Season for - Gatehouse Media

■
SEPTEMBER OCTOBER 2015
A trip to the
PUMPKIN
PATCH
Season for
SOUP
Testing for
Water
Quality
for any day
Call to subscribe 269.651.5407
County fairs
boast great
entertainment
FROM THE EDITOR
Candice Phelps
W
e have the longest freshwater shoreline in the world, we hold
claim to more than 11,000 inland lakes and no matter where
you stand in our great state, you are never more than 85 miles
from the shore of a Great Lake.
Michigan is truly a world of wonder. For those on social media
sites, you’ve most likely read posts about the things that make
Michigan “unique.” The lists are eye-opening, even for those who have
lived their entire lives in the Wolverine state — which, by the way, is
no longer home to any wolverines.
Eric Weaver, a Michigan native, created the website
www.michigannative.com. There you can find great information about
our state, as well as a “dictionary” of terms that seem to only relate to
Michigan and its residents.
Here are just a few of the terms, taken from Weaver’s website,
we Michiganders use frequently. It seems others find them strangely
odd:
■ Crick: Creek.
■ Davenport: Sofa.
■ Dethaw: to thaw or de-ice. “I gotta go dethaw my snowmobile.”
■ Doorwall: a sliding glass door. This really is a weird one.
■ Euchre: a card game which is popular in Michigan and seemingly, no where else, except maybe parts of Ohio.
■ FIPs: for those who live in southwestern Michigan towns, an
acronym for tourists from Illinois: “Friendly Illinois People.”
■ Geez-o-pete!: Related: "Geez-Louise!" A Michigan expletive for
polite company, having something to do with Jesus and St. Peter.
■ Glovebox: U.S. equivalent: glove compartment. Do you suppose that, at one time, people actually kept gloves in it, instead of napkins, Altoids, and tire pressure checkers?
■ A Good One: a good day. Proper Michigan etiquette is to say
“have a good one!”
■ How ‘zit goin’? In other parts of the world, the equivalent of
“what’s up?” or “how are you?”
■ Kiddycorner: Kitty-corner. Elsewhere in the U.S.: catty-corner.
■ Lookit! Sometimes, we, uhh, have a tendency to end sentences
with a preposition, like.
■ Party Store: U.S. equivalent: liquor store.
■ The Plant: any factory (usually automotive).
■ SecretariahState: U.S. equivalent: Department of Motor
Vehicles.
■ Trolls: people from the Lower Peninsula, who, in the minds of
Yoopers, live “under the bridge.”
We may have a unique was of expressing ourselves in Michigan,
but there’s no mistaking the beauty of our state, especially in the fall.
Sit back, take it all in and enjoy this issue of Shoreline.
Page 4 Shoreline
September/October 2015
Volume 8 Number 4
Publisher
Daniel Tollefson
Managing/Design Editor
Candice Phelps
Contributing Writers
Rosalie Currier
David Farr
Christy Hart-Harris
Laura Kurella
Dick Magee
Michelle Patrick
Don Reid
Jef Rietsma
Troy Tennyson
Regional Advertising Director
Lisa Vickers
Advertising Manager
Joe Debiak
Advertising Representatives
Justine Angel
Reinette Arbogast
Judy Broadworth
Sheila McCrea
Tawney Sterett
Todd Ware
Graphic Artists
Brandie Hambright
Courtney Hambright
Carla Ludwick
Sandy Mielcarek
Shoreline is published by the
Sturgis Journal, 209 John St., Sturgis, MI,
a GateHouse Media newspaper.
email: shoreline@sturgisjournal.com
(269) 651-5407
(800) 686-5653
Copyright © 2015
NAVIGATION
COVER
20
September/October
2015
22
HIGHLIGHTING
THE TREASURES OF
ST. JOSEPH COUNTY
THE
SEASON
FOR
SOUP
PUTTING TOGETHER A
STONE SOUP COOKOUT
12
LOCAL VINEYARDS,
UNIQUE VINTAGES
16
25
LEARNING
ABOUT
LAKE
ECOLOGY
26
PUMPKINS:
A STAPLE
OF AUTUMN
MONITORING
WATER QUALITY
Page 8 Shoreline
34
WELCOME
TO ZIMMYVILLE
34
FIRE
PATROL
ON
LOCAL
LAKES
CALENDAR September
6
THREE RIVERS
HARMONY FEST
19
APPLE
FESTIVAL
9 a.m.-4 p.m.
downtown Coldwater
7
LABOR DAY
12
STURGIS
TOY RUN
20-26
ST. JOSEPH COUNTY
GRANGE FAIR
County fairgrounds,
Centreville
12 23
UNION CITY
HERITAGE DAYS
Featuring crafts, a car show,
Riverside Cemetery tour
and more
FIRST DAY
OF AUTUMN
26
12
CONSTANTINE
HARVEST FESTIVAL
Rib cookoff and more,
downtown Constantine
Page 10 Shoreline
JOHN MICHAEL
MONTGOMERY
IN CONCERT
Shipshewana Event Center
Shipshewana, Ind.
CALENDAR October
3
TREASURES OF
ST. JOSEPH
COUNTY
Dinner and drinks at
The Local and coffee,
dessert and a mystery at
the historical
St. Joseph County
courthouse in Centreville
trchamber.com
11
THREE RIVERS
FALL COLOR TOUR
22
MICKEY GILLEY
Shipshewana
Event Center
Shipshewana, Ind.
24-25
PUMPKIN
TRAIL RIDE
Little River Railroad,
Coldwater.
Every Saturday and
Sunday in October
(517) 279-7687
trchamber.com
12
COLUMBUS DAY
24-25
HAUNTED TEMPLE
Last two weekends
of October
(Friday & Saturday)
Masonic Temple,
Coldwater
(517) 278-3079
16-18 31
THE ADVENTURES
OF RIKKI
TIKKI TAVI
Tibbits Opera House,
Coldwater
HALLOWEEN
Halloween parades
in Bronson,
Coldwater
and Quincy
Shoreline Page 11
Wine
Vine
STORY AND PHOTOS
T
BY TROY TENNYSON
urning fruit into wine is a complex process
requiring patience and inventiveness.
And just across the state line near Fremont,
Ind., are two locally-owned vineyards creating their
own unique vintages.
Pam and Larry Satek have operated a commercial
vineyard in Angola, Ind., since 1992 when they decided to
take an old apple orchard purchased by Pam's great-grandfather in 1915 and turn it into a vineyard. At the time, they sold
grapes to other Indiana wineries with the idea of eventually opening
a winery as a “retirement” business.
After years of planning, Satek Winery opened in 2001 with 12
wines released during the first season.
Since then, Satek Winery has expanded its vineyard format
from its original two acres to four, and now grows a variety of
grapes onsite, including DeChaunac, Steuben, Seyval Blanc, Vidal
Blanc, Marechal Foch and Golden Muscat.
The winery also contracts with several local growers, purchasing grapes from throughout the region. Less hardy varieties that struggle to grow in the surrounding climate are bought from neighboring
states.
Today, Satek Winery is home to more than 25 different wines,
ranging from dry and semi-dry wines, to semi-sweet and sweet wines.
Satek’s top seller is 101 Lakes Red, a semi-sweet red wine,
chocked full of intense concord character. It’s a wine that is not only
delicious, but outsells their next top three wines combined.
Satek Winery has garnered several awards, including the 2014
French American Wine of the Year at the Indy International Wine
Page 12 Shoreline
Competition with their
Kreibaum Bay Larry's
Luscious Red from 2013. The
award-winning wine is a heritage-style dry red wine,
blended with a variety of
Indiana grapes — most
notably the Chambourcin.
Satek has been chosen
as Best in Class at the Indy
International Wine
Competition 15 times over
the course of the last decade,
including three separate
wines in the 2014 competition.
Just a few miles away,
Briali Vineyards can be found
on the rolling hills of Country
Meadows Golf Course in
Fremont, Ind.
A strong dedication to
environmental care and
respect for nature led long
time friends and business
Satek Winery
Hours: 10 a.m.-6 p.m., every day except Easter, Thanksgiving,
Christmas and New Year’s Day.
Contact: (260) 495-9463
Online: www.satekwinery.com.
Satek Winery can also be followed on Twitter, YouTube,
Instagram and Facebook.
Briali Vineyards
Hours: Noon-6 p.m.
Monday through Thursday;
10 a.m.-6 p.m., Friday through Sunday.
Contact: (260) 316-5156
Online: brialivineyards.com
Shoreline Page 13
The tasting room at Briali Vineyards
partners, Brian and Alicia Moeller, to join
together in planting and nurturing 13 different varieties of grapevines using biodynamic
techniques — an advanced from of organic
farming.
By using eco-friendly practices in the
vineyard, they found success in cultivating
superior fruit. Crafting great grapes into quality wine led to the opening of Briali
Vineyards and Winery in the fall of 2012.
Briali is a small winery, filled with dark
wood and an old school charm.
Briali Vineyards specializes in dry red
wines, which are some of the best in the area,
due in large part to the Moellers and their
studies in California regarding the wine-making process.
Briali features two semi-sweet to sweet
wines that prove to be best sellers.
Niagara, a 2014 vintage, is a sweet
white wine that features Michigan grown
grapes, while the Dragon's Red Wine is a
sweet, jammy red wine, that is “unapologetically, unpretentiously yummy.” ✤
Page 14 Shoreline
Keeping tabs on
WATER
Quality
STORY AND PHOTOS
W
BY JEF
RIETSMA
ith a workbag full of tools, aquatic instruments, a notepad and an assortment of odd devices, Eric Shafer looks as if he’s on a scavenger hunt
when boarding his pontoon boat at his Fishers Lake residence.
As his wife, Georgina, backs the boat away from the dock at their Lockport
Township residence, Shafer sorts through the bag and double checks that he has
everything.
About 10 minutes later, they are at the deepest part of the lake. Shafer
moves toward the bow and starts a series of tests that will keep him engaged for
at least the next 20 minutes.
