The Paw Paw River Journal

Taming my Dragon I guess the fact that I’ve been around for a while is no secret. And as everybody has to, I’ve been learning to deal with it. One of the problems is writing. My hands have gotten stiff, and although I have 126 handwritten journals, that writing has come to a screeching halt. But I could still type until recently. I got this new computer, and is so sensitive it sometimes prints when I just think of a letter! I was reduced to using the banker’s method of typing (hunt and peck). Recently while I was in rehab for a broken hip, I noticed that the physician’s assistants were using computers they could talk to. I asked one of them about it. She said she had gotten some software called Dragon Naturally Speaking. And it worked! I decided to try it. Eldest daughter Deb got the software for me, and I installed it. I am now in the process of taming the Dragon. And I’m hoping this will extend my writing for as long as I can talk and my marbles aren’t scrambled. Since I first started writing this column I had been typing my stories and sending them to Editor Karl. Then he had one of the girls (usually Bonnie Bannen) retype it for the paper. After I learned more or less to use my new computer, I could now type my stories and send them in by email. The switchover was not easy… guess as I’ve gotten older I am not such a quick learner. I made so many mistakes… finally daughter Becky said something that helped. “I’m not a mechanic but I can drive the car.” Yessssss! I could do that. First day on the new machine (an instrument of torture) I learned how to turn it on and off. Gradually it came to me and I became fairly proficient. Wherever we went, I carried the laptop and could send stories in. We drove to Florida and I took it into my favorite store to get hooked up to the Internet again. The guy said, “Holy cow! You have 150 messages waiting. Must’ve forgotten to tell people you were leaving.” As we walked out I was limping like I was carrying a heavy load. The Chief Accountant looked at me and said, “What?????” “Well, 150 messages make this thing so heavy I can hardly hold it!” She gave me the old eyeball roll and said, “Yeah… right!” After a few years that first machine became difficult to use. Time gallops on, new stuff comes out, and those companies are interested in selling new stuff. Comes a point they really don’t want to service and update old computers. So I got a new one. Back in business again… new stuff to learn. At every opportunity I prevailed upon younger members of our family to instruct me. I’m thankful for their patience! Then that computer became obsolete, so we got this new model. Scary! Just touch it and it prints! So I kept on writing my stories on the old one, transferred to this one to send in. Only problem: it was getting harder and harder to type. So it went on until fate intervened. We went into assisted living and thereafter I fell and broke my hip. I went into the big house (Bronson Hospital) to get fixed up, leaving the Chief Accountant behind… a sad parting! Three days in the hospital, then three weeks in rehab. I worked mighty hard to get it all back as soon as possible. Meanwhile, the Chief Accountant and I talked on the phone several times a day. They had a marvelous work out room with all the possible instruments of torture made to build muscles and joints. They told me I did a good job… well I was really trying! It was there I heard about Dragon and decided to try it. I’m using it right now, and he goes along pretty well. But there are a few glitches… sometimes I say a word, the Dragon thinks it is a command to do something, and I find all sorts of weird things happening. I believe it is caused by this computer. New things come out, they try to make it easier. But I don’t want easier, I just want things to stay the same!!!!! I hope I’m not being a Luddite! That name comes from England in the Industrial Revolution. A feebleminded workman named Ned Lud didn’t like the labor saving changes in the factory where he worked. So he wrecked the place. Now the term ‘Luddite’ is applied to someone who resists change even to the point of violence. Please don’t think I’m that bad. It’s just that I get used to doing something. Then they change it and I have to learn something new. I know, I know… it’s just that I don’t learn as easily as I used to. I have this picture in my mind… we keep shoving stuff in there (in my case for quite a few years) and as we do that it knocks something else out the other side. I’m the guy who wishes someone would invent a new model A Ford! My dad had one, and it is the first car I really remember riding in. It was rugged, dependable, and it had a horn when you pressed it, it went “AAOOOOGA!!!!!” Can you imagine what it would be like if we were all zooming around these storybook towns in cars like that? Oh, I guess I’ll take our civilization the way it is… still weaving some golden threads into the tapestry of our lives along the Paw Paw River!

