now in our 11th year march 2014 neighbors - … of m-40. cass play groups scheduled cass county...
TRANSCRIPT
inside...Regional News.....................Pages 2-3
Regional Events........................Page 4
Recipes................................Pages 8, 9
Floyd’s Postcards..............Page 12-14
The Last Word ........................Page 18
Neighbors is published monthly from
March through December.
Neighbors102 S. Broadway
Cassopolis, MI 49031(269) 445-9200
http://www.cassneighbors.com
[email protected] @beanstalk.net
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Cass Co. Neighbors102 S. BroadwayCassopolis, MI 49031
NOW IN OUR 11TH YEAR! March 2014
NEIGHBORShttp://www.CassNeighbors.com
A Cass County Newspaper distributed in Dowagiac, Cassopolis, Edwardsburg, Vandalia, Jones, Marcellus, Decatur, Union, Sister Lakes, Three Rivers, Elkhart and Mishawaka
with home delivery at Diamond, Eagle, Birch, Corey, Donnell, Indian, Magician, Shavehead, Baldwin, Long, Dewey, Cable, Juno, Christiana, Painter, Paradise, Stone, Buck, Lewis, Big & Little Twin and Bair Lakes
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Federal Employees to meetThe National Association of Active &
Retired Federal Employees SW Michigan
Chapter will hold their next meeting on
Tuesday, April 22 at 6 pm at the Super
buffet in Benton Harbor (next to Big
Lots). All retired/current federal employ-
ees, spouses/families are welcome. For
information, call Jean Rowe at 269 782
2769 or e mail [email protected].
For information, call Jean Rowe, 782-
2769 or email [email protected].
Earth Day schedule changeEarth Day 2014 will take place at
Cass County’s Dr. Lawless Park in
Vandalia on Saturday, May 10, from 2 - 7
pm. Being Mother’s Day weekend the
event will be paying tribute to “Mother
Earth” with interactive environmental
education, outdoor games and hiking
opportunities, recycled art and music.
Organizations will be highlighting issues
such as species extinction, wetland pro-
tection, energy conservation, concerns
with fracking, climate change, and more.
John Dudley the Magician will be return-
ing and music will include the new band
The ChillBillies plus, we will be graced
with a special appearance by the world
renowned Sixth Generation Band. For
more information contact Korie Blyveis at
269-506-8334, [email protected] or
www.earthdaypark.webs.com.
Wakelee Church to hold 11th chili cookoff and live auction
The Wakelee United Methodist
Church in Marcellus will host its 11th
annual chili cookoff and live auction
beginning at 6 pm Saturday, March 15,
The evening of fun and fundraising
will help send local youth to UMC camps.
The menu will consist of many varieties
of chili, corn bread, dessert and a bever-
age. Hot dogs will also be available for
the children. The cost is $5 adults, $3
children (ages 3 and under eat free).
New this year will be a live auction
with auctioneer David Haase starting the
bidding at 7 pm. Auction items will
include are two beautiful handcrafted
bed-size quilts, produced by experienced
quilters Claire Knapp and Deb
Breseman. The Wakelee Woodcutters, a
group of men who cut and donate wood to
local families in need of wood to heat
their homes, have donated a trailerload of
cut and split mixed hardwood that they
arrange to deliver to the winning bidder.
Among other items are a bench drill
press, a rolling stool, Disney character
dolls, a deluxe bird feeder, crocheted baby
afghans, wool mittens, eggs laid by free-
range chickens and a variety of baked
goods.
To enter the chili competition, donate
an item for the auction or purchase tick-
ets, call 646-2049 and leave a message.
Tickets will also be available at the door
the evening of the cook-off.
The church’s is at 15921 Dutch
Settlement St., Marcellus, three miles
west of M-40.
Cass Play Groups scheduledCass County parents and caregivers
of children aged up to 6 years old are
invited to attend March’s Great Start
Play Groups. There is no cost to attend.
Meet other parents and allow your child
to socialize with other children their age.
Some of this month’s Play Groups will
feature a craft to do with your child as
well as play areas that encourage devel-
opmental skills. Open Play days will also
be offered. A snack is provided. You are
welcome to join any or all of the Play
Groups and are encouraged to bring
along friends and family.
Play Group dates are:
■ March 5: 9:30-11 am, Open Play
■ March 11 and 12: 9:30-11 am, Parent-
Child Activity
■ March 18 and 19: 9:30-11 am, Open
Play
■ March 25: 9:30-11 am, Parent-Child
Activity
■ March 26: 9:30-10:30 am, Parent-Child
Activity
All Play Groups will be in the Play
Group Room in the Early Childhood
Wing of Squires Elementary School in
Cassopolis, 725 Center St. Please use the
York St. entrance to the back side of the
building and enter in the Play Group
Room Door. If Lewis Cass ISD or
Cassopolis Schools are closed/delayed, the
Play Group will be cancelled. For more
information contact Vicki Foote at
[email protected] or call 445-6283.
Cass County launches websites Last year, the Cass County Board of
Commissioners approved funding of a
tourism website project aimed at increas-
ing tourism and growing revenues for
local parks and businesses in Cass
County.
The purpose of the new site,
http://casscountybusiness.com/, is to
entice people living outside of Cass
County to come here for entertainment,
leisure and recreational pursuits, and to
educate residents about all that is avail-
able to them in our own backyards.
High on the list of things to do in
Cass County is outdoor recreation, like
the groomed cross-country & snowshoe
trails and sledding hills at Dr. T.K.
Lawless Park. During other seasons Cass
County Parks offer hiking trails, biking
courses, horseback riding trails, camp-
grounds, kayaking, and a trout stream
for some good fly casting! And, don’t for-
get that Cass County has over 200 lakes
and waterways. On the Discover Cass
County website you can easily find the
lakes with public access for boating,
swimming and year-round fishing.
Drawing from our agricultural com-
munity, the site will feature local farm
markets, fairs, festivals and u-pick times
and places. From our rich cultural history
we will show historical sites, provide tour
information and links to museums and
cultural events like the annual Pokagon
Tribe’s Kee-Boon-Mein-Kaa Pow Wow, in
late summer. Visitors to the Discover
Cass County website will also find infor-
mation for artistic and cultural events,
theater productions, literary events,
church events, educational workshops
and lectures, benefits, auctions, fundrais-
ers and much more with a few clicks of
the mouse or touch of the screen.
The website is easy to navigate and
mobile accessible across most types of
media including iPhones, iPads and most
Android phones and tablets. All data-
enabled phone users should be able to get
maps and directions to any venue listed
on the website. Working in collaboration
with local Chambers, business owners,
schools, churches, club and other Cass
County organizations the site will keep
an events page up to date with enough
lead time for residents and tourists to
plan ahead so they can enjoy all that
Cass County has to offer.
None of this comes without a price.
But, collectively the price is small. The
companion to DiscoverCassCounty.com is
CassCountyBusiness.com, which is a
local business directory for all Cass
County-based businesses and organiza-
tions. The CassCountyBusiness.com web-
site will be up and running April 1st.
Every business in Cass County will get a
free basic listing and be indexed by busi-
ness category. Businesses owners will be
able to create an account and upgrade
their free listings to include a logo, web-
site link, hours of operation and direc-
tions to their business. Businesses will
also be able to place banner ads and post
specials on the site. Fees collected will go
directly to funding the Discover Cass
County tourism website.
The Discover Cass County website
will always be a work in progress, which
depends on the input of Cass County
Chambers, clubs, churches, schools, park
employees and residents.
SMC announces tuition hikeThe Southwestern Michigan College
Board of Trustees has adopted the tuition
and fee schedule to be effective for the
2014 fall semester. Changes include a
$1.75 per contact hour increase for in-dis-
trict students, a $2.75 increase for out-of-
district students, a $3 increase for out-of-
state students and a $4.25 increase for
international students. New contact hour
rates represent less than a two-percent
increase as follows: in-district, $111.25
(up from $109.50); in-state, $144.25 (up
from $141.50); out-of-state, $157 (up from
$154); and international, $202.25 (up
from $198). Additionally, trustees
approved a $1-per-hour increase in the
college’s registration fee (up from $16.75)
and a $1 increase in the technology fee
(up from $25).