The work Shafer performs is actually a battery of tests to gather data about
the lake and its water quality. It is performed according to the Cooperative Lakes
Monitoring Program guidelines as part of the Michigan Clean Water Corps, under
the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality.
Shafer said his work is through a volunteer partnership for Michigan’s
inland lakes. He has done the testing for Fishers Lake since 2002. Shafer noted
there are 200 lakes in the state and five — Fishers, Corey, Klinger, Perrin and
Portage lakes — in St. Joseph County that have people who do the testing.
“What we’re doing here is establishing long-term information, and one year
of information provides a snapshot,” he said. “But several years of data when
pieced together can start to reveal some pretty solid information. It’s all about
what quantity of nutrients are loading into the lake.”
One of the more critical tools provided to Shafer is called a Secchi disk, a
device named after its creator, an Italian professor who tested waters in
Mediterranean bays in the late 1800s. Attached to a tape measure, the gauge
allows Shafer to take water clarity readings at various depths.
Shafer uses another tool, a probing device that provides a digital readout,
for an idea of phosphorous levels. Phosphorous, of course, produces algae, which
compromises water clarity.
Other measures Shafer takes provide data on chlorophyll, dissolved oxygen
and temperature. He said some tests are performed just twice a year, others are
conducted every two weeks. Meanwhile, chlorophyll readings are to be taken
Page 16 Shoreline
between set dates five times a year.
Though he could do the work by himself, Shafer said it’s
much easier having his wife nearby, as the numbers he reads
can be verbally passed on and are recorded in a well-worn notebook they’ve been using for more than the past decade.
The state relies on the information to maintain data on a
lake’s progression from mesotrophic to eutrophic. The latter
state is less desirable from a water-quality standard and is exacerbated by the presence of septic tanks as well as fertilizer runoff from farms and yards, Shafer said.
Some of the data Shafer collects is recorded online, while
other samples must be delivered in person to a state office off D
Avenue north of Kalamazoo.
At the end of a calendar year, all the data Shafer and his
counterparts across the state have accumulated is tabulated and
made available through the DEQ’s website. Shafer said based on
what he has seen, Fishers Lake isn’t in perfect health but it
remains well enough to support the residences around it and
recreation activities on it.
“And it probably will be for a long time,” he said.
Asserting his own opinion, however, Shafer said the
lake’s health is compromised by the use of seawalls and the lack
of a sewer-treatment system. Both matters, he said, have been
and will always be touchy subjects amongst Fishers Lake residents.
“We’ve been here 30 years and it’s a beautiful, spring-fed
lake that hasn’t really shown me any noticeable changes in the
13 years I’ve been doing the testing,” he said. “I hope it can
maintain this level of quality for generations to come.”
Testing started in 2002 when he was president of the lake
association, but Shafer said he did not inherit the job until three
years later. The testing costs the lake association $217 annually
and Shafer always gives a summary at its annual meeting. ✤
Online: www.micorps.net
Eric Shafer performs a battery of tests to gather data
about Fishers Lake and its water quality.
Shoreline Page 17
Volunteers needed to collect water samples
STORY AND PHOTO
BY JEF
RIETSMA
encourages anyone interested to contact her.
She said two county school districts are
The St. Joseph County Conservation
already taking advantage of the surveys and
District is looking for volunteers to assist with a
making an ecology lesson out of them. Students
collection-and-documentation project taking
from Burr Oak are committed to working the
place on various dates over the next month.
stretch of the Prairie River, while Three Rivers
Carolyn Grace, executive director of the
students will man a portion of the St. Joseph
Centreville-based agency, said help is needed to
River, Grace said.
collect and identify microorganisms that will be
Her counterpart in Cass County, Justin
taken from water samples in nine different
Miller, will take samples in the Cass County porspots in four rivers and one creek.
tion of the Rocky River.
The collections must take place between
“It’s the first time we’ve ever done this
Sept. 15 and Oct. 15 in a 300-foot stretch of
kind of a survey and we were able to get a startwater. The collections do not need to occur
up grant from the Great Lakes Commission to
simultaneously.
purchase mainly some equipment we’ll need,”
Carolyn Grace shows a
“There are some other details that we can
she said, adding the grant was just shy of
collection net used to
explain to anyone interested, but basically
$4,000. “What I like about this is how it can be
collect microorganisms
we’re looking to identify the various organisms
used as a teaching tool … as a former teacher, I
from water samples.
in the water, which will give us a clue to the
find this a very exciting opportunity.”
water quality of our rivers and creeks,” Grace said. “This isn’t
She said supplies will be provided, and participants will
something being done in response to a problem, thankfully.”
have to collect water samples at various points in each waterThe waterways are: the St. Joseph, Portage, Rocky and
way.
Prairie rivers, and Spring Creek in Nottawa Township. Grace
Grace can be reached at 467-6336, ext. 5. The agency’s
said the work dates have not yet been identified, but she
website is: www.stjoecountycd.com. ✤
Live entertainment, trivia, karaoke,
13 taps, MI craft beer flights & more!
116 W Main St • Centreville, MI • 269-467-3213
Hours: Monday - Thursday 11am to 11pm
Friday & Saturday 11am to 1am • Sunday Noon to 9pm
Page 18 Shoreline
DOCKSIDE DINING
Laura Kurella
Season for M
STONE
SOUP
Page 20 Shoreline
any mesmerizing tales are spun to make childhood a bit
more interesting and entertaining. However, time for such
folklore wanes as adulthood creeps in, leaving us less and
less room for frolic to reside.
“Not for us,” said Karin Malesh of Sturgeon Lake in Colon.
“Our group is always looking for ways to add in some childhood
antics whenever we can. We already have a Welcome Back Summer
party, a Pontoon Progressive Potluck Party, a Christmas party and a
Spring Tea party so, we decided that we needed something for
autumn as well. That’s when I suggested a Stone Soup Party.”
The stone soup idea is perfect because it begins with a stone
being placed at the bottom of a cauldron. Then the beef base, meat,
spices and V-8 juices are added.
Stone
(Vegetable) Soup
By Karin Malesh
1 1/2 pounds boneless beef
chuck roast, cubed
1 Tbsp. oil
2 cups water
4 cups V-8 (use both regular and
spicy)
3-10 1/2 oz. cans condensed beef
broth
1 tsp. dried oregano, crushed
1/2 tsp. dried marjoram, crushed
1/4 tsp. black pepper
2 bay leaves
1-14 1/2 oz. can diced tomatoes,
undrained
2 cups red wine
1 cup each of the following: corn,
potatoes, green beans, carrots,
celery, cabbage, onion
1-can black beans (rinsed and
drained)
In Dutch oven, brown meat, half
at a time, in hot oil: drain fat. Stir
in water, beef broth, V-8, oregano,
marjoram, pepper and bay
leaves. Bring to a boil, reduce
heat. Simmer, covered, for 1 hour.
Discard bay leaves. Stir in tomatoes, corn, potatoes, green
beans, carrots, celery, black
beans, cabbage, wine and onion.
Return to boiling, reduce heat.
Simmer, covered, about 30 minutes more or until vegetables are
tender.
Awesome Apple Dip
By Linda Held
2 cups brown sugar
14 ounces sweetened condensed milk
1/2 cup butter
1 teaspoon vanilla
8 ounces cream cheese
1/2 cup Heath bar bits
1/2 cup nuts
2 apples
1 quart of apple juice with vitamin C
In a saucepan over low heat, combine and stir
brown sugar and condensed milk until sugar is
dissolved. Remove from heat and add butter and
vanilla. Stir until smooth then chill. In a deep dish
or pie plate, spread the cheese out to form an
even layer then pour caramel sauce over. Sprinkle
with Heath Bar bits and nuts and serve with apple
slices.
Slice apples then place slices in apple juice that
contains vitamin C for 20 minutes – or until serving — to prevent browning.
Ninety-Minute Beer Bread
By Mary Jo Sharp
3/4 cup beer
2 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon butter
1/2 cup warm water
2 packages active dry yeast
2 teaspoon salt
1 1/4 cups rye flour
1 1/2 cups white flour
Combine beer, honey and butter then heat until
warm (05 -110 degrees) no hotter. In a large
warm, mixing bowl, combine warm water and
both packages yeast. Add warm beer mixture,
salt and rye flour. Beat until smooth. Stir in
remaining flour mixture and enough additional
white flour (about another cup to 1 1/4 cup) to
make a soft dough. On a floured board, knead
until smooth — about 4 minutes. Shape into a
ball and place in greased 8" round pan, turning to
grease top. Flatten to fit pan. Cover. Let rise in
warm place for 45 minutes. Bake at 375 degrees
for 25-30 minutes or till done. Remove from pan
and let cool.
Four Layer Pumpkin Cheesecake Ramekins
By Sherry Parr
Ramekins Base: Crumble Vanilla wafers
Filling:
Combine:
Wind & Willow’s Pumpkin Pie Cheese ball &
Dessert Mix
8 oz cream cheese
6 to 8 oz of whipped topping
The ‘Villagers’ each bring ingredients from their pantry and pour it into
the cauldron. The order is based on the
cooking time. Wine is the last ingredient
added.
Karin said putting the Stone Soup
party together was easy.
“We simply followed the story,
Place gently on the wafer crumbs in ramekins.
Spread a small amount of Nutella or melted
chocolate over filling. Top with whipped topping.
Chill before serving. Decorate with colored sugar,
candy corn, candy pumpkins or wafer crumbs.
but added appetizers, breads and
desserts,” she said. “We did find that the
soup cooks fast over a fire and at times,
we had to raise the cauldron to slow the
cooking process, but it made the party
even more adventurous.”
Like all their themed parties, this
one has become an annual event.
For those who love folklore, it’s
interesting to look back on the original
stone soup story, which was published
in London in 1808.
Classified by folklorists as an
Aarne-Thompson-Uther type 1548 folktale, this is a folktale that lands in the
“clever man” category. ✤
Shoreline Page 21
s
e
’
r
u
s
‘ Trea
St. Joseph County
series continues with
murder mystery dinner
STORY AND PHOTO
T
BY JEF
RIETSMA
he “Discover the Treasures of St. Joseph County”
series hit a home run in its debut with a once-in-alifetime opportunity to have dinner inside the
Langley Covered Bridge in 2013.
