JUNE | JULY 2017 A MESSAGE FROM THE PUBLISHER SPRING is fi nally here! The days are getting longer, more sunlight, and warmer temperatures. Time to get the yard cleaned up and fertilize the lawn. Time to start planning the trip to your favorite greenhouse to pick the fl owers and plants n n 3 LEGALEASE - 9 LAKESHORE that make your yard beautiful. It’s WORKING WITH AND FAMILY - FILL also the time to be thinking about your favorite summertime activities. THROUGH ALL THOSE YOUR CUP Going to the beach, the Farmer’s NIGGLING DETAILS Heather Artushin Market, getting your motorcycle Jonathan J. David or bike out, Golf League, beach n volleyball, tennis, or maybe a new 10 TIM TODD, summer activity. How about Disc 4 n GOOD SPORTS PRESERVING Golf? - ENJOY A GAME AT SMALL-TOWN Disc Golf? Some of you might be MARSH FIELD CHARM raising your eyebrows, be shaking your head, or asking, “What is Disc Tom Kendra Marla Miller Golf”. The game is played much like the regular game of golf except 5 n HOME SWEET 12 n AN EYE ON instead of hitting a little white ball with club you throw a disc much like HOME - LIFE AS A EDUCATION a Frisbee into a basket. Scoring is REALTOR Steve Edwards like golf, each throw is stroke. The Dale P. Zahn person with the least amount of throws wins. Instead of putting a ball in a hole you n putt/throw a disc into a basket. Unlike ball golf the game of disc golf is played year 12 LOCAL HAS round. Yes, even the middle of winter. n 5 CHIROPRACTIC WORKED HARD My fi rst experience with the game came this past January when a group of CARE, DEPRESSION FOR TASTE OF individuals asked me to assist them in putting together a presentation for a new AND ANXIETY HOLLYWOOD disc course at Nestrom Park in Fruitland Township. I told the group I had never played and was unfamiliar with the sport altogether. Well they said, you need to Laurie Semlow GLAMOUR see a course and play. I said sure, when do the courses open in the spring? They Dave LeMieux laughed and said, they’re open now! n 6 TOURIST IN So there I went to play disc golf. It was a Saturday in the middle of January, YOUR OWN TOWN 13 n THE temperature around 20 degrees with a strong NW wind and it started to snow. I showed up at the course in Whitehall Township and there were a dozen cars and Laura Holmes BACK-UP PLAN players already there. The course was laid out in the woods and the trees were 20- Brenda Durga 30 feet apart across the fairway. The experience and the course was an absolute 7 n MUSKEGON blast, I didn’t even feel the cold. The other players were there to warm up for a HARBOR AND ITS 13 n GOOD READS tournament later that day in Shelby. Laura J. Kraly I agreed to help the group with the presentation. In the beginning of February LIGHTHOUSES I presented the opportunity to the Fruitland Township Board of Trustees and by Peter Manting late March the board voted and passed the proposal. Now, here is the part of the 14 n EMERGENCY story that pleases me the most. The 18-hole course was developed by a designer n YOUR MONEY VS. URGENT CARE at no charge, the township fi nanced the materials for the project, and disc golfers 8 built the course. Yes, every weekend once the project was approved dozens of MATTERS - TAXES Courtesy of Mercy volunteers, some coming as far away as Grand Rapids, were at Nestrom Park DON’T GO AWAY Health Muskegon trimming trees, moving brush, blowing leaves, installing the baskets, tee signage, benches, and will be pouring the tee-pads. IN YOUR The Fruitland Township Disc Golf course has some fi nishing touches yet to be RETIREMENT completed. The course is already open to play. Here is something interesting, YEARS there is NO CHARGE to play. There will be a donation/suggestion box available to Tom Kendra assist the township with improvements and maintenance of the course. I am honored to have been part of this project. The Fruitland Township Disc Golf n course is an incredible example of individuals coming together working with their 8 PLUS MOVIE local government to improve their community. People working together, what a MINUTES PLUS! Jordan Peterson

Mark Williamson Publisher

2 West Michigan PLUSinside | JUNE / JULY 2017 LEGALEASE Working With and Through All Those Niggling Details June | July 2017 ISSUE No. 13 West Michigan PLUS is a publication By Jonathan J. David of Orshal Road Productions, LLC Since each state has its own laws regarding should have the documents you had prepared PUBLISHER/EDITOR estate planning documents and their a year ago reviewed by an attorney in the Mark Williamson preparation, at a minimum, you should have state where you are going to move to make 231-766-3038 the documents you had prepared a year ago sure that those documents comply with that [email protected] reviewed by an attorney in the state where state’s laws. This is especially critical for you are going to move to make sure that those the durable power of attorney for fi nances DESIGNER documents comply with that state’s laws. and durable power of attorney for health Jay Newmarch care, because you want to make sure those CRE8 Design, LLC, Kalamazoo Dear Jonathan: My parents are coming documents are statutorily compliant and are [email protected] out to visit me next month. One of the accepted by third parties when the named WRITERS reasons for the visit is to prepare durable agent under those documents has to act on Orshal Road Productions, LLC power of attorneys for fi nancial and your behalf. Good luck. health care matters because they want Dear Jonathan: My mother prepared a Laura Holmes Michelle Martin, M.A. me to act on their behalf in the event they durable of attorney for fi nancial matters Jordan Peterson Jay A. Newmarch are unable to act for each other. I have no just over a month ago naming me as Peter Manting Teresa Taylor Williams problem being named as their agent, but her agent. Not long after she suffered Tom Kendra Riley Williamson shouldn’t those documents be drafted a stroke and is currently unable to Mel Sportell Chef Alexander Schulte by a lawyer in the state where they act on her own behalf. I took her Dale Zahn Mercy Health live? Tim Wheeler David LeMieux power of attorney to her bank for Laurie Semlow Jonathon J. David Jonathan says: Yes, you are the purpose of accessing one of Laura Kraly Brenda Durga absolutely correct. Every state has her accounts and they refused Mark Williamson Heather Artushin its own laws regarding durable to accept it. They indicated power of attorneys for that they would fi nancial and health only accept the 3692 Orshal Road care matters, and bank’s power of Whitehall, MI 49461 those documents attorney form B: 231-766-3038 should be and since my E: [email protected] prepared and mother is not signed by your able to sign Orshal Road Productions, LLC was established in 2011 parents in the state any documents as a Marketing/Publishing company specializing in where they live. And at this time, my niche publications. yes, it would be in their only other option best interests to have those was to go through To advertise in future issues of West Michigan PLUS documents prepared by an the probate court contact Mark Williamson. Contact information is listed attorney knowledgeable and be appointed above. in the preparation of those her guardian and types of documents. conservator. Can West Michigan PLUS is on-line and downloadable they do this? to your favorite device at: http://orshalrdproductions. Dear Jonathan: About com/. a year ago, I updated my Jonathan says: Assuming estate plan which included a new will, the durable power of attorney was properly SUBSCRIBE to West Michigan PLUS and you will durable power of attorneys for both drafted and complies with all statutory receive an email when the latest issue is available for fi nances and health care, a living will requirements, the bank has no legal right to download or pick up at your favorite local retailer. West and a trust. I have now decided to move refuse to accept it. You should go back to that Michigan PLUS is published bi-monthly. to another state to be closer to my bank and ask to talk to a manager or to be put in contact with their legal department. If that The views expressed by individual writers in this daughter. Are the documents I prepared gets you nowhere, then you should let them publication do not necessarily refl ect those of the last year okay, or do I need to change know that they will be hearing from your publication. Opinions or information contained in any of them now that I am moving to a different attorney. Hopefully, this motivates them to the stories in this publication should not take the place state? play ball so that you can avoid the hassle and of seeking professional advice. Jonathan says: Since each state has its own the cost of having to involve an attorney to laws regarding estate planning documents resolve this matter on your behalf. Good luck. and their preparation, at a minimum, you

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Jonathan J. David is a shareholder in the law firm of Foster, Swift, Collins & Smith, PC, 1700 East Beltline, N.E., Grand Rapids, Michigan 49525. He is a runner, sports enthusiast, and University of Michigan alum, with a passion for reading and writing. He has been practicing estate planning, business, and real estate law for over 30 years and has been writing his column “Legal Ease,” for over 20 years. Like us on facebook! His favorite quote is his own: “It doesn’t take a village to write — just a reliable www.facebook.com/PlusWM dictaphone and transcriber.”