VanderVeen joins Tuesley HallKonopa’s Estate Planning Group
Jennifer L. VanderVeen recently
joined Tuesley Hall Konopa, LLP as a
PAGE 2 NEIGHBORS MARCH 2014
REGIONAL NEWS
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PAGE 3 NEIGHBORS MARCH 2014
REGIONAL NEWSmember of the Estate Planning Practice
group. VanderVeen is certified as an
Elder Law Attorney by the National
Elder Law Foundation.
As an Elder Law attorney
VanderVeen counsels families on issues
involving caring for aging and disabled
individuals, asset protection, special
needs trusts, Veterans benefits and
guardianships.
VanderVeen is a member of the
Indiana State Bar Association, and the
State Bar of Michigan.
Tuesley Hall Konopa’s practice areas
include estate planning, estate adminis-
tration, trust administration and probate,
elder law, business counsel, civil media-
tion and civil litigation. To find out more
about the firm or to contact an attorney
visit http://thklaw.com
LaGrow awarded recertification Cynthia LaGrow, Economic
Development Director for the City of
Dowagiac Cass County Economic
Development Corp. has been awarded re-
certification by the International
Economic Development Council effective
April 1.
LaGrow first achieved the Certified
Economic Developer designation in 2003.
CEcD recertification, required every
three years, is awarded to people who
meet requirements for continuing educa-
tion and service to the profession.
With over 17 years of economic devel-
opment experience, LaGrow has many
accomplishments including helping assist
companies who created new jobs at
Fontijne Formitt, Postle Aluminum,
Creative Foam, Premier Tool and Die
Cast, Ameriwood Furniture, Whirlpool
Corp., Newell Rubbermaid and Lyons
Industries in the last year.
She also provides grant writing assis-
tance for local governments and private
companies where her assistance was suc-
cessful in garnering over $14,000,000 in
grant awards, over 2,000 jobs created and
over $435M in company investments.
Students sought to attend summitMidwest Energy Cooperative is look-
ing for teens for the 2014 Youth
Leadership Summit (YLS), April 23-25 at
Spring Hill Camp in Evart, MI.
YLS is a high-energy, interactive
experience designed to help young people
grow as leaders. High school sophomores
and juniors from Midwest Energy’s serv-
ice area are invited to take their team-
building skills to the next level at this
unique three-day event. Students from
throughout Michigan will come together
to test themselves, mentally and physi-
cally, with a combination of hands-on
classroom exercises and individual and
group challenges. They will also explore
career opportunities, test their decision-
making skills as an elected official, and
learn what to expect as they prepare for
life after high school. The camp is located
south of Cadillac.
Four Midwest Energy students will
be selected to represent the cooperative
at YLS, and up to two of those students
will be selected for a Washington, D.C.
trip with the 2014 National Rural
Electric Cooperative Association Youth
Tour, June 14-19. This all-expenses-paid
trip provides students the opportunity to
explore the museums, memorials and
monuments, and meet face-to-face with
elected officials.
With the exception of personal
spending money, both trips are fully
funded by the cooperative. Applications
must be received by March 21 for consid-
eration. For more information or to apply
online, visit miYLS.com or contact Nicole
Barfell at 269-445-1112 or nicole.bar-
License changes explainedMichigan’s hunting license structure
changed March 1. A base hunting license
is now required for all hunters. The base
license allows you to hunt small game
and purchase additional hunting licenses
for other species. A base license is not
required to buy a fishing license.
Deer hunters now have three license
options to harvest antlered deer:
■ A single deer license, which replaces
the separate firearm and archery season
licenses of previous years. The single deer
license is valid for archery, firearm and
muzzleloader seasons. With this choice,
you will NOT be able to purchase a sec-
ond deer license, but you will be able to
purchase antlerless deer licenses where
available.
■ The deer combo license, which
includes two deer licenses, one regular
and one restricted, as in previous years.
Both licenses are valid for archery,
firearm and muzzleloader seasons. Antler
point restrictions apply based on the area
of the state where you hunt.
■ The hunt/fish combo license, which
includes the regular and restricted deer
combo licenses, a base license and an all-
species fishing license. This is an espe-
cially good choice for nonresidents, offer-
ing cost savings for those who have
moved away or who still own property in
Michigan and return to enjoy the out-
doors. And for residents, the hunt/fish
combo license is a quick and easy way to
purchase four licenses at once.
Antlerless deer may be still taken in
archery season with deer and deer combo
licenses as in previous years, and you can
still apply for and purchase antlerless
deer licenses where available until license
quotas are met in each Deer
Management Unit (DMU).
There are also changes to the license-
buying process, with streamlined options
for purchasing at a retail agent that will
help get your licenses faster and prevent
duplicate purchases. There’s also a new
mobile option that will allow you to buy
licenses using a smartphone or tablet and
store licenses that don’t require a kill tag
– like the base hunting license – as a
PDF on your mobile device or PC. You
can find the new E-License with mobile
capabilities at the same address,
www.mdnr-elicense.com, or on the State’s
MiPage application.
The Cass County Historical Society recentlynamed Doug Fry, left, of Cassopolis, and JimNewman of Niles as the group’s “Members of theYear.”
PAGE 4 NEIGHBORS MARCH 2014
March 9 — Melting Mann Dirt Road BikeChallenge, 14 or 28 mile course, 13291 KinneyStreet, Marcellus, limited to 500 racers.http://www.meltingmann.com or www.face-book.com/meltingmann
March 11 — Book Bunch Book Club, HowardBranch of Cass District Library, 5:30 pm
March 12 — Pizza and Pages Teen Book Club,6 pm, Main Branch Cass District Library
March 13 — DIY Health and Beauty Products,6 pm. Free to attend, space is limited, call toregister. Cass District Library-Howard Branch,684-1680
March 15 — 11th Annual Chili Cookoff andLive Auction, 6 pm (auction at 7), WakeleeUnited Methodist Church, $5 adults, $3 chil-dren (under 3 eat free), 15921 DutchSettlement St., Marcellus, 646-2049
March 18 — Family Movie, 6 pm. Free andopen to the public. Cass District Library-Edwardsburg Branch, 663-5875
March 21 -- Bunco for Books Fundraiser, 7 pm.$10 per player, prizes from local businesses,food and drink provided, call to register. CassDistrict Library-Mason/Union Branch, 641-7674
March 27 — Essential Oils and NaturalMedicine, 6:30 pm. Free and open to the pub-lic. Cass District Library-Edwardsburg Branch,663-5875
March 29 — Annual Book and Bake Sale, 10-1.A variety of gently used books and homemadebaked goods will be for sale by the HowardBranch Friends group. Cass District Library-Howard Branch, 684-1680
March 31 — Reading Lock-in and Fun Day,Noon-4 pm. Enjoy pizza, a movie, and readingtime at this free Spring Break program. CassDistrict Library- Main Library, 445-3400
April 1 — Teddy Bear Visits the Library StoryHour, 2 pm. Kids will enjoy a variety of activi-ties, call for details. Cass District Library-Mason/Union Branch, 641-7674
April 4 — Fun and Games, 2-4 pm. Enjoy pop-corn, board games and Lego building at thisfree Spring Break program. Cass DistrictLibrary- Edwardsburg Branch, 663-5875
April 8 — Bunch Book Club, 5:30 pm, HowardBranch of Cass District Library
April 22 – 6 pm, National Active & RetiredFederal Employees Association SW MichiganChapter monthly meeting, Super Buffet inBenton Harbor. 782 2769, [email protected]
May 9-18 — Dowagiac Art Festival Up FrontArtwalk displayed 24/7 on display in Dowagiacmerchant windows and Downtown DowagiacSelf-guided Walking Tour
May 9 — Dowagiac Art Festival presentsPulitzer-Prize Winning Author Elizabeth Strout,Dowagiac Middle School Performing ArtsCenter, 7:30 pm Tickets: Reception/Book sign-ing and Main Floor seating — $60; Main Floor— $25; Upper level — $20
May 10 — Dowagiac Art Festival’s Art Comesto The Tea, Mathews Conference Center/East,Southwestern Michigan College, 1 pm, Tickets:$18
May 10 — Dowagiac Art Festival presents
Dancing Wheels, Dale A. Lyons BuildingTheatre , Southwestern Michigan College, 7:30pm, Tickets: $20 adults, $15 students
May 12 — Dowagiac Art Festival presentsEmerging Playwright Award, Beckwith Theatre,7:30 pm Tickets: $15