Last year’s follow-up at Rawson’s King Mill Park
in Leonidas Township provided the picturesque setting
organizers had envisioned.
The third annual “Treasures” event takes place in
October and will be staged at another historic venue:
the St. Joseph County Courthouse.
Christy Trammell, executive director of the Three
Rivers Area Chamber, said the Centreville landmark
will be the site of “Mystery at the Courthouse,” a murder mystery and dinner.
She said the courthouse is a perfect fit for the
“Treasures” series.
“When we started this, we knew there were
unique and cool places and buildings to highlight in St.
Joseph County,” Trammell said. “Our courthouse is definitely one of those places, though it surprises me how
many people I know who have never been inside it.”
The event starts at 6 p.m. Oct. 3 at The Local, a
downtown Centreville eatery that opened earlier this
year. Trammell said she pitched the idea to its owners
when this year’s “Treasures” plans were coming together. There was no hesitation in their reply.
“This was even before they opened for business
and they were on board right away,” Trammell said.
“That will be a great start to the evening before we
head over to the courthouse, where we will witness
what I’ve been calling real courtroom drama.”
Trammell said a company that specializes in murder mysteries and will feature some actors of its own is
in charge of staging the second half of the evening.
Trammell said a variety of clues and other information
will be provided to participants.
She said she understands not everyone may be as
eager to be a part of the mystery. As a result, those who
are more interested in watching will have an opportunity to serve in that capacity.
“I interviewed some people who were in a murder mystery put on by this group at Henderson Castle
in Kalamazoo and they said nothing but positive
things,” Trammell said. “We eventually met with (company representatives) at the courthouse so they could
get an idea of the parameters we have to work with,
and they fell in love with the place. They are really
excited.”
There is room for 120 people to participate and
by mid-August, Trammell said about half the tickets
had already been sold. They are $60 per person and
include a meal at The Local, and dessert and coffee at
the courthouse.
Like the Langley Covered Bridge, the courthouse
and its use for the event could very well be a once-in-alifetime opportunity.
“We are very thankful to the county commissioners for letting us use their area to stage this event,”
Trammell said. “I don’t want to push my luck and ever
ask again, so this is, indeed, a rare opportunity.”
The event is sponsored by Century Bank and
Trust, Kadant Johnson and Armstrong International.
For ticket information or to find out more,
Trammell can be reached at (269) 278-8193. ✤
Pattie Bender, a member of the Three Rivers Chamber of
Commerce Board, and Christy Trammell, chamber director, are
busy promoting the chamber-sponsored murder/mystery dinner
event, which will take place at the county courthouse Oct. 3.
Page 22 Shoreline
Shoreline Page 23
Lake
ecology
class
offered
online
STORY AND PHOTOS
BY JEF
RIETSMA
Jane Herbert, senior
water resource
educator, took part in
the Shoreline
Landscape Workshop
June 27 at Fabius
Township Hall, near
Three Rivers. Herbert
is helping promote a
lake ecology and
management education online program,
which starts in
October.
M
SU Extension is offering lake ecology
and management education online
starting in October.
According to Jane Herbert, senior
water resource educator for MSU Extension,
the course returns with “Introduction to
Lakes Online Course,” a six-unit series specially designed for lakefront property owners,
lake association members, lake-improvement
board representatives, local government officials, natural-resource professionals and K-12
educators.
The program was previously taught at
locations around the state in a face-to-face
setting, Herbert said.
“With the new Introduction to Lakes
Online Course, students will have week-byweek, 24-7 access to the six online units from
the comfort of their home or office,” she said.
“Complete with lectures, activities, resources,
discussion forums and live-chat sessions.”
The series will focus weekly on:
■ Lake ecology.
■ Lakes and their watersheds.
■ Lakes and their shorelines.
■ Michigan water law.
■ Aquatic plant management.
■ Citizen involvement in lake management.
To receive a certificate of completion, prospective participants must complete all weekly assignments, including quizzes.
Herbert said all course instructors are MSU Extension educators or specialists.
“The fall offering begins at noon Oct. 6 and ends at noon
Nov. 17,” Herbert said.
Cost is $75.
Registration and additional program details are online at:
www.msue.anr.msu.edu then under the search “introduction to
lakes.” ✤
Shoreline Page 25
Page 26 Shoreline
Pick a
PUMPKIN
STORY
BY
CHRISTY HART-HARRIS
W
hat is Halloween without
pumpkins?
The National Agricultural
Statics Services found in 2012, “nearly
12.4 million cwt (hundredweight) of
pumpkins, up from 10.7 million cwt in
2011, were harvested from 47,800 acres.
The top pumpkin production state was
Illinois, followed by California, Ohio,
Pennsylvania, New York and Michigan.”
In most families, it’s a tradition to
gather the kids for a trip to a local
pumpkin patch every October. The kids
scout the vast field of green and orange
to find a perfectly round pumpkin to
carve for Halloween.
Hoff Vegetable Farm in Coldwater
offers four acres of pumpkins ranging in
size and price. Pumpkins are pre-picked
at Hoffs and harvested in late
September.
“We have a lot of traffic, some of
the same families every year,” said operator Mike Hoff. “We think this year will
be even better with the eonomy going
up.”
Selecting a pumpkin and carving
the scariest face you can is a ritual at
Halloween, but why do we do it?
It is widely believed pumpkins
originated in North America since
pumpkin seeds dating back from 7000 to
5500 B.C. have been located in Mexico.
Pumpkins were a staple in the diet of
Native American Indians, centuries
before the pilgrims arrived.
It all started over 3,000 years ago
as part of the Celtic celebration of
Samhain (meaning summer’s end).
The festival was held from sundown on Oct. 31 and lasted through sun-
down on Nov. 1. Those at the festival
would use turnips or gourds to hold
light from burning coal as a way to keep
evil spirits at bay.
When European settlers arrived in
North America they found the native
pumpkin to be larger and easier to carve
and with that, the modern day jack-olantern was created.
If you are looking for a local
pumpkin patch to take the kids to or if
you are a kid at heart and still enjoy
carving a traditional face or an elaborate
spooky Halloween scene on a pumpkin,
surrounding counties offer a variety of
patches for pumpkin-picking pleasure.
Nottawa Fruit Farm east of
Centreville is a family-friendly farm with
activites centered around the hayride.
With 10 acres of pumpkins, there is sure
to be a variety of shapes and sizes.
“We have nine sequential activities for the kids, if the kids come the parents are free,” said owner Eleanor Iott.
“The hayride takes the kids to each
activity and the pumpkin is included.
They get to pick their own pumpkin out
of the field.” ✤
Shoreline Page 27
Where to find a pumpkin
Calhoun County
St. Joseph County
Branch County
Black Cat Pumpkin Patch offers
pumpkins, horse-drawn hay
rides, tractor-pulled hay rides,
wagon rides and an assortment
of ornamental crops.
Located at 12987 G Drive South,
in Marshall, the pumpkin patch
is open weekends in October
from 12-6 p.m. with horse-drawn
wagon rides to the patch
available from 1-5 p.m.
Green Valley Campground
pumpkin patch has pre-picked
pumpkins, a fall festival, snacks
and refreshment stand, picnic
area, petting zoo, farm animals
and more. Located at 25499
West Fawn River Road in
Sturgis, the patch is open
Friday and Saturday from
10 a.m. to 10 p.m., Sunday from
10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Monday
through Thursday by
appointment only for groups of
20 or more.
The M60 Corn Maze and
Pumpkin Patch runs Sept. 11
through Oct. 31 and is located
on M-60 in Union City. Each
year the maze is different. This
year's maze will be in the shape
of the American Eagle. The third
M60 Corn Maze is sponsored by
Our Lady of Fatima Catholic
Church. Pricing varies by age
and number of attendees
in a group. To schedule
a group time, email
m60cornmaze@gmail.com or
call Carol at (269) 832-8275.
Bosserd Family Farm offers
patch-picked pumpkins in the
field and ones already gathered,
a corn maze, straw or hay bale
maze, child-sized hay bale
maze, corn cannon,
tractor-pulled hay rides, wagon
rides, pre-picked produce,
petting zoo, farm animals,
school tours and more. The farm
is located at 14721 Verona Road
in Marshall. Events are up and
running starting in September
through Oct. 31.
Harveys Farm harvests
strawberries, blueberries,
raspberries, pumpkins and
chestnuts. Located at 2651 15
Mile Road in Tekonsha, the farm
is open seven days a week
during pumpkin season
in October.
LaGrange County
Bell Garden offers gourds,
pumpkins and mums.
Located at 6775 S
400 E, Wolcotville,
Ind. Open seven
days a week.
(260) 8542712.
Page 28 Shoreline
Nottawa Fruit Farm - pumpkins,
hayrides, strawberries and
raspberries. The farm is located
at 24976 M-86 in Sturgis. Open
in October from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
They offer U-pick pumpkins,
hayrides, farm animals and
family activities every weekend
in October — group tours are
available by appointment. The
farm's market offers homegrown
fruits, vegetables, jams, jellies,
honey and more. The
Amish-style bakery has
fresh-baked pies, cookies
and rolls.
Hoff's Vegetable Farm is a
staple in Branch County. Serving
residents for decades, the farm
is locally owned and operated
and offers pre-picked pumpkins,
gourds, corn and more. Located
at 695 Marshall Rd., Coldwater,
they are open daily (seasonally)
10 a.m.-7 p.m. For more
information call 278-2011.
Orchard Beach Farm also offers
pumpkins for Halloween and
other activities. The farm is
located at 130 Orchard Trail/122
Loch Haven Lane, Quincy,
Michigan and open Tuesday
through Saturday 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
For more information call
(517) 639-8198.