JUNE / JULY 2017 | West Michigan PLUS 3 GOOD SPORTS Enjoy a Game at Marsh Field! By Tom Kendra

It would be a blast to have access to a time- field will hearken a new golden era at the old traveling machine like in the movie “Back to ballpark. the Future,” as a way to occasionally get away MUSKEGON CLIPPERS Some of the biggest names to play at Marsh from the stresses of the modern world. Field were members of the “old” Muskegon In lieu of such flux capacitor technology, a 2017 SCHEDULE Clippers, a now defunct farm team of the great Plan B is to pay a visit to Marsh Field. All games at 7:05 p.m. (home games in bold) New York Yankees which played here from 1948 to 1950, and featured two of the first Marsh Field, located at the corner of Laketon Tuesday, June 6: Grand River at Muskegon African-American Yankees, Frank Barnes and Peck, serves as the home of Muskegon- and Elston Howard. Marsh was also home area baseball and is certainly on the Mount Wednesday, June 7: Grand River at Muskegon to the Muskegon Lassies and the Muskegon Rushmore of local sports facilities – the Thursday, June 8: Muskegon at St. Clair Belles of the All-American Girls Professional equivalent of Hackley Stadium for football and Friday, June 9: Muskegon at St. Clair Baseball League and the Outwin Zephyrs, a the L.C. Walker Arena for hockey. Saturday, June 10: Lake Erie at Muskegon Negro league baseball team. The charm of Marsh Field is that it is 101 years Sunday, June 11: Lake Erie at Muskegon Both of the Gawkowskis understand the old, and essentially hasn’t changed much Monday, June 12: Muskegon at Irish Hills importance of history and tradition, but they since the early 1900s, which makes taking in also know that the “new” Clippers cannot a ballgame there an experience which cannot Tuesday, June 13: Muskegon at Irish Hills rely on nostalgia alone. be equaled at any other diamond in West Friday, June 16: Grand River at Muskegon Michigan. Saturday, June 17: Grand River at Muskegon The organization has been working all year on compiling a strong 25-player roster, The problem with Marsh Field is that it is 101 Sunday, June 18: St. Clair at Muskegon which includes players from both Michigan years old, and like anything that old, had and Michigan State. The Clippers are worn down and decayed over time. But that Monday, June 19: St. Clair at Muskegon expected to carry two local players, both aging process was stopped and then reversed Tuesday, June 20: Muskegon at Lake Erie infielders, in Oakland University’s Tyler in recent years by a group of passionate Wednesday, June 21: Muskegon at Lake Erie Trovinger (Mona Shores) and Davenport Muskegonites and baseball junkies led by Thursday, June 22: Muskegon at Irish Hills University’s Jacob Buchberger (Montague). Pete Gawkowski, who was honored with the 2012 Distinguished Service Award by the Friday, June 23: Muskegon at Irish Hills The final throwback is the cost: $5. Muskegon Area Sports Hall of Fame, largely Monday, June 26: Grand River at Muskegon Five bucks will get adults in for general for his work in restoring Marsh Field. Tuesday, June 27: Grand River at Muskegon admission for any game, and it’s only $3 As a result of their efforts, Marsh Field has Wednesday, June 28: Muskegon at St. Clair for students and seniors. Season tickets, experienced a rebirth in recent years, with Thursday, June 29: Muskegon at St. Clair 10-game flex packs and other offers can steady work and improvements culminating be found on the team’s web site at www. with the emergence of the new Muskegon Friday, June 30: Lake Erie at Muskegon muskegonclippers.com. Clippers franchise, which will play 42 games Saturday, July 1: Lake Erie at Muskegon “It’s something new, but at the same time, (26 of them home games) during the months Sunday, July 2: Irish Hills at Muskegon it’s part of the history and tradition of the of June and July in the Great Lakes Summer community,” said Walt Gawkowski, himself Collegiate League, a wooden-bat league in the Monday, July 3: Irish Hills at Muskegon a standout player at Central Michigan Midwest with 15 teams, primarily made up of Thursday, July 6: Grand River at Muskegon University. “We encourage everyone in the major college players. The past three years, Friday, July 7: Grand River at Muskegon community to come and check us out. I’m the Clippers competed in the lower Michigan Saturday, July 8: St. Clair at Muskegon a little biased, but to me there’s something Summer Collegiate League. Sunday, July 9: St. Clair at Muskegon special about a night at the ballpark that “This league will bring high-quality baseball can’t be matched anywhere else.” Monday, July 10: Muskegon at Lake Erie to Muskegon in the summer and provides a ...... regular tenant at Marsh Field,” said Muskegon Tuesday, July 11: Muskegon at Lake Erie Clippers manager Walt Gawkowski, a 33-year Wednesday, July 12: Irish Hills at Muskegon Tom Kendra is a high school sports radio broadcaster who area high school baseball coach and younger Thursday, July 13: Irish Hills at Muskegon brother of team owner Pete Gawkowski. “We does the area football “Game are excited to get going.” Sunday, July 16: Grand River at Muskegon of the Week” on WMUS-FM 107.9. He also writes articles Gawkowski was almost giddy with excitement Thursday, July 20: Grand River at Muskegon Friday, July 21: Muskegon at St. Clair for the MHSAA Second Half as he walked around the park in April, program and was a longtime pointing out the ongoing upgrades and Saturday, July 22: Muskegon at St. Clair board member of the improvements. Sunday, July 23: Lake Erie at Muskegon Muskegon Area Sports Hall of Fame. Tom can Marsh now offers both general admission and Monday, July 24: Lake Erie at Muskegon be reached by phone at (231) 563-6638, fax at (231) 375-5229 or e-mail at tom.kendra@ reserved seating, as well as plenty of standing Tuesday, July 25: Muskegon at Irish Hills room and milling space and even a party deck prudential.com for groups (Clippers fans can now order a beer Wednesday, July 26: Muskegon at Irish Hills with their hot dog). Saturday, July 29: Grand River at Muskegon Gawkowski hopes the work being done on Sunday, July 30: Grand River at Muskegon the facility and the improved product on the

4 West Michigan PLUS | JUNE / JULY 2017 HOME SWEET HOME Life as a realtor Chiropractic Care, By, Dale P. Zahn, CEO West Michigan Lakeshore Association of REALTORS Depression

