Out and About – Week of January 14th

Every so often, I receive reassurance that someone actually reads this column. My friend Becky asked me if I would please add one more hint to the topic of safe driving tips. There’s always room for one more, so here you go. In most areas, it is against the law to have anything hanging from your rearview mirror. I found this out several years ago, when I was stopped for driving a tad over the speed limit. The officer cited me for speeding and then advised me to remove the hanging dice from my rearview mirror. I thanked him, and later paid the $140.ticket. I find it almost impossible to be cool.

It’s a little difficult to plan any outdoor activities lately. This is January, and our temperatures feel more like early March. The Riviera Theater has some coming events that will throw all caution to the wind, because it’s an indoor venue. If you’re a fan of “Tribute” shows, then you’re in for a real treat this next weekend. Simon and Garfunkel will grace the stage Friday evening, January 18, at 8PM. Well, they really won’t be there, but if you close your eyes, you’d swear they were. A.J. Swearingen and Jonathon Beedle have been paying tribute to Simon and Garfunkel for over ten years, and they always seem to take the audiences back to those days when “Bridge Over Troubled Waters” was in the top ten of every music survey. A.J.’s baritone voice and Jonathon’s tenor tones blend well together. If you’ve been stressed lately, this duo will do everything they can to relax you. The two take the stage at 8PM, and the Riviera Theater’s doors open at 7PM. Tickets are now on sale for $15.

If your music tastes are more along the line of Country/Western, you’ll want to make a return visit to the Riviera Saturday evening, January 19, at 8PM. This is when Allen Scott brings his Tim McGraw tribute to the Riviera stage. Allen will be accompanied by The Dance Hall Rockers. Hailing from metro Detroit, Allen has been mastering Tim McGraw and his moves since 2004. Tickets are also available for this show, and at the same price of $15. You don’t want to wait too long to make your purchase, because I’m sure both of these performances will be sold out.

The Animal Rescue Fund (ARF) will host a nail clinic this Saturday, January 19, from 9AM to 2PM. The TSC store on the north end of Westland Mall is the place to take your pooch for this act of kindness.

Volunteering doesn’t pay very well. As a matter of fact, the only thing you receive is a warm inner-feeling and a good night’s sleep. The Commission on Aging (COA) is always in need of volunteers. Age doesn’t matter, and it doesn’t make any difference if you’re already working. They will work around your schedule and will appreciate any time that you are able to offer. They currently need art instructors, workshop leaders, fund raisers, and people to work with community outreach. If you can answer a phone, they can use you. Remember, those who can, do. Those who can do more, volunteer.

If you have youngsters at home, and the weather is half way decent, take them over to Scidmore Park, located near the intersection of West Michigan Avenue and Spring Street, in Three Rivers. They have a modern playground, and the petting zoo usually has some of its inhabitants out waiting to greet the children. Children need fresh air, and Scidmore Park has plenty to share. A great idea would be to pack a lunch and take the children to the park, and enjoy a sandwich or two at the junction where the three rivers come together.

I know that some of you will check this out for yourself. If you are right handed, you will tend to chew your food on the right side of your mouth. If you’re left handed, the opposite would apply.

Finally, if you’d like to take a trip somewhere, and want to save some money, you might seriously consider going to Iceland. Tipping in a restaurant is considered an insult. If you want to feel like you’re taking a very nice trip, but don’t want to leave home, stay home and just give everyone you meet a dollar. What a concept.

See you Out and About!

Submitted by Norm Stutesman

Out and About – Week of January 7th

2013 is now one week old, and I’m wondering how many people are holding fast to the resolutions that they made last week. Do people still make them? Usually, resolutions deal with losing weight, or being more mindful as far as taking care of things around the house. I normally don’t make resolutions, but I’ve decided to do so this year. I need to drop some poundage, so I’m determined to exercise more. Oh yeah, I have to pay more attention to my diet. Why is it that all the great tasting food is bad for you? One of my new favorite words is “moderation”. Wish me luck.

