donate

new or gently-worn sweaters

to help keep each and every

one of our neighbors in the

community warm this fall

and winter season. Childrens

sweaters in particular are

needed. Partnering with

businesses in Central,

Northern and Southeast

Michigan, CMU PublicBroadcasting (WCMU) coor-

dinates the collection of

warm outerwear throughout

the months of October,

November and December.

Donated sweaters will be dis-

tributed to families who need

them by organizations in the

communities in which they

are collected. Sweaters col-

lected through Otsego

Memorial Hospital will bedistributed to members of

the community through The

Clothing Room in Gaylord.

NORTHERN MICHIGANAdvertising funds theWeekly Choice

We love to run community

announcements and news

releases about all the things

happening in Northern

Michigan in the Weekly

Choice. We help publicize

hundreds of events and

activities all across our area.

Readers love the fact that the

Weekly Choice is distributed

free to hundreds of locations.However, it is expensive to

publish this newspaper each

week filled with positive

news and sports. Our only

source of revenue comes

from advertising. If your

business or organization has

an advertising budget, be

sure to include the Weekly

Choice in your plans. Our

advertising rates are far less

than most other papers and

your message will reach

readers all across Northern

Michigan. The Weekly Choice

is distributed free of charge

on news stands to 40 towns

including Gaylord, Petoskey,

Cheboygan, Grayling, IndianRiver, Onaway, Mio,

Lewiston, Mancelona and all

surrounding towns. Contact

us at [email protected] call 989-732-8160.

GRAYLING

Toys for TotsToy donations for our

Christmas Help Program

may be dropped off at the

Christian Help Center or

placed in collection boxes

around town.

GRAYLING

Kids Coats & Socks

WantedNew socks & new or gently

used coats are now being

accepted for children of all

ages. Donations may be

dropped off at the Christian

Help Center.

GRAYLING

MSU Nutrition

EducationThe Crawford County

Commission on Aging &Senior Center will be hosting

MSU classes on nutrition

education. The theme will be

Creating Healthy Habits

Building a Toolkit. The class-

es will deal with such topics

as Cooking for One or Two,

Enhancing Food Flavor; How

Friendly is Your Kitchen,

Treat Yourself like Company

and The Wise Consumer. The

classes will be held on

Tuesdays and Fridays in

December and January from

9:30am-11:00am. The classes

are free, but you are required

to register. For more infor-

mation, contact theCrawford County


Senior Center at (989) 348-

7123.

GAYLORD

Business after hoursThe January 11th Business

After Hours will be held at the

Gaylord Regional Airport

(Otsego County) who will

sponsor this event with

Alpine Tavern & Eatery.

CHARLEVOIX

Fiddlers & Pickers

Jamboree9th annual music fest featur-

ing area violinists, fiddlers,

guitarists and other string

instrument artists. Any string

instrument artist is invited! A

musical hoe down for fun

and laughs. Food and bever-

ages available. Proceeds fund

area youth music scholar-

ships. Jan 14, 3pm - 10pm. at

VFW HALL, 12735 US N 31

PETOSKEY

Poverty Simulation

WorkshopThe Char-Em Poverty

Reduction Initiative is invit-

ing community members to

this years Poverty Simulation

on Friday, January, 27th from

10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the

Emmet County Fairgrounds

in Petoskey. Poverty

Simulation 2012 will create a

realistic model of what it is

like to experience poverty on

a day-to-day basis. For more

information about Poverty

Simulation 2012, to volun-teer goods, services, or funds,

contact United Way at 231-

487-1006 or email us at

[email protected]

LetTom Kuch

(formerly from Norandex)

help you find thebest siding, windows, & doors

for your home.Simonton Vinyl

Replacement WindowsCertainteed RoofingNorandex Vinyl SidingCall Tom at J-N-J Construction to getyour free estimate for professionalinstallation of quality products for

your home or business.

989-370-5738

FREEESTIMATES

Whole ShelledCornExcellent for multi-fuel

stoves and wildlife feeding

Rock Salt

$7.49 per 50 lb bagor $6.99

DELIVERYIS AVAILABLE

Mighty

Melt Ice Melter

KnoxIce Melter

when you buy20 or more.