Yet, it’s a great profession. One in which buyers and sellers involved in major transactions affecting their lives rest easier knowing they have an advocate on their side. That, we and Anxiety believe is important to readers of PLUS. In today’s upbeat market we hear it said that ‘real estate is easy’, be ‘a do-it-yourselfer’ and save money. By Laurie Semlow Truth be known, fl ying solo is okay for the few but certainly not for the many. The great REALTORS make the job look easy - but reality is the great REALTORS work extraordinarily long hard hours to hone their craft, much like professional athletes put in countless hours of People most often associate Chiropractic care with the reduction of aches practice to make it to the big leagues or like musicians that put in hours of practice before and pains of daily life. These can be caused by exercise, sitting at a desk all playing in a concert at a very high level. Whenever the market gets ‘fast’ there are those that day, a past car accident or countless other injury-producing activities. What look for ways to cut corners to save a buck which history has shown if the main cause isn’t physical but mental? According to the Anxiety and does not happen very often. Depression Association of America, major depression at any point in time impacts roughly 3 to 5 percent of the population. Additionally about 50 Long ago, during a training course, this writer expressed percent of those diagnosed with depression also suffer from anxiety. the thought to new REALTORS that “if you can’t negotiate your own brokerage fee, how can a seller So why do some of us suffer depression or anxiety but not others? All our expect you to negotiate a good price on their home?” moods are based upon chemistry. If the fi rst, second or third vertebrae are The old adage is, you get what you pay for and if misaligned, they put pressure on the brainstem causing neurological and you pay nothing, the results can be devastating and chemical interference within the body. When the brainstem gets pressure that’s what one gets - nothing. In recent months, from the vertebrae its normal production of brain chemicals (serotonin and there have been many comments made and posts dopamine) are affected. As a result, the person’s production of serotonin is made on social media from mortgage lenders and low causing changes in mood and behavior. title company representatives that say the abhor do- Unfortunately chronic pain and depression tend to go hand in hand. It has also it-yourself transactions as they are mostly akin to train been shown that depression increases a person’s sensitivity to pain, thereby wrecks. Make no mistake, REALTORS earn their fees and causing them to feel worse than they would otherwise. Pain can often be then some. ignored when a person is happy and distracted, but the same amount of pain For today’s For Sale By Owner sellers, or those thinking about it that have time on their can be unbearable if the individual is in a state of distress. Fibromyalgia, a hands and are at home a lot, you have to love strangers to begin with. You have to be fi ne chronic pain disorder, is a perfect example of this. Many doctors believe it to with talking to people you don’t know, whose intentions may be less than noble and okay be linked but not directly caused by depression. with letting strangers into your home where you may be most vulnerable. Are they really Chiropractic care isn’t only for patients who are suffering from depression and home seekers or are they casing the home for a robbery, or even worse. Think it does not chronic pain. Chiropractic care has been shown to generally increase energy happen? Think again. Even in organized real estate agents are warned time and again to and mood. By ensuring the individual’s spine and muscles are stabilized, a know who they are dealing with. Meet at an offi ce, get personal information, take a picture Chiropractor can reduce such issues as high blood pressure and lethargy. of a stranger’s license plate and driver’s license, check out their employment to see if it Patients suffering from insomnia may not realize their discomfort and “restless checks out and never NEVER meet a stranger for the fi rst time at a property particularly if legs” are actually occurring due to a spinal misalignment. vacant. The attacks on REALTORS and the robberies have been many. Safety should be of paramount concern.....for many, Safety has to be among the most important services the Chiropractic care is rarely used as the only treatment for depression or chronic REALTOR has to offer. pain but it’s an excellent addition to a depression treatment plan. Chiropractic care can be used to ward off many of the symptoms and causes of depression, Much of what the REALTOR earns is for what goes on behind the scenes. It isn’t just putting making it easier for the patient to recover. a sign in the ground, listing a property in the Multiple Listing Service, maybe hosting an ...... open house and waiting for throngs of buyers to line up to put in offers.....There’s much more to it in the life of a REALTOR. Preparing an accurate and meaningful market analysis Laurie Semlow is a Certifi ed Creating Wellness Coach and is important. Running the comparables for appraisers, meeting inspectors, verifying Offi ce Manager at Semlow Chiropractic, 5353 Grand Haven buyers qualifi cations and progress to obtain a mortgage, delivering the earnest money and Road, Norton Shores. She can be reached at 231.798.9355. depositing it as required by law, answering countless questions by being available literally 24/7 (yes, it happens that way!), all are just some of the things the REALTOR does. Of course when an offer from a buyer comes in, it’s all about negotiating it successfully and then starts the process of moving towards a closing and dealing with closing dates, possession dates and being in constant touch with lenders and title companies. A lot more to it than just sitting around waiting for things to happen. PLUS aged homeowners deserve piece of mind. What has not yet been mentioned, and is of signifi cant importance right here in West Michigan is an awareness of and how to deal with the many local ordinances affecting the transfer of real estate. This is huge as requirements from one jurisdiction to another vary greatly. Being unaware of what the municipality or Township requires, or worse yet knowing but ignoring the requirements is a recipe for disaster. It’s the REALTORS daunting task to keep up with what is required in each area. The success rate for brand new REALTORS is low, the success rate for do-it-yourselfers is even lower. Being a REALTOR isn’t for everybody - its hard work involving long hours and every day of the week, holiday’s often included. We in organized real estate are not blind to the reality that for some, fl ying solo might work, but we also know for others the solo fl ight results in crash. So, does the REALTOR add value to the buying and selling process and earn every bit of their fee? They most certainly do...... Dale P. Zahn Chief Executive Officer West Michigan Lakeshore Association of REALTORS

JUNE / JULY 2017 | West Michigan PLUS 5 Tourist In Your Own Town By Laura Holmes

kite boarding, stand-up paddle boarding and sunset staring. http://visitmuskegon.org/recreation/beaches-parks/ Hearthstone Bistro Panko crusted perch, chicken milanese, avocado mousse and oh the soups…..French onion gratinee, Wisconsin cheddar with popcorn or butternut squash bisque with spiced pecans. Hearthstone has a deserved reputation and in my informal polls this bistro is a top choice for an upscale dinner, an important occasion but not too pretentious for a spontaneous night out. http:// hearthstonerestaurant.com/ Owasippe Outdoor Recreation Most people tell me they don’t travel because of time The home to Muskegon County mountain bike single- and money. My gut tells me the real problem is defi ning track, newly built and groomed for the intermediate to what constitutes travel. What is it? What’s considered advanced riders. 25 miles wind in and out of marshes, a vacation and where do you have to go to fi nd a break rolling hills, lakes, roots and forest. New to trail riding, from the routine? Not far as it turns out. I suspect most try the green trail for a warm up on knobby tires. If you of you have gems in your own town and region that are a roadie rather than a muddie, there is plenty of you’ve been taking for granted. pavement alongside Lake Michigan that will test your legs. http://ooec.org/trails/ Let’s take Muskegon, Michigan for example. MMA Michigan’s Adventure Amusement The Muskegon Museum of Art. Yes, art is cool and Park and Muskegon Luge smart and hip. Not every town has a knack to combine Thrill rides await in winter and in summer. culture and catsup, but you can do just that in downtown Rollercoasters, a waterpark and an Olympic-length Muskegon. Have a burger and fries at Hamburger luge round out Muskegon’s burgeoning downtown Mikey on 3rd then walk off your cholesterol to the MMA district and three lakeside state parks. It’s the year on Webster and soak in the impressive galleries. And, round diversity that makes the area special. Scream this May is the opening of the Curtis Exhibit, the North like a teenage boy fl ying down the luge track or face American Indian chronicled in original photos. http:// your fears on the Thunderhawk suspended coaster. www.muskegonartmuseum.org/ http://visitmuskegon.org/recreation/ Pigeon Hill Brewing Taste of Muskegon, Two gold medals at the Best of Craft Beer Awards Michigan Irish Music (Bend, Oregon) in 2016, is reason enough to drink local Muskegon suds. I concur with the judges, Walter Gets Festival and more Buzzed and Your Mom on French Toast are worth a day There is a keg in the name. trip or a drive across town. Downtown Muskegon is MusKEGon knows how to throw home to Muskegon Lake, cruise ships, music festivals a party and put up a beer tent. at Heritage Landing, Lumberjacks hockey and now, Besides the beer, there’s art, award-winning craft beer. food, marathons, fi shing, music, http://www.pigeonhillbrew.com/ color tours and loud motorcycles. As a festival organizer myself, listening to an Irish Frauenthal Theater tune fl oat across the water with views of Muskegon Lake is a fall must-do! And, the food and festivals have Spanish Renaissance in small town America. Muskegon stolen my heart: my fi rst date with husband Josh was is home to an immaculately restored 1700-seat theater at Taste of Muskegon. We did the get-to-know over where you can soak in the sounds of performances from Rosita’s Tacos, IceBox Ice Cream and local craft beer West Shore Symphony, take in a Civic Theater musical from Unruly and Pigeon Hill Brewing. Turns out we or national touring talent such as Second City Improv. both like tacos, soccer, biking and Muskegon. http:// No matter your entertainment genre, plant your butt in visitmuskegon.org/events/ . So, if you’re willing to try a comfy seat for a couple of hours. http://frauenthal.org/ and taste something new, don’t go looking too far away. Pere Marquette Beach on Lake Michigan Muskegon is full of sporting history as well. As a ...... young beach volleyball player visiting from Traverse Laura is the marketing strategist at FineLine City, barely 19, I remember playing my fi rst AA rated Creative and travel author who always tournament at Pere Marquette beach and being has a trip up her sleeve. Ambassador for incredibly nervous. I gawked at the impressive expanse fi nding balance in life~work~play! Follow of beach alongside my tall and talented opponents. her monthly blog at www.contentqueens. Pere Marquette is still hosting competitive beach net volleyball and a slew of other adventurous sports like