May 13 — Dowagiac Art Festival presentsStory Master Class with Kim Weitkamp, FrontStreet Crossing, 7-9 pm, Tickets: $10, limitedregistration
Wednesday, May 14 — Dowagiac Art Festivalpresents Storyteller Kim Weitkamp, Dale A.Lyons Building Theatre, SouthwesternMichigan College, 7:30 pm, Tickets: $6
May 15 — Dowagiac Art Festival presentsYouth Fine Arts Night, Dowagiac Union HighSchool, 6 pm, free
May 15 — Dowagiac Art Festival presentsCulinary Lecture and Chef Reception, Dowagiac Area History Museum, 7:30 pm,Tickets: $15 — Adults; $10 — Students
May 16, 17 — Dowagiac Art Festival presentsCooking Demonstration, Dowagiac MiddleSchool Café, 7:30 pm, Tickets: $45 — Adults;$40 — Students
May 17 — Dowagiac Art Festival presentsMitch Ryder, Dowagiac Middle SchoolPerforming Arts Center, 7:30 pm, Tickets:Premium Seating — $25, Main Floor — $20,Upper Level Seating — $15
May 27– 6 pm, National Active & RetiredFederal Employees Association SW MichiganChapter monthly meeting, Super Buffet inBenton Harbor, 782 2769 , jeanrowe70@com-
cast.net
July 22 – 6 pm, National Active & RetiredFederal Employees SW Michigan Chapterannual picnic at a site to be selected, 7822769, [email protected]
June 24 – 6 pm National Active & RetiredFederal Employees Association SW MichiganChapter monthly meeting, Super Buffet inBenton Harbor, 782 2879, [email protected]
July 27-August 2 — Cass County Fair,Fairgrounds, Cassopolis
August 26 – 6 pm National Association ofActive & Retired Federal Employees SWMichigan Chapter monthly meeting at theSuper Buffet in Benton Harbor, 782 2769, [email protected]
September 23 – 6 pm, National Association ofActive & Retired Federal Employees SWMichigan Chapter monthly meeting at theSuper Buffet in Benton Harbor, 782 2769, [email protected]
October 28 – 6 pm, National Association ofActive & Retired Federal Employees SWMichigan Chapter monthly meeting at theSuper Buffet in Benton Harbor, 782 2769, [email protected]
December 2 – 1 pm, National Active & RetiredFederal Employees SW Michigan Chapterannual holiday dinner at a site to be selected.Next meeting is March 25, 2015, 782 2769,[email protected]
REGIONAL EVENTS CALENDAR
By GARY ANDERT
Outpost Sports
Yes, it’s been a shake-n’-shiver
winter for 2013/2014. As this
article is written on Feb. 18, on a
balmy 45 degree day. I must remind you
that several weather services have stated
that the rest of February and March have
been predicted to have below normal tem-
peratures. Many of us can say this is a
winter like we used to have in our child-
hood.
With two arctic vortex-fueled storms
with temperatures drops, we all have had
to reassess our cold-weather attire.
Mittens in lieu of gloves to warm
your digits and thick wool socks to ensure
your little piggies don’t fall off.
For many, it’s been a winter of dis-
covery. How to stay warm, how to keep
your feet sliding out from under you and
possibly discover things to do during this
long cold spell.
Clothing suppliers are feeling the
pinch of low inventories of product to
keep us all protected due to the frigid
temperatures across North America.
Many people like to make the jour-
ney to Lake Michigan and view the ice.
With the Great Lakes predicted to have
record ice coverage this year, you will cer-
tainly have a lot of ice to view.
The National Weather Service
reports that the Whole Great Lakes are
87 percent ice covered, and the record of
94.7 percent coverage, recorded on
February 19, 1979, is expected to be bro-
ken.
Lake Michigan is currently 80 per-
cent covered, and also expected to break
the record of 93.1 percent coverage, which
was recorded on February 9, 1977.
While it may put a grin on snowmo-
biler’s faces, it may take a prolonged peri-
od of sun to warm and melt this ice.
Does this mean you won’t be able to
put a toe into the water until June?
Cross Country skiers have had more
opportunities to enjoy the trails this year
than a total of the last eight winters com-
bined.
Many people have discovered the fun
(or utility) of snowshoeing. Last week I
sold a pair of snowshoes to a gentleman
who had attempted to rake the snow off
his out-building and sunk up to his waist
in snow. Snowshoes were his answer.
And like him, many others have partak-
en in navigating the deep snow on a tool
early French explorers called “rackets.”
With no place to put all this snow,
many drivers have adopted “Mound
Gape” posture in attempting to view oth-
ers vehicles leaving parking lots or navi-
gating side streets.
I’m wondering if non-winter-sports
activist will finally decide to stop hiber-
nating and venture out of doors and par-
take in some winter fun.
I agree that the Winter Olympics are
enjoyable to watch, but I hope this view-
ing will be a catalyst to get off the sofa
and out on the snow. Our Olympic ath-
letes are most certainly performing
admirably, of which we should all be
proud. The skiers, hockey players, ice
dancers (at least my wife tells me they’re
good), ski jumpers and curlers have been
a joy to watch.
I’m also thankful for the snow-plow
crews, both public and private. It’s been a
tough season for them with little sleep
and many a cold night.
My predictions for next winter?
Shepherds will be increasing their flocks
to provide more wool. More Geese will be
encouraged to breed to provide more
down. Innovation in insulating materials
will increase, and the suppliers of cold
weather products will be pulling their
hair out trying to predict product needs
for next season.
Michigan has experienced a banner
year for snow-sports. The ski areas have
had earlier-season snow than all of the
western states and have not had to make
man-made snow since December.
Snowmobile riders have been flock-
ing to the trails up north, which helps
put a smile on the face of hotel owners
whom have had a hard time of it the past
few years.
It may be a while before you pull out
the golf clubs and tune up your bike, so
why not get outside and play?
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by Sandy Fleming
What better time to examine your reading rou-
tines than March? March is loaded with read-
ing celebrations and holidays, and you can tap
into the excitement at home or school by jumping on the
bandwagon.
Reading is perhaps the single most important core
academic skill necessary for academic and life success;
nearly every other type of learning can happen once a
person is proficient at reading.
Most school work happens in written form, studying
text is the basis of many classroom experiences, and
tests are usually in written format.
Once a person leaves school, reading doesn’t quietly
fade into the woodwork, either. Adults must be profi-
cient readers to achieve career success in many profes-
sions, and most of us need to read to perform daily tasks
like filing taxes or assembling household furniture.
Furthermore, reading opens doors to other worlds,
offering an array of recreational activities that can
broaden horizons or distract from daily cares.
Are you doing all you can to help your kids unlock
this treasure trove? Spend a little time this month mak-
ing sure that you are giving your children every advan-
tage and keeping your own reading skills alive and pol-
ished so you’re ready for whatever opportunities life may
throw your way.
Celebrate!March 3 is Read Across America Day. The National
Education Association sponsors this country-wide cele-
bration of reading on the closest weekday to Dr. Seuss’s
birthday (March 2). Most elementary schools will be cel-
ebrating in some manner this week.
Can you get involved by volunteering to be a reader
in your child’s classroom? Check to see what’s going on
at your library or bookstore, as well. And even if there
are no organized events in your area, you can take some
time to share some Dr. Seuss favorites with your chil-
dren.
If they’re old enough, let them do some reading to
you, as well. What is the family favorite Dr. Seuss
book? Drag it out, even if the kids are more mature
now. Can you find a new Seussian treasure? He’s actu-
ally written 46 children’s books; how many have you
read? The first was And to Think That I Saw It On
Mulberry Street, which first appeared in 1936. Also
look for books by Theo LeSeig (it’s actually “Geisel”
spelled backwards, which was Dr. Seuss’s real name).
The entire month of March is designated as
National Reading Group Month by the Women’s
National Book Association. The group wants to encour-
age groups of people (adults as well as children and
youth) to read and discuss books together and to share
books with one another out loud.
The St. Joseph County (Indiana) Public Library has
designated One Book, One Michiana this month as well.