$9.49 per 50 lb bagor $8.99 when you buy20 or more.



J and RSnowplowing

989-983-4590Gaylord, Wolverine &Vanderbilt areas 24/7 Service$!

"%$

$/"&$"./-"%'

'(-"$%-,$

('

($%)''(%)'$+'#%%($'(#$(

*$%+(')

Local.Service-Minded.

Call today for a FREEEstimate.

Arrow Sanitation

(989) 732-4243

When it comes to Christmas holiday raffles, it doesnt getany bigger than the Big Brothers Big Sisters of North CentralMichigan annual Big Christmas Giveaway event. It is an

amazing opportunity towin some fantastic BIGgifts while helping toensure the continuationof the vital role and mis-sion the Big Brothers BigSisters organization pur-sues here in NorthCentral Michigan.

Only 100 tickets willbe sold at $100 each,and the incredible list of18 prize packagesincludes such awesomevalues as a one-yearfamily ski membershipat Otsego Club, a one-

year Powerhouse Gymplatinum membership,a 2-night stay at theChippewa Hotel on

Mackinaw Island, a Balloon Ride for two through GrandTraverse Balloons, a guided winter raft trip f or six down theSturgeon River, four Tiger baseball tickets, a golf package, gift

cardseven three large one-topping Jets Pizzas every monthfor a year (now what family couldnt make good use of that).

With only 100 tickets being sold, the odds of winning oneof the many outstanding prizes are very good indeed, andentrants can take comfort in knowing the dollars they investin a raffle ticket will go to the much needed services provid-ed by the outstanding Big Brothers Big Sisters organization,including Traditional Community-based mentoring, LunchBuddies, and the Bigs-in-Schools programs.

The raffle drawing (raffle license R14101) will be heldbetween 9 and 10 am on Eagle radio, 101.5, on December20th. For more information about purchasing a raffle ticket,call Kathy Holmes at (989) 732-7780, visit Isabellas CopperPot, G. Willikers, or visit www.bbbsncmi.org.

18 BIG Prizes will be raffled in the BigChristmas Giveaway on December 20th


8/16


Q: My ex-wife and I have had alot of rough holidays together, butthis is our first one since ourdivorce. Now, we're negotiatingwho gets the kids when, and it'sterrible -- especially for our kids.How can we help them have a"merry Christmas"?

Juli: Some experts on divorce havedescribed it as a death -- the deathof a family, a marriage and a dreamof happily ever after. As with anydeath, there is gut-wrenching griefassociated with the loss, and learn-ing to adapt to a "new normal." Atno time is this more poignant thanat the holidays. Your kids are griev-ing the loss of their family as muchas you are. It's OK to let themexpress that and acknowledge thatthis Christmas will be difficult foreveryone.

Although everyone gets hurt in adivorce, the children are the mostobvious victims. They had no say in what happened, yet have to live with the painful aftermath.Research indicates that one of thetop predictors of a child's stabilityafter divorce is the health of therelationship between his parents.

Whatever conflicts, wounds andfeelings you have toward each other,put them aside for the holidays andgive your children a conflict-freeChristmas. I'd encourage your for-mer wife and you to do whatever you can to work together to makethe holidays smooth for your kids.

If possible, share Christmasmorning, celebrating together, orpitch in together to buy your kidsgifts from both of you, instead ofcompeting for who bought more

gifts. I know these suggestions maysound far-fetched given the hostilitythat often accompanies divorce, butyour kids deserve your effort towardpeace. More than any shiny packageunder the Christmas tree, your chil-dren most want and need to knowthat Mom and Dad love them andare not going to fight over them.

** ** **

Q: Every Christmas, my kids getcaught up in the desire for the lat-est toys and electronic gadgets.Not only is this expensive for myhusband and me, but it seems tomiss the point of Christmas entire-ly. Without being preachy, how canwe teach our kids that it's not justabout getting stuff?

Jim: Children have a tendency to feelthat the world revolves around them.Our culture encourages this problem bytelling kids -- and adults, too -- to lookout for No. 1. The materialism of theChristmas season only aggravates theproblem.