St. Joe
Page 30 Shoreline
H2O
County moves forward
with plans for ‘River Trail’
STORY AND PHOTOS
S
BY JEF
RIETSMA
t. Joseph County’s development of a so-called
River Trail is on course and showing promise,
thanks in large part to parks and recreation
Director Jaymes MacDonald.
The master plan, developed by St. Joseph-based
Edgewater Resources, highlights 18 locations as ideal
places to put-in and take-out kayaks and canoes at
strategic points throughout the county. It is viewed as a
blueprint to making the county’s rivers better accessible.
Though MacDonald said it could take up to five
years to complete the improvements at all 18 sites, he is
off to an impressive start.
Over the course of seven days in June, he and
parks and recreation department staff members
revamped Hoshel Canoe Park in Lockport Township.
The makeover included a new foot bridge over a stream
to access the park area, and the addition of about 10
cubic yards of limestone to provide better footing for
paddlers either putting in or removing their watercraft
from the Prairie River. A new sign was also added.
In July, it took MacDonald and a staff member
about half a day to improve access to the Prairie River.
The work included laying down limestone and creating
a watercraft “slide” into the water. At the time,
MacDonald said he was disappointed the village-owned
property in Centreville was not more user friendly.
“It’s a beautiful, shaded setting right on the
water, and it’s not unusual to drive by here at noon and
see all sorts of people parked in their cars and eating
lunch,” he said, adding that he was going to attend
Centreville’s next village council meeting and talk about
better promoting the park.
Within two weeks, there was a picnic table and
garbage can at the unnamed park. MacDonald said he
has simply been calling it the Prairie River Park.
He said improving water access at the park was
important because Hoshel Canoe Park is the next stop
downriver. Owners of the canoe- and kayak-rental companies in the county have told him the stretch from the
Centreville park to Hoshel Road is the most popular of
its clients because of the ease of paddling and just-right
length between the two locations.
With those two developments quickly knocked off
his to-do list, MacDonald looked ahead.
“In the whole scheme of things, I can see us having a long-range plan of anywhere from three to five
years,” he said. “Parks and rec has other things to work
on in addition, so we can’t just drop all our other commitments and focus solely on improving all 18 places,
but we’ll try to stay on track.”
The master plan was assembled earlier this year
following two public-input sessions during which comments about a river-trail concept were fielded.
Five high-priority locations identified for
improved access were the Portage River at Parkville
Road in Park Township, the Prairie River at Hoshel Park
in Lockport Township, Fawn River at East Fawn River
Road in Fawn River Township, and the St. Joseph River
at M-66 in Leonidas Township and Withers Road at the
border of Florence and Constantine townships.
Greg Weykamp, president of Edgewater
Resources, said the master plan is solid and he agrees
that promoting St. Joseph County as a paddle-friendly
county will reap the rewards commissioners envisioned
when they agreed last summer to fund $89,000 for
Edgewater to develop the master plan.
A website including the river trail tag “St. Joe
H2O” went live last week and can be found through the
county’s home page: www.stjosephcountymi.org.
“It’s a great website and the county commissioners have good reason to be excited about it,”
MacDonald said. “We get a lot of people coming into
the county to canoe and kayak, and it’s a revenue
stream that is great for the county and it’s good to see
that people are taking advantage of our greatest natural
resources.” ✤
St. Joseph County Parks and Recreation Director Jaymes
MacDonald shows the newly developed canoe and kayak launch at
the Prairie River off Covered Bridge Road in Centreville.
Shoreline Page 31
Off the Beaten Path
‘Zimmyville’
Welcome to
Page 34 Shoreline
Zimmy’s Tavern
Union
STORY AND PHOTOS
W
BY
LAURA KURELLA
hile enjoying a relaxing drive
along U.S. 12 with my neighbors, Josh, Jenny and Zander
Palmer, our evening appetites caused us
to swerve a bit south to an unfamiliar
place — Zimmy’s Tavern — a place curiously crowded on this early Tuesday
evening.
“They must be offering something
special,” I mused.
Entering, we were not surprised
to find the place noisy and crowded.
Scanning the loud, packed room,
Jenny sighed, “This place must offer
something really great.”
After waiting for a few minutes
and not being greeted, I yelled to the
bartender, “Do we seat ourselves?”
Shaking her head in the affirmative, Josh was quick to scan the space
and find an open table out on the deck.
“Isn’t it strange that the best table
in the house, is the last to be taken?” I
noticed. “It’s so much more peaceful and
relaxing out here.”
The server was pleasant and
handed us menus.
Looking it over, Josh surmised,
“The low price on the beer might be
why.”
Glancing over the menu, I had to
agree but also caution, “That still doesn’t
tell us how good the food is. For that,
we will have to wait and see.”
Reserving judgments, we all
gasped when the appetizers arrived.
The size of the spicy shrimp was
not portioned like an appetizer, but
rather a family-sized treat.
“I could make a meal out of that
shrimp alone,” Josh said.
“Look at the pizza bread,” Jen
said. “It’s big enough to be a meal for
two.”
Tasting even better than they
looked, our tummies were happy, especially when our oversized mains started
to arrive — tacos, burritos and Philly
Zimmy’s Tavern
WHERE:
69608
Sunset Blvd.
Union, Mich.
49130
HOURS:
Monday
through
Sunday,
11 a.m. midnight
CONTACT::
(269)
641-5317
steak & cheese in portions that were
almost impossible for us to finish.
After enjoying my Taco Tuesday
tacos, I had to sit back.
“This is just incredible, isn’t it,
guys?”
“It’s delicious!” Zander replied.
“The little guy’s right,” Josh
added.
“He is, indeed,” Jen said.
I guess we solved our Tuesday
mystery. Zimmy’s is most definitely
worth a little zigzag off the beaten
path. ✤
Shoreline Page 35
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Fire Patrol
Fire boat in service in Branch County
STORY AND PHOTOS
T
BY
DON REID
he Quincy Volunteer Fire District covers a million
acres of water on the east side of Branch County
which is why, in 2011, the association purchased a
fire boat.
The 1999 Hurricane Zodiac was made for the
U.S. Coast Guard, which blew up the motors after two
Page 38 Shoreline
years and got rid of it. A volunteer department on
Norman Lake near Charlotte, N.C., bought the rigid
inflatable boat and changed the motors.
In 2011, Quincy Chief Kurt Barve saw the boat
advertised for sale and paid $20,000 for the watercraft.
“We had no way of responding to an emergency on water,” Barve said.
The DNR was cutting back on officers and the
Branch County Sheriff’s Marine Patrol was not
storing any boats on the south chain of lakes.
“We needed to be able to get out on the
water when seconds counts,” he said.
Designated as Branch County Fire
Marine 1, the watercraft is more than a fire
boat.
“We provide everything we can provide,” Barve said. “We start with emergency
services for LifeCare ambulance. We even
carry supplies they need so they don’t have to
bring equipment.”
The boat is equipped with an AED and
floating backboards, along with a stokes basket to transport patients and even first aid kits.
“We have been flagged down when
someone cut his foot,” the chief said.
The fire boat is docked at Cottonwood
Resort campground on Marble Lake which
Barve and his wife own.
“If we need to get out, I can jump in
and go,” he said. “It’s all about response time
for us.”
The fire boat commander, Fire Sgt. Scott
Shoreline Page 39
Sergent, lives directly across the lake when he is working as a
Coldwater Police sergeant.
Since the boat was purchased, use on Marble Lake has
increased.
“There is a house on an island on the lake and the sandbar is really grown in popularity,” Barve said. “There are a lot
of people out there.”
He said during hot boat races on Marble Lake there
were some accidents and there have been several fires on
boats.
The small, shallow, draft fire boat was used for a house
fire last year. The house was at the water’s edge.
The watercraft also serves the fire department in another key role.
“It can draft water – suck water out of the lake and send
it to our other trucks,” Barve said. “It has a 500-gallon-a
minute Hale pump mounted on the front.”
With the pump is a nozzle which will shoot water a
thousand feet. Barve said firefighters must train to use it
because the pump is so powerful it will drive the boat.
With twin 50 hp engines mounted on the rear, “the boat
must be at half throttle to keep the boat steady or it moves you
backward when water sprays from the nozzle.
“It is safer and easier to turn the boat in the direction
you want to shoot the water so it does not get out of control,”
the chief said.
Six members of the volunteer crew trained with the
Monroe County Sheriff’s Department where they use a similar
boat to patrol Lake Erie.
People who use the lake realize the value, especially as
lake use grows. Chief Barve said it is important to have when
Page 40 Shoreline
there are emergencies on the water.
“You never want to try to commandeer someone’s private boat,” he said, adding that often can’t be done and the
boat isn’t equipped to handled the emergencies. “We make
sure the patient is taken care of responsibly.”
Because of the cost of operation, the department does
not patrol with it. It is taken out each month to run the engines
and test equipment and train. It also appears in boat parades.
Marine 1 is in the water April until late October,
docked on the lake until winter ice forces it into the station.
Even then it can be taken out if there is thin enough ice for the
powerful motors to break.
Because of its small size, it can cover all of the south
chain except Coldwater Lake. The boat will not fit under the
bridge leading into that lake which is in the Lakeland fire district. In extreme emergencies it can be trailered, but not quickly.
The first response for Marine 1 came before it had
been put in service in June 2011. An inboard motor caught fire
and drifted into the shoreline on Randall Lake on Branch
County’s north chain.
Fire caught in the swampy south shore area of the
lake known as Hog Hill across from the public access at
Narrows Road. Coldwater Fire could not get to the boat or the
swampy grass fire.
Less than 20-minutes after the call, Barve and other
Quincy firefighters arrived with their new boat. After dousing
the shore, they put out the burning hull.
Barve said the boat is the right size for his chain of
lakes. The fire boat that replaced it on Norman Lake cost
$500,000 and would not fit in the water here. ✤
Live Here. Work Here.
PLAY HERE!
Support for MS shore walk appreciated
EDITOR: Our heartfelt thanks to our wonderfully supportive friends around the lake and community.
