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Port Austin News

May 2020 989-738-0122

The New Memorial Days

by Dennis Hafeli

Today, what ought to be a time of excitement, planning, and expectations for a glorious summer in Port Austin is instead a time of uncertainty, confusion, and fear not just in our town but throughout the country and the world. Local planning and prepara-tions have long been ongoing for annual popular happenings such as the Farmers Market, Porch Fest, musical performance weekends, and PACP produc-tions. However, a huge question mark now exists as to when or if any of these events, which make Port Aus-tin a “go-to” destination for out-of-towners from all over the state and beyond, will actually return in 2020.

Typically, a single day and event truly epitomize not only the return of the summer season but also the intense patriotism which runs deep in Port Austin and the entire Upper Thumb region. That is the annual Memorial Day service held on the fourth Monday in May at 12:00 PM at the beautiful Veterans Memorial Park. Hundreds of people congregate on foot, in bleachers, and in lawn chairs to pay tribute to designated honorees as well as loved ones or com-plete strangers, all of whom are remembered for their service to their country in military skirmishes over the decades.

For many years, this ceremony had taken place on Lake Street in front of the Stock Pot restaurant. Featured were local veterans, a guest speaker, and a musical performance by local civic and/or church groups, followed by a march on foot to St. Michael’s cemetery. However, with the building of the new water treatment plant and the reconfiguring of the park two blocks west of the light (now the stop sign), a true Veterans Memorial became a reality.

The original design, created by Kurt Damrow and Tom Clancy and honoring all branches of the military, was approved by the Village, which picked up the original cost. This initial funding was eventually fully repaid by the veterans through selling commemorative bricks and by other organized fund-raisers. Over the past 10-15 years, additions such as commemorative benches, the heart-shaped flowered entrance referred to as The Purple Heart Trail, and a babbling waterfall have been installed, creating a peaceful, inviting, and yet solemn scene which attracts visitors throughout the year.

For the past several years, each Memorial Day morning, the assembled veterans, men and women, taking part in the day’s events board a bus and travel to numerous area cemeteries and memorials, with a short ceremony repeated at each. Their odyssey concludes with the noon service at the Port Austin Veterans Memorial. Included there is the formal recognition of two or three local veterans, for each of whom a narrated list of their accomplishments is read, ending in a flag presentation to each. This is followed by a combination of musical selections; a solemn read-ing of the names of deceased Huron County veterans, each followed by the tolling of a bell; a twenty-one-gun salute; and the playing of taps. An introduction and closing benediction are presented by a local church minister. It is always a beautiful and touching event, with respect and pride the dominant themes .

Port Austin News MAY 2020 page 1

The New Memorial Days continued from page 1……..

However, at this point in time, in this era of “social distancing” and forbidden assemblages of groups of people, it is uncertain and perhaps even unlikely that such a formal celebration will take place this year. Yet, when one stops to think about it, just about every day in today’s world could be considered a “memorial” day. The situation in which we find our-selves has already been dubbed a war, though with an invisible enemy. We are surrounded by and hear daily reports of men and women putting their lives in peril on the front lines in their efforts to combat this dreaded disease. Then there are the innocent victims, people just like all of us, who entered the year 2020 with individual hopes and dreams, only to fall victim to a sinister enemy who strikes silently and indiscrimi-nately. We remember and honor these heroes and victims of a silent war.

With confidence, we look forward to a time when life will return eventually to the way things were, or perhaps to a new normalcy that will produce a life worth living instead of the current uncertainty and fear. For now, we must continue to remember and pray for the heroes, the victims, and the families who are suffering so terribly in this world today. ~


George Arthur “Art” Day

Obituary George Arthur Day:

George Arthur “Art” Day, 90, of Port Austin, MI passed away peacefully on Sunday March 22, 2020 at McLaren Bay Regional Hospital after a brief illness.

He was born in Port Austin, MI on February 20, 1930 to the late Murdoch and Mary (Fuller) Day. He married Dolores (Wrubel) Day on September 6, 1950. Art & Dolores were the owners and operators of Thumb Lum-ber in Port Austin from 1976 to 1991.