6 West Michigan PLUS | JUNE / JULY 2017 The Muskegon Harbor and its Lighthouses

By Peter Manting

When you first arrive at Muskegon Lake Michigan’s south beach to view the Muskegon lights you might wonder, like me, why the many different pier heads and wonder why the lights are located where they are. Like many of the lighthouse that line the shores of Lake Michigan the Muskegon lights have gone through many transformations from their first conception. It is my desire that by the time you finish this article that you will have a better understanding of the transformation and rich history of the Muskegon Harbor and the Muskegon lighthouses. In 1830 Congress approved the building of a lighthouse at the mouth of the Muskegon River and Lake Michigan. But even though approved it was not until 1849 that Congress appropriated funds in the amount of $3,500 to build a light there. Completed in 1851 the lighthouse was a one-half story, rubble stone dwelling with a short tower on top of it was built. The top of the tower stood twenty-six feet above the ground. Six lamps with fourteen-inch reflectors were originally used in the lantern room. In 1856 the reflectors were replaced by a sixth-order Fresnel lens. In 1867 local lumber barons made Congress aware that the Muskegon Lighthouse needed to be rebuilt. The original lighthouse was “old” and “no longer worth repairing”. was erected near the inner end of the south pier in Congress then allocated $8,000 to build a new lighthouse. 1903. The fourth order lens that was in the land based It was built in the style of the lighthouse located on Old lighthouse was removed and placed in the new tower. Mission Point. Completed in 1871 this new lighthouse was On September 27th 1903 the six order light in the a 1 ½ story wooden schoolhouse style building with a short wooden tower was turned off and replaced by this new square tower extending up from the roof at the front. The light. Shortly after being shut down the wooden tower lighthouse was equipped with a fourth order Fresnel lens. was removed from the pier and the tower on the land In 1868, supported by local business interest, the Muskegon based lighthouse was removed and the building was Harbor saw some new improvements. One of these moved to a new foundation next to the keepers house improvements was a wooden Pierhead tower built on the and became housing for the assistant keepers. In outer edge of the south pier. This tower housed the original 1907 all the structures supporting the pierhead range sixth order lens that was taken out of the first lighthouse lights were painted red. structure. The next improvements occurred In March of 1925 a new harbor entrance project was in 1899 when a fog signal building with lantern room placed announced. It proposed adapting the harbor entrance on top of it was added at the end to create an arrow head shaped entry consisting of of the south pier. The construction converging breakwaters. The plans also called for was completed when a catwalk removing the existing parallel was installed to connect the lights piers. In 1930 a seventy foot to the shore. In 1895 the light steel tower, housing an air station was assigned an assistant oscillator fog signal was keeper as it now had three lights to installed at the outer end of maintain. The positions of second the new south breakwater. assistant and third assistant were Electricity for this new light, created as the fog signal added which was operated by remote to the work of the Muskegon light control, came from a new station. Muskegon even had a powerhouse built on shore. fourth assistant from 1901 through 1906. The position of third assistant About 1000 feet of the was eliminated in 1909 and three outer ends of the existing keepers would be responsible for parallel piers were removed and the circular red tower was placed at the end of running the station from then until the shortened south pier. The light on the south breakwater and the pier head the 1940’s. light on the south pier formed a range to help mariners approach the Muskegon harbor. The final addition, in 1932, to the harbor was the installation of a flashing The present circular, metal tower acetylene light atop a skeletal tower on the north breakwater. At unknown dates the Fresnel lens in both the Breakwater light and the South Pierhead light were replaced with modern plastic optics that now display the warning lights to the modern day sailors. Surviving several harbor projects the 1903 light still remains active today. The catwalks, like the fog horn and long parallel piers sticking out into Lake Michigan are long gone......

Peter Manting is the Executive Director of the Sable Points Lighthouse Keepers Association. SPLKA’s mission is to preserve, promote and educate the public and to make our lighthouses accessible to all. SPLKA managers 4 iconic Lake Michigan lighthouses: the White River Light Station in Whitehall, Little Sable Point Lighthouse in Silver Lake, the Ludington North Breakwater Lighthouse and the Big Sable Point Lighthouse in the Ludington State Park. Peter grew up and lives in the Grand Haven/ Spring Lake area. He has had a love of local Maritime history fostered by his grandfather who would tell him stories of the many ships that frequented the Grand Haven harbor in the early 20th century. Peter has been active in the community as a former board member for the Tri-Cities Historical Museum which houses many of his grandfather’s historic ship models.

JUNE / JULY 2017 | West Michigan PLUS 7 PLUS MOVIE MINUTES YOUR MONEY MATTERS Guardians of the Taxes don’t go away Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017, Rated PG-13) The difference between the fi rst in your retirement years Guardians of the Galaxy fi lm and the new ‘Vol. 2’ is like the difference between Back in Black and For Those About to Rock We By Tom Kendra Salute You (it’s not a perfect metaphor, but bear with Like most people, you’re likely focused on how to same level or an even higher rate than when you me). Back in Black is the culmination of all the best AC/ save money on your tax returns, but don’t lose sight were working full time. With this in mind, it’s DC had to offer. Their follow-up album offers more of of how the tax decisions you make today can affect important to have both taxable and non taxable what you love about the band but given the chance your retirement plans tomorrow. retirement assets upon which you can draw in you’d pop in Back in Black. Now I’m not saying you won’t retirement so you can manage taxes and maximize If you are within fi ve years of retirement, it’s time get your money’s worth out of Guardians of the Galaxy your income in the long term. to fi ne tune your future fi nances. For example, Vol. 2 because you defi nitely will. This sequel dishes have you thought of how taxes will affect you after out more of the team’s witty, squabbling chemistry you say goodbye to your job? Securing retirement State and local taxes that made the fi rst fi lm so much fun and expands income and understanding how taxes apply to your There’s a reason, besides warm weather, that money is crucial so you can afford to live the life people retire in states like Florida and Texas. upon their relationships with old characters while introducing interesting new ones like Kurt Russell’s you want throughout your golden years. Where you retire can have a signifi cant impact Ego. It does these things, however, at the expense of a When you look at retirement assets through a tax on your after tax income because state and local lens, it becomes clear that decisions regarding the taxes can affect how long your retirement savings more coherent story. In fact, it’s diffi cult to sum up what appropriate level of guaranteed lifetime income, will last. Florida and Texas have a state income tax happens in just a sentence or two. What I can say is maximizing Social Security, working in retirement, rate of zero,so they are attractive to many retirees that, through it all, you will laugh a lot and undoubtedly and how you deploy your assets are very much who want to maximize their retirement assets. fi nd yourself choking up once or twice over some of the California, on the other hand, state income tax linked. You should consider all of these elements in more emotional moments in the movie. a holistic manner because, ultimately, the goal is to ranges from 1 to 12.3 percent. help make sure your assets support your desired In addition to state income taxes, there are sales Grade: B+ standard of living for the rest of your life. and property taxes to consider. Some states derive For those planning for retirement, following are more of their revenue from these taxes than from some tax considerations to discuss with your tax income taxes. You should understand how all of Beauty and the and legal advisors: the taxes in the state and town in which you plan to retire will affect your income. Beast Personal income tax (2017, Rated PG) Future tax rates Most people assume their personal income taxes It’s a tale as old as time yet the beloved will be lower after retirement because they won’t Another thing to consider when fi guring out your Disney animation has miraculously be generating as much income and, therefore, will post retirement income is how federal and state be in a lower tax bracket. taxes might change in the future. maintained its relevance with this leap into live-action. Director Bill Condon (Dreamgirls) But due to the recent economic downturn and It’s hard to predict whether they will remain the losses in retirement assets, the dismal personal same, be lower, or increase. A good indicator of infuses new life into familiar, heartwarming tunes like savings rate over the last decade, the decline of future federal income taxes is to look at history “Belle” and “Be Our Guest” with tightly choregraphed traditional pension plans, and the increase in the and take an educated guess. Doing so suggests dances and eye-popping visuals. You can see the full retirement age under Social Security for those that rates are at historic lows right now, which attention to detail that went into every stitch and every likely means an increase in the near future. An born after 1954, many retirees are choosing to take brick. And while the actual vocals aren’t quite up to on part time jobs. indicator of future state taxes might be the current budget position of the state, which, at the moment, par with the original (it’s tough to top Paige O’Hara), Regardless of the suggests that many states may be looking to I was swept off my feet time and again by the jovial reason for working increase their income, sales, and/or property taxes performances of the talented cast. That said, this fi lm in retirement, the in the short term. is at its best when it slows down for the more intimate income earned, combined with What does this mean for retirement planning— scenes between Beauty and Beast. Emma Watson and use of retirement especially in those critical fi ve year periods just Dan Stevens have undeniable chemistry on screen and savings, might before and just after retirement? Basically, if federal the time spent re-discovering these characters and create a situation or state taxes go up, your retirement savings and their relationship felt like a privilege. where you assets will be depleted sooner. You will have to save will be more to make your money last longer or you will Grade: A- taxed have to adjust some of your spending habits. at the As you fi nalize your taxes for this year, think ahead to how taxes will affect you down the road when you retire...... Jordan Peterson is a film student Tom Kendra is a Financial Advisor at Grand Valley State University with Prudential, with an offi ce in and works as a projectionist at Muskegon. He can be reached by Celebration! Cinema Carousel in phone at (231) 563-6638, fax at (231) Muskegon. He is an aspiring writer- 375-5229 or e-mail at tom.kendra@ director as well as an amateur prudential.com screenwriter and reviewer. Some of his favorite movies include (500) Days of Summer, The Muppets, and Evil Dead 2.