The Walk the Shores to Shut the Door on MS took place
July 11. The weather cooperated with sunshine and calm
waters. We had a
group of about 35
walking, paddling and cheering in support of
our cause. The
money raised
exceeded last
year’s donations
collecting $1,524
and will be sent
to the Multiple
Sclerosis Society.
We are
very grateful for
everyone’s generosity and kindness. The Walk started as a bucket list and with the encouragement of our dear friends on Edgewater Beach, support from
Shoreline magazine and after party pizza donations from
White Pigeon’s Country Table, Samuel Mancino’s and Sturgis
Mancino’s, it has morphed into
a fun-filled summer annual
event!
Please know we love
chatting with all of our new and
old friends and love our pit stop
at the Wilson sisters floating
snack bar —what a treat! Thank
you to everyone!
Peggy BiancardiLawrence
and sisters
Nice 2 bedroom full bath living above a turn key
pizza/deli restaurant. This location is perfect for
enjoying lake living with the possibility of running
your own business. Located near all-sports,
pristine Klinger Lake, you are close to public
access. Owner would train buyers. $255,000
O ’S ul liv a n
R e al E s t a t e
Allison Kirsch
BROKER
Mark Kirsch
REALTOR
69062 Benham Beach Rd, Sturgis
269-651-8139
www.osullivanrealestate.com
Your Choice, Your Style…
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FREE ESTIMATES
OUTLET STORE
Next Door!
Constantine
Carpet Center
www.constantinecarpetcenter.com
269.435.8436
1240 South Washington Street, US-131 Constantine, MI
constantinecarpet@yahoo.com
M-F 8am-5:30pm; Sat. 8am-1pm; Evenings by Appt.
Shoreline Page 41
Scott Koenigsfeld checked out
the action on Corey Lake, where
more than 25 kids involved in
Three Rivers Area Mentoring
participated in the annual
"Reeling in the Future" event.
Payton Johnson, 10, and his
dad, Garland Johnson, were
given autographs from pro
fisherman Mark Zona.
Captain Ron Linton gives some help to Payton Johnson
during the "Reeling in the Future" fishing event on Corey
Lake.The ninth annual event was sponsored by the
Three Rivers Area mentoring program.
Shelbe Bruystens casts her line in
hopes of catching a big one.
Captain Ron Davis, with help from first mate Doug Punches
at the bow, fishes with Johnathon Haisma.
Corey Lake the scene for ‘Reeling in the Future’
STORY AND PHOTOS
P
BY JEF
RIETSMA
ayton Johnson’s explanation describing what he
enjoys most about the annual “Reeling in the Future”
fishing event hit squarely on the head why organizers
plan to ensure its longevity.
“It’s more fun being in a boat and out on the water,”
the 10-year-old Three Rivers resident said. “That’s why I
love this.”
Prior to the ninth annual event in July, Johnson’s only
fishing experience was along the shore of the St. Joseph
River at the Three Rivers Dam and further upstream at the
Langley Covered Bridge.
Sponsored by Three Rivers Area Mentoring, “Reeling
in the Future” continued its run at Fabius Township’s Corey
Page 42 Shoreline
Lake, led by Three Rivers-area pro fisherman Scott
Koenigsfeld. About 25 people participated in this year’s July
18 event.
Koenigsfeld started “Reeling in the Future” in 2007
and said he is excited for the event to hit its decade milestone next year.
“When this got its start, I felt it was important for the
kids to have a day of fun, even if they don’t fish,” he said.
“It seems every year we get more and more sponsors, and
that means a lot because that tells me they see the value,
too, in providing something positive for our area youth.”
“Reeling in the Future” allows students involved
with TRAM the opportunity to spend the day on the water
with volunteers who provide their time, watercraft and fishing expertise.
The morning started early but on a high note, as
Centreville-area resident and pro fisherman Mark Zona
spent half an hour signing autographs and posing for pictures. Zona even encouraged the group to climb aboard his
boat and pose for a picture with him.
During their abbreviated fishing time – an incoming
storm limited this year’s event to about three hours – Alex
Kelley-Martinez, Blake Anthony and Juan Ramirez-Pinacho
were the top three anglers amongst the boys.
Shelbe Bruystens and Jennifer Pettit presented the
biggest catches in the girls division.
Kelley-Martinez, who had a three-pound haul, and
Bruystens, who reeled in a 1 pound, 9 ounce fish, will join
Koenigsfeld and other volunteers for a Lake Erie fishing trip
later this year.
Bobbi Schoon, TRAM executive director, said she is
excited about next year’s landmark “Reeling in the Future.”
“It took a lot of effort from a lot of people and some
very generous donors to make this work, and I appreciate
so very much everything everyone has done to keep this
great tradition going for nine years now,” she said. “There
wasn’t a boy or girl out there today who didn’t have a good
time, so thank you for making it possible for them and for
supporting TRAM.” ✤
Shoreline Page 43
LANDSLIDE
David T. Farr
Fall and county fairs mean
big name entertainment
T
he days are getting shorter and the trees are getting prettier. If
you haven’t looked around, you may not have noticed its
autumn. I know you’re not ready to let go of summer, but thankfully, there’s still a lot to see and do in Michiana.
Harvest time also means fair time for folks in these parts. And
three of Michigan’s finest fairs are lined up with big name entertainers guaranteed to help you hold onto summer — at least for a few
extra days.
Allegan County Fair boasts some of the area’s biggest lineups
every year and this year is no exception. They have managed to top
themselves with four big nights of music’s biggest acts.
Country music’s edgiest star right now is Brantley Gilbert.
Gilbert’s own brand of country tough pride has made him an
instant star with fans of today’s country sound.
Gilbert’s latest album, Just As I Am, produced the No. 1
hits “Bottoms Up” and “One Hell Of An Amen.” He’s currently
on the charts with his newest single “Small Town Throwdown”
with fellow country peers Justin Moore and Thomas Rhett.
Gilbert has already enjoyed No. 1 success with his singles “You Don’t Know Her Like I Do” and “Country Must Be
Country Wide.” A Thousand Horses is set to open for Gilbert
on Sept. 11.
Carrie Underwood will grace the Allegan fair stage
Sept. 12. Underwood is one of the genres
biggest and brightest stars of the past
decade. She’s scored 12 No. 1 singles
after winning the “American Idol”
crown in Season Four.
Underwood has been on hiatus
much of the past year after giving
birth to a son. But, that didn’t stop
her from having one of the year’s
biggest country hits with “Something
In The Water.”
Underwood’s fame blossomed
after winning Idol. She quickly rose to the
top with the show’s winning single “Inside
Your Heaven,” but it was the single “Jesus
Take The Wheel” that put her on the map.
She quickly followed with a non-stop
Page 44 Shoreline
Carrie Underwood performs
Sept. 12 at the
Allegan County Fair.
slew of hits and cross-over pop hits like “Before He Cheats,”
“Wasted,” “Cowboy Cassanova,” “Last Name,” “American
Girl,” “So Small,” “Just A Dream,” “Blown Away,” “Temporary
Home,” “Two Black Cadillacs” and the list goes on and on.
Her success is much like a fairytale. Josh Dorr will open her
show.
Lady Antebellum performs Sept. 17 and is on top right
now. Why, you ask? Well, let’s just say you can not turn on
the radio anywhere and not hear a Lady A song playing somewhere. County, pop, or rock — they’ve got them all.
Lady Antebellum first scored with “I Run To You,” a hit
that made people stop to listen. The group boasts three rotating as lead singers: Charles Kelley, Hillary Scott, and Dave
Memories,” “This Ain’t A Scene, It’s An Arms Race,” “The
Take over, The Breaks Over,” “Beat It,” “My Songs Know What
You Did In The Dark (Light Em’ Up),” “Centuries” and their
current smash, “Uma Thurman.”
The St. Joseph County Grange Fair is proud to present
country music’s newest hit-making duo Dan + Shay (9/20).
Dan + Shay’s debut album, Where It All Began, was
released in 2013. The album featured the duo’s first hit, “19
You & Me,” which peaked at No. 7. They’ve since followed up
with the singles “Show You Off,” “What You Do To Me” and
“Nothin’ Like You,” which peaked at No. 29, No. 39, and No.
28 respectively.
They were nominated for Vocal Duo of The Year at last
year’s ACM’s.
Singer Trace Adkins
closes out the fair season in
Michiana this year when he
plays the Hillsdale County
Fair Sept. 30.
Adkins is a monster
hit-maker, having scored 34
country hits in 15 years as
well as earning the distinction of winning “Celebrity
Apprentice,” too.
Adkins’ hit list
includes “I Left Something
Turned On At Home,” “I’m
Trying,” “Arlington,”
“Chrome,” “Then They Do,”
“You’re Gonna Miss This,”
“Hillbilly Bone” with Blake
Shelton, “This Ain’t No
Thinkin’ Thing,” “Ladies
Love Country Boys,” “Lonely
Won’t Leave Me Alone,” “Big
Time,” “Songs About Me,”
Dan + Shay perform Sept. 20 at the St. Joseph County Grange Fair.
and the very contagious
Haywood.
“Honky Tonk Badonkadonk” to name just a few of the more
The band has surpassed what it takes to be successful,
memorable tracks.
and yet they remain humbled by the whole experience. That’s
The legendary Janet Jackson is back in action on tour in
the sign of a true band.
support of her forth-coming album, “Unbreakable.” It’s her
Lady Antebellum has released six albums, all of which
first new release since 2009’s Discipline.
contained multiple hits. Some of the biggest include “Just A
The Unbreakable World Tour touches down (9/12) at
Kiss,” “American Honey,” “Downtown,” “Hey Bartender,”
Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids. Having witnessed Ms.
“We Own The Night,” “Golden,” and the band’s massive
Jackson live in concert before, this is surely something not to
Grammy takeover “Need You Now.” “Need You Now”
be missed.
earned the band Grammy awards for Record and Song Of The
Jackson is one of the most successful recording artists of
Year honors.
the modern rock and roll era. She’s successfully racked up an
Fall Out Boy will rock out the Allegan Fair (9/18) like
impressive 33 No. 1 hits to her credit, as well as six multi-platonly they can. It’s almost too hard to believe the band has been inum albums.
around for more than a decade now. They broke onto the scene
Jackson’s early ’80s albums faired well, until she literally
with “Sugar, We’re Going Down,” a song that gave them their
took control of her own destiny.
first No. 1 single.
