Paw Paw River Journal

Let’s be thankful

 I am writing this column near the end of October… to be printed near the end of November.  I like to have my stories in a month at a time if possible.  And I believe this gives Editor Karl confidence that I will not be late.  So right now we are in a period of intense political scrutiny.  Bombarded by advertising for all the candidates!  And don’t you wonder how the air time will be filled after the election is over?  I guess we will still have vitamins and all the products to make women feel younger than their years.

Personally I am most tired of all the hoopla and recriminations that are bouncing back and forth.  A girl I know said this is going to be a “clothespin and Scotch” election.  When I asked her what she meant by that, she said she will put the clothespin on her nose when she goes to vote… then come home and drink some Scotch!!!!!  Yup, I understand just what she means.  I am tired of all the hate, under-the-table maneuvering, and accusations being hurled back and forth.  I am ready to have it all over and done with!

And it will be over!  After all the dust settles we will still go on.  Our country will be here, perhaps a little battered and bloody, but we will survive!  And so will our country.  We will still be the most powerful nation on earth, if a little shaken.  And we must carry on with life as usual.  The sun will rise, the sun will set and the earth will still abide!  And we need to celebrate our country’s holidays as usual.

Aha! What I am leading up to is Thanksgiving.  We can still celebrate in our usual ways our most unusual history… it has made us unique in the whole world.  That small group of dissidents and ne’er-do-wells who suffered a grueling ocean voyage in a leaky sailing vessel to colonize our eastern shore was courageous beyond belief.  They must have felt like they were sailing off the edge of the world when they left Europe.

And they suffered and endured until they got a foothold in an unfriendly land.  We will never know really how the Native Americans felt and how much they helped those first settlers.  They probably shook their heads and said, “What fools!”

So we will get together in groups of families and friends.  And we will feast, just as those early people did after they had survived a year.  There will be the traditional turkey and trimmings.  Have I said before how ugly I think those birds are?  Yes, I have… I do not mind a nice slab of white meat, mashed potatoes dripping with delicious gravy.  So the celebration lasts all day.  And when the turkey comes back out for reruns, I slip into the kitchen and find a biscuit with butter and peanut butter!

So this holiday has evolved into one of our biggest.  And it spells doom for thousands… no, millions of turkeys all over this land.  Usually the prize bird that is given to our presidential family receives a pardon.  And he then goes to a huge turkey farm where he lives out his days in splendid contemplation of his own plumage.  He does not realize how lucky he is.  Remember my recipe from last year?  Some housewife invented it… by stuffing some popcorn in the turkey’s rear.  When the oven door blew open… the bird was done

I have the greatest respect for this occasion.  Thanksgiving is one of those really special days.  We made this land out of a wilderness.  I feel most sad for the Native Americans who got trampled in the process.  Someone among the first pioneers coined the phrase, “Manifest Destiny.”  They meant that we were supposed to do this… conquer the land… displace the people who were here before us.

No matter that we were interlopers… had greed for more land… a passion for the yellow mineral that just happened to be located in grounds sacred to the people already here.  It is also sad to think that the great buffalo herds were slaughtered just for their hides… and some of the meat considered a delicacy back east (buffalo tongue).

All of those reasons are part of it.  Now, in our present society, isn’t it ironic to think that descendants of the people displaced in former years are getting their revenge by taking money from gamblers in their Indian land casinos.  These are descendants of those who displaced them.  And some are, no doubt, spending money that should go for food and clothes.

A lot of email crosses my desk.  Some of it is most alarming… shouting that we are in mortal danger of losing everything.  Do I believe it all?  Maybe not all… but I do think there is reason to be worried.  Not everyone in this world… or even in our own country want us to be Number One!  We are envied… people want what we have.  And they hate us for our success. A friend, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, said in a speech once…  “If you want to measure a country’s greatness, just watch whether people are trying to leave it… or trying to get into it!”  How are we doing in that regard?

Personally I think we are the best in the world.  Would you like to live anywhere else?  And although I want everyone else to have enough food and clothing, I do not believe that by our losing our preeminence they will prosper.  I would much rather see us remain powerful and ABLE TO HELP THE REST OF THE WORLD.

Simplistic view?  Perhaps, but after the dust from our recent election settles, I really hope we are able to keep on celebrating holidays and weaving golden threads into the rich fabric of life in these story book towns along the Paw Paw River the way we always have!

Watervliet District Library News

 Buy a brick from the Watervliet District Library as a legacy gift to honor the cherished people in your life. Help create a new Garden Park for the community.

Stop by the North Berrien Historical Museum and check out the library’s contribution to the annual Holiday Tree display. The Cat-in-the-Hat has done some decorating on our behalf, with creative help from library staff members Kati, Kanyon and Sharon.  And, while there, discover something new from the area’s past.

Monday, Nov. 28, 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. Adult Coloring Night: Prepare for an evening of creativity and relaxation. Color and unwind while background music serenades and inspires. Refreshments, too (of course!). All supplies are provided at no charge. Already caught the coloring bug? Feel free to bring your own materials, as well!

Monday, Dec. 5, 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. Cookies and Canvas: Kids will unleash their inner artist at this fun painting class. Participants will follow instructions to create a painting of a reindeer. No experience necessary! Cookies and milk will be provided. Children only, this class is limited to 25 kids ages five and older. Registration is required.

Friday, Dec. 9, 6:00 – 8:30 p.m. Parents’ Night Out: Need an evening without the kids? Parents’ Night Out gives parents the opportunity to take a well-deserved break. Go out for a night on the town feeling confident that your little ones are safe and having the time of their lives. This incredible evening for children will be filled with a variety of fun games, crafts and activities. Space is limited. Snack donations are appreciated. Registration is required.