They are encouraging everyone to read Mary Shelley’s
Frankenstein and get together with a formal or informal
discussion group towards the end of the month. If you
haven’t read this classic piece of literature (or haven’t
picked it up since it was required in high school), now’s a
great time! Many people in the area will be doing the
same thing, and you’ll be able to talk about the reading
with your friends and folks on your social media circle.
If you (or your teens) need a bit of guidance through
the book, I’ve put together a study resource at http://vir-
tualsummerschoolonline.com/2010/07/summer-reading-
frankenstein/.
Finally, March 21 is World Poetry Day. It’s a great
time to share some verse with your children. Now, this
can be as simple as reading nursery rhymes to your
baby and as grand as sharing classic poetry with your
teen. It can be anything in between, too. Check out
Shel Silverstein if you’re looking for a wonderful poetry
author whose verses will appeal to folks of nearly any
age. Look for limericks in your local library, as well.
That form of poetry, with its funny surprise endings and
bad puns, will quickly become a favorite for most chil-
dren.
Assess!What’s your daily reading routine like? March is a
wonderful month to take stock and see just how large of
a part reading is playing in your household and day to
day life. The first place to check is how much you are
reading to the young children in your home.
If you have children from infancy through about age
six or seven, I hope you are reading several times each
day with them. You should be sharing old favorites and
introducing new stories each day. Regular trips to the
library are great, as well.
Consider checking out the library’s and bookstore’s
story hours. Nearly every program offers them, and the
schedules often vary to accommodate a wide array of
family needs.
Do your kids ever see you reading? They should!
You’re setting an example of what grown-ups do, and
reading should be high on that list. Don’t limit your
reading time to the quiet hours after the kids are in bed,
tempting as that may be.
Hopefully, they see you reading a wide array of
books and materials, including things on the internet,
magazines, newspapers, fiction and nonfiction books,
directions, forms, lists, instructions, messages, letters
and more. The more they see you reading, the more
they will understand just how important reading is to
being a successful adult.
Do you encourage your independent readers to read
for pleasure and for learning each day? Everyone
should be in the middle of a book for fun, as well as
cracking the textbooks when it’s time to study.
Everyone should have a hobby or an interest that can be
fed and nurtured through print or internet resources.
Share!Nearly every family has their tried and true favorite
books, but March is a great time to branch out a bit.
Here are some suggestions that work for a wide array of
age groups. Talk to your friends, the parents of your
kids’ friends, the teachers, and people who work at
libraries and bookstores to get more great ideas, and
make a commitment to pick up some new books in
March.
Here are some of my favorites:
The Phantom Tollbooth by Norman Juster has to
be my all-time favorite read-aloud book for kids of all
ages as well as for adults. It’s a chapter
book, written at about a sixth grade level,
but don’t let that stop you from sharing it
with the younger kids in your home. The
story of Milo, the boy who doesn’t see the
value of school and learning until he takes
a magical trip through a mysterious toll-
booth will fascinate even the preschool
crowd. The book offers some great read-
aloud opportunities to pour expression into
your voice, and the kind of rich, vivid
descriptive language that makes the
images absolutely come alive. It’s full of
word play and puns, as well, which will
exercise everyone’s mind and vocabulary
skills.
Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carol
is a can’t miss classic in it’s original form.
Don’t settle for a paraphrased version or
the story in picture book form! These are
wonderful in their place, but the story is
meant to be shared aloud with young chil-
dren, and there’s so much more in the book than in the
movie. The fact that the story is familiar will make it all
the more appealing to your young audience, though, and
you’ll spend days sharing a chapter or two at a time.
Mary Poppins by P.L. Travers is another favorite
from the video collection, but your family will love to dis-
cover that the adventures of Mary, Jane, and Michael
continue on (and on and on) in this entire series of
books. The classic movie only begins to scratch the sur-
face of all the fun of the story. The movie couldn’t begin
to do justice to the author’s fanciful imaginings, and
there wasn’t nearly enough time to share all of the
remarkable things that happen as Mary visits the
Banks household not once, but several times.
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum
is another favorite that was actually snatched from an
entire series of books designed to be read aloud to even
the youngest members of the family. The movie is taken
primarily from one book in the series. Did you know
that Dorothy made several trips to Oz, or that the land
of Oz existed and its characters had adventures without
her? Grab a copy at the library and prepare for days of
exciting reading as you go through the story. Don’t be
surprised if your kids want you to find the rest of the
books in the series so they can find out what happens
after Dorothy returns home from her first visit to Oz.
Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle by Betty MacDonald is another
entire series of books that will appeal to the very young
through middle elementary children. These easy-to-read
chapter books offer a humorous look at common prob-
lems of childhood and the title character’s amusing but
effective “cures.” Imagine a little boy who refuses to
wash. Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle’s advice is to let him alone, no
matter how dirty he gets. When he has a complete and
thick layer of topsoil caked to his body, she has his
mother plant radish seeds all over him! You can imag-
ine how quickly he ran to the bathtub when he sprouted
green leaves!
These are just a few examples of outstanding books
that will appeal to a wide age range of kids who might
just be willing to allow you to read aloud to them for a
few more weeks. I hope you’ll grab a few and make a
commitment to read to the entire family over the next
few weeks in honor of March, the Reading Month. Who
knows? You just might catch the reading bug and build
a habit that will last a lifetime.
*********************
Sandy Fleming is a private tutor and author living inEdwardsburg, Michigan. Get more suggestions about reading andother school skills at http://www.parentasteacher.com.
PAGE 5 NEIGHBORS MARCH 2014
March into reading this month!
OUR CHILDREN
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Provided by the Cass District Library Local History Branch
On December 28, Mike Mahler ofSt. Joseph reported that twosnowy owls were present around
the St. Joseph Lighthouse and vicinity.These owls of the arctic have staged amajor irruption throughout the easternUnited States this winter , hundreds ofmiles south of their breeding grounds ofthe arctic tundra and ocean. MarkParren of St. Joseph was able to take sev-eral good photos of both owls.
The owls at St. Joseph must feelright at home, as they are known forcatching fish on the Arctic Ocean’s seaice, which resembles the current land-scape along the local Lake Michiganshoreline. Snowy owls also feed on water-fowl, small mammals such as mice, voles.They also prey on smaller birds, includ-ing other species of owls.
Just after Thanksgiving, scores ofsnowy owls appeared at our latitude, andnow it seems as though yet another wavehas made its way south into our region.
In Keeler Township, Van BurenCounty, Dave and Angie Schwarz report-ed yet another snowy owl alongTerritorial Road.
It is probable that by the end of thewinter, snowy owls will have been report-ed in every county south of the Bay Cityto Muskegon line, delineating the north-ern and southern Lower Peninsula.
Photo by Mark Parren of St. Joseph
NATURE NOTESSnowy owls visit area in winter
PAGE 6 NEIGHBORS MARCH 2014
Continuation of the “Gold Rush Diary” of Dr.Evan J. Bonine, as he set out across the vastwilderness of the Great Plains by Conestogawagon, on his way to California. Gold had beendiscovered there just months before a group ofcitizens from Cassopolis, including Bonine, wentto search out their fortune. BetweenIndependence, Missouri and California, therewere virtually no towns. Bonine and the rest ofhis party had to face the elements, wild animals,bad weather, etc before arriving in California.Numerous misspellings, grammar and punctua-tion remain for historical accuracy.
[Editors note - original diary incorrectly lists theday and date, but have been corrected here.]
Saturday, July 21, 1849 — Started early
passed through a deep cut in the moun-
tain which was very rocky. The rocks
were composed of granite and went up
many tall peaks like ancient towers.
After going about 8 miles we came to the
Salt lake road. We went 4 miles further
and encamped for noon at a good spring.
In the evening we passed over a high
range of mountains to goose creek. We
had to let down some places with ropes.
We encamped as soon as we got down.
Goose Creek runs into the Snake R. Here
we slept out without a tent.
Sunday, July 22, 2849 — Took an early
start and went 23 mi. up this creek to it’s
head and encamped between two large
mountains. J.T. Bloomfield caught a
mess of trout for supper. The road was
good all day. The country around us is
rough. I cooked a mess of beans for sup-
per. It was my first cooking.
Monday, July 23, 1849 — This morning
we eat [sic] frozen beans for breakfast. It
was so cold that we did not start early.
We pulled over a stony hill until noon.