8 West Michigan PLUS | JUNE / JULY 2017 As a heat wave rolls into West Michigan, parents pack There are countless books and online resources, their kids into the SUV and drive down to the beach LAKESHORE FAMILY including some you can practice together as a for some fun in the sun, sand and salt-free surf on family, like Sitting Still Like a Frog. Sometimes just the shores of Lake Michigan. What a beautiful time of sitting for a moment to breathe is all you need to year to live at the Lakeshore! let go of some of that stress. When we’re tense and overwhelmed, our breathing becomes shallow and While you’re reaching for that tall glass of ice water to Fill Your Cup quick, the opposite of what our body needs. Focus on quench your thirst from the summer heat, pause for a taking intentional, deep breaths, breathing into your moment and think – is my glass full? As a parent, you By Heather Artushin diaphragm, and release any tension in your muscles. pour into your children every day with love, training, discipline, teaching and relationship-building. You Use unexpected moments of “found” time to fi ll your pour out your energy into keeping a clean house cup. Listening to uplifting music, talking to a trusted for your family to call home, feeding your kids and serves as a simple reminder to practice self-care. friend, spending time in prayer or making a list fi lling these warm days with fun and enriching As a parent, your children always come fi rst, of what you’re grateful for today are ways to open activities sure to make for a memorable summer. Not sometimes to a fault. Imagine being on an airplane, your heart and allow others to pour into you. Extend to mention the demands at work, taking care of your and the fl ight attendant instructs you to secure your grace to yourself – leave the dishes (they’ll be there aging parents, investing in your marriage, building oxygen mask during an emergency. Your fi rst instinct tomorrow!) and enjoy that relaxing bubble bath or and maintaining friendships… the list goes on! is to get the mask on your child sitting next to you, funny movie. Better yet, spare yourself the dishes in the fi rst place and order a pizza. At the end of the day, Just like pouring from a watering can to nourish your but you realize that you’re instructed to put your you can’t pour from an empty glass – how will you fi ll plants will leave it empty, your glass doesn’t replenish mask on fi rst for a reason. The only way to be helpful yours? itself. Are you trying to pour from an empty glass? to your child, or other people around you, is to take care of yourself fi rst...... Here are a few signs that your cup needs to be fi lled. You’re feeling… So how do you make time for self-care when life is Heather Artushin is a local writer and so demanding? First and foremost, get back to the - burned out child & family therapist who enjoys basics of getting a good night’s sleep and making - unenthusiastic writing about lakeshore living in healthy choices at mealtimes. It’s amazing what sleep - “out of control” and nutrition can do! Being active and making it to West Michigan, from practical ideas - cynical your doctor’s appointments are also important. for family fun to meaningful ways to - resentful What if you’ve got the basics covered and your foster children’s emotional wellness - frustrated cup is still empty? Managing stress is one of the - irritable and family togetherness. Heather holds a Master’s hardest things to do, and one of the most important - withdrawn degree in Clinical Social Work from the University of skills we can develop. Different things work for - overwhelmed Michigan. Her work can also be found in Michigan different people, so it might take some time and self- If little twinges of guilt rear their ugly heads while exploration to discover what helps you fi nd peace and History Magazine, Grand Rapids Magazine, and reading this list, squash them! You are an amazing relaxation in the midst of a busy life. the Grand Haven Tribune, among others. Share vessel of love and nurturing – a vessel that needs to your story, comments or ideas with Heather at be re-fi lled in order to continue pouring out into your Mindfulness exercises help us to slow down those [email protected]. family. Most parents struggle with an empty glass racing thoughts to focus on the present, a skill that at one time or another, but the experience always can help us savor precious moments with our kids.

JUNE / JULY 2017 | West Michigan PLUS 9 Preserving Small-Town Charm TIM TODD’S LOVE FOR MONTAGUE RUNS DEEP

