05-16-2019 Letters and Commentary

TREE HUGGER Rick Rasmussen of Watervliet measures the girth of a giant tree on the river island at the Paw Paw River County Park in Watervliet this past winter. Estimates of the age of the tree ranges from 180 years to 300. Rick plans to enter the tree in the Michigan Big Tree Contest mentioned on this page. (TCR photo by Karl Bayer)

2019 Little Red, White, and Blue & 2019 Baby Independence entry deadline May 21 Parents of children ages 0-3 as of June 28, 2019 have until Tuesday, May 21 to enter their little ones in the Little Red, White, and Blue (18 months to 3 years old) contest and Baby Independence (0 – 18 months) contest. A photo is needed for entry. Mail a 4×6 photo and information to 324 N. Main St., Watervliet MI 49098 Attn: 4th of July. Photo will not be returned. Or, a photo can be sent through Facebook in a private message to “WBA Baby Independence & Little Red, White, and Blue”. The needed information to include is child’s name, parent’s name(s), Watervliet city or township address, phone number and date of child’s birth with age. An in-person registration can be done on Tuesday, May 21 from 4-6 p.m. at JW Morlock and Girls Farm Stand, 5000 N. M-140 in Watervliet. Don’t forget to bring a 4×6 photo. This is a fundraiser for the Watervliet Business Association Independence Day Celebration held in 2019 on June 28-30. Voting will take place May 27 – June 27 at Arclight Brewery, B&B Grocery Discount Outlet, Coloma Harding’s, JW Morlock and Girls Farm Stand, and Frosty Boy. One dollar per vote. The child with the most money raised wins. Winners will be announced June 28 at 6 p.m. on the Main Stage downtown Watervliet.

Easiest way to summer fitness The PARCOURSE at Lakeland Hospital, Watervliet is 50% completed – please help them reach their goal by June 30! The Trapeze Rack shown in the photo will be in phase #2, construction begins soon! Go to patronicity.com/parcourse to become a part of this project. The PARCOURSE is free to use and open from dawn to dusk, seven days a week. Residents, sports teams, patients undergoing rehabilitation at Lakeland Hospital, Watervliet, and even the physical education classes at the middle and high schools utilize the PARCOURSE. Today is the age of the active American. Health conscious women, men, and children are more concerned with physical fitness than ever before and yet the nation, and especially Michigan, continues to experience unprecedented increases in the obese and diabetic populations. Whether you’re young or old, fit or out of shape, anyone can use the PARCOURSE equipment to enhance their exercise routine. You’ll know that you’ve achieved a full-body workout incorporating cardio, balance, agility, strength training and stretching when you’ve finished the PARCOURSE circuit. The course will be open from dawn to dusk and allow individuals with disabilities or assistive devices to enjoy the outdoors while getting exercise. The Community Hospital Foundation has raised over $295,00 in cash and pledges towards their $365,000 goal and anyone’s donation can help them get to the finish line. If they meet their additional goal of $35,000 before June 30, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) will match that, essentially doubling each donation. Visit the website patronicity.com/parcourse, take the fly over of the proposed PARCOURSE and become a part of this project by donating! Cash or check donations can be mailed to Lakeland Health Foundation/Parcourse Campaign, 1234 Napier Avenue, St. Joseph, MI 49085.