We had bird soup for dinner made of
larks, doves and young ducks. Here we
left the wagon. We went 5 miles and
encamped in Hot Springs valley. here we
found some cliff indians of which we pur-
chased some antelope meat. We after-
wards [sic] supposed it to be dog meat
from the effect it had upon the stomach.
We purchased dressed buck skins of
them for a few charges of powder. Some
of them were grinding wild oats and bugs
to make bread of. these are miserable
creatures. Some were naked and the rest
nearly so. They would pick lice out of
their heads and eat them.
Tuesday, July 24, 1849 — This morning
we buried a man by the road side by the
name of Cook. His coffin was made of
sage brush, his blanket made his shroud.
We went 24 mi. and encamped in the
same valley. Had fine grass and water.
The night was very cold.
Thursday, July 26, 2849 [Date is correct
starting with this entry. No entry for July
25, 1849] — Started early went 5 mi. and
came to hot springs, which was so hot
that you could not bear your hand in it. It
sent off a large creek. We then passed
over a high range of mountains to the
valley of the Humboldt R. and encamped
at a fine spring. Grass not very good,
wood plenty.
Friday, July 27, 1849 — We continued
our course down the valley 25 mi. and
encamped for the night. The day was
windy and dusty and very hard on the
mules. The grass was good. The boys had
a dance. Old Snake Foot played. they
were all in good spirits and felt well.
Saturday, July 28, 1849 — We moved out
very early in the morning. The road was
fine and make of dust [?]. Soon we found
ourselves on a tolerable large stream.
Here we came to the richest grass I ever
saw. It was a perfect meadow. At night
we found ourselves 25 mi. from camp.
Sunday, July 29, 1849 — This day was
spent resting and feasting. I was Cook
and of course it was well don [sic]. We
had a clean bite. We had ice water all
day. Last night was so cold that it froze
the water in our buckets one inch thick.
We set it in the shade and retained ice all
day. Here we are covered by snow cov-
ered mountains which makes it for so
cold a night. The indians stole some oxen
last night and took them to the moun-
tains.
Monday, July 30, 1849 — At sun rize we
pulled out down the R. We soon passed
over a high hill to a canyen in the stream.
We had a dusty road all day. Late in the
evening we crossed north fork of R. [river]
and went one mile and encamped near a
foot of a mountain that we had to cross to
shun another canyen.
Tuesday, July 31, 1849 — In the morning
we started and went into the mountains
which took us until noon to get out. We
encamped on the R. at 4 in the evening.
To be continued...
THE GOLD RUSH DIARY
What is an “Irruption?”Every winter, bird watchers across North America anxiously
await the possible incursion of birds that don’t normally winter intheir areas. These periodic bird irruptions add a dramatic level ofexcitement to winter birding. The birds most commonly associatedwith these winter irruptions are the winter finches (Pine Grosbeak,Red Crossbill, White-winged Crossbill, Purple Finch, Pine Siskin,Common Redpoll, and Evening Grosbeak), but other species willalso shift from their typical wintering grounds into other areas.
source: birdsource.org
“A man who dies without
adequate life insurance should
have to come back and see the
mess he created.” Will Rogers
by VICKI BROSSMANKemner-Iott Agency
Do you ever wonder how your fami-
ly will manage if you something
happens to you? While you can-
not be replaced, you can ease the finan-
cial burden with life insurance. Many
times when we think about life insur-
ance, we think only about funeral expens-
es. The truth of the matter is long-term
financial obligations can be devastating
to those left behind.
Who needs life insurance?
■ Married — Without your income,
would your spouse be able to pay off
debts like credit cards and car loans?
Would there be enough to cover monthly
expenses? If you are planning a family, it
is important to buy your life insurance
before your become pregnant as some
companies will not issue a policy on a
pregnant woman.
■ Married with children — If you died
today, would your family be able to main-
tain their standard of living? Would they
have to relocate? Would your children
still be able to attend college? Life insur-
ance is vital in making sure your plan for
the future doesn’t die when you do.
■ Single parent — As
a single parent, you
carry all the responsi-
bility of raising your
family. Life insur-
ance can help your
children with expens-
es for everything
from basic necessities
to college tuition and
costs. Life insurance
can be critical in keeping the children
together with one guardian.
■ Stay at home parent — A stay at home
parent may not bring home a salary, but
think about the cost to replace him or
her. All of a sudden, the remaining par-
ent may be faced with additional expens-
es such as childcare, transportation,
cleaning, cooking, and other household
activities.
■ Grown children — Even if your chil-
dren are through college and your mort-
gage is paid, you may still need life insur-
ance to enable your spouse to maintain
the lifestyle you have worked so hard to
achieve.
■ Retired — Life insurance proceeds can
be used to pay estate taxes as well as out-
standing medical bills and funeral
expenses. Without life insurance pro-
ceeds, your heirs may have to liquidate
other assets at a fraction of their value to
meet these obligations. Life insurance
proceeds are normally not taxable, thus
they won’t be added to your estate tax lia-
bility if properly structured.
■ Single — Life insurance rates are best
when you are young and healthy. Single
adults should have enough life insurance
to pay their end—of—life expenses so
their parents don’t have to clean up their
debts. You may have aging parents to
care for or a special needs sibling. You
could develop a health condition that
could increase your life insurance rates or
even worse, make you uninsurable.
■ Children and grandchildren —
Purchasing a whole life policy for your
children or grandchildren may be one of
the best gifts you give them. You will be
protecting their insurability regardless of
any future health issues. They will have
a life insurance policy with premiums
that are usually locked in for the life of
the policy — often to age 100. We never
want to think about losing a child or
grandchild; however, the policy could
cover funeral expenses and provide finan-
cial relief during a most difficult time. A
whole life policy will build cash value.
Children may be able to use those funds
to help buy a car, pay for their college
education, or make a down payment on
their first home.
What type of life insurance should I buy?
■ Term life insurance insures you for a
specified amount of time. Term insur-
ance is like paying rent, once you stop
paying, your life insurance coverage ends.
Term insurance is less expensive than
permanent insurance. Some questions to
ask if you are considering a term life poli-
cy are how long is the rate guaranteed
for, is the policy renewable past the ini-
tial rate—guarantee period without a
physical exam, what will the premiums
be, and can the policy be converted to
permanent insurance without a physical
exam.
■ Permanent life insurance is more
expensive than term insurance. A per-
manent policy builds cash value. Whole
life, variable life, and universal life are all
types of permanent life insurance.
I am confused — what should I do?
Don’t let your confusion keep you
from purchasing life insurance. A profes-
sional agent will be able to help you by
explaining the types of life insurance,
finding something that will address your
needs but still be affordable, and helping
with the life insurance application
process. Your life insurance needs will
change over the years, so it is important
to review your life insurance program
once every five years or whenever you
experience a major life event.
Vicki Brossman, CIC, CISR, of theKemner—Iott Agency of Cass Countycan be reached at 269-445-6169, Ext 105,445-2425 or via email at [email protected]
Life Insurance: Who needs it?
PAGE 7 NEIGHBORS MARCH 2014
How good a year was it for the economy?
Statistics tell the tale
Provided by Greg Schoenfeld, CFP®Compass Wealth Advisors
Was 2013 a terrific year for stocks? Absolutely.
The good news wasn’t limited to Wall Street,
however, the unemployment rate fell, the econ-
omy revved up, home prices rose and inflation pressure
was minimal.
Bulls triumphed. Christmas Eve brought the Dow’s
49th record close of 2013: 16,357.55. The S&P 500 set-
tled at 1,833.32 on December 24 — a new all-time peak -
while the NASDAQ ended the day at 4,155.42.
The YTD gains on Christmas Eve were stunning:
DJIA, 24.83 percent; S&P, 28.55 percent; NASDAQ,
37.62 percent. As you read this, these indices may have
climbed even higher since.1,2
GDP improved. Our economy expanded just 0.1 per-
cent in the fourth quarter of 2012, but things got better
in 2013. The Bureau of Economic Analysis measured
GDP at 1.1 percent for Q1, 2.5 percent for Q2 and 4.1
percent for Q3.3
The job market began to turn around. In November,
the jobless rate hit a 5-year low of 7.0 percent. From
August through November, non-farm payrolls grew by
an average of 204,000 jobs per month, compared to aver-
age growth of 159,000 new jobs a month from April to
July.4
Homes grew more valuable. In late November, the
September edition of the S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price
Index showed a 13.3 percent year-over-year gain. Prices
hadn’t risen so dramatically in a 12-month period since
February 2006.5
The Consumer Price Index barely rose. It was flat in
November, and that put yearly consumer inflation at
only 1.2 percent; the annualized gain in the core CPI
was also minor at 1.7 percent. As recently as the sum-
mer of 2011, consumer inflation was approaching 4 per-
cent.6
The recovery seemed to acquire more momentum.