This Thursday, January 10, the St. Joseph County MSU Extension Office will begin offering a five session course for diabetics. The course will be held at their office, located at 612 East Main Street in Centreville. For more information, phone their office at 269-467-5522.

In the past, I’ve provided some helpful hints that hopefully save us all some time and money. I’d like to continue this practice this year. Those who have plenty of money and time may disregard. Here are some samples on how you can make your life easier and less expensive:

If you place rubber bands around the ends of your plain hangers, your clothes are less likely to fall off the hangers.

Use a slice of white bread to gently rub scuffs, fingerprints and other marks off non-washable wallpapers and non-glossy paint surfaces. You’ll want to cut off the crusts first, so no color transfers.

To deal with static in your clothes dryer, a rolled-up ball of aluminum foil will reduce static cling effectively. If you prefer the scent of antistatic dryer sheets, cut them in half and use for two loads.

You don’t hear too much about “Sock Hops” anymore. That is until now. The Three Rivers Eagles #2303 will host a sock hop this Saturday, January 12, from 5 to 7:30PM, at their lodge, located at 715 East Hoffman, Three Rivers. Along with the sock hop, you may enjoy a meat loaf dinner. All of this costs only $9. Profits from this fun-filled evening will go to Eagle charities. The public is welcome.

There’s nothing like a nice hot bowl of soup to take the chill off during this cold weather we’ve been experiencing. The Trinity Episcopal Church, 321 North Main Street, in Three Rivers, offers their Free Soup Pot every Tuesday and Thursday evening from 4 to 5:30PM at the church’s recreation hall. The soup is FREE, but donations are always graciously accepted.

Here’s a reminder about the NRA Home Firearm Safety Class, hosted by the St. Joseph County Conservation Club, this Saturday, January 12. The four-hour class will run from 10AM to 2PM and will be held at the club, located on Featherstone Road, about one-half mile east of Shimmel Road, east of Centreville. The class is targeted for those who have firearms in their home but may not be familiar with them, perhaps spouses and other family members of firearm owners. There will be NO live firing of firearms in the class. There is no charge for the class, and you will not need to take any items with you. All materials will be provided, as well as light snacks and refreshments. For more information and to register, please contact President Jeff Brazo. Home phone: 269-651-9076. Cell phone: 269-689-0200.

It is my hope that there will be a day when there is no longer a need for blood drives, because the blood banks would have plenty of inventory. Until that time, we are fortunate to have venues where the American Red Cross can host these drives. Trinity Missionary Church, located on US-131 in Constantine, is such a venue. There will be a blood drive there next Monday, January 14, from 11AM until 4:45PM. The church is located on the west side of US-131, across the highway from the park.

It has been rumored that twenty per cent of those people making New Year’s resolutions will have given them up by now. Sixty per cent will have dropped them by the fourth of July. I’m all for proving the forecasters wrong.

See you Out and About!

Submitted by Norm Stutesman

Out and About – Week of December 31st

This will be my last column for 2012. I’m taking the rest of the year off. How many times do you think you’ll hear that today? Everybody wants to be a comedian, including yours truly. I try to be funny, or clever, and this column gives me an outlet to do that sometimes.

2012 has been a pretty good year so far. I’m still vertical and I have a heartbeat. My wife spoiled me at Christmas, our cat still relinquishes my chair when I walk through the door, and my snow blower started right up, just when I needed it. Life is beautiful!

We went about 300 days between snow falls. As of this writing, the ground is covered in white. My wife is elated. I’m sure we’ll see more stormy weather, so it might be a good idea to remind everyone of a few important things to consider when you get behind the wheel of that 2000-pound machine known as your automobile:

If it’s raining or snowing, turn on your headlights. You might be able to see just fine, but can others see you?

If your car is covered with snow, clear ALL of your car windows.

Never let your vehicle’s fuel tank get below half. Condensation in your fuel tank can mess you up.

Watch your speed. Allow extra space for braking.

Drive defensively all of the time. Some drivers are busy on their phone and don’t have the time to pay attention. Someday there will be a law, and there will be enough police officers to enforce it.