By Marla Miller

Walking down Ferry Street from the site His father, Robert “Bob,” and uncle, Jim, lunch counter. The soda fountain was the and said all his credits would transfer. of his family’s former business toward the grew up on a farm in Dalton, graduated real draw.” “There’s nobody on campus,” he said. “I had Dowling Street hill, where Montague’s from Whitehall High School and both When his uncle Jim passed away in 1986, no idea where I was. There’s one person in infamous pumpkin roll takes place every became pharmacists. After working at other Todd’s mom, Grace, came on as bookkeeper the whole building. I literally fell into it. If it October, Tim Todd yells hello to a DECA pharmacies in the area — Jim at Pitkin’s after teaching in Montague for 33 years. The wouldn’t have been for that episode, that student jogging across the street, greets a and Bob at Lipka’s — they opened their own family sold the business in December 1999 changed my life.” man entering White River Yoga, and walks store in 1959 as area factories brought more as Bob’s health started to fail. in Lipka’s Old Fashion Soda Fountain & jobs and people. After graduating from Western, Todd taught Restaurant to talk to his childhood neighbor The younger Todd wasn’t sure about at Van Buren Technology Center near The Todd family operated the business, about how the annual event got started. college, but he enrolled in MCC because his Kalamazoo for 11 years and also earned his including a popular soda fountain and lunch Todd isn’t the mayor, but seems to know friends were. There, in his fi nal semester, master’s degree. He decided to take a leave counter, for 40 years, and expanded their most everyone from his years as a teacher, he credits a bit of divine intervention for and return home in 1991. Hallmark card and gift shop into another active church leader, and involvement with pointing him toward a new career path. “I took one year totally off,” he said. “It was storefront in the 1980s. They employed downtown events. He presently serves on While walking in the cafeteria, he noticed so good, so good.” many local high school students, including the city council and chairs the Downtown a sign on the wall: Combine two careers — Miss America Nancy Anne Fleming and two Todd settled back into life in Montague Development Authority and virtually grew business and teaching. Asparagus Festival queens. and decided to stay, helping his family at up on Ferry Street, working for his parents “I thought I would be stocking shelves and the store, teaching as an adjunct at MCC at Todd Pharmacy, now occupied by The Todd Pharmacy was a happening place working in the store all my life,” he said. and a course at Montague High School. In Book Nook & Java Shop. prior to the rise of big box retailers and “That’s when the vision was created. It 1993, he started at MHS full time, teaching chain store pharmacies. The lunch counter Todd remembers being in the store as a never occurred to me I could be a business everything from marketing to keyboarding, could seat 32 people, and workers from toddler, stocking the shelves, working the teacher.” computers, yearbook and work study, and local factories would stop in for breakfast fl oor and hiring and training employees retired in 2014. or lunch and pick up their prescriptions or Todd visited Western Michigan University in high school, and helping to manage it personal care items, Todd said. with a friend over spring break and made During his tenure, Montague added a DECA while he studied marketing and business at his way to a nearby building. He was program in 1996 and Todd served as the Muskegon Community College in the mid- “Back then, grocery stores didn’t have greeted by a professor, Dr. Jack T. Humbert, advisor, sending hundreds of students to 1970s. things like shampoo, soap and shaving kits,” who met with him without an appointment leadership conferences and competitions Todd said. “But the secret to success was the

10 West Michigan PLUS | JUNE / JULY 2017 over the years. He still helps with the involved in his community.” According to local lore, late-night serves a special pumpkin menu during program and sits on MHS’s marketing pranksters used to release pumpkins down Pumpkinfest. Ream said the two sometimes Todd’s calendar stays full with various program advisory committee. the hill causing damage to downtown catch fl ak for being stuck in their ways, but school, community and church activities. businesses. Owners and local law they don’t want Montague to turn into a He also became involved with Montague’s Besides serving on city council and enforcement came up with the idea for a Grand Haven. Free from chain restaurants, DDA, serving on the fi rst Cruz’in committee several boards, he is a fi eld coordinator for sanctioned event to deter them. crowds and traffi c, they like the slower pace and helping since the fi rst event in West Michigan Great Lakes Stewardship and family-friendly feel. 1995. Held on the last Friday in July, the Initiative and a substitute teacher. He is “They thought that by legalizing this community car show was started to help very active in his church, Montague United prankster activity, that it would reduce the “Montague is really important to us. I think draw people downtown and includes a car Methodist Church, as a lay leader and other night activity, which it did,” Todd said. my dad would be happy,” Ream said of parade, music, food and fun for all ages. leadership positions. Montague’s popular pumpkin roll down helping to maintain Montague’s charming “When you bring activity, you downtown area. “I always brag to bring people,” he said. “When you people our town is just like Mayberry bring people, you bring business.” and I like it that way. I’m proud of that.” It’s a tribute to the cruising era, featuring classic cars – as many “Where else can you come and feel as 400 in some years – from the peace,” she said. “I feel that here. I late 1950s to 1975. Owners cruise feel thankful I got to stay.” from Whitehall to Montague Todd is also happy to live where where they park in downtown and others come to vacation and show off their shiny automobiles. carry on his family’s legacy of Many people plan their family and community service. His dad served high school class reunions and on city council and his uncle helped vacations around it. organize Montague High School’s “I’m not the car guy. I’m the Showboat variety show. marketing guy,” he said. “For me, He’s proud of the DDA’s major it’s a homecoming. There are accomplishments, including people who will plan their class downtown events like Cruz’in, reunions around it. I have people moving Montague’s claim to fame call me during the winter and ask – the world’s largest weathervane ‘when’s Cruz’in?’” – to higher ground, adding the new This year, Montague celebrates Farmers Market stalls and starting its 150th anniversary and various the façade improvement program to events are planned throughout the help downtown businesses pay for summer. There will be activities façade upgrades. during the two weeks leading up “We want to be a slow city,” Todd to Cruz’in, with the big weekend July 28- Dowling Hill started in 1996 and led to the said. “We like it. People work really hard in 30. One of those includes opening a time One of his most rewarding volunteer roles is annual Pumpkinfest a year later, which is Chicago, Kalamazoo, Lansing and Grand capsule from 1967 that will be displayed at with Montague High School’s new Campus held on the second Saturday in October. It’s Rapids to spend a week or two on vacation City Hall. Life group, a division of Youth for Christ, a day devoted to pumpkins with pumpkin in Montague. which meets on Mondays at his church and In 2009, Todd received the White Lake Area pie baking contests, seed spitting contests, provides food, activities and fellowship to “It’s a balance,” he continued. “We want Chamber of Commerce’s El Award, given pumpkin painting and carving contests and high school students, he said. businesses in all the buildings, but we don’t to one outstanding business or community more. Plus, it brings people to downtown Todd coordinates volunteers for the want to be a franchise city.” leader and voted on by past recipients, said Montague at the end of the tourist season. pumpkin roll, recruiting Montague DECA Amy VanLoon, executive director of White Downtown business owners, including ...... students to help with the event for the last Lake Area Chamber of Commerce. Glenn Lipka and then-mayor Henry Roesler, 20 years. Hundreds of pumpkin rolling Marla R. Miller is a were in on it. Not only has he infl uenced numerous participants gather to roll a pumpkin down professional writer and lives throughout the years as a marketing the hill and the winner of each round “We thought ‘we need to have some kind of Total Control instructor teacher, but he also taught students how to receives a ribbon. festival,’” said Patti Lipka Ream, who serves who lives in Norton be a good citizen through volunteerism and on the DDA with Todd and also grew up Shores and enjoys writing “In order to pull this off, it takes dozens and giving back, she said. with him. “We didn’t think it would take off.” about the people, places dozens of volunteers,” VanLoon said. “That’s Ream and Todd lived across the street and events that make “Tim Todd has been an active community another part, getting these DECA students from each other and also spent their youth West Michigan a great member for decades and is just held in very to sign up and show up and help. It’s a downtown since her parents owned Lipka’s place to live. Learn more about her at high regard,” VanLoon said. “Even in his way to say ‘hey, this is a way to give back Drug Store on the same street. She has marlarmiller.com. retirement, he has stayed plugged in with to our community.’ It’s an overall learning since turned it into an ice cream, soda those DECA students and continued to be moment.” fountain parlor and restaurant, which