Watervliet District Library

In Stitches Knitting Group Oct. 12, 2:30 – 4 p.m. Second Friday of every month; limited supplies are available for beginners. Third Monday Book Club Oct. 15, 7 – 8 p.m. Great books, fabulous conversations! Ask for a copy at the desk; this month: Girl in a Blue Dress by Gaynor Arnold. Paranormal Investigations Oct. 23 – 6:30 p.m. Venture into the unknown with MiPro, Michigan Paranormal Research Organization. The group seeks explanation to unknown or unusual events that occur throughout the southwestern corner of Michigan. Pinteresting Oct. 29, 6:30 – 8 p.m. Arts & crafts for grown-ups held the last Monday of the month. Sign-up required; Oct – Wood slice winter snow decorations. Teen Table Projects: October Witches Broom Pencils & Skeleton Hands (because skeletons have to write with something!) Story Hours Picture books, crafts and fun designed to inspire the love of reading for children ages 3 – 5 on Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. and Thursdays at 1:30 p.m. Yoga Monday 9 – 10 a.m.; Wednesday 7 – 8 p.m.; Chair Yoga – Wednesday 6 – 6:30 p.m. Book a Social Work Intern Thanks to an LSTA grant through the Niles Library, Watervliet Library will have a shared intern. Need help with on-line applications, unemployment or housing, the intern can help. Library Garden Park Purchase a Legacy Walk brick and celebrate a memory! Bricks are $75; 13 characters, 2 lines. Pick up a form at the library. Call 463-6382 with questions on any Watervliet Library activity.

NEWS FROM THE COLOMA COURIER

100 years ago – 1918 The Base Hospital Daily Bulletin, published at Camp Custer, tells of the success of “our very own” Frank Eifler. Formerly, he was assistant cashier of the State Bank of Coloma. His duty in the Army is to look over the monthly allowance of the men. The Coloma branch of the American Red Cross elected officers: Chairman – C.E. Pollock; Vice Chairman – Mrs. A.S. Miller; Secretary – Mrs. Louis Koob; Treasurer – W. H. Ball. 60 years ago – 1958 Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Erickson, popular operators of the Ellinee Village Inn at Paw Paw Lake were honored at a dinner. More than 90 attended the event that was hosted by the Chamber of Commerce. President Roger Carter thanked them for 50 years of service. This week’s sponsor of the Giv-A-Way quiz is Fred’s Super Market. First prize will be a five pound Oscar Mayer canned ham. Last week’s winners: Ann Carlson, Mrs. Donald J. Cole and George VanOrman. The junior and senior class of the high school will hold their annual magazine sales. Please help support these students as they raise money for their class. 30 years ago – 1988 Don’t Kiss the Cook! Well, at least not until the spaghetti supper is underway. Cooks for the Coloma Lions meal are Mike Churchill and Jim Edwards. Concept for a secondary vocational education center was not well accepted by residents. Transportation and cost were the biggest issues. Don’t Worry – Be Ready! For Bosses’ Day and Sweetest Day – Hometown Flowers & Furniture Carole’s Corner on Red Arrow Hwy has adult Halloween costumes. Wigs, make-up and accessories – rent or buy. Reserve yours now! The Comet girls lost a heartbreaker to Edwardsburg in overtime by a score of 31-29. Emily Fournier led with 20 points. Wendy Murray had 14 points.