Click it, or ticket. The choice is yours. Always wear your seatbelt. $65 is a lot of money.

I’ve put the soapbox away for this year. Now on to more interesting things to share with you.

This Thursday, January 3, the American Red Cross will hold a blood drive at Three Rivers Health, 701 South Health Parkway, Three Rivers, from 2 till 6:45PM. It’s a perfect way to start out 2013. This might be something to add to your list of New Year’s Resolutions.

Michigan Works, 16587 Enterprise Drive, Three Rivers, will host their first workshop of 2013 this Friday, January 4, from 8:30AM to 1PM. This workshop, “National Career Readiness Certification”, will be held every Friday during January.

Not to be outdone, Glen Oaks Community College will host a Distance Learning open house next Monday, January 7, from 6 to 8PM. The unique thing about it is that you don’t even have to go to the college to participate. Just go to www.glenoaks.edu, scroll down to the Distance Learning Open House link, and learn what it’s all about. How easy is that?

We all can use more exercise. The problem is finding the time to do it. The Commission on Aging (COA) might have the answer, if you’re suffering from arthritis. The COA is hosting an Arthritis Exercise Class every Monday at 5:30PM, and every Tuesday and Thursday at 3:30PM, through the end of January. The cost is only $3, which is worth easing the pain. The Commission on Aging is located at 103 South Douglas, in Three Rivers.

I’d like to thank everyone for spending a few minutes every week with me during this year. I look forward to sharing the good news with you in 2013, along with keeping you up to date on what’s going on in and around Three Rivers. It won’t be long before news of Water Festival 2013 is available, and I’ll do my best to keep you informed.

I wish everyone a very Happy New Year. If you are planning to celebrate tonight, do so sensibly. If you drink, please don’t drive. If you’re the designated driver, watch out for Goofy. He’s out there and he doesn’t care at all about you.

See you Out and About!

Submitted by Norm Stutesman

Out and About – Week of December 24th

Congratulations on finding this column. It’s a day earlier than usual, but I did mention this a couple of times. If your garbage is normally picked up on Tuesday, it will be picked up on Wednesday this week and next. This affects those living in the Second District of Three Rivers. Everyone else will have their garbage picked up a day later. Tuesday is Christmas and next Tuesday is New Year’s Day. The banks and post office will be closed, as should everything else in town. Back in the day, the only people who had to be at work on a holiday were the firefighters, police officers, and the hospital staffs. Those were the days! If I’ve missed anyone, I apologize.

Monday, December 24, the Schoolcraft United Methodist Church will host two Christmas services. A 5PM service is available for families with small children. A candlelight service will be provided at 11PM, a special way to celebrate Christmas Eve.

Next Sunday, December 30, the United Methodist Church, in Schoolcraft, will host a “Friends and Family” potluck dinner, following the 10AM worship service. All are welcome to take a dish to pass and provide their own tableware. The church is located on US-131, on the east side of the highway. It’s the church with the big red doors.

After Black Friday, prices in a lot of the stores jumped, because of the upcoming holidays. After Christmas, you can usually find good deals again. The week between Christmas and New Year might be a good time to check out prices at local grocery stores. Here are several examples that might be worth investigating:

Poultry and Pork – Turkeys usually go on sale for Thanksgiving, but so do chicken and ham. It might be a good idea to buy extra of all three and put them in your freezer. After the holiday, prices might drop even further, as the grocers empty their freezers in preparation for the arrival of new products.

Bacon – Usually bacon sells for $2.50, and may even go as high as $6. During this time of the year, it has been known to drop to around $1.50 a package. Bacon freezes quite well, so why not buy in bulk?

Frozen vegetables – throughout the year, prices rise and fall, but during this time of the year, if you look hard, you’ll see prices probably at their lowest.

If you do find grocery prices to be a real bargain, it would be a random act of kindness to buy a few extra groceries and share them with someone less fortunate. Just a thought.