Michigan Big Tree Hunt Contest is underway ReLeaf Michigan, a non-profit tree planting and education organization, is celebrating Michigan trees with its 14th Michigan Big Tree Hunt Contest. This free contest runs now through September 3, 2019 and is open to participants of all ages. Join Michiganders across all 83 counties to hunt for the largest trees in the state. Big trees can be found anywhere: a backyard, a local park, or a hiking trail. When the contest closes certificates and prizes will be awarded for the largest tree submitted from each Michigan County, the largest tree found by a youth hunter (15 and younger) and adult hunter (16 and older), the largest Eastern White Pine found in the state and for potential state champion trees. To enter your big tree, visit www.bigtreehunt.com for an online entry form or for information on where to find a paper entry form. ReLeaf Michigan started the Michigan Big Tree Hunt in 1993 to celebrate our state’s beauty and gather information about Michigan’s biggest trees. Contest entries provide potential state champion trees to Michigan’s Big Tree Registry as well as the National Register of Big Trees. Since Michigan champion trees die or may be removed, contest entries are a wonderful opportunity for all age groups to help track these vital, historical, living landmarks. More contest details available online at www.bigtreehunt.com. If you have a question not answered on the website, email ledwards@ReLeafMichi- gan.org or call (800) 642-7353. ReLeaf Michigan’s Big Tree Hunt contest is sponsored by the Arboriculture Society of Michigan, Consumers Energy Foundation, the DTE Energy Foundation, and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources – Urban and Community Forestry Program and supported in partnership by the Huron-Clinton Metroparks and the Michigan Botanical Club. Michigan AG Nessel joins coalition of 44 attorneys general in antitrust lawsuit against generic drug manufacturers Second lawsuit filed in ongoing, expanding investigation Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel joined a coalition of 44 attorneys general in announcing a lawsuit against Teva Pharmaceuticals and 19 of the nation’s largest generic drug manufacturers, alleging a broad conspiracy to artificially inflate and manipulate prices, reduce competition and unreasonably restrain trade for more than 100 different generic drugs. The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut, seeks damages, civil penalties and actions by the court to restore competition to the generic drug market. The lawsuit also names 15 individual senior executive defendants at the heart of the alleged conspiracy who were responsible for sales, marketing, pricing and operations. The defendants’ drugs account for billions of dollars in sales in the country, and the alleged schemes increased prices affecting the health insurance market, taxpayer-funded health care programs like Medicare and Medicaid, and individuals who must pay artificially inflated prices for their prescription drugs. The complaint alleges that Teva, Sandoz, Mylan, Pfizer and 16 other generic drug manufacturers engaged in a broad, coordinated and systematic campaign to conspire with each other to fix prices, allocate markets and rig bids for more than 100 different generic drugs. The drugs span all types, including tablets, capsules, suspensions, creams, gels, ointments, and classes, including statins, ace inhibitors, beta blockers, antibiotics, anti-depressants, contraceptives, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and treat a range of diseases and conditions from basic infections to diabetes, cancer, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, HIV, ADHD, and more. In some instances, the coordinated price increases were more than 1,000 percent. The complaint outlines an interconnected web of industry executives who met with each other during industry dinners, lunches, cocktail parties, golf outings and communicated via frequent phone calls, emails and texts to sow the seeds for their illegal agreements. Throughout the complaint, defendants use terms like “fair share,” “playing nice in the sandbox,” and “responsible competitor” to describe how they unlawfully discouraged competition, raised prices and enforced an ingrained culture of collusion. “Each day, people across the U.S. turn to generic drugs as an affordable alternative to name-brand medication,” Nessel said. “Michigan patients count on drug manufacturers to keep their prices affordable for life-saving medications. And when they don’t, when they collude to raise prices and line their pockets at the expense of the health and well-being of our residents, my office will hold them accountable.” This is the second complaint to be filed in an ongoing and expanding investigation that has been referred to as possibly the largest cartel case in the history of the United States. The first complaint, still pending in U.S. District Court in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, was filed in 2016 and now includes 18 corporate defendants, two individual defendants, and 15 generic drugs. Two former executives from Heritage Pharmaceuticals, Jeffery Glazer and Jason Malek, have entered into settlement agreements.

The historic Noah, the historic Jesus Christ Recently some friends were very excited upon returning from the Ark Encounter in Williamston, Kentucky. The immensity of the structure and the detail of the design were impressive. Extensive research went into developing the Ark Encounter. Many cultures have a flood story in their ancient histories with fascinating similarities to the Biblical account of the universal flood of Noah’s day found in Genesis. The similarities point to a common source. Scriptures tell us that God was very displeased with the violence that dominated the world because of people’s evil practices (Genesis 6:13). Noah, however, “walked with God” and was “righteous, blameless in his time”. (6:9) Man’s evil was not going to stop God’s redemptive plan. There was still a lot of history to happen, ultimately resulting in a Savior that God would provide, Jesus Christ. Noah was many years before Abraham and many years before Moses and the Law. Man’s evil did not stop God then, and it won’t stop God now. Noah is mentioned 43 times in the Old Testament and eight times in the New Testament. Every time He is mentioned he is referred to as an historic figure. Even Jesus pointed to the historic Noah as a warning to those who heard Him (and to us) in Matthew 24:27-29, “For the coming of the Son of Man will be like the days of Noah. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and they did not understand until the flood came and took them away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be.” (NASB) For Noah’s contemporaries it was too late. Will the next day of reckoning surprise us too? Evidently many will be caught unaware. Denying it won’t make it go away.