He is survived by his children Gary (Penny) Day, Gail Wilder, and Bonnie Day. His grandchildren Scott (Christen) Wilder, Carrie Wilder, Justin (Jen) Day, Kelly (Chris) Clark, Robin Ales, Jeffrey Ales Jr., and Sarah Ales. His great-grandchildren Luke, Lana, Lexi, Lainey, Cecilia, Josh, Alfred, and Wyatt. His sister Bertha Broyles, brother Charlie (JoAnn) Day, sister-in-law Rhoda Day-Morris, his partner of many years, Ilene Thrushman, and many loving nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Dolores, sister Betty (Day) Weisenbach, sister Bea (Day) Wellman, and brother Grant Day, brother-in-laws Ward Wellman, Don Weisenbach and John Broyles.

Art Day touched so many lives with his friendly, kind, humble, and generous heart. He loved spending time with friends and family. He will be dearly missed by all.

A memorial to celebrate Art’s life will be held at a later date. ~

PORT AUSTIN STATE BANK

62 E State Street P.O. Box 360 Port Austin MI 48467

Fax: 989-738-5792 Phone: 989-738-5235

Drive-Thru -Only at this time Hours:

Mon-Thurs: 9am-4pm Friday: 9am-5pm

Saturdays 9am-12:00

~ ATM & Night Deposit Anytime! ~

Port Austin Area Openings & Hours & Contact Information

The Bank 1884 Food & Spirits 8646 Lake Street, Port Austin

Monday thru Saturday 11AM - 8PM

Sunday 11 AM - 7PM Phone In Order 989-738-5353 Curbside pickup/ Free Deliver

The Pasta House 337 Main street, Kinde

Menu on Website Specials on Facebook

Monday– CLOSED TUESDAY Through SUNDAY

11AM-7PM Phone In Order 989-874-4070

Curbside Pickup

Huron’s Finest All Purpose Market—Premium Meats

1520 N Van Dyke Bad Axe Monday through Saturday

8am—6pm Phone In Orders 989-269-7200

Curbside Pickup

Fireside Inn 1146 Port Austin Road (M25) Same Great food. It just comes in a box!

OPEN for TAKE OUT Friday Saturday Sunday

3pm to 8pm Phone in Order 989-738-8232

Shelly’s Bar & Grill 8745 Pearson Rd, Grindstone City,

989-738-5105 Watch Facebook for time & days

Lake Street Local 8708 Lake Street Port Austin MI

Thursday & Friday 12noon—8PM Phone In Order 989-738-7520

Curbside Pickup

BUSINESSES Cancelling All Activities

until further notice The Landing Tavern P A

Lake Street Emporium P A

American Legion Post #499- P A

U & I Community Center P A

CLOSED UNTILL FURTHER NOTICE


My Mother

She is so strong knows right from wrong and has no in between

She is so seldom weak but cries when she seeks

reasons for mankind’s unkindness

She is our family’s historian remembers in detail other’s distortions with clarity in marvelous proportions

While 97 and very frail She never stops her concern for

Family and friends and their care.

My Mother She will always be a

Treasure to us all BJ King

Port Austin News Barbara King: Editor/Owner

Steve Penn, Reporter Dennis Hafeli, Reporter

Al Ainsley, Poet Jane Mayes, Poet

P O Box 624 Port Austin Michigan 48467 989-738-0122 [email protected]

Follow Us on Facebook

Printed by: Clemco Printing

116 Scott Street Bad Axe MI 959-269-8364 clemcoprinting.com

~ Most of us have never experienced the drama forced on the world

like what we are into today.

The Port Austin News paper will strive to continue for us all. Since we are only a monthly paper, things happen that are old news before the paper is published. The Port Austin News Face-

book page will be monitored and undated daily.

Bring Forth Al Ainsley

Bring forth

Memory from forgetfulness

Recognition from confusion

Life from near-death

Bring forth

Happiness from sorrow

Promise from loss

Hope from despair

Bring forth

Harmony from chaos

Peace from divisiveness

Substance from shadow

For shadows are elusive

They hide promise in darkness

While substance

Gives us a handle to hold

~


My thoughts,:

Jackie Yaroch passed away..

So sorry for her family and friends.

Since I moved up here permanently in

2011, Jackie never let me be alone during

Thanksgiving. She introduced me to Friends

of The Library; the Historical Society;

bowling with the handicapped; Christmas

gift wrapping for children at the big

church in Bad Axe; the U & I Club, and

much more. She is really going to be

missed. Port Austin is a better place to live

thanks to Jackie.