Those who enjoy visiting the Commission on Aging on a regular basis should note that the COA will be closed Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. In January it will be closed January 21, for Martin Luther King Day. The Commission on Aging is located at 103 South Douglas Avenue, Three Rivers.

The new year will be here in just about a week. If you are “computer-ignorant” like I am, perhaps you should consider attending a computer class. Beginning in February, Knute Judsen will hold classes at the Three Rivers Community Center, 103 South Douglas, Three Rivers. Classes will be held on Tuesdays from 4 to 5:15PM and again from 8 to 9:15PM. You’ll need to take your own laptop computer, because they have limited computers available. Session 1 is scheduled for February 12 and will run through Tuesday, March 12. For more information, please contact the Community Center at 269-279-8083, or 1-800-641-9899.

This year seems to be ending in an unsettled sort of way. We must all work to bring more peace and tranquility into our lives. I wish each and every one of you a very Merry Christmas. May your holiday be filled with family, love and a lot of caring. May there be peace on earth, and may it begin with each and every one of us.

See you Out and About!

Submitted by Norm Stutesman

Out and About – Week of December 17th

With Christmas a week from today, and New Year’s Day the week after that, this column will be published a day earlier for the next two weeks. In other words, there will not be a Commercial-News published the next two Tuesdays.

Another item worth noting; For the next two weeks, the only people who will have their garbage picked up on their regular day are the people in the First District of Three Rivers. The next two Tuesdays are holidays. This means that everyone else will have their trash picked up a day later than normal. Whew! Holidays surely can be confusing sometimes.

Calling all Thespians! The Three Rivers Community Players will hold auditions for $an Fran $ale this Wednesday and Thursday, December 19 and 20, from 7 to 9PM, at the Players’ Theatre. The theatre is located on Millard Road, just behind Dairy Queen, in Three Rivers. Writer-Director Shannon Piper is looking for men and women high school age and older

Another Golden Weekend will happen this weekend, when historic downtown Three Rivers presents “The Lords Are A-Leaping”. The festivities begin Friday, December 21, when the Riviera Theatre will offer a FREE Christmas movie at 7PM. The Golden Weekend runs Friday through Sunday. A couple of the special promotions include guy-style refreshments and free gift wrapping.

The American Red Cross would like everyone to know that blood donors are greatly appreciated for their generous donations. Perhaps your last chance to donate this year is this Friday, December 21, from noon to 5:45PM. There are two locations to choose from, the first being the Great Lakes Coffee Company, 100 West Chicago Street, in Sturgis, and the second at the Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 357, located on Shaver Road, just north of Schoolcraft.

Christmas is probably the happiest holiday season of the year. It’s a time to spend with family and loved ones. It can also be one of the saddest holidays, especially if you’ve lost a loved one. The time of passing does not take a holiday. Those grieving a loss this Christmas season might want to seriously consider attending a special service, “Longest Night/Blue Christmas”, presented by the United Methodist Church in Centreville. The service is this Friday evening at 7PM. For more information, please contact Christine at 269-535-1032.

The United Methodist Church of Schoolcraft will host two Christmas Eve services Monday, December 24. For families with young children, there will be a service beginning at 5PM. A moving candlelight service will be held at 11PM.

The St. Joseph County Conservation Club will host an NRA Home Firearm Safety Class on Saturday, January 12, 2013, from 10AM to 2PM, at the club located on Featherstone Road, about one-half mile east of Shimmel Road, east of Centreville. The class is targeted for those who have firearms in their home but may not be familiar with them, perhaps spouses and other family members of firearm owners. There will be NO live firing of firearms in the class. There is no charge for the class, and you will not need to take any items with you. All materials will be provided, as well as light snacks and refreshments. The class will last four hours. For more information and to register, please contact President Jeff Brazo. Home phone: 269-651-9076. Cell phone: 269-689-0200.

The Riviera Theatre, in historic downtown Three Rivers, proudly presents a fine selection of holiday treats that will capture everyone’s attention. The Christmas classic White Christmas, will be presented on the big screen Saturday, December 22, at 1 and 6PM, and again Sunday, December 23, at 12:30PM.

