bev@macleod.com
Bev's Blog (Archive)
DECEMBER 2009 NEWSLETTER
- From Class Central
Welcome to the redesigned newsletter format. I am very hopeful that everyone will find it more convenient than trying to download a huge attachment in their email. You will receice a notice when each new addition is available. Simply click on the "link" to view in any web browser - anywhere in the world. Past newsletters will be archived and available as a link in the side bar.
A few thoughts of my own as I close out Decembers news:
As we drive over the drawbridge each morning, the view up the river is seeing all the empty docks at the marinas. It makes us quickly aware that soon snow and ice will dampen the streets and winter in all it's glory shall be upon us. I know one thing, we had enough snow last year to last for many years to come, but we know as winter approaches so does bad weather. For you folks residing in the sunny states, can you relate?
We also note that the Grand Landing Condo's have gone from 189,000 to 99,000! That's quite a drop wouldn't you say? I've mentioned it many times about the vacancy there, so we suspect maybe it's an early Christmas Gift! Anyway, that's a huge drop in price.
The first block of Washington Street is still in disarray, still torn up and will be until long after the first of the year. Some of the business owners are hanging on by threads as the fencing/gravel roadways has made an unfortunate situation worse. The crews doing the work have run into major problems with rail lines under the street, plus the companies that tar the roads close their plants after Nov. 15th, so everything is on hold until springtime. This has made the store owners uneasy because of the length of time. They have now started to tear up the next block. What they thought was going to be a few months, has lingered much longer. The end result will be a new road plus heated sidewalks......but if it forces businesses to close in the process of attaining that goal, was it worth it?
A brand new 8,000 sq. ft. Nature Education Center at Hemlock Crossing in West Olive is almost ready to open. It's a 2.04 million project when completed. It will serve as a center for education programs and an information hub for the county's 16 parks. The design was made no cost by a former park recreation member who donated the prints.
Volunteers were out in force collecting food for the area pantries for the last month. Two local businesses went together for a turkey drive and received over 500 that were donated, plus food items that go along with a turkey dinner! It seems like everyday you pick up the paper, people are giving such generous gifts for those less fortunate. Winter Coat Drives are very popular, a great idea to recycle a good warm coat for someone who could use it. The same with Boots/gloves etc. We live in a caring community which I'm sure your city is too. Our senior center is an active place with lots of help or assistance in how to go about finding out about programs.
Spring Lake officials have finally relinquished and will allow B & B places in town. It has restrictions of course. The old ordinance simply set restrictions of parking and meals, but the new will be more friendly to allow them in single family homes, not to exceed four bedrooms and meals to over night guests only. Although there are no requests at the present, there have been a few several years ago. The Holiday Inn is the only place in SL, so we suspect you'll be seeing some B & B's soon. They are concerned about protecting residential areas and only streets with commercial buildings already will be considered.
Aren't these two photos beautiful. My thanks to Bill Scott for his talent to capture these. They were taken in mid November........we just can't beat those glorious sunsets!
As you know, I've had many problems with the size of my newsletters and the ability of your servers to accept them. I also have had problems with the newsletter sitting in the out box long after I pushed the sent button.... only to find out it's still sitting there! Seeing it, it's was only natural to push the button again thinking that I maybe didn't really push the send.... (Now on your end, you've received it twice...or more times than that.) I am so sorry and we have been working hard to try and correct it. You probably think I'm a little stupid, please be assured, I certainly haven't done it on purpose. With the help of a few knowledgeable men, we think we have the problem corrected and it was never my intention to test your patience!!
Damage to the tune of $65,000 was done to the empty Eagle Ottawa Building by three young men who had nothing better to do with their time. They even installed an alarm, possibly to let them know if the police were in the vicinity, instead it alerted the law enforcement to check it out! Great that they were caught and will be prosecuted.
Ken and I recently saw the Holiday Light show! There are 14 homes in one sub-division, with over 200 thousand lights, all synchronized to music!! Incredible amount of work. Traffic flowed through Heather court with no problem thanks to numerous volunteers directing them. YOU MUST see it, it's the most beautiful sight and for small children, it would be a delight they'd never forget. For those that love to log on to the internet www.HolidayRoadLights.com will allow you to view a portion of it's beauty. This young fellow who created it, is to be commended. We know as the season progresses traffic will become heavier, but have patience, the wait is well worth it. It's 6-9 p.m. nightly, Fri/Sat. till 10. Go east on VanWagoner to West Spring Lake road, taking a right, it's 3/4 block from that corner. Very easy to find. Do yourself a favor, see it, you won't regret it. Log on to FM 88.1 and the music is broadcast nightly. Lots of signs directing you to it...
