10/29/01 - Here's a witch story you haven't heard before. When they were kids they didn't have sneakers. They wore shoes that had to be polished...often, if you wanted to be acceptable ("cool" was still a weather word then, so you know this was a long time ago.) There wasn't a lot of money for buying fancy things like shoe polish so you had to make one little can last a long, long time. Their mothers would collect all kinds of money-saving tips. One of them was "Soften dry, hard shoe polish by pounding it down with a wooden spoon, adding turpentine, and then leaving it sit for an hour or so." Young girls listened to their mothers back then, and did what they were told, even if they would have preferred to be cruising around town with their friends. Of course teenagers didn't have cars then, so they spent a lot of time at home. They did go out and party on Halloween, and could wear whatever they wanted. Boys did things like tip over toilets or rub soap on windows. The girls decided this was their time to rebel and to wear long, black dresses, to cover scratched and scruffy shoes. How daring! They tucked their hair under big black hats, so they wouldn't have to spend all that time putting it up in pincurls, and even went without makeup, showing off the warts on their nose, if they were lucky enough to have one. And how the boys envied their ability to cruise around on brooms! That was a bit tricky, but they found if they went out behind the manure pile in the back of the barn they could con a few stray black cats, with special powers, into turning those brooms into simple machines with the speed and power of motorcycles. They were only good until midnight though - or is that from another story? Anyhow...being called a witch was quite a compliment in those days. How times have changed!

10/19/01 - What with keeping up with the latest news updates, sitting in the sun watching the leaves fall, spraying and squishing and sweeping up box elder bugs, and trying to figure out what kind of little animal is trying to chew a hole in the floor under the bathtub, I've had little time for news gathering. And October is almost gone. I should pass on this weather report for October 31st: Black clouds across the moon are predicted that night, unless high-flying brooms sweep them away.

10/11/01 - News from the October 4th City Council Meeting: Things are progressing at the Ice Rink in Stephenson. Ken Marklein reported that the pavillion project is on or ahead of schedule. Seeding and mulching will be done shortly. Bills totalling nearly $47,000 for work on the project were approved for payment. Dale Parrett is checking on the possibility of using meshing on the open portion on the north end of the pavillion to shield the area from wind and snow. A request for grant money to buy used ice boards and basketball hoops has also been submitted. The city is also planning to provide a 40' x 80' practice field at Erickson Park.for the Mid-County Sharks football teams.

Fire Chief Jim Gardiner received authorization to submit a request for a grant to add a 30' x 35' Training Classroom to the back of the Fire Hall. Firemen from all departments in Menominee County receive training at the Stephenson fire station and more space is needed.

Al Raether and Joel Phillippo, from the Stephenson Non-Profit Housing Corporation were also present. The Corporation plans to build three carports and a garage/storage building in the area of the Maple Aires Apartments. Their request for a building permit variance was accepted as presented.

And....get all those leaves raked and bagged by October 29th. That is the date set for the city to start picking up bags of leaves and brush for the Fall Clean-Up. It'll help keep all the little ghosts and goblins from spreading them all over your yard again.

10/10/01 - Today is Bret Favre's 32nd birthday.

10/2/01 - Carol Compton was elected to a second term as President of the Menominee County Friends of the Library at their meeting last week. Sheryl Schrot will serve as Vice President and Stevie Newell is the group's new Secretary. She is relieving Marian Koldos who has served in that capacity since the group was formed in 1972. Dorothy Phillippo , with fifteen years in as Treasurer, is being replaced by Cheryl Ann Salvatore. The Friends group has promoted and supported the Library through a variety of programs and special events for almost 30 years. Planning for the annual "Weekend With Friends" took up most of the meeting. The event is scheduled to take place on October 20th, and the title has been changed to "Saturday with Friends." People will have a chance to look over special displays, meet - and join, if they wish - members of the Friends group, sample some homemade goodies, and enjoy the warmth and friendliness of the surroundings.

If you have any comments or suggestions, please take a minute to write H. Barb Upton.