Also on Sunday, December 23, the legendary Christmas ballet The Nutcracker, will be shown at 3PM. Admission for this presentation is $12. There will be one intermission for this 130 minute show.

With the colder weather now upon us, please make sure your pets are properly attended to. This would be especially true if you have inside/outside pets.

See you Out and About!

Submitted by Norm Stutesman

Out and About – Week of December 10th

Christmas is two weeks from today. If you are planning to mail your Christmas gifts via US Mail, you might want to get to the post office soon. Please have patience with the postal clerks. You are not the only procrastinator in town, so please be prepared to wait in a line for a few minutes. Once you arrive at the counter, you will be treated with the same quality of service as the person before you.

While on the subject of postal workers, I think it’s a good idea to remember your mail carrier, along with the other delivery personnel who battle the elements of weather all year. Although, I must admit, there isn’t much of a fight going on right now. If we ever do receive any measureable amount of snow, make sure that your sidewalks are kept clear. As Mike the mailman says, “No trail, no mail.”

During this busy holiday season, please do not neglect your pets, who are, in most cases, true members of your family. The Animal Rescue Fund (ARF) is conducting a pet food drive from now through December 24. It is being held at the TSC store on North US-131, just north of West Michigan Avenue. It’s very easy to participate. All you need to do is visit TSC, purchase an eight pound bag of pet food, at a reduced rate, and tell the salesperson that you would like to donate it to the Pet Food Pantry. ARF is always in need of pet food, and your generous donation will be greatly appreciated.

While on the subject of pets, as you’re decorating the inside of your home, take your pet into consideration. They are fascinated with all the new decorations and have a tendency to chew on and swallow tree decorations, ribbon, small gifts, and bones from holiday meats. Most of us love chocolate, but it’s not good for pets. Please keep your pets safe this season.

One final thing, while I’m on the subject of pets. You might think that a pet would make a terrific gift for Christmas, but I’m afraid you might be wrong, in some cases. You should remember that along with a pet comes some expense. Food, bedding, vet care, grooming, time to exercise, play time, and proper training. Cats can survive a weekend by themselves, as long as they have plenty of water, food, and a clean litter box. A pet dog is a different matter. Boarding can be expensive, and finding a good pet-sitter could be a challenge. If you’re thinking of giving a pet to a senior citizen, please give this some extra thought.

When I was in grade school, Three Rivers had four elementary schools and one Catholic school. Hoppin, Andrews, and Immaculate Conception are the only schools remaining. If you attended Huss School, in the Second District, back in the day, you might be interested in attending the Huss Project Coffee Hour this Thursday, December 13, at the New Jerusalem Baptist Church. The church is located on Eighth Street, in Three Rivers. From 6 to 8PM, the public is invited to take questions, ideas, and stories related to Huss.

It will be a Golden Weekend in historic downtown Three Rivers this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. It’s been called an “Ugly Sweater Weekend”. It will be a down home social gathering on Friday, December 14, from 9AM to 6PM, with the center of attention directed to the Riviera Theatre. You can have breakfast with Santa on Saturday morning at Main Street Cafe, from 9 to 11AM. For the children, or adults who like to color, Lowry’s Books and More is the place to be Saturday, from 10AM till 3PM. The Downtown Dog will feature Santa pictures with your pets from noon until 3PM on Saturday. Wine tasting at Unibrow will wind up the Saturday fun at 6PM. The fun continues on Sunday with activities scheduled from 9AM until 6PM. If you want to see and be seen, downtown Three Rivers is where you’ll want to be this weekend.

“Computer Basics” is the topic next Tuesday, December 18, at the Michigan Works! Workshop. The workshop will be held from 2 to 3:30PM, at the Michigan Works! location on Enterprise Drive, in Three Rivers.

With the Christmas season fast approaching, you’ll want to make sure you check this newspaper for the many events coming up right here in Three Rivers.

See you Out and About!

Submitted by Norm Stutesman

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