JUNE / JULY 2017 | West Michigan PLUS 11 AN EYE ON EDUCATION Local has worked What’s so special hard for taste of about a “Graduate”? The path is common; what Hollywood glamour happens next is not. By Dave LeMieux By Steve Edwards Yes, Muskegon native Christopher M. In late May and early June all over the country, high school seniors (about Walsh’s recent short appearance (his 2,000 in my county alone) walk across a stage, secure their diploma, and enter second) on NBC’s hit TV series ‘Chicago the next stage of their lives. What’s so special about that? Let me answer that, Fire,’ certainly had an undeniable taste of in part, with a story and also by answering what is not special. Hollywood glamour to it. Several years ago, I ruptured my Achilles tendon and spent about 4 months in And, while it was the fi rst time most of his a leg cast and then a walking boot. People were curious and often asked what one-time neighbors (as well as a goodly happened or asked how I was doing. When asked “Steve or Mr. Edwards, percentage of the entire country) got a what happened to your leg?” I had visions (or delusions) of answering with chance to watch him perform, Walsh is far something like this: “Well, it was the fi nal round of my fi rst MMA fi ght and from an overnight success. my opponent couldn’t fi nd a weakness, so he dove for my Achilles tendon. He’s been supporting himself and his family Or something like this…. “you know that guy who robbed the “cash advance as a writer and actor in Chicago for more store” last week…I injured myself when I tackled him and saved the day. I than two decades, now, and can’t imagine actually tried the fi rst one about the MMA fi ght, and was immediately looked doing anything else. up and down at my middle aged, worn out body and met with “yeah, you were His fi rst appearance on ‘Chicago Fire,’ was in an MMA fi ght”. as Mick, a bartender, on Season 3’s fourth The truth often isn’t nearly as exciting or “special” as the story. The truth is episode, “Apologies are Dangerous.” His most recent appearance was as Culotta, that “logistically” what happened to me was entirely predictable. I turned 43, a fi refi ghter, on Season 5’s 14th episode, I gained 20 pounds, I didn’t stretch in 39 degree weather and I ran full speed “Purgatory.” Both were speaking roles. into Lake Michigan. My Achilles laughed at me as it snapped. “ ‘Chicago Fire’ is just one of the many Our graduates will be and have been asked similar questions by people in different things that make up my career as their lives. It could be at their open house, or another similar event. Someone a theater artist,” he says, enthusiastically. is going to ask them “how did you get here? How did you become a high “There’s stage acting, auditions, TV & There is, however, a real human element school graduate?” Most graduates are going to wish they had something very radio voiceover work. Last year I spent a to the working on a big budget production. exciting; some tall tale of overcoming insurmountable odds to be standing day working with high school kids who “My fi rst time on the show, a couple of here today. They are going to wish that they could spin a tale about how, in were adapting stories from one medium to years ago, I was on camera with one of another. I spend a lot of time with (Lifeline spite of being subjected to non-stop screen time, and overhearing the phrase the principals – Taylor Kinney (who plays Theatre and WildClaw Theatre) and work as that we all roll our eyes at “kids today”…….they persevered to the bitter end. heartthrob fi refi ghter Kelly Severide). We a literary manager reading other people’s But, much like my story, our graduates will fi nd themselves concluding that met and chatted on the way over to the set. scripts. There are a lot of different pieces.” the logistics of how they got here wasn’t very special and was, indeed, very He seemed like a nice guy. I’m a big guy, a predictable. Grandma is going to say, “Grandson, tell us how you did it.” “It’s immensely exciting. Every time a new bit taller than him, but I didn’t think about And…..this is what most of them are going to say (if they’re honest). “You see project comes along there’s that rush of it until we got on set. We walked through grandma, when I turned fi ve….my parents did something….they sent me to excitement something new gives,” Walsh the scene and then, as soon as the director Kindergarten. I did what my teachers and parents asked and guess what?... says. “And there’s always something new called, ‘Action!’ Taylor was the only person the next year I went to 1st grade. In 1st grade….I did what my teachers and coming along.” in the room. He just turned on that presence. It was fascinating to watch.” parents asked me to do and guess what…..they sent me to 2nd grade. That Walsh got his fi rst acting experience as a cycle happened 13 times, and the next thing I knew…. I was sitting at the high school student in Muskegon and at Walsh most recently demonstrated some commencement ceremony.” The “logistics” are predictable…..it’s the story of Muskegon Community College. He’s been a of that same presence himself in the role of each of our graduates that is SPECIAL. It’s the choices they made, the grades familiar face in Chicago’s storefront theater The Player in the Metropolitan Performing they earned and the friends they chose. What’s special is the person they’ve scene almost from the moment he enrolled Arts Center’s production of Tom Stoppard’s become. What’s special is the perseverance, dedication, and relationships our at Columbia College’s theater arts program ‘Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead’ graduates have built with friends, staff, teammates and their families while in 1994. in suburban Chicago. they’ve struggled and succeeded. His adaptation of the Count of Monte Cristo “It’s a much bigger theater and I get to and an original script ‘Miss Holmes’ (which perform to the back of the house, to project Congratulations to the Class of 2017 all across West Michigan. The path, for imagines what Sherlock’s and Dr. Watson’s my voice and to be more theatrical,” Walsh most, has been predictable and planned…… the NEXT step is up to you! careers might have been like had they been says. “And I get all the good jokes.” born women in Victorian England) are Yours in education, Steve ...... among his writing credits for the stage...... So, while the recognition and smattering Dave LeMieux is west Steve is the Superintendent of Reeths Puffer Schools, of glamour the comes with projects like Michigan-based freelance located in Rocket City, Michigan. He graduated from ‘Chicago Fire’ is always welcome, it’s a very writer, sometime triathlete, both Eastern Michigan University and Grand Valley small drop in the very big bucket that’s world traveler and inveterate State University and holds his Master’s Degree in Walsh’s long, successful career. reader of books great and Educational Leadership. He has two school-aged “ ‘Chicago Fire is a lot of fun,” Walsh says. small. children, Sydney and Kaden and is the lucky husband of Karyn. “At that level, though, it’s a really tightly run Steve enjoys teaching, coaching, leading, and reading. machine. It’s all very effi cient.”

12 West Michigan PLUS | JUNE / JULY 2017 The Back-Up Plan Good Reads A Gentleman in Moscow By Brenda Durga by Amor Towles

We all use our computers for various $700. A sacrifi ce for the good of your It’s hard to believe you’d meet a more congenial person, in fi ction or things: watching videos, connecting fi les, right? reality, than Count Alexander Ilyich Rostov. Imposing in stature, gallant with friends and family, business, and in manners, he is a man who has chosen to rise above his circumstances 3: Back-up disk! This option can a place to store all of our data and (sentenced to house arrest at the Metropol Hotel, located across the actually help you save your programs precious memories… And then your street from the Kremlin, in 1922) to continuously embrace and promote and help you restore your Operating computer crashes or gets a mysterious what is good in life: delicious food and drink, a sharp mind and fl exible Systems. It’s incredibly cheap but, virus that wipes everything from your wit, familial and romantic love, loyal friendship and so much more, even can’t exactly save everything if you drive making this “oh so useful” piece as the dark shadows of the world outside the hotel menace and occasionally threaten the have over a TB of fi les. An external of technology into a useless piece of life he has built. Full of lush descriptions and memorably drawn characters, Towles has is recommended for a back-up of this junk. Don’t panic! There is a way of written a book that goes on this librarian’s list of “sure bets” – a book that can be safely back-up. preventing this horrifying scenario recommended to anyone. If you’re looking for the perfect read to take you into the summer from taking everything you hold dear 4: A Cloud! Why carry a device around months, this is it. to you and your business. with you that can be broken or lost? A cloud lives up to its name by being an Here are some options that will help Short Nights of the Shadow Catcher: the Epic Life untouchable but useful storage option. you sleep better at night: You can get a free cloud for storage with and Immortal Photographs of Edward Curtis 1: Get yourself a USB Flash Drive! businesses like Dropbox which offers a by Timothy Egan These sweet little babies range in free, according to dropbox.com, 2GB size from 2GB all the way up to a of storage. You do, of course, get more While you may not know the name Edward Curtis, you more than likely whopping 256GB! They all vary in for your money and if you pay the right know his work. Some of the most iconic images of Native Americans that price depending on where you get price you can get an unlimited amount Americans are familiar with are photographs he took over the course them and can be extremely useful of storage. Unfortunately, this option of a decades-long project to document and preserve what he perceived when it comes to storing your fi les and usually needs an internet connection as “vanishing” peoples and cultures. Notable nonfi ction author Timothy pictures of dear aunt Milly! The cons for you to access your fi les. Egan (The Big Burn, The Worst Hard Time, The Immortal Irishman) of this remarkable little device is that Check out your local computer shops weaves Curtis’s life story and artistic accomplishments into the history it is a dinky little thing and can be lost and libraries for classes on how to back of both America and its native peoples in the early 1900s. or tossed in a washing machine on the up and protect your data. Create a one day you didn’t check your pants. A self-made artist and adventurer, Curtis began the project that became The North backup plan TODAY! If found by a stranger they could fi nd American Indian in 1906, and the twenty-volume set of books and photographs your USB and/or data rather useful, ...... documenting Native American life (language, music, history, culture, and religion) took him 30 years to research and complete. Along the way he faced grave danger, lost his for themselves. So be careful with this Brenda Durga is little guy. one of the owners of business and marriage, cultivated relationships with native peoples across America and rubbed elbows with fi gures like Teddy Roosevelt, who wrote the introduction to the book 2: An external hard drive! These Technology Bytes in North Muskegon series, and J. Pierpont Morgan, who underwrote the fi eldwork, but none of Curtis’s own amazing devices are not only a bit expenses. bigger than a USB but, are also able near the 750 Grill. She to hold SO MUCH MORE. These bad takes our “tech talk” From May 11th through September 10th, you have the opportunity to view the entirety boys range from around 320 GB all the and translates it so our of The North American Indian in a stunning exhibit at the Muskegon Museum of Art, way up to 6TB. How big is that? That’s customer understand what’s going on where set #70 of the work has resided since the early 1900s. There is an exceptional around 1,500 hours of HD videos or with their computer, how the process slate of programming to go along with the exhibition; details about both can be found works, and educates them on how to around 1,200,000 Digital photos. Mind on the museum’s website at: http://www.muskegonartmuseum.org/edward-curtis-north- maintain their computer moving forward. boggling right? Technology can only american-indian/ It is so much more than fi xing computers improve with time. A con of the external for Brenda, it is about creating long lasting ...... hard drive is that it is a bit more pricy friendships and actually being a great and can sometimes one-punch-knock- resource for her customers. Laura J. Kraly is the Head of Adult Services at the Loutit District Library out your wallet. Depending on where www.technology-bytes.com in Grand Haven, MI where she answers questions, selects books for the you get them they can cost as much brenda@technology-bytes. collection, provides tech support for the library’s electronic resources and gives reading, watching and listening suggestions. While reading is a lifelong passion, she also enjoys watching hockey, doing Zumba and yoga, cooking Italian food, and traveling.

