2/28/01 - Not everyone qualifies to attend a Slump Buster. You have to have an interest in some form of writing to sign up for the one being put on by the U.P. Writers Association at the Daggett Elementary School on Saturday, March 10th. The one-day session will provide workshops on Freelance Writing, Historical Research Writing, and an introduction to WebTV, the comparatively cheap, easy way to use the Internet for web pages, writing and research. (It's the system I use so guess who will be doing that session.) There will also be an opportunity to sign up for a three-hour session to learn to do a web page the traditional way, plus time for participation in writing circles and group sharing discussions. Peggi Carrier, from Daggett, is the UPWA President and is in charge of the event. You can get in touch with her, or e-mail me, for more details.

2/22/01 - The Public Participation portion of the February meeting of the Stephenson School Board Monday night gave several people an opportunity to voice opinions and ask questions - none of which had easy answers. A substitute bus driver wanted information and some definite guidelines on the way subs who want to drive as often as possible and occasional subs, who want to drive only when no others are available, are treated. The Board agreed to discuss it and review whatever policies apply.

There were also questions about the Board's policy regarding the use of charter buses for some events when school buses and drivers were available, who deterimes charges to students, why local c

Later in the meeting Board member Jackie Dupler reported on 5th grade teachers' discussions with the Board's Curriculum Committee about classroom discipline and safety plans. She noted that there were more problems now than in the past and she did not think things like fist-fighting should be allowed in classrooms. Supt. Kalhoefer explained that the school does have guidelines on how to deal with discipline problems but that often times children in the Special Education programs are involved and, in those cases State guidelines supercede local ones, making it difficult to handle discipline problems.

The meeting did end on a cheerful note with congratulations following the announcement that Assistant Principal Chris Rundle has been selected to replace High School Principle Paul Weismantel, who says he is 'graduating' (to retirement) after 12 years at the school.

2/2l/01 - Next time your kids complain about shoveling snow or mowing grass to earn extra money, introduce them to Fr. Peter Fosu, who is temporarily assigned to the Catholic church in Stephenson. He was born and raised in Ghana, in an area without running water. As a child he carried water in a bucket balanced on his head, from a stream about a mile away, for use by his family of seven brothers and sisters. To make spending money he made extra trips so he could sell the water.

As the speaker at the Wednesday night meeting of the St. Mary's Sanctuary Society , Fr. Fosu told of the many changes in types of government in Ghana and how they affected the economy, education and living standards. He grew up in a farming area, but their main crop was cocoa. Families worked picking the ripened pods, and harvesting and drying the cocoa beans, which were then taken to a seaport for shipment to other countries. He explained customs regarding the naming of children and handling of inheritances, how they only have two seasons (wet and dry) instead of four, and the differences in languages among the various tribes in Ghana.

A most interesting evening!

2/21/01 - According to a Professor at Stanford University four good belly laughs are the equivalent of 30 minutes of aerobic exercises to help keep you young and healthy. If that's the case the group planning the 50th reunion of the SHS Class of 195l are going to stand out as the youngest and healthiest people present by the time the reunion takes place on September lst. To keep from embarrassing the other class members they plan to only have two more meetings before the actual event. They met on Tuesday night and agreed to get a letter out by the 15th of March with details on the schedule, costs, and sign up information. They also decided to add an informal (that means at your own expense) get together at Belgiumtown on the Friday night before the reunion, for anyone who wants to get an early start on renewing old acquaintances.

2/16/01 - There were no Valentines, heart shaped decorations or candy at the February 14 meeting of the TRIAD group at the Island Casino, but I think there was a pretty strong Valentine message from Senior Citizens to the community.

There were 21 people present. Six of those were police officers, three were TRIAD officers, and there were three representatives, one each from a Senior Center, the Community Action Agency and the RSVP Program. There were eight seniors present, and me. Nine of the people are paid with taxpayer's money. The meeting lasted a little over an hour and at least four of the law officers travelled from Stephenson and Menominee to attend the meeting, adding at least four hours of travel time. If their average pay were $10 an hour (which I'm sure is a low estimate) it would have cost at least $130 to put on the meeting.