After years of troubling economic developments, 2013
was refreshingly positive. If the economy hasn’t quite
healed yet to where it was before the recession, indica-
tors such as these suggest it won’t be long until that
day.
Citations.1 - foxbusiness.com/markets/2013/12/24/stock-futures-steady-ahead-durable-goods-data/ [12/24/13]2 - usatoday.com/money/markets/overview/ [12/24/13]3 - money.cnn.com/2013/12/20/news/economy/ gdp-report/index.html [12/20/13]4 - cbsnews.com/news/unemployment-rate-dips-to-7-percent/[12/7/13]5 - tinyurl.com/jvl25lh [11/26/13]6 - marketwatch.com/story/consumer-prices-unchanged-in-novem-ber-2013-12-17 [12/17/13]
Recovery? Looking back at 2013
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PAGE 8 NEIGHBORS MARCH 2014
NEIGHBORS’ RECIPE CORNEREDITOR’S NOTE: Due to repeated requests we are reprinting
specific recipes from earlier Neighbors’ publications. We hope youenjoy and find them useful ... pv
Oven Baked Round Steak1 large round steak1 package Lipton onion soup mix1 stick butter1 7-oz. can mushrooms drained½ cup flourLine a 9x13 pan with a sheet of foil. Chip butter ontothe foil, then sprinkle onion soup mix over the butter.Coat the steak with flour, discarding excess flour.Place steak over soup mix. Put the mushrooms ontop of the steak. Cover with foil and seal all 4 sidestightly to edge of pan. Bake at 300 for 3 hours.Note: Small potatoes and carrots may be placedaround the steak for a complete meal.
Peach CobblerMelt 2 tbs. Butter in a baking dish in 375° oven. Mixthe following ingredients and pour over buttered dish.1 cup flour1 cup sugar1 tsp. baking powder1 cup milkpinch of saltSpread 4 cups sliced peaches on top of batter. Bake45 minutes.
Chicken and Rice CasseroleIn a 9x13 baking dish mix 2 cans of cream of chickensoup, 2 cans of water, 1 packet of Lipton onion soupmix and 1 ½ cups of rice. Lay cut-up chicken on topand bake in 350 oven for 2 hours.
Chocolate Zucchini Bread3 eggs2 cups sugar1 cup vegetable oil1 tsp. vanilla2 cups grated zucchini2 ounces unsweetened melted chocolate2 cups flour1 tsp. baking soda1 tsp. salt1 tsp. cinnamon¾ cups semisweet chocolate chips¾ cup chopped walnutsIn a large bowl, combine eggs, sugar, oil & vanilla.Beat together until well blended. Add zucchini and themelted, cooled chocolate. Stir to blend. Sift togetherthe flour, baking soda, salt & cinnamon. Add the dryingredients, chocolate chips and nuts to the egg mix-ture. Stir just enough to blend in the dry ingredients.Pour batter into two small loaf pans that are greasedand floured. Bake in a preheated 350° oven for 60-70minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comesout clean. Cool in pan for 10 minutes.
Tater-Tot Casserole1 ½ lbs. hamburger1 onion1 can cream of mushroom soup8 oz. shredded sharp cheddar cheesetater totsBrown hamburger and onion and place in an 8x11”casserole. Cover with can of mushroom soup andsprinkle with sharp shredded cheddar cheese. Coverthe cheese with tater tots. Bake covered at 350° for 1hour, remove the cover for the last 15 minutes to crispthe tater tots.
Chocolate Pie4 regular size Hershey bars with almonds16 large marshmallows½ cup milk1 cup whipping cream1 baked pie shell or graham cracker crustCombine first 3 ingredients in a double boiler, meltover low heat. Cool thoroughly. Beat whipping creamuntil stiff. Gently fold into cooled mixture, pour into pieshell. Can be frozen also.
Green Bean Burritos1 ½ lbs. pork steak3 15oz. cans whole green beans
2 7oz. cans mushroom pieces1 4oz. Can whole green chili peppers1 8oz. Pkg. shredded cheddar/jack cheese1 pkg. flour tortillas1 tbs. Crushed garlic (the more the better)Cut pork steak in ½” strips and brown in dutch ovenwith garlic. Once browned add green beans, mush-rooms, and undrained green chili peppers. Simmeruntil all juices have been absorbed (approximately 2hours) Place mixture on flour tortilla and top withcheese. Enjoy! Note: Excellent during football season,starting at beginning, ready at halftime.
Three Bean BakeFry 1 lb. Ground beef and ½ lb. Bacon. Crumbleground beef and add 1 diced onion.Mix together: 1 large can pork & beans1 medium can red beans1 medium can lima beans(Do not drain beans)Add meat & onions to beans. Add:1 cup brown sugar½ cup white sugar½ cup catsup1 tsp. mustardMix and bake for 1 hour at 350°.
Grandma’s Fresh Peach Pie1 cup sugar3 tbs. Cornstarch1 cup waterPour in a saucepan and bring to a boil and boil untilclear, thick and bubbly. Add 1 3oz. Box of peach Jell-O. Pour over 4 cups fresh sliced peaches in a bakedpie shell. Wonderful topped with cool whip or whippedcream
Nancy’s Meatballs32 oz. jar grape jelly32 oz. bottle ketchup5 lb. Purchased frozen meatballsHeat jelly and ketchup until jelly is melted and pourover meatballs in a crockpot & simmer until hot.
Grape SaladThe night before mix:4 lbs. large red seedless grapes½ cup sugar or Splenda8oz. sour cream8oz. whipped cream cheese1 tsp. vanillaThe next day: Sprinkle with ½ cup granulated brownsugar and toasted walnut or pecan pieces. Enjoy!
Cabbage slaw1 medium cabbage, shredded1 green pepper, diced1 onionPimento or red pepper, if desired¾ cup oil½ cup sugar½ cup honey½ cup very sour vinegar1 tsp. saltBring oil, sugar, honey, vinegar and salt to a boil andpour over cabbage, onion and pepper. Chill. May bemade in advance. This improves flavor.
Mother’s French Dressing1 can condensed tomato soup1 cup salad oil2/3 cup vinegar½ cup sugar1 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce1 tbsp. onion juice1 tsp. saltpepper & paprikaclove of garlic, if desired.Put all ingredients in a quart jar and shake well.
Salad Dressing6 egg yolks (heat with 1 cup water)1 cup water1 cup vinegar1 cup sugar
5 tbsp. flour2 tsp. dry mustardsaltBring to boil water, vinegar and sugar. Add to yolkmixture and add flour, salt and dry mustard. Cook untilthick. Coo. Mix with equal portions commercial saladdressing.. Keeps a long time in refrigerator.
Honey Dressing¼ cup sugar¼ cup vinegar½ tsp. saltJuice of 1 lemon¼ cup strained honey½ cup salad (cooking) oil1 tbsp. celery seed.Boil together for about 1 minute. Delicious with fruit orvegetable. To use with cabbage be sure to add dicedonion. Dressing will keep in refrigerator.
Armenian Green Beans1 cup finely chopped onion¼ cup salad oil1 lb. green beans1 cup cooked or canned tomatoes¼ cup water2 tsp. salt1 tsp. sugarfew grains pepperCook onion in salad oil until soft. Cut green beanslengthwise. Add other ingredients, cover and simmer½ hour or until beans are tender.
Laurie’s Goulash1 lb. Ground beef2 onions, diced1 green pepper, diced½ pkg. noodles1 tbsp. chili powder1 can tomato pasteBrown ground beef, onions and green pepper, saltand pepper. Add tomato paste and 2 1/2 cans ofwater, chili powder and simmer 12-15 minutes. Cooknoodles and add to meat mixture.