In her book "Fun-Filled Parenting,"author Silvana Clark suggests that oneof the best antidotes for self-centered-ness is to volunteer as a family. It mightbe serving at a soup kitchen, or hostinga neighborhood bake sale and giving theproceeds to charity, or taking part in a

church service project, or puttingtogether Christmas care packages forthe troops.

According to Clark, volunteeringhelps children learn four valuable les-sons. First, it helps them understandthat they're not the center of the uni-verse. Second, it enables kids to learnresponsibility and gain self-confidence.Third, it puts them in touch with com-munity resources and groups thatdepend on volunteers. And finally, vol-unteering helps kids build relationships

with positive role models -- men andwomen who have invested their lives inreaching out.

Here's something that will really blowyour kids' minds: have them go throughtheir stuff and identify a few things (ingood condition) to give away to a needy

family or shelter this year. Or better yet,have them pool their allowance and buy

a few new items! This kind ofselflessness goes against justabout everything they'rehearing from the culture.

** ** **Jim Daly is president of Focus on

the Family, host of the Focus on theFamily radio program, and a hus-

band and father of two.Dr. Juli Slattery is a licensed psy-

chologist, co-host of Focus on theFamily, author of several books,and a wife and mother of three.

Submit your questions to:[email protected]

Copyright 2011Focus on the Family,

Colorado Springs, CO 80995International Copyright

Secured. All Rights reserved.

Distributed by Universal Uclick1130 Walnut St.

Kansas City, MO 64106;(816) 581-7500

This feature may not by repro-duced or distributed electronically,in print or otherwise without writ-

ten permission of Focus on theFamily.

FOCUS ON THE FAMILY

FIRST CHRISTMAS AFTER

DIVORCE NOT VERY MERRY

FOR CHILDREN

with Jim Daly and Dr. Juli Slattery

This good news for Your family brought to

you by Family Comfort Systems

989-732-8099

Ask about ourSenior Discount


Tax Program NeedsVolunteers

United Way Lists Local Donation Drives

ANGER MONUMENTS & MARKERS

(231)587-8433

(906)484-1202Roger Anger, Owner

Mancelona, MI 49659

Cedarville, MI 49719

In home appointments available.

Serving the E.U.P. area & the Northern Lower.

Monumental Sales, Est. 1917

Sunburst Memorials TM

Email: [email protected]

Enjoy a Seasonal Tradition with Great Lakes ChamberOrchestra and Chorus Handels Messiah Concert

Handel's "Messiah" will be presented by

the Great Lakes Chamber Orchestra at St.Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Petoskeyon Thursday, December 15th and Friday,December 16th at 7:00 p.m. A quartet of out-standing soloists, Sarah Hibbard, soprano;Martha Hart, alto; David Theis, tenor; andMark Goros, bass; will join the GLCOOrchestra and GLCO Chorus in this perform-ance.

Handel's "Messiah" is the best known andmost beloved oratorio ever written, combin-ing recitative, aria, and dramatic choruses ina resounding affirmation of Gods love."Messiah" was written in 24 days, and wasfirst performed in Dublin on April 13, 1742,as a benefit concert for the Society forRelieving Prisoners, the Charitable Infirmary,and the Mercers Hospital. Handel madeslight modifications in the work for almost

every performance, tailoring the arias to hissoloists and varying the number of voices inthe choir. "Messiah" stands as an artwork

which transcends period and culturalboundaries, and speaks in the most pro-found way to human spiritual aspirations.During the Advent and Christmas seasons

the first section and selected portions of the

remainder are usually performed.Tickets, ranging from $14 for General

Admission, $25 for Silver Reserved Section,

$50 for Gold Reserved Section, and $75 for

Platinum Reserved Section, are now avail-

able on line at TREATickets.com or

www.glcorchestra.org or by calling the GLCO

office 231-487-0010. Reserved seating is

available. General admission tickets are

available at Chambers of Commerce and

bookstores in Petoskey, Harbor Springs,

Charlevoix, Boyne City, and East Jordan,

Dars Hallmark in Cheboygan or at local

bookstores. Remaining tickets will be sold at

the door. For this Seasons Performance all

active military and their spouse will be

admitted free as well as students 18 and

under

The Great Lakes Chamber Orchestra pres-

entation of Handels "Messiah" is sponsored

by the Bank of Northern Michigan, the

Michigan Council for the Arts and Cultural

Affairs and the National Endowment for the

Arts.