JUNE / JULY 2017 | West Michigan PLUS 13 Part 5 in a series by Mercy Health: Innovations in Health Care Emergency vs. Urgent Care 7JTJU
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QN Saturday, March 11 between visiting an ER vs. cause is unknown both 24/7 emergency and trauma Downtown Montague Cars • Loss of consciousness services, as well as urgent care. 8am-12:30pm cruise at 7 p.m. from Whitehall to Urgent Care? Whitehall High School Montague where they will be on • Severe burns Over 50 booths exhibiting services display in the downtown area. DJ, A: There are differences when it • Severe head pain or injury, in the White Lake community food and fun for all. ______comes to choosing Urgent Care or including loss of vision Emergency Care for your immediate FARMERS MARKET WHITE LAKE CHAMBER • Suspected drug overdose MUSIC FESTIVAL health care needs. Knowing them can Wednesdays & Saturdays • Suspected poisoning June - October 9am – 1pm August 3 – 13 save you time and money and ensure • Uncontrolled breathing Montague 7BSJPVT
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MPDBUJPOT that you are receiving the right level ______A mix of visiting professional of care. MONTAGUE groups & local talent offer wide Q: Are there other signs to variety of performances through- ARTISAN MARKET out the White Lake Area. look for? June – September ______Q: When should you use 1st Saturday of each month A: Signs of a possible stroke should from 9am – 1pm WLASA FISH BOIL Urgent Care? 4BUVSEBZ
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QN alert you to go to the ER, preferably Located adjacent to the Farmers A: Urgent Care centers are designed by ambulance: Market, Montague The annual Bill Gillan Memo- to handle a variety of conditions, ______rial Fish Boil will be held at the • Sudden numbness, tingling, Montague Band Shell. The event illnesses and injuries that need to be SUMMER CONCERT SERIES weakness or loss of movement in is sponsored by the White Lake treated right away but are not life- June-August at 7 pm Area Sportfishing Association. All your face, arm or leg, especially on threatening. Urgent Care is a good Montague Band Shell offers free proceeds support fishing improve- only one side of your body concerts every Tuesday ments in the White Lake area place to receive care after hours, Concert-goers can enjoy the music ______• Sudden vision changes holidays or when your Primary Care of jazz, folk, country, swing and 12TH ANNUAL LABOR DAY • Sudden trouble speaking Emergency Centers: international groups. Programs are provider isn’t available. Urgent Care COMMUNITY WALK • Sudden confusion or trouble sponsored by the Arts Council. .POEBZ
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QN physicians will treat the problem Mercy Health Hackley Campus ______understanding simple statements Hart-Montague Bike Trail, at the then recommend follow-up with your Levell II Trauma Center TASTE OF WHITE LAKE • Sudden problems with walking or trailhead behind Montague Foods Primary Care doctor or nurse. 1700 Clinton Street, Muskegon 5IVSTEBZ
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together to show off an array of • Back strains Mercy Health Lakeshore Campus 6:30pm-8:00pm different from past headaches food and spirits • Bladder infections 72 S. State Street, Shelby ______An outdoor concert at the Goodrich • Bug bites or small animal bites 231.861.3045 Park Gazebo in Whitehall. All Q: When should you call WHITE LAKE AREA Proceeds benefit the White Lake • Coughs, congestion and sinus NATURE WALKS 911? Mercy Health Mercy Campus Food Pantry. problems 1st Saturday of each month ______1500 E. Sherman Boulevard +VOF

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QN • Minor burns chest pain or severe bleeding, if feel LAKE FATHER’S DAY 9:30 a.m. registration Urgent Care Locations: ARTS & CRAFTS • Minor lacerations like you might faint or if your vision is The famous Pumpkin Roll down impaired. Saturday & Sunday, the Dowling Hill and Arts and Crafts • Nausea and/or vomiting Mercy Health Lakes Village June 17 & 18 show plus many pumpkin events • Pink eye or other minor eye For certain medical emergencies, 6401 Prairie Street, Norton Shores 4BUVSEBZ

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painting, seed spitting, pumpkin Near The Lakes Mall carving & more! Goodrich Park Annex, Whitehall ______• Rashes taking an ambulance is safer because 9 a.m.–9 p.m., Monday–Friday Juried Art Festival. Continuous • Sprains or minor injuries paramedics can deliver life-saving 9 a.m.–6 p.m., Saturday–Sunday entertainment and food court. DEPOT TO DEPOT • Throat pain care on the way to the hospital. More than 75 booths will be 4BUVSEBZ
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231.724.7800 presenting at this festival. ______BNQN Mercy Health General Campus 12th Annual Muskegon County Q: When should you go to an Q: When should you call for WEST MICHIGAN WINE 1700 Oak Avenue, Muskegon Fall Color Tour Travel between Emergency Room (ER)? & JAZZ FESTIVAL White Lake Area Chamber Depot an ambulance? 9 a.m.–9 p.m., 7 days a week +VOF

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delaying care could cause permanent • Have severe bleeding or blood loss Mercy Health Ludington 5656 W. US 10 (Northwest corner of of live jazz performances and artist HOLIDAY WALK harm or even death. If you or a • Are having diffi culty breathing receptions. ______'SJEBZ

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QN Emergency responders are trained to 231.843.2543 Q: When is it not necessary entries are involved in this family Enjoy Carriage Rides Friday & react quickly and transport you to the fun, annual parade. Mercy Health Physician Partners ______Saturday, use the Muskegon Trolley facility that best meets your needs. to call an ambulance? to travel from store to store all day A: It is not necessary to call an Lakeshore Medical Center — 5)
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who need immediate care 231.728.5910 A family event with an antique When unexpected things happen, Whitehall to Montague and • Diffi culty breathing boat show and historical displays. you need immediate, convenient Held at Goodrich Park in Whitehall. concluding with Santa in his sleigh! ______More than 60 entries for this festive event.

14 West Michigan PLUS | JUNE / JULY 2017 JUNE / JULY 2017 | West Michigan PLUS 15 16 West Michigan PLUS | JUNE / JULY 2017