Spruce up your financial plan with Social Security Now that tax season is over, it’s probably a good time to evaluate some financial “best practices” for the rest of the year. A good spring-cleaning can clear out the clutter to let you see a clear path for your future. Social Security is always here to help. Even if you just started working, now is the time to start preparing for retirement. Achieving the dream of a secure, comfortable retirement is much easier with a strong financial plan.

Tip 1: Start Early Our online retirement planning resources are helpful to people at any stage of their career. Our many calculators, Benefit Eligibility Screening Tool, and disability resources are all available at www.socialsecurity.gov/ planners. From here, you can read and download publications and also email and share with colleagues, friends, and family. Remember, the earlier you start, the better chance you have at saving what you need. Tip 2: Be Informed We’re often asked, “What’s the best age to start receiving retirement benefits?” The answer is that there’s no single “best age” for everyone and, ultimately, it’s your choice. The most important thing is to make an informed decision, based on your individual and family circumstances. To help you make that decision, see our retirement publications at https://www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/?topic=Retirement. Tip 3: Estimate the Benefits You Might Get Knowing the amount of money you could get is pivotal in planning your finances. With the Retirement Estimator, you can plug in some basic information to get an instant, personalized estimate of your future benefits. Try out different scenarios, such as higher or lower future earnings amounts and various retirement dates to see the various potential effects on your future benefit amounts. Visit www.socialsecurity.gov/benefits/ retirement/estimator.html. Social Security can help you spring into action and take control of your future with the proper planning tools. Share these online resources with friends and family so they, too, will have the tools. Vonda VanTil is the Public Affairs Specialist for West Michigan. You can write her c/o Social Security Administration, 3045 Knapp NE, Grand Rapids MI 49525 or via email at vonda.vantil@ssa.gov.

BUSY, BUSY… Here we are in the midst of Spring 2019 and the weather is finally catching up to the calendar. Mother’s Day weather was just gorgeous and according to the Big C weekly weather report on the front page the upcoming days will continue as sunny and warm. We’re also in the midst of the end of the school year, seniors are practicing graduation and all the underclassmen are counting the days to the last day of school. Two iconic, long running events are the harbinger of spring and usher in all the summer fun. Blossomtime Festival week just wrapped up, with our Tri-Cities well represented with Hartford’s float winning the Sweepstakes award again. Our local Blossomtime royalty were well represented. Leading the way was Mr. Coloma Sin’cere Taylor as Mr. Blossomtime. The huge, noisy and well managed Lane’s Automotive Cruise Night and Car Show opens Friday evening, May 24 with the Cruise rolling through Coloma and Watervliet. The gigantic car show on Saturday, May 25. See all the details in Lane’s ad on Page 6 in this issue. Following Blossomtime, graduation ceremonies, and the Lane auto show the community festivals are just over the calendar horizon. Hartford’s classic Strawberry Festival is on deck for June 7 & 8. With Independence Day landing on a Thursday, Watervliet’s exciting Independence Day Celebration weekend kicks off on the last days of June… 28-29-30. Coloma’s huge Glad Peach Festival is set for August 2-4. Keep an eye out for all the spring and summer events published on these pages throughout the sunny season. The festival events for the Hartford Strawberry Festival and the Watervliet Independence weekend celebration will be unveiled in next week’s Record. Speaking of next week’s Tri-City Record, the “welcome to summer issue” will be mailed to every postal patron in Coloma, Hartford and Watervliet as well as some outlying areas. The issue will highlight local events, advertising specials, and features that make our Tri-City Area such a wonderful place to live, play and work. If you have something you would like to advertise and promote… call the Tri-City record immediately at 463-6397.