Her breakthough album, Control, quickly moved her
What has followed has been nothing but success for the
into the spotlight then-dominated by Whitney Houston and
band. They’ve hit with “Dance, Dance,” “Thanks For The
Madonna. “Control” boasted the massive hits “What Have You
Shoreline Page 45
ON STAGE
SEPTEMBER
2 – O.A.R., Allen Stone, Frederik Meijer Gardens, Grand Rapids
3 – Daniel Romano & The Trilliums, Tip Top Deluxe Bar & Grill, Grand Rapids
3 – Isaacs, Blue Gate Theatre, Shipshewana
4 – John Hiatt & The Combo, Taj Mahal Trio, Frederik Meijer Gardens, Grand Rapids
4 – Theresa Caputo, Four Winds Casino, New Buffalo
4 – Van Halen, Kenny Wayne Shephard Band, DTE, Clarkston
6 – Five Finger Death Punch, Papa Roach, Soaring Eagle Casino, Mount Pleasant
6 – Ratatat, Intersection, Grand Rapids
7 – Social Distortion, Century Center, South Bend
7 – Tony Bennett, Frederik Meijer Gardens, Grand Rapids
10 – Jerry Seinfeld, DeVos Hall, Grand Rapids
10 – Rickey Smiley, Motor City Casino, Detroit
10 – 11 – Triumphant, Blue Gate Theatre, Shipshewana
11 – Brantley Gilbert, A Thousand Horses, Allegan County Fair, Allegan
11 – J. Geils Band, DTE, Clarkston
11 – Janet Jackson, Van Andel Arena, Grand Rapids
11 – Meghan Trainor, Fancy, Olivia, Fillmore, Detroit
11 – Merle Haggard, Firekeeper’s Casino, Battle Creek
12 – Carrie Underwood, Josh Dorr, Allegan County Fair, Allegan
12 – Chase Rice, Intersection, Grand Rapids
12 – Motorhead, Anthrax, Fillmore, Detroit
12 – Zac Brown Band, Comerica Park, Detroit
13 – Avatar, Gemini Syndrome, Bayside, Intersection, Grand Rapids
13 – Nick Jonas, Fillmore, Detroit
15 – Taking Back Sunday, Intersection, Grand Rapids
16 – Stone Temple Pilots, Fillmore, Detroit
16 – Wilco, State Theatre, Kalamazoo
17 – Lady Antebellum, Cam, Allegan County Fair, Allegan
17 – 18 – Bill Anderson, Blue Gate Theatre, Shipshewana
18 – Fall Out Boy, Allegan County Fair, Allegan
18 – Jason Aldean, Cole Swindell, Tyler Farr, DTE, Clarkston
18 – Lala’s, State Theatre, Kalamazoo
18 – Willie Nelson & Family, Horseshoe Hammond, Hammond, Ind.
19 – Bill Maher, Embassy Theatre, Fort Wayne
19 – iLuminate, Mendel Center, Benton Harbor
20 – Cake, Fillmore, Detroit
20 – Dan & Shay, St. Joseph County Grange Fair, Centreville
20 – Kim Russo, Motor City Casino, Detroit
20 – Low Cut Connie, Tip Top Deluxe Bar & Grill, Grand
Rapids
22 – SoMo, Intersection, Grand Rapids
23 – Godsmack, Sevendust, Fillmore, Detroit
23 – Symphony X, Intersection, Grand Rapids
24 – Godsmack, Breaking Benjamin,
Kellogg Arena, Battle Creek
24 – Juice Newton, Exile, Blue Gate
Theatre, Shipshewana
24 – Liam Tracy, Cannibal Ox, Pyramid
Scheme, Grand Rapids
24 – Wilco, Hill Auditorium, Ann Arbor
25 – Breaking Benjamin, Fillmore, Detroit
25 – Jonny Lang, State Theatre,
Kalamazoo
25 – Michael W.
Smith, Phillips Craig
& Dean, Mark
Lowry, Blue Gate
Theatre,
Shipshewana
25 – Second City,
Miller
Auditorium, Kalamazoo
26 – Charley Pride, Soaring Eagle Casino, Mount Pleasant
26 – John Michael Montgomery, Blue Gate Theatre, Shipshewana
26 – Thompson Square, Firekeeper’s Casino, Battle Creek
26 – Wanda Jackson, Wealthy Theater, Grand Rapids
27 – Slash, Myles Kennedy, Fillmore, Detroit
29 – Ariana Grande, Van Andel Arena, Grand Rapids
29 – Slash, Myles Kennedy, Intersection, Grand Rapids
29 – Warren Haynes, Fillmore, Detroit
30 – Prince Royce, Fillmore, Detroit
30 – Slash, Myles Kennedy, Pieres Entertainment Complex, Fort Wayne
30 – Trace Adkins, Hillsdale County Fair, Hillsdale
OCTOBER
1 – Madonna, Joe Louis Arena, Detroit
1 – 3 – Crafter’s Fair, Bontrager Family, Will Stoltz, Balos Family, Blue Gate Theatre,
Shipshewana
3 – Highway To Hell AC/Dc Tribute, State Theatre, Kalamazoo
3 – Korn, Fillmore, Detroit
3 – Thomas Kabinek, Mendel Center, Benton Harbor
3 - Tony Bennett, Morris Performing Arts Center, South Bend
4 – Mark Knopfler, Michigan Theater, Ann Arbor
4 – Norma Jean, Intersection, Grand Rapids
8 – Hoskins Family, Blue Gate Theatre, Shipshewana
9 – Branson On The Road, Blue Gate Theatre, Shipshewana
9 – Buddy Guy, Fillmore, Detroit
9 – Ron White, Horseshoe Hammond, Hammond
10 – Beats Antique, Intersection, Grand Rapids
10 – Bill Maher, Wharton Center, East Lansing
10 – Buddy Guy, State Theatre, Kalamazoo
10 – Russell Peters, Horseshoe Hammond
11 – Bill Maher, Michigan Theater, Ann Arbor
11 – Illusionists, Embassy Theatre, Fort Wayne
11 – Vanessa Williams, Motor City Casino, Detroit
13 – Melissa Etheridge, State Theatre, Kalamazoo
13 – Neighborhood, Fillmore, Detroit
13 – Motley Crue, Alice Cooper, Van Andel Arena, Grand Rapids
15 – Rhonda Vincent, Blue Gate Theatre, Shipshewana
16 – Doyle Lawson, Quicksilver, Blue Gate Theatre, Shipshewana
16 – Joan Jett & The Blackhearts, Four Winds Casino, New Buffalo
16 – Mersey Beatles, State Theatre, Kalamazoo
16 – Texas Tenors, Miller Auditorium, Kalamazoo
17 – Buddy Greene, Blue Gate Theatre, Shipshewana
17 – Rhythmic Circus, Mendel Center, Benton Harbor
17 – Who, Joan Jett &The Blackhearts, Joe Louis Arena, Detroit
18 – Fairfield Four, The McCray Sisters, State Theatre, Kalamazoo
18 – Nitro Circus Live, Joe Louis Arena, Detroit
22 – Zedd, DeltaPlex, Grand Rapids
23 – Emancipator Ensemble, Intersection, Grand Rapids
23 – Mersey Beatles, Embassy Theatre, Fort Wayne
23 – Red Green, Blue Gate Theatre, Shipshewana
23-24 – Flashdance The Musical, Morris Performing Arts Center, South Bend
24 – Charley Pride, Blue Gate Theatre, Shipshewana
25 – Grace Potter, State Theatre, Kalamazoo
26 – David Sedaris, Michigan Theater, Ann Arbor
27 - Jesse Cook, State Theatre, Kalamazoo
27 – Lettuce, Intersection, Grand Rapids
28 – Old Dominion, Intersection, Grand Rapids
29 – Inspirations, Blue Gate Theatre, Shipshewana
30 – Gregg Allman, Four Winds Casino, New Buffalo
30 – McKameys, Blue Gate Theatre, Shipshewana
31 – Mike Epps, Van Andel Arena, Grand Rapids
Trace Atkins performs Sept. 30 at the Hillsdale County Fair.
Page 46 Shoreline
Done For Me Lately,” “Nasty,” “Let’s Wait Awhile,” “Control,”
“Pleasure Principle,” and “When I Think Of You.”
Jackson would then rewrite the record books with her
1989 album, Rhythm Nation 1814. The album placed eight singles into the Top 10, a feat not even her brother Michael could
accomplish.
Rhythm Nation 1814 was the album all other female
artists wanted to emulate. It had it all – pop, soul, R&B, dance,
rock and substance. That’s right, 1814 had a message about the
importance of education and the world around us.
“Miss You Much,” “Alright,” “Black Cat,” “Love Will
Never Do,” “Escapade,” “Come Back To Me,” “State Of The
World,” and the album’s title track reigned supreme for well
over two years on the charts.
Jackson continued through the ’90s with hit after hit
including “If, “ “That’s The Way Love Goes,” “Because of
Love,” “You Want This,” “Anytime, Any Place,” “Again,”
“Runaway,” “Together Again,” “Go Deep,” and “The Velvet
Rope.”
The 2000’s saw Janet slowing down a bit, but not without hitting with “All For You,” “Someone To Call My Lover,”
“Doesn’t Really Matter” among others.
The new album, Unbreakable, is due out in stores this
fall. The first single, “No Sleep,” featuring J.Cole, is available
now.
Melissa Etheridge is set to play Kalamazoo’s State
Theatre (10/13). It’s pretty cool an artist of her caliber performing at such an intimate venue (just 1,500 seats).
Etheridge becomes eligible for induction into the Rock
And Roll Hall Of Fame this year. She’s got a good shot at
going in her first year, provided she gets nominated.
Throughout her career she’s managed to stay true to
herself and her music, something not all artists can say.