The downturn in the economy has put the Grand Haven airports future in jeopardy. It recently celebrated it's 60th year. A private company that operates it, has lost revenue in the last years although at no cost to the city. They hope that they can ride out the bumpy road that the economy has caused. Corporate business is 80 percent down which is a huge part of the business.
Do you remember this Chamber Information booth that was built on Beacon Blvd. many years ago? Unique looking eye catching shaped building and it was a very busy place in the summer months.
Twenty five years ago, Chinook Pier was built on the rivers edge. Located next to the farmers market and it's now in need of repairs. The city purchased it 5 years ago and is ready to put $460,000 into upgrades. The buildings overlook 20 charter boats and the 11 businesses are a major attraction during the summer. The city has applied for a grant to help with this much needed updating.
I always feel bad when I have to report sad items. Someone called to say that Jim Scott's son, Jim Jr. passed away the last week in November. He was in his 40's. I know you are aware that Jim is at Riverside Nursing and Rehabilitation Home. A card would be wonderful for him. James Scott 415 Friant GH MI. 49417 Please let him know when signing it that you are a '57' classmate. He would appreciate that so much. Thanks.
A new long term nursing home is being proposed by NOCHospital for GH Township. It's a 17 million dollar program, possibly 3 years away from reality. Recently NOCHosptial built a beautiful facility in SL Township that has 75 rooms plus a hospice addition attached to it. We know many who have recovered from surgery and stayed there for therapy. This new proposed 125 bed facility will be built on a 48 acre sight at the intersection of U. S. 31 and M 45, on the NE side of US 31. (N of McDonalds) It will employ 125 people. It can't be built any to soon for all the unemployed in the area.
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Thanking Bill Scott for this latest Pier photo he took last week. That sky is beautiful and the lights make it a perfect night shot! He knows I really like the pier as I know numerous others do also. He's very good about sharing.
The most effective defense against temptation is this: shut your eyes! Thinking that Tiger should have done that...
Writing this newsletter has become so interesting over the past years, other class members have heard about it and have asked to be on the roster of recipients. What started in 2002 as a small paragraph to inform you about pictures being uploaded to the web site, has developed into something I enjoy immensely. I'm always in search of things that I think you'd like and I'm pretty proud of the creation it has developed into. In sending it, I hope that you enjoy reading about your 'hometown' and some of the memories you remember prior to graduation. I love the notes you send me, the ideas that you have on making it better and interesting. I'm asked many times, how can I write so much? All I can say is: it's an easy task for me. Some months I get carried away and make it SO long and have a hard time 'trimming' it down, thus it's a huge package that you receive. I lost some members who did not sign when we changed computers, I'm sorry about that. I think two weeks was long enough to wait for them to sign on.
SO, for those of you on my mailing list, I'll continue writing 'things' that I think are of interest............... and you can be the judge whether it's worthy of reading.
I look forward to 2010 with great anticipation, how 'bout you?
Just for you southern folks that forget about 'what Lake Michigan and the Grand River' might look like in the wintertime,Here's a great photo that Bill Scott took several years ago, from North Shore........you can see the river is well sealed. The sky was beautiful as was the day!
In closing out this years news, I want to wish each and every one of you good health, great joy, peace and love for the coming year. What a difference a day makes let alone a year! How quickly our lives can change from the normal routine to things being upside down and not understandable. A case of trusting in ones faith and having the wonderful array of friendships to embrace when needed. It makes all the difference in the world.
And I'm Keeping those of you who are having medical issues, in my daily prayers.
There is no "Happy Holidays" greetings from here,
we say.... MERRY CHRISTMAS to each of you,
and many Blessings for 2010.From Class Central,
Bev
P.S. I hope you like the new format for the newsletters. From now on when I'm ready to send it out, you'll get a little blip in an e -mail that will say, 'It's on the way, log on to the link provided'. We think it's the perfect answer for everyone.