As a volunteer, you will help low-incomeresidents by preparing and filing their taxreturns and helping them apply for theEarned Income Tax Credits, Child Care

Credits, Homestead Credits, and HomeHeating Credits. Northwest MichiganCommunity Action Agencys (NMCAA) TaxProgram is supported by the State ofMichigan to help area residents claim all ofthe credits they are eligible and need.

NMCAA offers free tax preparation at itsoffice in Traverse City, Cadillac, andPetoskey, as well as the Michigan Worksoffice in Traverse City and MichiganDepartment of Human Services offices in

Bellaire, Cadillac, Kalkaska, Roscommon and

West Branch. Volunteers are needed at all

locations.

Tax preparation experience is preferred.

NMCAA will provide training on tax prepara-tion of low income returns and TaxWise soft-

ware. After passing a basic IRS tax prepara-

tion test, you can choose to do tax prepara-

tion at times and a location that fit your

schedule.

Become a volunteer tax preparer by con-

tacting Roger Suppes at (231) 947-3780 or

(800) 632-7334. He can also be reached via

email at [email protected].

Are you looking to spread holiday cheer?

Char-Em United Way can help point you in

the right direction. United Ways website

now has a section listing local donation

drives.

Our online listing of local donation

drives explains how to donate food, cloth-ing, and holiday gifts, says Casey Adams,

AmeriCorps VISTA for Char-Em United Way.

It also lists the ongoing drives of food

pantries and resale shops, as well as season-

al events such as United Ways Stuff the

Bus.

To find the listing of Donation Drives go

to www.charemunitedway.org/activities/

find-donation-drive or click on the

Donation

Drive link

on Char-

Em United

Ways

homepage.

We hopethis will be

a useful clearinghouse for generous people

wanting to donate, said Adams. Agencies

wanting to post donation drives can submit

information using the form on the web-

page.

For more information, contact United

Way at 231-487-1006 or info@charemunited-

way.org

Great Lakes Chamber Orchestra Presentation of the Christmas sections ofHandels Messiah, will take place at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in

Petoskey on Thursday, December 15th, and Friday December 16th at 7:00 p.m.

CourtEsy Photo

/'00'*$0,.$%'+'/&2,1.,)#-.$%'+'/&$#%),,./

33333

!')

/0!))!.#(",*


9/16



As you know, the holiday season can

be joyous, hectic, celebratory and

expensive. And while you certainly

enjoy hosting family gatherings and giv-ing presents to your loved ones, youll

find these things even more pleasurable

if they dont add a lot more weight to

your debt load. And thats why youll

want to follow some smart money-man-

agement techniques over the next few

weeks.

To begin with, try to establish realistic

budgets for both your entertaining and

your gift giving. When you host family

and friends, dont go overboard on your

expenditures. Your guests will still

appreciate your efforts, which, with a

little creativity, can create a welcoming

and fun experience for everyone. As a

guiding principal, keep in mind these

words attributed to Johann Wolfgang

von Goethe, the famous German poetand philosopher: What you can do

without, do without. Set a budget and

stick to it.

And the same rule applies to your gift-

ing. You dont need to find the most

expensive presents, or overwhelm recip-

ients with the sheer volume of your gifts.

This is especially true if you, like so

many people, have been affected by the

tough economy. Everyone you know will

understand that gifts dont have to be

lavish to be meaningful.

Furthermore, by sticking to a budget,

you wont be tempted to dip into your

long-term investments to pay for fabu-

lous parties or mountains of gifts. Its

never a good idea to tap long-term

investments for short-term needs, butcan be especially bad when your invest-

ment prices are down, as they may well

be this year.

So, if you want to stick to a budget but

you dont want to raid your investments,

how can you pay for your holiday sea-

son expenses? If you can spread out

your purchases, you may be able to pay

for them from your normal cash flow.

