Watervliet Public Schools Calendar of Events

KUTE KIDS…It was a labor of love as these kids of Rita and Phil Lynch of Watervliet gathered for a fun play date to work on this painting project at their family home. This gathering included Anne Pudell, Darryl Lynch, Jeff Al-len, Beth Beam, Janet Lynch, Rick Beam, Pat Lynch, Duane Lynch, Katherine Rodriguez, Terry Lynch and Greg Lynch.

Thursday, August 25

JV Football Season Opener at Hartford, 6:00 p.m.

Friday, August 26

Varsity Football Season Opener, Home vs. Hartford, 7:00 p.m.

Wednesday, August 31

Back to School Night at North and South Schools, 4:00 – 6:00 p.m.

JV Volleyball at Brandywine, 5:00 p.m.

Varsity Volleyball at Brandywine, 6:00 p.m.

JV Football at Schoolcraft, 6:00 p.m.

Thursday, September 1

Varsity Football, Home vs. Schoolcraft, 7:00 p.m.

Tuesday, September 6

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL – 1/2 DAY FOR STUDENTS

                                                                          97th meeting of the Watervliet 40 Year Club

WATERVLIET HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES FROM THE 1930s… Pictured (from the left) are Ewald Rodewald and William Furlan. These men represented the oldest alumni in attendance at the Watervliet 40 Year Club all school reunion, held Saturday, August 20, 2016. Ewald was a member of the Class of 1936, and is 98 years old. William was a member of the Class of 1937, and is 97 years old. Both men are veterans who served in the United States Army from 1942-1946. Also, both men are still able to drive. They shared many memories with some of the other 150-plus attendees. Besides the 1930s…the 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s were also represented. (TCR photo by Greg Krell)

By Greg Krell

The 97th meeting of the Watervliet Public Schools 40 Year Club was Saturday, August 20, 2016.  The meeting was held at the FOP Lodge in Coloma. A 50 year span of Watervliet alumni attended.  Due to the ongoing construction at the Watervliet Middle and High Schools, a change in location was needed for the meeting this year.  It is believed to be the first time the Watervliet 40 Year Club has not met in Watervliet since the Club was formed in 1920.  Next year, the 40 Year Club will once again be meeting at the school.  Traditionally, the 40 Year Club meets on the third Saturday in August.  The expected 2017 date is Saturday, August 19.  Roughly 155 former Watervliet students, teachers, and staff members attended.  This included at least 20 first-time attendees.  Class members from the 1930s through the 1980s were present.  The 1930s were represented by one member each from the Class of 1936 and 1937.  The 1980s were represented by one member each from the Class of 1981, 1983, and 1986.  A large contingent of former/current school employees was in attendance also.  Those members were:  Jeanne Bridges, Marsha Cole, Geoff Geisler, Pat Woodruff Geisler, Joyce Griffin, Donna Hays, Jim Keech, Jeanne King, Gordon Krell, Jeannette Lottridge, Katherine Lynch, Rita Lynch, Barry Nilson, Karen Nilson, Karen Benjamin Saetre, and Dan Schofield.  Marsha Stennecke Cole was the speaker.  She welcomed everyone to the meeting this year, and spoke as to why the Club was not meeting in Watervliet at the school.  Marsha then led everyone in a moment of silence for the departed classmates.  WHS Class of 1966 member, Rick Beam, led the roll call of class members throughout the years.  When the roll was taken, 33 classes were represented.  The oldest class was the Class of 1936, represented by Ewald Rodewald.  The youngest class was the Class of 1986, represented by Holly Gay.  Once again, the class with the best attendance was the Class of 1965.  The second best attended class was the Class of 1966, as they were celebrating their 50th anniversary of graduating from Watervliet High School.  The 40 Year Club committee would like to thank those attending that made the day a great one by sharing their time and memories. Committee members are Marsha Stennecke Cole, Donna Gilliard Curtis, Don Hunt, Dawn Messinger Keech, Greg Krell, Wade Lynch, Dorothy Quint Messinger, Barry Nilson, Elsie Weckwerth Rantz, and Barb Flaherty Schofield.  The 40 Year Club date is becoming more popular as many classes are now holding their class reunions the same day.  This is a great way for members of the same class to see those from other years.  Depending on one’s age, it is possible to see some classmates of your parents, or possibly some of those in school at the same time as your children.  Pictures from the 2016 Watervliet 40 Year Club all school reunion may be found on Facebook, on two pages.  One is the “Watervliet 40 Year Club, all class reunion” page.  The other is the “You know you’re from Watervliet if…” page.