Hamburger PieShell:1 lb. ground beef1 egg½ cup bread crumbs or ½ cup oatmeal salt and pep-perFilling:3 cups cooked potatoes, cubed½ cup mild cheese, cubed2 tbsp. Flour½ cup milk or tomato juicechopped green peppers, if desiredCombine beef, egg and crumbs, salt and pepper, totaste. Line deep 9-inch pie pan, bottom and sides,patting smooth. Sprinkle with flour. Put potatoes andcheese inside of meat pie shell. Pour milk or tomatojuice over and bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes oruntil ground beef is well browned. Cut in wedges andserve hot.
Meat Loaf2 lbs. ground beef1 lb. Sausage2 cups prepared dressing bread1 tsp. salt2 cups milk1 eggMix all ingredients together. Mold as desired andbake 2 hours in 325 degree oven.
Barbecued Meat Sandwiches1 lb. ground beef1 tbsp. shortening or bacon drippings1 large onion, ground1 green pepper, ground1 tbsp. sugar2 tbsp. prepared mustard1 tbsp. vinegar1 tsp. salt¾ cup catsupBrown meat in fat until crumbly but not hard. Add
PAGE 9 NEIGHBORS MARCH 2014
NEIGHBORS’ RECIPE CORNERother ingredients, cover and simmerslowly for 30 minutes. Serve on toastedbuns.
Mother’s SwedishMeatballs
1 ½ lb. Meat, ground twice together,ground round steak, veal and pork (orlast two)4 sliced day old bread1 cup milkPour milk over bread, squeeze dry andcrumble (milk makes meat tender).Dash each of celery salt, paprika, andpepper1 tsp. sugar1 beaten egg (makes solid)1 tsp. saltsmall onion (finely grated)Make meatballs the size of a walnut,brown in butter. Good cold for picnics.Recipe also makes a good meat loaf.
Layered Casserole1 lb. pork, diced1 lb. veal, diced1/3 cup flour3 tbsp. Drippings1 tsp. salt1/8 tsp. white pepper1 cup hot water½ pkg. fine noodles2 cups Whole kernel corn w/green pep-per and pimento or 2 cups NibletsMexicorn1 can chicken noodle soup¼ lb. old english cheese, grated¼ cup butter1-cup fine bread crumbs
Dredge meat that has been cut into 1-inch cubes in the flour and brown in thedrippings; add seasonings and hotwater; simmer in a covered pan about45 minutes or until meat is tender.Arrange in greased utility dish and addlayers as follows: cooked noodles, cornand peppers, grated cheese, soup andbuttered crumbs. Bake 1 hour in 350-degree oven.
Italian SpaghettiSauce:1 cup minced onion2 tbsp. fat or salad oil1 lb. ground chuck2 minced cloves garlic2 tbsp. snipped parsley1 minced medium green pepper1 No. 2 can tomatoes (2 ½ cups)2 (6-oz.) cans tomato paste1 ½ cups water1 tbsp. salt1/8 tsp. pepper1 tsp. dried sage¼ tsp. dried thyme1 bay leavesIn large kettle, sauté’ onion in fat untiltender. Add chuck and cook, stirringoften, until meat loses red color. Addremaining ingredients and simmer,uncovered, 1 ½ hours or until desiredthickness, stirring occasionally. Meatballs and spaghetti:¾ lb. ground chuck½ cup fine dried bread crumbs (pack-aged)¾ tsp. cornstarch¾ tsp. salt
1 egg beaten2 tbsp. Salad oil½ cup light cream¾ to 1 lb. spaghettiCombine first 6 ingredients; form intosmall meatballs. In skillet heat oilbrowning meatballs on all sides. About20 minutes before sauce is done, addmeatballs. Also cook spaghetti. Makes 6generous servings. If you wish, makesauce day before; also shape meat-balls; refrigerate both.To serve: Cook spaghetti and re-heatsauce. Brown meatballs; drop intosauce; cook 15 to 20 minutes.
Barley Pilaf2 medium onions½ lb. mushrooms¼ lb. butter or margarine1 ¾ cups pearl barley1 qt. Rich chicken stockChop onions rather coarsely and slicemushrooms thin, stem and all. Heat 2tbsp. Of the shortening in a heavy skilletand cook mushrooms very gently for 4or 5 minutes. Lift them out of the skillet,heat remaining shortening in the sameskillet and cook onions until they lookwilted. Now, pour in the barley and cookit very slowly until it turns a light brown.Add mushrooms to the barley mixtureand pour on 1 ¾ cup chicken stock.Cover tightly and bake for 30 minutes ina 350-degree oven. Remove the lid,pour in another 1 ¾ cups of stock andbake another ½ hour. If the barleyappears dry you may add remainingstock and bake 10 to 30 minutes longer
but do not cook until mushy. Serve withfowl or wild game.
Orange Cake1 cup sugar½ cup shortening1 orange, ground½ cup raisins, ground½ cut nuts, ground1 egg2 cups cake flour¾ cups sour milk1 tsp. soda½ tsp. saltCream sugar with shortening; addorange, raisins and nuts. Add egg andall dry ingredients, alternately with milk.Bake at 350 for 40 min.Frosting:½ cup confectioners’ sugarjuice of 1 orangePour over cake while warn.
Sour Cream Cake2 eggs, separated1 cup sugar1 cup sour creampinch of soda1 ½ cup sifted cake flour½ tsp. baking powder1 tsp. lemon extractBeat egg whites. Drop in yolks and beatwith fork. Add sugar. Add soda to sourcream. Fold into first mixture. Sift dryingredients three times and add tocream-egg mixture. Add lemon extract.Bake in an 11x7x2-inch pan in 350-degree oven.
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By BRENDA HARRIS
Cass COA
Are you one of those people who
quit before they start some-
thing? Starting a fitness or well-
ness program can be one of those things.
Remember to keep an open mind and
remain flexible when starting a new exer-
cise routine. Life is like a roller coaster
that never ends. You have ups and
downs mentally and physically. Life is a
dynamic ride and you’ll find your fitness
journey is, too. If you’re willing to try
new things and set reasonable expecta-
tions, you’ll reap the rewards and suc-
cessfully achieve your fitness goal.
Starting a fitness program doesn’t
have to be overwhelming. Once you have
committed to getting in shape, there are
things you can do to ensure you’ll exceed.
On the other hand there are things you
should avoid. Keep in mind, there are
do’s and don’t for what ever situation you
are facing. What are the rules when it
comes to fitness? Here are some “Do’s
and “Don’ts:”
■ Write down your fitness goals. You’re
more likely to stick with a program once
you have set some goals.
■ Try to eat a well balanced food intake
that includes vegetables and fruit.
■ Break down your meals into mini
meals, so you eat several times a day.
■ Look at your current fitness level as
you establish your goal.
■ Check with your doctor before you start
a program. This is very important partic-
ularly if you are struggling with a health
condition.
■ Always stretch before and after your
workout.
■ Pace your self, don’t over do it! Slowly
increase the intensity of your workout.
■ Diversify your workout routine. If you
keep doing the same exercise routine it
becomes boring, and you’re more likely to
skip workouts.
■ Mix up your workout routine. If you do
the same exercise the same way you may
burn out and not do it all.
■ Work with a buddy. You’ll help moti-
vate each other.
■ Keep healthy snacks available.
■ Don’t over-train. Your body needs to
rest to recover.
■ Don’t skip stretching.
■ Don’t skimp on sleeping.
■ Don’t set unrealistic goals. If you have
50 pounds to lose, don’t expect it to come
off overnight.
■ Everyone is unique, and what works
for someone may not work for others.
■ Don’t workout randomly. Work out
regularly to the reap most benefits from a
consistent routine.
■ Don’t give up!!
■ Don’t for get to reward your self.
One of the most common mistakes
for first timers is trying to do too much —
you’ll be sore, tired and disappointed
before you get started. Start SLOWLY,
so you want to keep working out.
Don’t quit before you start!
HEALTH & FITNESS
FIELD TRIPPAGE 10 NEIGHBORS MARCH 2014
Field Field TTriprip
Cassopolis, Michigan
Mon 8-7 ●● Tues-Fri 8-5 ●● Sat 8-2
PurPure Mice Michighigan in an in WWinter!inter!