Toddler Time is a 30 minute class every Tuesday at 10:30 a.m.

Story Hour is on Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. and on Thursdays at 1:30 p.m. for children age three to five. It is fun and educational with stories, show and tell, and songs and games.

Yoga is at 9:00 a.m. every Monday morning and Wednesday evening at 7:00 p.m.

COLOMA

100 years ago – 1916

 Saloon men want to put it to the voters to resume the liquor business for one year. Last spring the county was voted dry for two years.

You will have to pay more for your Thanksgiving turkey this year. Farmers are making too much off other crops to bother about turkeys.

Coloma football team plays Dowagiac. South Haven was scheduled, but forfeited when the boys remembered last year’s defeat.

The Pulmotor is relocated from the boat house at Lakewood to C.L. Newton’s Locust Beach resort. This Pulmotor is for use from drownings.

60 years ago – 1956

 Spontaneous expressions of gratitude will be featured at the Thanksgiving service of the Christian Science Society. The lesson-sermon is titled “Thanksgiving.”

Kay Erickson is a student in the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps at Michigan State University.

Roy Leedy left for a vacation in the southeast. He is interested in farming methods of the south.

Allen W. Baker, executive vice president of the Coloma State Bank, has been named chairman of the local “First Aid for Hungary, Inc.” campaign.

30 years ago – 1986

 Two Coloma High School students were suspended during a special board meeting. They were charged with assault and battery, trespassing and using obscene language.

Police Chief Kenneth Unruh presents certification to reserve officer Rod Burkholder.

Army National Guard Private Kevin L. Phillips has completed basic training at Fort Knox, Kentucky.

Cub Scout Pack Number 610 visited the Tri-City Record office as part of earning their Wolf and Bear badges.

Rochelle Clapsaddle, Chris Albright, Jeff Duffield, Heidi Ovington and Karin Valenti were some students to qualify for the 7th and 8th grade Honor Roll.

The North Berrien Senior Center was awarded a grant in the amount of $635. Funds will be used to purchase equipment.

HARTFORD

100 years ago – 1916

 There was a good attendance at the regular meeting of the Hartford Woman’s Club Tuesday. Two papers of unusual interest were given; “Dr. Wilfred Grenfell and His Work” by Mrs. Eva Lobdell and “What the U.S. is Doing in Humanitarian Work,” by Mrs. Catherine Spaulding. The music was thoroughly enjoyed; violin, Mr. Reeves, piano accompanist, Mrs. Ostrander.

75 years ago – 1941

 The Hartford Art Study group met at the home of Mrs. Walter Markillie, Franklin Street, on Monday afternoon. Mrs. Florence Luce, president presented the day’s lesson on the characteristics and paintings of Childe Hassam, American painter of pure color and movement. She displayed a fine collection of reproductions of the works of this artist. Mrs. Nellie Smith, pursuing the study of “Americas to the South” by Whittaker, read an article on Mexico. Tea, cake and salted nuts were served by the hostess.

50 years ago – 1966

 The Hartford Jaycees will conduct a “Community attitude survey.” Jaycee members will begin a house-to-house canvass of the city. Persons interviewed will not be identified, but results will be compiled by the Jaycees and the composite information will be published in the Day Spring.

Jaycee interviews will ask heads of households some 60 aspects of the community as excellent, good, average, below average or poor. In addition, persons interviewed will be asked to name five things which need to be done to improve the community. Among the items being asked will be water pressure, postal service, medical services, maintenance of streets, recreational opportunities, shopping facilities, job opportunities and school staff and educational programs and buildings and equipment.

WATERVLIET

90 years ago – 1926

 Thirty-eight couples attended the opening party of the Home Dancing Club, at the opera house on November 3. Music for the dancing was furnished by a home orchestra and a very enjoyable time was reported. The Club is planning to have at least five more parties during the winter.

Mr. and Mrs. Nial Rider are the proud parents of their baby boy, born Nov. 3, 1926 in their home.

These are strenuous days for the operating force at the big plant of the Watervliet Paper Company. The entire works have been more or less torn up for many months undergoing changes and new construction in connection with the expansion program. Last week the concrete foundations for the new paper machine were poured, a force of men working in shifts being engaged continuously for 72 hours pouring the concrete into the forms. The foundations for this machine consisted of two parallel walls of solid reinforced concrete 232 feet long, 17 inches thick, about twelve feet high, and 350 yards of concrete were used in the building.

60 years ago – 1956

 Richard Frisz arrived in New York on November 9 and received his honorable discharge from the Army at Fort Sheridan, November 15, arriving at the home of his parents in Watervliet that same day. Young Frisz, who has spent the past two years in Germany, will be associated with his father in their Main Street establishment.

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Steinlicht are the proud parents of a daughter, born on Nov. 11, 1956. The baby weighed 6-1/2 pounds and was given the name Kenna Marie.

Mr. and Mrs. Donald Treu are the proud parents of their baby girl, Rosemary, born Nov. 26, 1956 and weighed 8 pounds.

30 years ago – 1986

 Watervliet’s Dave Coon recently received Honorable Mention recognition on the Associated Press Class C All-State Football Team. As a quarterback, Coon tallied up a total of 720 yards. Coon completed 42 out of 85 passes to gain those yards, and 10 out of the 42 passes were touchdown for the Panthers.

Student of the Week, Sheryl Janke, is a 7th grade Honor Roll student at Watervliet and is the daughter of Elden and Kay Janke. She plays tenor saxophone in the high school band and is anxiously awaiting the start of volleyball.