Whatever the subject, Etheridge can rock it out like nobody’s
business.
Who can claim these rockin’ sets “I’m The Only One,” “I
Want To Come Over,” “Bring Me Some Water,” “If I Wanted
To,” “Come To My Window,” “Breathe,” “I Want To Be Love,”
“Your Little Secret,” and “Angels Would Fall”? Melissa
Etheridge is who.
Although her hit “I’m The Only One,” might be her
crowning jewel, Etheridge’s journey having gone very public
with her cancer diagnosis brought out of her best work to date.
The songs “I Am Not My Hair” spoke to women dealing with
the horrific realizations of chemotherapy and “I Need To Wake
Up” from Al Gore’s Oscar-winning documentary “An
Inconvenient Truth” spoke to all of us about
the importance of caring for the earth.
The song also earned Etheridge an
Academy Award for Best Original
Song. ✤
Janet Jackson performs
in Grand Rapids
Sept. 12.
Shoreline Page 47
Fish stocking is an important activity of the
Michigan DNR and is done in countless locations
across the state, like the Huron River where salmon
were stocked this past April.
Fully stocked
More than
20 million fish
stocked this spring
means lots of
opportunity
for anglers
Page 48 Shoreline
T
he Department of Natural Resources announced the final totals from its
spring fish-stocking efforts. DNR fisheries staff stocked a total of
20,099,988 fish that weighed more than 325 tons and consisted of nine different species and one hybrid.
To complete this task, staff took more than 370 stocking trips to 732
stocking sites, traveling more than 100,000 miles over the course of 2,556 hours
using 17 specialized stocking trucks.
“It was another outstanding spring stocking season that will bring significant benefits and fishing opportunities to Michigan,” said Ed Eisch, DNR
fish production manager. “Thanks to the hard work and dedication of our staff,
fish were reared and delivered to stocking sites in excellent condition. The
numbers produced and stocked were right on target for almost all areas.”
The number and type of fish stocked vary by hatchery, as each location’s
ability to rear fish varies because of water supplies and temperature. In
Michigan there are six state and two cooperative hatcheries
that work together to produce the species, strain and size of
fish needed by fisheries managers. These fish must then be
delivered at a specific time and location for stocking to ensure
their success. Each hatchery stocked the following fish this
spring:
Marquette State Fish Hatchery (near Marquette)
stocked 610,194 yearling lake trout, brook trout and splake (a
cross of lake trout and brook trout) that in total weighed
61,257 pounds. This hatchery stocked a total of 119 inland
and Great Lakes sites using 56 trips that required driving
16,409 miles over 410 hours.
Thompson State Fish Hatchery (near Manistique)
stocked 8,003,760 fish that included walleye fry, yearling
steelhead and brown trout, and spring fingerling Chinook
salmon. These fish weighed 127,801 pounds in total. This
hatchery stocked 103 sites (the majority located on the Great
Lakes) using 75 trips that required driving 19,472 miles over
508 hours.
Oden State Fish Hatchery (near Petoskey) stocked
671,604 yearling brown trout and rainbow trout that in total
weighed 93,423 pounds. This hatchery stocked 143 inland
and Great Lakes sites using 69 trips that required driving
19,472 miles over 533 hours.
Harrietta State Fish Hatchery (in Harrietta) stocked
1,213,899 yearling brown trout and rainbow trout that in total
weighed 114,540 pounds. This hatchery stocked 267 sites (the
majority located inland) using 84 trips that required driving
23,261 miles over 588 hours.
Platte River State Fish Hatchery (near Honor) stocked
2,556,540 fish that included yearling Atlantic salmon and
coho salmon, spring fingerling Chinook salmon and walleye
fry that in total weighed 131,472 pounds. This hatchery
stocked 39 sites (the majority located on the Great Lakes)
using 39 trips that required driving 8,012 miles over 199
hours.
Wolf Lake State Fish Hatchery (near Kalamazoo)
stocked 7,004,084 fish that included walleye fry, yearling
steelhead and spring fingerling Chinook salmon that in total
weighed 118,648 pounds. This hatchery stocked 60 sites (the
majority located on the Great Lakes) using 49 trips that
required driving 13,451 miles over 317 hours.
The cooperative teaching hatchery at Lake Superior
State University (in Sault Ste. Marie) stocked 39,907 Atlantic
salmon weighing 3,868 pounds into the St. Marys River.
In addition, Wolf Lake, Platte River and Thompson
state fish hatcheries transferred millions of walleye fry to
management unit rearing ponds for grow-out and eventual
stocking this summer and fall. Several management units
also stocked and transferred many species of cool- and
warm-water fish within their units.
Fish stocking is a critical DNR activity. These efforts
help pump between $2.4 billion and $4.2 billion into the
state’s economy through the sportfishing industry and associated businesses. As a frame of reference, spring 2014 stocking
efforts totaled 19.3 million fish.
Fish are reared in Michigan’s state fish hatcheries anywhere from one month to one and a half years before they
are stocked. Some of the Chinook salmon and steelhead are
transferred from the hatcheries to imprinting net pens for the
final few weeks before they are released. This acclimation
period helps the fish imprint on the receiving waters which
increases the likelihood they will return to the stocking site
when they reach sexual maturity.
“Our imprinting net pens are run cooperatively by several different groups around the state,” Eisch said. “This is an
excellent example of how the resource benefits from strategic
partnerships that have been built over time.”
Some hatcheries will provide fish for a few additional
stockings (consisting of brook trout, Atlantic salmon, lake
sturgeon and muskellunge) to be made this fall. The lake
sturgeon will come from the DNR's cooperative hatchery in
Tower that is operated with Michigan State University.
The DNR welcomes visitors to its state fish hatcheries
and interpretative centers to witness first-hand the fish-rearing process and to learn about Michigan’s waters. For more
information, visit michigan.gov/hatcheries. ✤
Shoreline Page 49
SEATING Solutions
STORY AND PHOTOS
O
BY
LAURA KURELLA
ne thing all lake house owners have in common is
the need for extra seating. After all, one never knows
just how many friends, relatives and neighbors may
pop in at any given time.
One seating solution — whether your need it inside
or outside — is to build your own Aldo Leopold benches.
The design is smart, simple, sleek and stylish.
“Aldo Leopold was definitely ahead of his time,”
said environmentalist Richard Taylor of Northwoods, Wis.
“In addition to being a seating designer, Aldo was also an
author, scientist, ecologist, forester, conservationist, an environmentalist and, was a founder of the science of wildlife
management.”
First introduced to the Aldo Leopold bench while
attending a class on food-sourcing acorns, Taylor said he
was immediately fascinated.
“It is an elegantly-simple design, which uses just six
pieces of lumber — four pieces fasten together to make the
two sets of legs, a fifth is the seat and a sixth is the back —
and it is created by a man after my own heart, one who
championed ‘land ethics’ focusing on creating a responsible
relationship between people and the land they inhabit.”
Mentioning one of his favorite Aldo quotes, which is,
“The oldest task in human history: to live on a piece of land
without spoiling it,” Taylor said he appreciates Aldo’s philosophy, which is akin to his own and has made more than
one of his benches.
“To date I have made three of the benches,” he said,
“and I place them in areas on my property perfect for resting and I also like to pack one for camping trips because it
takes little space and offers a solid place for two adults to
sit and snuggle.”
Research indicates Aldo likely built his first bench in
the 1930s during the years he and his family spent weekends on an abandoned sand farm not too far from Madison,
Wis.
Retired high school biology teacher, Gary Laib, who
has studied Leopold’s work extensively, theorizes that
Aldo’s first bench may have been, in fact, fashioned from a
set of stairs he salvaged from a dump.
Laib bases his theory on the angle of the wood, but
also offers that while there is no doubt that Leopold constructed a bench, whether the design was totally or just
partially his, may never be known for sure.
The plans to build an Aldo bench of your own are
easy to secure and can be accomplished for free.
“There are many online resources that offer the plans
you can print instantly and for free,” Taylor said. “In fact,
that is just what I did and, I recommend while you are
online, look up Aldo and learn a little more about this very
fascinating man!” ✤
Online:
http://s56.photobucket.com/user/jraabe/media/bench.jpg.html
Shoreline Page 51
Aroma
FULL OF
Phillip Jewell releases 20 pounds of
fresh roasted coffee into the cooler pan.
Page 52 Shoreline
Fresh-roast coffee
is key at Blue Hat
STORY AND PHOTOS BY DON REID
he smell of fresh coffee fills the air around the I-69 interchange in
Coldwater several times a week. Phillip Jewell is roasting coffee
beans at his Blue Hat Coffee Gallery, located in the historic Fiske
house.
Jewell and his wife, Catherine, opened the coffee shop and art
gallery last fall after starting renovations of the 1860 two-story brick
Italianate in 2008 when they both retired as software engineers.
“I retired from 40 hours a week to 90 hours a week,” he jokes.
Purchased by his mother in 1965, the couple bought out his brother
and his wife in 2002 and the house sat empty. The couple was forced to
put in businesses since the property assessor would not give them a
homestead exemption for the commercially-zoned land.
“It was the only way we saved the historic building,” Jewell said.
Catherine became a gemologist and created fine jewelry until a
stroke last fall. Her work is in the gift
shop, along with estate jewelry she finds
Blue Hat
and from quality artists around the
country.
Coffee Gallery
The couple developed a taste for
WHERE: 6867 East Chicago
fine coffee when they lived in New York
St., Coldwater
PHONE: (517) 924-1095
for five years. There were a number of
HOURS: Monday through
coffee houses on the east side of the city
Saturday, 7 a.m. - 8 p.m.
which roasted coffees from metropolitan
Sunday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
ONLINE:
importers.
www.bluehatcoffee.com
“There is a huge difference
between a really good coffee and a
mediocre coffee,” Jewell said.
In Michigan, he decided there needed to be a fresh roast coffee
shop in the state and Blue Hat became his goal.
He also had to develop other skills after they opened. He found
coffee alone would not cover expenses.