But if thats not possible, you might

want to consider plastic your cred-

it card. Using your credit card does not,by itself, need to amount to a financial

setback, especially if youve chosen a

card that offers favorable terms and

youve already shown the discipline not

to over-use that card. Just try to mini-

mize your credit card usage over the

holidays and pay off your card as soon

as you can.

Of course, you can make your holiday

season much easier, financially speak-

ing, if youve set up a holiday fund to

cover your various expenses. While its

too late to set up such a fund this year,

why not get an early start on the 2012

holiday season? All you need to do is put

away some money each month into an

easily accessible

account, separatefrom your everyday

accounts. You dont

have to put in a

great deal, but you

do need to be con-

sistent, which is

why you may want

to have the money

moved automati-

cally, once a

month, from your

checking or sav-

ings account to

your holiday fund.

When next years

holiday season

rolls around, you

might be pleasant-

ly surprised by howmuch youve accu-

mulated.

But for now, fol-

lowing some com-

mon-sense money

management prac-

tices can help you

get through the holiday season in finan-

cial shape and that type of result can

get your new year off to a positive start.

This article was written by EdwardJones for use by your local Edward Jones

Financial Advisor.

Philip Hofweber is a Financial

Advisor with Edward Jones Investments

located at 100 West Main Street in

Gaylord. He can be reached at (989)731-

1851, or email him at

[email protected]. Tune

in Friday Mornings 8:30 am to Eagle

101.5 for Phil Hofweber to hear his week-

ly Financial Focus Topic. Edward Jones,

its financial advisors and employees do

not provide tax or legal advice. You

should consult with a qualified tax or

legal professional for advice on your spe-

cific situation.

www.edwardjones.com Member SIPC

Leaving a 401(k) with a previous employer could mean

leaving it alone with no one to watch over it.

At Edward Jones, we can explain options for your 401(k)

and help you select the one thats best for you. If youd

like to roll it over to an Edward Jones Individual Retire-

ment Account (IRA), we can help you do it without

paying taxes or penalties. And you can feel confident

that someone is looking out for you and your 401(k).

To find out why it makes sense to talk with EdwardJones about your 401(k) options, call or visit yourlocal financial advisor today.

If You Arent at Your Last Job,Why Is Your 401(k)?

!"#$#%&'&()*+,-,.

!"#$#%"$&'()*"+,-./00'1'2$"#'345$6&,-)7'28'9:;:?;=/

FINANCIAL FOCUS

MANAGE YOUR MONEY CAREFULLY THIS

HOLIDAY SEASON

Philip Hofweber, Financial Advisor with Edward JonesGAYLORD, (989) 731-1851

1928 S. Otsego Ave.Gaylord

www.gaylordfordlincoln.com

(989) 732-67371-800-732-6710

2009 FORD FUSION AWD SE3.0L V6 Silver Stone Cloth 46,000 miles - Stk# R4966A....................................

$15,8152010 FORD TAURUS SEL AWD3.5L V6 Silver Black Cloth 15,500 miles - Stk# R4901 .....................................

$24,8212010 FORD ESCAPE 4WD LIMITED3.0L V6 Silver Black Leather 33,000 miles - Stk# R4990 ...............................

$24,8502009 FORD F-150 4X4 S/C STX4.6L V8 Black Stone Cloth 29,200 miles - Stk# 5674A .................................$25,6002010 FORD EDGE 4WD SEL3.5L V6 Dark Blue Black Cloth 33,500 miles - Stk# R4925 ..............................

$25,6552010 FORD FLEX AWD SEL3.5L V6 Dark Blue Stone Cloth 37,000 miles - Stk# R5017...........................

$26,5002010 FORD EXPLORER 4WD EDDIE BAUER4.0L V6 Red Camel Leather 31,200 miles - Stk# R5018 ................................

$26,8952011 FORD F-150 4X4 SUPERCREW5.0L V8 Blue Grey Cloth 12,200 miles - Stk# R5035 ......................................

$29,9952010 LINCOLN MKX AWD3.5L V6 White Camel Leather 30,000 miles - Stk# R4989.............................