After the usual scam warnings the primary purpose of the meeting seemed to be finding a way to qualify for grant money. It would involve setting up a Board of Directors representing various segments of the community to provide backing and direction. But surveys taken nearly a year ago when the group was formed showed that area seniors had few complaints, other than three-wheelers and snowmobiles trespassing on rural property and kids driving carelessly. The only project undertaken thus far has been ordering and distributing Files of Life packets.

The lack of support and enthusiasm for the TRIAD program by area senior citizens seems to be due to the feeling that the facilities and services provided by the three Senior Centers, the Community Action Agency, R.S.V.P. , the Family Independence Agency, churches, and other groups are quite adequate. They have places to socialize, play cards, get meals, arrange transportation for medical appointments, go on shopping trips and other outings, swim at the Y, get counseling and help with taxes or home heating credits, pick up food commodities, do volunteer work at the schools, get help with housework, and on and on. Their Valentine message to the community seems to be "Thanks, but we are already well taken care of."

That's not only a credit to the staffs of the various agencies, but to the seniors themselves. Most were raised to take care of themselves and only ask for help when they really needed it. They aren't comfortable with the idea of going after money for something they don't need, just to be sure nobody else gets it. That's a little too close to the attitude of the scammers they are constantly being warned about.

TRIAD is a good program that helps many people in areas with larger populations or limited or poorly organized other programs. It is also supposed to promote better relations between law officers and senior citizens. If you would have heard the presentation by LT Pepin of the Hannaville Police Department that day, you would know that law officers in the area are well trained and do all they can to be helpful to senior citizens. They try to be sure that seniors are treated as if every day is Valentine's Day.

2/14/01 - Lorraine Wood was the winner of the basket of Valentine candy drawing at the library in Stephenson. There were reports that many of the students who visit the library were watching, waiting and hoping their names would be drawn. The library staff comes up with special treats for holidays almost every month, with no special requirements to enter the drawing, St. Patrick's Day will probably be next. And I wonder what they will come up with for April Fools' Day. I'll bet the kids could come up with interesting suggestions for that one!

2/9/01 - Progress continues on the city's new Public Works Building in Stephenson. The seven garage doors have been installed and work continues on the heating and wiring systems. A presentation made by representatives of Cover-All Building Systems at the City Council's February meeting gave details on what would be involved in a building they could put up to cover the ice rink in Erickson Park.

Their estimated cost for a 110' x 220' building with a steel frame and fabric covering is $280,000, with possible price options available. Word has been received that the requested DNR Clean Michigan Initiative Recreation Bond Program has been approved. The Council will continue to look into building options available before making a final decision. Public Works Superintendent Ken Marklein and Clerk Judy St. Juliana reported on a meeting they attended in Marquette regarding the time frames and bookkeeping procedures required for the different stages of the ice rink/pavilion grant project.

2/1/01 - February Horoscope: All the stars and signs and sparkly things are in your favor. January was a long month because you spent it getting in good shape mentally, physically, spiritually, financially,etc. You are probably as near perfect as you are going to get, so Treat Yourself Like Company this month. Let people wait on you. Buy yourself special treats. Sleep late. Have breakfast in bed. Ignore daily chores. If you start to feel guilty around mid-month pick a project that needs a special tool or part. Go shopping for it. If the first place doesn't have it try several others. So what if you get home five hours later with something totally unnecessary. Or, call up some friends you haven't spent much time with lately. Ask if they've ever had the same problem. Invite them over to discuss it - over coffee and whatever goodies they offer to bring. Or go to the library and see if anyone has written a book on how to best handle your project. Pick up a couple of other books while there. Stretch out on the couch, or in your favorite chair, and read them all. By the time you're done the snow will have disappeared, days will be longer, and you will be ready for spring...and March.

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