“What goes better than coffee and pie,” he said, so he began baking large pies. Then he added homemade soups, homemade breads for
sandwiches, homemade cheesecakes and serving breakfasts and lunches.
He installed a commercial convection oven next to his roaster.
The fresh roasted coffee from the green beans is still his pride and
joy. They sell it by the cup and also by the bag, ground or as a whole
bean. They also fill internet sales orders and sell as area farmers’ markets.
The Jewells buy their coffee through a couple of brokers who
import it from around the world. In bags of 130-160 pounds, Jewell has
on hand around 3,000 pounds in his roasting building. Sales are good, so
its replaced “faster than I thought,” he said.
Currently, one of the most popular is from Papau, New Guinea.
Four of the 10 bags he bought sold in two months.
Jewell roasts three to four times a week. But when you smell it you
can’t go in and brew that coffee.
“You have to hold it four or five days before you can drink it,” he
said.
T
Shoreline Page 53
As it roasts, the green bean release
gases including water and carbon dioxide. You have to let them evaporate to
get the best taste.
“If you brew it right after roasting,
it’s really nasty.,” he said.
Jewell found a company in
Nevada which improved on a standard
German coffee roaster and installed one
in his back building.
The process is simple chemistry.
According to the Coffee Institute, during
roasting caramelization occurs. As
intense heat breaks down starches in the
bean it changes them to simple sugars
and they begin to brown. That changes
not only the color of the bean, but its
scent and flavor as well.
However something else also happens during roasting. The aromatic oils
and acids weaken, changing the flavor.
Then at as the temperature increases at
around 392 °F the oil caffeol is created.
Caffeol is what makes coffee smell like
coffee.
At 401°F other oils start to develop which also add to the flavor. Different
beans from different trees and different
regions and countries have different
chemical make up which gives each crop
its distinctive flavor. The caffeine does
not change. For decaf, one of several
processes removes the stimulant before
the bean is roasted.
“You can’t tell a good decaf from
any other good coffee,” Jewell said.
Jewell’s roaster holds 25 pounds,
but he uses only 20 to better control the
process.
Next to the big roaster is a small
one-pound roaster Jewell uses for taste
testing. Coffee brokers send him samples
of beans they import.
“We roast the sample. Taste it and
cup it,” he said. “If we like it, we order
some. We probably taste 10 to 15 different coffees for each one we order.”
When the samples come in from
the brokers they roast and taste it immediately.
“If you don’t and it’s good then
it’s gone,” he said.
A Peruvian Fair Trade organic
came in on a Friday. He tasted it on
W in
te
tio
riza
Saturday and ordered on Monday. When
he called, only one of the 41 bags was
left. There is still some in his supply.
Each country around the world
harvests at different times. If orders
aren’t placed when it is in season, you
must wait a year for the new supply.
Usually the coffee from the same location is good every year, but sometimes
even coffee from the same farm or plantation “may be excellent one year, but
lousy the next” Jewell said. “That’s why
you have to taste test everything.”
Jewell warned drinkers to taste
his coffees before putting anything in it,
especially sweeteners.
“Most people are used to really
bad coffees and they have to save it by
putting in sugar,” he said.
In a good espresso latte “all you
really need is the milk because the milk
is sweet enough,” he said.
At Blue Hat, the Jewells said “all
we always wanted to do is to have high
quality. We have high quality coffee,
food and the gallery has high-quality
artists.” ✤
n!
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Rentals Available!
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Outfitters in Three Rivers, MI
Website Design &
all your Graphic needs!
269-503-2457
Page 54 Shoreline
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➤ We can help you with all
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County Line Rd. | Three Rivers, MI | 269-244-5878
Children’s
books inspired by
carefree days at
Klinger Lake
STORY
BY
ROSALIE CURRIER
W
When she was little, Betty Mermelstein enjoyed carefree summers at Klinger Lake.
It was the 1950s when
Betty’s parents, Bill and Barbara
Nelson and her aunt and uncle Betty
and Bud Waldo, pooled their
resources and bought a cottage on
Klinger Lake Road right on the lake’s
shoreline.
They posted a sign “Four Bees”
on the simple cottage which was within walking distance of where Geno
later served pizza. Betty remembers
Betty Nelson
(Mermelstein)
at Klinger Lake
in 1955.
two shops side by-side which served soda and sold souvenirs to the
delight of children.
To relish simple Klinger Lake summers, both families traveled
from Indiana until 1963 when Betty’s parents divorced. But nothing
erased her memories of those idyllic days and recently she
began writing about them.
“Water Play” which came out as an e-book
in 2015, is a rhyming book for younger children,
Betty said. After writing it, she wanted an illustrator and found Nancy Troupe.
A second book, “Kings Lake Discovery” is
for 7-10 year-olds and involves a bit of mystery.
“Jane and her brother, Chris, spend summer
at their family’s cottage on Kings Lake in Michigan
in the 1950’s. They spend their time swimming and
boating,” reads the description on Lulu.com.
Although Betty has lived many states away
and only returned in the 1990s on a memory trip
with her sisters, she would love to rent the old cottage again next summer. She did try a lake in Arizona, but said “it just
wasn’t the same.”
Betty, a retired school teacher has several e-book available. She is
also a ballroom dancer and lives in Phoenix with her husband. They
have two sons and four grandchildren. ✤
Shoreline Page 55
THE NEED FOR
The 250cc runabout owned by racer Paul Bosnich, above, was
made into a mini-model for Bosnich’s son Rayce, below right,
by the pit crew.
SPEED
Derek Gesler and Rick Saver do last-minute engine work on a
500cc Runabout at the boat races held
at American Legion Post 223 in Constantine.
Hydroplane races draw big crowds in Constantine
STORY AND PHOTOS
T
BY
ANGIE BIRDSALL
he US Title Series Championship Hydroplane &
Runabout Boat Racing Association held its annual
races July 25-26 in Constantine.
Announcer Ray Rodda called it a “beautiful day
for racing” with 43 entries Saturday. Six youngsters ages
13-17 competed in the K-Pro class.
The US Title Series, founded in 1982, is recognized
as the premier PRO outboard racing series in the United
States. The series strives to establish the best competition between teams and promote the sport of powerboat
racing by any and all means available to put the sport on
a national level as any other professional sport.
PRO outboard racing is the oldest style of boat
racing in the country and pushes the limits of technology with minimal restrictions on engine and hull design.
Page 56 Shoreline
Classes range from 122cc up to 1100cc engines, with
speeds reaching 120 mph.
The Union International Motonautique, headquartered in Europe, sanctions many different categories of
hydroplane powerboat racing. The American Power Boat
Association sanctions PRO class national title events in
the United States. PRO classes using 500cc and larger
displacement racing motors must be equipped with adequate safety features.
In the early days of hydroplane racing, accidents
and even deaths of drivers were considered somewhat
routine. As top speeds increased, more attention was
paid to driver safety, much like NASCAR auto racing.
Modern safety technology applications like composite
fiber-reinforced Kevlar cockpits, capsule-enclosed driver
modules with improved safety harness systems, flipover incident escape hatches, engines with shut-off fea-
tures, an oxygen system, and aircraft-quality windscreen
canopies for capsule hulls, and advanced ballistic
impact-resistant suits with improved helmet/neck brace
wear make the boats safer for the racer. Future advanced
head and spine protection applications (driver upper
body control and stabilization during high G-force
events) are being tested for future hydroplane designs.
The faster classes of PRO hydroplanes (with
straightaway speeds from around 75 to 120 mph) use 2cycle outboard motors running highly-filtered methanol
race fuel mixed with a pure castor or synthetic castorbased lubricating oil. All methanol-fueled and gasfueled PRO racing outboard motors are direct drive and
equipped with high performance, motorcycle racing
style magneto ignition and carburetor systems. 125cc
through 1000cc PRO series hydroplanes are not entry
level. ✤
Shoreline Page 57
READER PHOTOS
at-grandchildren,
d this photo of their gre
tte
mi
sub
r
ate
ldw
Co
of
t reflects how
Roger and Jeanine Houk
photo is six years old, bu
the
d
sai
ey
Th
.
uk
Ho
e
Morgann
near Coldwater.
from left, Mason, Mia and
m at Bartholomew Lake
the
it
vis
they said.
to
are
l
stil
ren
ild
d keeps us in fish to eat,”
happy the ch
an
fish
to
es
lov
n
aso
“M
.
en
ayne, Ind. so they visit oft
The children live in Ft. W
Share you
r ph
life on the otos of
lake and
we’ll publi
sh them in
upcoming
an
issue of Sh
oreline.
Email pho
tos to
cphelps@
sturgisjour
nal.com.
Page 58 Shoreline
Carol Griffith, with her friend Opie, enjoys a summer day
paddle boarding on Lake Tamarack.
READER PHOTOS
Terr y Terpst
ra is drawn
to Fisher s
Lake near
Three Rive
r
“The gorge s.
ous sky,
azure lake
water and
the sound
of w
lapping at th aves
e boats
are what d
raw me he
re
again and a
gain,” Terpst
ra
said. “The v
iew is
from my h
ammo
on the porc ck
h.”
in LaGrange, Ind.,
the Ar k Animal Sanctuary
Lady, a rescue dog from
joyed the great
and Michelle Hollowell en
do
ble
Ra
ul
Pa
by
d
nie
pa
d two dogs
accom
recently. Fifteen people an
se
cau
at
gre
a
ng
lpi
he
weather while
ney for Ar k.
o River Run to raise mo
joined forces at the Mong
oches.
those paddling for the po
About $500 was raised to
Lori “Yoder” Buys submitted this photo taken in
the spring at Aldrich Lake.
Shoreline Page 59
PARTING SHOT
Paddle on
Judy Briggs submitted this
photo of a paddle boarder on
Omena Lake near Sturgis.
If you have a photo you’d like to see featured as a
Parting Shot, e-mail it to cphelps@sturgisjournal.com
or send it to Shoreline, 209 John St., Sturgis, MI 49091.
Don’t forget to include where and when
the photo was taken.
Page 62 Shoreline