$34,888

2011 FORD

FIESTA SES

5-DR1.6L 4cyl Man Dk Grey

Black Leather 22,900 milesStk# R5037

$15,999

The Michigan Northern Lights chorus, our

local chapter of the Sweet Adelines

International, is hosting an open house to

benefit the Friendship Housing Center on

December 8th, at the First Congregational

Church at 218 W. Second St., Gaylord.

The housing center is facing huge expens-

es in order to serve our community by pro-

viding a place where individuals and families

who have fallen on hard times can rebuild

their lives. We all know that the current eco-

nomic times are causing tremendous prob-

lems for those who are struggling to sur vive

financially. The loss of a job or a significant

medical event, for those without insurance,

is like a push off a cliff for those who live on

the barely minimum paychecks, which many

of the available jobs provide.

The Michigan Northern Lights invite the

community to join them anytime between

6:30 and 8:30 pm on December 8th at the

First Congregational Church to hear any of

the five groups that will be performing.

Enjoy cookies and beverages while listing to

the local musical talent of The Harmonie

Meisters, Nelson Gast on the violin, the

Handbell Choir from the United Methodist

Church, Musik Haus String Guitars;

Michigan Northern Lights and the

Infant8praise choral group from the Trinity

Lutheran Church will be providing songs of

the season for your enjoyment.

The only request is that those attending

this fundraiser offer a donation to the

Friendship Housing Center. So come and

celebrate the season of giving which origi-

nated with the gift of Gods son to the world

on that first Christmas long ago.

By Jim Akans

For the 8th year in a row, the Toys for Tots Toy Trolley rolled into the

Super Wal-Mart in Gaylord, welcoming the holiday spirit, and a whole lot

of gift giving generosity to the event. The Toy Trolley is part of the annual

Toys for Tots Stuff the Trolley week in Northern Michigan, and part of

the ongoing mission of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots pro-

gram, the largest Christmas toy program in the country.

Several local RSVP volunteers were on hand to gather toys and a wide

assortment of other gifts outside the Wal-Mart Superstore, and they will be

distributed to children in Otsego County as part of the Otsego CountyCommunity Giving Program. Thats a whole lot of toys that will bring a

whole lot of joy to the faces of children in Otsego County families needing

a little help in this difficult economy this Christmas season.

Once again, this event was a wonderful success, stated the Tots for

Tots Event Coordinator Rosie Warner. We thank the generosity of the

community in supporting this program. We hope that we are able to

enhance the Christmas of every child in need here in Otsego County.

Cookies for a Cause fundraiser on December8th to benefit Friendship Housing Center

Toy Trolleyvisits GaylordWalmart lastThursday

The Toys for Tots Toy Trolley received a whole lot of Christmas treasures last Thursday that

will be distributed to children in Otsego County through the Otsego County Community

Giving Program. Among those donating toys was Sean Stefanski (second from right), who

was greeted by (from left), Sgt. Kristopher VanBeckom, Mary Beauchesne (LCPL-USMC)

and Rosie Warner (at right).

The Michigan Northern Lights chorus, our local chapter of the Sweet

Adelines International, is hosting an open house to benefit the Friendship

Housing Center on December 8th, at the First Congregational Church at 218W. Second St., Gaylord.

Photo by Jim AkAns

CourtEsy Photo


10/16

John 1:14(New King James Version)

And the Word became flesh and dweltamong us, and we beheld His glory,the glory as of the only begotten ofthe Father, full of grace and truth.

B. Jeremy Wills, D.D.S.

Family!Dentistry

204 State Street, Petoskey, Michigan

(231) 347-8980

God gave you your teeth, we help you keep them.


Nehemiah ProjectOffers Shelter to Petoskey

Area HomelessBy Jim Akans

In 1993, Mike Walker felt his world

was crumbling around him. His wife of

five years had left him as Mikes struggle

with substance abuse was not appropri-ate for his two young children to wit-

ness. He was now homeless, unem-

ployed, and had resorted to sleeping in

East Jordans community gazebo.

Somehow, amid this incredible des-

peration, Mike Walker discovered the

Nehemiah Project in Petoskey.

I began staying there in August,

Mike recalls, and by November my life

had completely turned around. I

accepted Jesus Christ into my life, tri-

umphed over my substance abuse, and

on November 14th, my wife, Gale, and I

were remarried.