Barbara Jean King

Jacquelyn Ann Yaroch October 11, 1930-March 29, 2020

Jacquelyn Ann Yaroch (Jackie) age 89 of Port Austin, Michigan passed away on Sunday,

March 29, 2020.

Born October 11, 1930 to Leo Diehl Wilson and Dorothy Susanne (Mayer) Wilson in Toledo, Ohio the family moved to Detroit in 1942. She

graduated from Mackenzie High School in Detroit, Michigan in 1948 and attended the University of Detroit and Wayne State Universi-

ty. Upon receiving her MTASCP, she went to work in the lab at Mount Carmel Hospital in

Detroit as a Medical Technologist. She took time off to raise a family and in 1976 took a position with H & R Block from where she

retired as a manager in 1991. She met Eldon Yaroch of Port Austin in

September of 1952 and they were married June 13, 1953 by Rev. Father Karl Mayes at

St. Francis de Sales Roman Catholic Church in Detroit. They lived in Detroit until 1985 and then made Port Austin their permanent

home. They celebrated their 66th wedding anniversary this past June.

Jackie’s life in Port Austin was kept busy with

husband Eldon and her many volunteer hours with the Huron County Special Olympics,

Friends of the Port Austin Library, Port Austin Historical Society, events like Clothe a Child and Water Warriors, and church activities at

St. Michael Parish. She also taught an aerobics class for her “ladies” at the U & I Club. Her husband, music, reading, and her grandchil-

dren were some of her greatest joys.

Her wonderful life will be forever carried in the hearts of her children; Michael (Debra) Yaroch, Sue (Paul) Finney, and Amy (Kelly)

Carroll. Grandchildren; Travis (Renee) Yaroch, Joshua (Carly) Yaroch, Kaitlyn (Derek) Byerle,

Michael (Amy) Yaroch and Nicholas (Dayna) Carroll. And great grandchildren: Logan, Madelyn, and Liam Yaroch; Jackson, Nash, and

Braxton Yaroch; Caden, Harper, and Weston Byerle; Eldon and Cora June Carroll; and one little one who will arrive in September to

Michael and Amy Yaroch.

"There exist people who are humble, but the world revolves around them. They're the quiet ones, the strong, peaceful ones, who form the unbreakable hub for a bunch of fragile spokes. True families aren't bred, they're spun together. And at their center, at the center of the infinite wheel of every family of every kind, blood or otherwise, there is a hub, that person, those people, who hold the wheel together and keep it turning." ~


We Carry On from Life Lines by Jane Mayes

Sometimes the prognosis hits us with the stunning clarity of sunshine on an icicle that falls, pierces the brain and wedges into the heart, numbing the pain of knowledge. Faces frozen in apparent control and comprehension, we carry on and do what has to be done. As the heat of the heart’s anguish melts away the ice, it dampens the pillow, washes away the tension in torrents of tears, and bathes the soul in solace as we carry on; and through the fissure formed, a tiny mote of light finds its way to that deep place within, and hope is born. That tiny mote glows brighter, and hope grows stronger fed by the love that spawned it, and we carry on.

The Tough Get Going Steve Penn

Lately many of our local residents have gone out of

their way to help neighbors and family members get

through these difficult times. One in particular is

noteworthy. Kathleen Donahue recently heeded the

call to help protect healthcare professionals by

producing nearly one thousand, and counting,

protective face masks for area nurses and doctors.

Along with the help of other dedicated volunteers

and contributors (you know who you are!), this

perky, seamstress-extraordinaire has spent sleepless

nights and days creating potentially life-saving,

hand-crafted masks to contribute to the cause.

Undoubtedly there are others in the community that

have used their skills to also contribute protective

masks for this cause.

Thank you Kathleen and everyone that has helped

during this time of need, for your dedication and

hard work. ~


PORT AUSTIN POST OFFICE 8710 North St. Port Austin MI 48467

989-738-5264 800-275-8777 Fax: 989-738-8614

FULL SERVICE HOURS: MON. - FRI. 9:00am - 4:00pm SATURDAY 9:00am - 11:00pm SUNDAY & HOLIDAYS CLOSED

SELF SERVICE HOURS: MON . - FRI . 7:30am - 4:30pm SATURDAY 7:30am - 11:00am SUNDAY & HOLIDAYS CLOSED

BUSINESS by Phone Only:

BUSINESS by Phone Only:

Government Meetings Port Austin Township Board 7pm 989

-738-6808 held 3rd Monday of month

Port Austin Township Library Board 989-738-7212 Meets 3rd Tuesday of month

Port Austin Chamber of Commerce 989-738–7600 Held on of month at the Welcome Center

Village of Port Austin Council 6:30pm 989-738-5199 Meets on the 2nd Mon-day of the month

Planning Commission 7pm Meetings are scheduled for the Third Thursday of the months May, June, July, August, September

*Huron Regional Water Authority 10am 989-738-5199 meets 2nd Thursday of month

*Port Austin Area Sewer & Water Au-thority 3pm 989-738-8366 Meet every 2nd Wednesday of month

* These meeting are being help on

line, be accessed with an invitation.

If you would like to attend please

call the numbers given.

If you have problems reaching someone

to get a reply you can email the us at

[email protected] or call us

989-738-0122 we’ll try to help.

Port Austin News

WHO’S WHO AT PORCH FEST V (PART THREE) Dennis Hafeli WOW! In the last issue, when I highlighted eight artists who would be performing at Porch Fest V, I was not expecting the country to be enveloped by a pandemic which has turned life as it was and as it was planned into such confusion and uncertainty. Nonetheless, thinking positively, and knowing how a Port Austin Porch Fest has proven its ability to create smiles and congeniality among thousands of people, we look ahead expectantly to June 27, 2020 as a date for continued healing and rebirth. Here are nine more musical acts among the thirty-four who have committed their time and talents to being with us that day.

SILVERWOOD BOTTOM BOYS – Porch Fest favorites, this five man group, featuring Freddie Wilbanks on guitar and Bob Garner on mandolin, have performed throughout mid-Michigan at a variety of functions. Cleverly costumed in vintage railroad garb, they favor old-time gospel and patriotic songs.

REMNOSE – Newcomers to Porch Fest, this four piece band from Ferndale features Marlon Morton, Carson Morton, Vince Bashi, and Alex Wildner. They describe themselves as “four wanna be Yoopers making up north music from underneath the bridge.” Their music fits somewhere in the broad genre of indie folk-rock. NICHOLAS JAMES THOMASMA – At his first Porch Fest, Nicholas, the 2019 Harbor Beach artist in residence, is a singer/songwriter with acoustic guitar and harmonica accompaniment. He com-bines stories and songs with humor and wit enjoyed by people of all ages.

HOME TOWN SOUND – This veteran combo from the Harbor Beach area features Ernie Essenmacher on accordion, Richard Roberts on tenor banjo, and Mike Gilbert on drums. Their music is a mix of popular country, polkas, waltzes, oberics, and vocals. We welcome this group to their first Porch Fest in Port Austin.

SIBLING REVELRY – Guitarist/vocalist Marty Eckerman returns from the west side of the state for his fifth Porch Fest. With two of his sisters, Carole Medema and Peggy Miller, the trio combine their voices on harmonies, focusing on oldies rock, with several more con-temporary popular tunes included.

JONATHON FERRIS - A resident of Flint, skilled at both guitar and mandolin, Jonathon, with guitarist Andrew June, is playing his third Porch Fest. His music favors Americana and folk rock, focusing on themes of love, faith, and the American dream. B-N-T – Huron County favorite Bobby Manila, at his fifth Porch Fest, along with guitarist Trevor Booms and new addition Nathan V on drums, offers a variety of music ranging from the 70’s to today’s pop hits. Melodious vocals and tight harmonies, along with skilled guitar playing, are a trademark of this group.

SARAH SCHINGECK – An exciting newcomer to Porch Fest, Sarah is a singer/songwriter with a vocal music degree from Hope College who has performed at numerous venues throughout Michigan. Perform-ing with Trevor Edmonds and Danny Schingeck, she describes her music as folk, hopeful, thoughtful, tender, spirit-filled, silly, clever, and positive.

DR. HARP AND SWEET MELISSA – Regulars at every Porch Fest, this Toledo-based group features vintage acoustic and electric blues with a mixture of Americana. Now a four piece group, it features Dr. Harp (Russell Smith) with vocals, guitar, and harmonica; Sweet Melissa, vocals and percussion; Tyler Smith on keyboard; and Mighty Matt Mundick on bass.

LOOK FOR A FINAL GROUP OF PORCH FEST ENTERTAINER BIOS NEXT MONTH! IN THE MEANTIME, BE SAFE AND THINK POSITIVE!!!


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