Carter’sElectric Motors
Service and Sales
Specializing in sprinkler pumps
63474 Union Rd.Vandalia, MI
Ph: 476-2220Cell: 506-6108
Ok, so technically it’s not the kindof field trip you can gather the familyfor, jump into the car and head out tofind ... but if you were here for theWinter of 13/14, you’ll remember themassive snow piles and freezing tempsthat so dominated the countryside,and how cool it was to drive aroundand check out the ... MESS! On morethan one occasion the county issued a “state of emergency” and urged (and almostthreatened in some cases) people to stay home and stay off the roads. Snow plowoperators and mail carriers fought against near-historic snow depths, incredible snowmounds and slick and frozen roads and byways ... and despite what I might havemuttered as I dug out my driveway for the fourth or fifth time in two days andchopped igloo-sized blocks and carried them away from the mailbox, the public ser-vants did a great job! Let’s just hope we’re getting closer to the big spring thaw ...
PAGE 11 NEIGHBORS MARCH 2014
FIELD TRIP
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Thursday ~ BBQ Ribs
Friday ~ Swordfish or 10 oz. Sirloin
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PAGE 12 NEIGHBORS MARCH 2014
In this issue of Neighbors, Jerdon Real Estate
of Dowagiac, owned by Floyd Jerdon and his
son Tom, has provided antique postcards of a
few of the many lakes in our area. Floyd and his
wife Donna started collecting post cards more than
20 years ago, and since Jerdon Real Estate spe-
cializes in marketing lake property, it was a natu-
ral fit that Floyd’s interest be directed to the lake
cards. The collection now numbers many thou-
sands.
Jerdon has recently used many of his post-
cards featuring the Sister Lakes area in a book
written by RL Rasmussen. The book, which
retails for $19.99, is in its second printing by the
publisher, Arcadia Publishing.
Among other places, the book may be pur-
chased at the Jerdon Real Estate office on M-62
West, and at Whistlestop Gifts, which is operated
by the Dowagiac Chamber of Commerce.
For more information or to get a copy of
Jerdon’s book, visit the website: www.arcadia-
publishing.com
In this edition of Neighbors we have selected
postcards showing images in and around
Cassopolis.
In future issues, we will couple additional
cards from one or more of the area’s lakes with
views of nearby communities and countryside.
Historic postcards depict rich scenes of early area life
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SMILE CENTERFamily Dentistry
Richard A. Pilat, D.D.S.
110 S. Broadway Cassopolis
269-445-5550www.smilecentermi.com
Dr. Pilat is a General Dentist - Not a Specialist
New Patients and Emergencies Welcome
PAGE 13 NEIGHBORS MARCH 2014
HISTORIC POSTCARDS
UNION INSURANCE AGENCYCorner of US 12 & Union Rd., Union, MI 49130
Independent Agency
269-641-5995fax: 269-641-5787
email: [email protected]
(269) 445-2231
PAGE 14 NEIGHBORS MARCH 2014
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PAGE 15 NEIGHBORS MARCH 2014
THE LAST WORD
So, we were about five miles off the
coast of Bequia, sailing under a
double-reefed jib and main. The
wind was jumping back and forth from
Beaufort Force 7 to 8, and the seas that
were breaking over the bow of the 43-foot
sailboat that my friends and I had rented
were probably in the 15 to 20 foot range.
All of us were soaked to the skin.
Our eyes were burning from the salt
spray. The boat was slamming through
the waves with tooth-loosening crashes
that sounded like the hull was breaching.
There was no time for a cocktail
adorned with a paper umbrella and an
olive garnish. There was no place above
board dry enough to sit quietly and enjoy
a book. There was barely a enough time
to bend over and check the nav instru-
ments to make sure we were holding our
course against the rage of the wind and
the waves and the current.
“Another three hours and we should
be out of the worst of this and into the lee
of St. Vincent,” I shouted to the crew to
bolster their dampened spirits.
“Three hours?” shouted my beloved
spouse, flashing one of those dagger-filled
looks of derision that only a man who has
been married over 40 years can interpret
as an endearment.
“Three hours,” she repeated need-
lessly (I neglected to mention that I’d
heard her the first time).
“Three more hours?” she thundered
once again, this time holding up a seat
cushion to deflect the worst of the latest
wave’s rage. “That’s nuts!”
“What part of this is the fun part?”
she inquired innocently. “This is a vaca-
tion ... This is supposed to be fun!”
Another wave crashed over our
heads and threatened to rip my hands
from the wheel and toss me into the boil-
ing sea (I had serious doubts about how
sincere a “captain overboard” drill might
be carried out at that point).
“I’m tired of this ... I think we should
just stop for a little while and have some
fun,” my wife smiled sweetly sang out in
her “Mary Poppins” voice.
“I know ... let’s have a picnic!”
I looked around at the crew. The
word amused didn’t spring to mind ...
bedraggled was more like what I saw.
They were all soaked in salt water (they
tell me the shirt I was wearing that day
stood by itself in the corner of my cabin
for the next three days with no visible
means of support), grim-faced and tired.
Most of them bore some evidence of sun-
burn, and it didn’t look like anyone’s hair
had been near a comb in quite a while.
“Hey cookie,” I yelled at our Galley
Goddess, “What da ya think?”
As she swayed in the companionway,
the veins in her biceps straining to hold
her in place against the constant buffet-
ing, she mirrored my spouse’s earlier look
of pure malevolence. I didn’t push it ...
every experienced sailor knows that the
Galley Goddess outranks the Captain ...
and we sailed on in silence.
Three hours later (give or take a
dozen or so soaking waves), after we’d
sailed into the calmer waters down the
lee side of St. Vincent, she brought me a
tuna salad sandwich. It was delicious ... a
veritable picnic in a pita pocket.
Flash forward five days. We’d had a
tough travel day (again), but this time
first by boat, then taxi, then airplane (in
fact, several airplanes, the last of which
landed in Chicago at midnight), and
finally in the car we chartered to get us
back to Cass County.
Our clothing was dramatically differ-
ent from what we’d been wearing that
morning. Unlike the south Caribbean,
the upper Midwest had been suffering
through a “polar vortex,” its second of the
winter. The outside temperature that
night was so far below zero that when we
tried to communicate with the driver, the
words would fall onto the road beside the
car ... and if we wanted him to know
what we were saying, one of us would
have to pick up the frozen chunks of dis-
course and hold the pieces in our warm
palms to thaw them so he could hear ...
They tell me the coat I was wearing
that night was so stiff with cold that
when I took it off and threw it into the
corner of the closet, it stood by itself for
three days before it warmed up enough to
fall over (I think I see a pattern here ...).
The drive home took forever. We
were bedraggled. We were beat to bruis-
es. We were exhausted and sunburned
and well nigh onto being freeze dried.
And despite multiple vents from the
roaring heater that threw the car’s dried
and blasting heat at us, after spending
two weeks in the tropics, we were cold.
Damn cold.
We stopped once somewhere in
Indiana at a toll plaza, daring the outside
only long enough to dash across the ankle
deep snow that just kept piling onto the
parking lot, so we could, ahem ... well,
you don’t need to know about that ...
Back in the car, we hid under our
coats and packed the luggage in close to
conserve heat ... and then, finally, we
rounded that last curve that meant we
were almost home.
I checked the crew. Their faces were
purple. Their teeth were chattering.
Their faces were grim.
“Picnic, anyone?” I asked innocently.
The were not amused. A few minutes
later (after I’d pulled the snow scraper
out of my ear) the car stopped at my
house. The door was popped open and I
found myself face down in a snow drift (it
sure felt like I was pushed, but they all
said I slipped).
Grabbing the suitcase that had
somehow jettisoned itself and landed on
my back, I faced my driveway ... and real-
ized that I was going to have to break a
path through chest-deep snow, dragging
my luggage (and my beloved spouse) to
get into the house.
It was well past noon the next day
when I got home from the kennel with
the dog. My wife had been shoveling for
over two hours, and despite the frigid
temps, she was soaked in sweat. Her hair
was plastered to her forehead; her cloth-
ing was clinging to her body.
She wasn’t having fun, I surmised.
And I don’t suppose it helped when I
held up the bag of Subway sandwiches
that I’d picked up while I was gone and
said ... “Hey, I brought home a picnic ...”
Flash forward a week. The stitches
are out and most of the bruises have
faded ... and we’ve decided aren’t going to
have any more picnics until spring ...
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