GOLDEN KEYBOARD AWARD… presented by Kim deBoom, Student Information Coordinator for Hartford Schools to High School Principal Dave Janicki. The Golden Keyboard Award is given to a staff member who best utilizes technology to further student education and achievement. (TCR photo by Nancy Albright)

Community Calendar

Sponsored by Orchard Hill Landfill

  August 22-27 from 6 p.m.-9 p.m.  “HUNTER ARCHERY SAFETY COURSE” at the Coloma Rod and Gun Club.

 Thursday, August 25, “QUARTER AUCTION” sponsored by Lakeland Hospital, Watervliet Auxiliary. 6:00 p.m. preview; 6:30 p.m. auction at the Coloma F.O.P. Lodge, 3470 Angling Rd., Coloma. Tickets $5.00 at the door. Food available for purchase.

 Friday, August 26, 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., “EMBROIDERY WORKSHOP” at The Teacup Peddler, 222 N. Paw Paw St., Coloma. $12 per person.

 Saturday, August 27, 6:00 p.m. “2017 MISS SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN/TEEN SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM” at Bridgman High School Performing Arts Center. Tickets are $5.00, available at the door.

 Monday, August 29, 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. “RETIREMENT PARTY FOR LOIS HARTMAN” Watervliet Library Director, in the Library Community Room.

Monday Aug. 29, Sept. 5 & Sept. 12, 7:00 p.m. “UNITED IN PRAYER” at Baker Park in Coloma. Everyone is invited to attend.

Friday & Saturday, Sept. 2 & 3, 9:00 p.m. – 12:30 a.m. “BIG TWIN TAVERN PRESENTS: JIMMY PHILLIPS & MORTALS 2 BAND” vintage rock, blues and                                                                                                              original music at 42 W. Main St., Hartford.

Saturday, Sept. 3, 6:00 p.m. “COMMUNITY HYMN SING” at Plymouth Congregational Church, Watervliet.

 Sunday, Sept. 4, 8:00 a.m. – noon “SISTER LAKES LIONS CLUB PANCAKE BREAKFAST” at Lions Park clubhouse. All you can eat $7.00/adults, $3.00/children ages 4-12/ under 4 free.

 Friday, Sept. 9, 5:00 – 6:00 p.m. “COMMUNITY SOUP & SALAD SUPPER” at North Berrien Senior Center, 6648 Ryno Rd., Coloma. Public invited: $5.00/adults; $3.00/up to 12 yrs old; under 3 free.

 Saturday, Sept. 10, 9:00 a.m. tee time “HARTFORD UNITED METHODIST CHURCH ANNUAL GOLF OUTING” at Lake Cora Hills Golf Club. Questions can be directed to the church at 269-621-4103 or to Dick Melvin at 269-621-3685.

 Saturday, Sept. 24, “WIRX BIKE BASH” at LMC’s Mendel Center from 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. More info at wirx.com

 Sundays, 8 a.m. to noon “BREAKFAST” at the Coloma Rod & Gun Club.

 Thursdays 6 p.m.–10 p.m. “Trap shooting” at the Coloma Rod & Gun Club.

 Third Monday of every month, 3 p.m.-6 p.m. “FOOD BANK” at Central Assembly of God, 6801 Ryno Rd., Coloma, 468-8422.

  Third Wednesday of every month, 7 p.m., “SOUTHWESTERN STAMP CLUB MEETING” at the Lincoln Township Library located on John Beers Rd. in Stevensville.