Today, Mike Walker is the director of

the Nehemiah Project, a spiritually-based community homeless facility that

has been in existence since 1988. The

project derives its name from the Book

of Nehemiah in the Old Testament of

the Bible. It tells the tale of Nehemiah,

who was an important servant to the

king of Persia, who when he heard of the

Jewish exile to Babylon and the destruc-

tion of the walls of Jerusalem, asked the

king to send him to the city to rebuild

those walls.

At the Nehemiah Project, notes Mike

Walker, we are here to help people

rebuild their lives that have been bro-

ken. We provide food and housing for a

period of time so that they can get theirlives back in order and find work and

guidance. We are a Christian-based

shelter, with values that are shared

among the approximately thirty-five vol-

unteers who help to run the Nehemiah

Project.

In 2010, the Nehemiah Project housed

individuals for 6,953 bed nights, an

accounting of how many beds were uti-

lized each night over the year. That

translates into approximately 186 peo-

ple whose lives were assisted through

the shelter. To provide this service, over

7,500 volunteer hours were utilized, and

the Nehemiah Project obtains food from

community donations from individuals,

businesses and schools, community

organization and the Manna Food

Project in Petoskey.

Mike Walker points out that there is a

Michigan Tax credit for those who make

financial donations to organizations

such homeless shelters and food

pantries that will be expiring at the end

of 2011. Though the need for such

entities is increasing, the tax credits for

those helping to support them are

decreasing. For those considering mak-

ing financial donations to an organiza-

tions such as ours, this is the time to

take advantage of those tax credits

before they expire at the end of the

year.

There are actually two separate shel-

ters under the Nehemiah Project

umbrella. The mens facility is called the

Hospitality House, and the womens

housing is called the Mary Margaret

House, and is run by Mikes wife, Gale.

Occupants are allowed to stay up to

ninety days as long as they are actively

seeking employment and trying to rem-

edy their situation. Mike notes that

when the economy is in better shape,

the length of the average stay is about

thirty to forty days.

The Nehemiah Project made the dif-

ference in my life, Mike Walker states,

Unless something changes on the

inside for the chronically homeless, it is

unlikely their situation will ever change.

I gave my heart to Christ when I came

here and from that moment on every-

thing changed. After I left here I contin-

ued to serve as a volunteer and I was a

house painter until 2003, when I was

asked to become the director.

When asked if he felt the decision to

accept his current position at the

Nehemiah Project was the right one,

Mike Walker replies with a smile in his

voice; When the Lord calls you to do

somethingits always the right choice.

There are actually two separate shelters under the Nehemiah Project umbrella. Gale

Walker oversees the womens housing, called Mary Margaret House, and Mike Walker

directs the mens facility, called the Hospitality House.

CourtEsy Photo

The Nehemiah Project, a spiritually based community homeless facility in Petoskey that has been in existence since 1988.

CourtEsy Photo


11/16


Spending at locally owned busi-nesses leads to better schools, betterroads and local support of commu-

nity charities and fundraisers.The Wall Street Journal recently

wrote an article that touted the ben-

efits of shopping locally. They com-pared the impact of shopping atbusinesses that are owned locally

compared to a business that isowned by an entity from outside of

the area.Next time are shopping in

Northern Michigan, consider the

impact that each dollar you spendand how it will return to the com-munity you live in. Every dollar you

spend works about 50% harderwhen it is spent at a locally owned,independent business. That's

according to an online tool thatgauges the economic impact onlocal communities of spending at

independently owned small busi-nesses versus national chains.

Launched by Independent We

Stand, a Virginia-based advocacygroup for independent business

owners, the tool shows that for every$10 spent at an independent busi-ness, about $6 is returned to the

local community in the form of pay-roll taxes and other local expendi-tures. By contrast, only $4 is

returned by national chains.Depending on the size of the city,this could potentially inject millions

into a local economy.As such, spending at local small

businesses "leads to better schools,

better roads and more support forother civic necessities such as policedepartments," the group says.

The results are based on a study oflocal retail economics in the Chicago

area community of Anderson

Weekly Choice - December 08, 2011

Documents

Transcript of Weekly Choice - December 08, 2011