Submitted by volunteer Sandi Musick Munchow at Coloma Public Library from the Coloma Courier newspapers donated by the Tri-City Record. Hours: Mon & Fri, 10:00 a.m.-5:30 p.m.; Tue, Wed & Thu, 10:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m.; Sat, 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. Phone: 269-468-3431

NEWS FROM THE HARTFORD DAY SPRING

100 years ago – 1918 The local teachers and members of the Board Of Education are to be the guests of the program committee of the Hartford Woman’s Club. Children playing with matches menaced the buildings on two farms near Hartford when they set huge straw stacks on fire arousing the entire neighborhoods and calling out the Hartford Fire Department. The first alarm came from Stephen Olds farm. The two grandsons of Mr. Olds, aged 7 and 9 years, were attempting to smoke corn-silk cigarettes. While the firemen were fighting the flames at the Olds farm another alarm came from the Roy Oakes farm southeast of town where children playing with matches. 75 years ago – 1943 The Hartford Garden Club will meet at the home of Mrs. Lewis Rush. Subject for the day will be “Shortage of Garden Produce”. The Hartford Woman’s Club will meet at the home of Mrs. Nellie Smith. In keeping with the club’s year program, “War Service”, the program committee has obtained Mrs. Jerald Hoestra, director of the USO in Kalamazoo, as speaker for the afternoon. Winners in the Hartford Township victory garden contest will receive cash awards this week. The awards will be made as follows: senior victory gardens, Sherwood Penwell $10, Lewis Rush $5, Ben Serene $1.50, Eileen Rice $1.50, Max Lee $1 and Vincent Rauner $1; junior victory garden, Sally Ann Brandt, Therese Marie Latus, Marilyn Fowler, Ruth Evelyn Burrett, Moses Granereth, Pat O’Malley, Bernice Hazelett, Lorna Kozelink each to receive $3. 50 years ago – 1968 As Explorer scout post received its charter Saturday night at Hartford, on hand for the presentation was Cecil Phillips, Randy Lowe, Lee Hannahs, Ted Boyer, Todd Olds and James Harmon. The post will go swimming once a month at the Benton Harbor MCA. Fire Prevention week will be climaxed with a parade. Children that wish to march in the parade with homemade floats, decorated bicycles or as individuals are asked to report at the parade assembly point. The fire department also sponsors a Fire Prevention week coloring contest for kindergarten children. Submitted by Librarian Stephanie Daniels at Hartford Public Library from microfilm copies of the Hartford Day Spring. Hours: Mon, Tue & Wed, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; Thu & Fri, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sat, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Phone: 269-621-3408

NEWS FROM THE WATERVLIET RECORD

90 years ago – 1928 Neighbors and children of Mr. and Mrs. Edgar Stewart gathered at their home Oct. 24, 1928 to celebrate Mrs. Stewart’s sixty-fifth birthday. Each guest brought her a useful gift of remembrance. Mr. and Mrs. Ross Walker are the proud parents of a little daughter who came to make her home with them on Oct. 19, 1928. They have named her Gloria Irene. For Sale – 7-room house on installment plan, corner of Congress and St. Joseph streets, City of Watervliet. $500 down, balance on contract or will rent it furnished to reliable party at $20.00 per month. 60 years ago – 1958 Miss Mary Kniebes was the guest of honor at a surprise birthday party held at First Methodist Church when fifty relatives helped her celebrate the 80th anniversary of her birth. The official enrollment for Watervliet Schools for 1958-59 is 1063, according to Superintendent Elery Donaldson. There are 671 in the elementary schools, Kindergarten thru sixth grades. High school numbers at 392. Mr. and Mrs. Robert Baker are the proud parents of their baby boy, James Warren, born Oct. 9, 1958 and weighed 8 pounds. 30 years ago – 1988 During the 1987-88 school year a committee of teachers, administrators and parents was given the task of exploring ways to provide educational opportunities for high-achieving youth in the district. They were exposed to the ideas of Dr. Faye Carney, a leader in gifted and talented education in the state of Michigan. A group of Watervliet first thru sixth educators met with Dr. Carney. One day was devoted to writing plans to implement ideas in their classrooms. One of the strategies was to bring people into the classroom to spark student interest. Andrew Bodfish, Watervliet, is one of three Western Michigan University freshmen who recently have been awarded scholarships from the Society of Manufacturing Engineers. He graduated from WHS in 1988. Submitted by Sally Q. Gonzalez from files at Watervliet District Library of the Watervliet Record newspapers donated by the Tri-City Record. Hours: Mon & Wed, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Tue, Thu & Fri, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sat, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Phone: 269-463-6382