Out and About – Week of July 29th

I’m a little slow when it comes to accepting change. I still go Scidmore Park on Saturdays and wonder why the Farmers’ Market isn’t open. Then I remember that the Farmers’ Market is now open on Tuesdays from 2 until 6 PM. Saturdays just aren’t the same, but I’m sure there’s a good reason for changing the day of the week. Vendor rates have been lowered, so as a result, all ten market spaces are now filled for the season. By the way, the season will continue through October 8 or 15. If you are a dissapointed vendor and could’nt secure a pavilion space, you may be able to set up at either end of the pavilions. For more information, please contact Brandi DeRuiter or Melissa Bliss at 269-273-1075 at extension 105 or 106.

If you’re “IN THE MOOD”, and love the Big Band Sound, you’ll want to make arrangements to see the Glenn Miller Orchestra at the Riviera Theatre on Tuesday, August 6, at 7 PM. Advance tickets are now available at the Riviera Box Office for $23, or you may purchase them at the door, on August 6, for $28. This will be the third visit to the Riviera by the orchestra, and they love the venue. We’ve attended both of their two previous performances, and we won’t miss this opportunity to take a trip back to the “Big Band Era”. Grab a bag of pop corn and a beverage and let your feet do the dancing.

If you can spare a pint or two of blood, you’ll have a choice as to where you may donate on Thursday, August 1. UAW Local 2093 has offered their union hall as a donation site. Located on Hoffman Road, just west of US-131, on the west side of Three Rivers, their doors will open at 11:30 AM and you may visit them until 5:15 PM. The American Red Cross will have another site at TR Health, 701 South Health Parkway, in Three Rivers. Their hours are from 1:30 to 7:15 PM.

Ms. Daisy Wagner is no longer with us. She passed away this past year. However, her spirit and enthusiasm lives on with the St. Joe Valley Old Engine Association. This fine organization is hosting their 53rd Annual Antique Tractor and Engine Show this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, August 2, 3, and 4th. The location hasn’t changed from previous years. Boot Hill Ranch, located one and one-half miles east of Jones, Michigan, on Bair Lake Street. This is one of those family events that I mention every so often. There will be engines, tractors, threshing and straw-baling exhibits, a saw mill, parades, and one of my favorites, plenty of food and beverage. As far as the cost of admission, they are asking for a donation of only $4 per person, and children under 12 are admitted FREE with a paying adult. My advice to everyone is to grab your bib-overalls and stray hat and venture west to Jones. Don’t forget to take the whole family. Oh yeah, you might want to leave Fido at home.

By now, most everyone that knew Tom Quake, know that he was killed in a car accident last Thursday, near Kankakee, Illinois. He was on his way south to see family. Tom was a business associate of mine and a fellow Lion. Whenever he’d come to see me in my office, he’d ask permission to turn off the light, because he suffered from horrific migraine headaches. We’d spend the time talking business or the current happenings with the Lions Club. The news of his death came as a shock, because I had come to know him quite well over the past six or seven years. I don’t deal with death very well, but I do realize that he is now in a better place and suffers no more. I’ll miss his frequent phone calls, which usually started with, “Happy Day, my friend.” My condolences go out to his family, which included church friends, fellow Lions, and of course, firefighters from Three Rivers and Kalamazoo.

Central Manufacturing Services (CMS), on Fourth Street, in Three Rivers, was the place to be for lunch, last Friday noon. Jamie Clark and his staff hosted an open house to help celebrate the official opening of their new maintenance facility. The event included an inflatable for the kids, a live remote broadcast by WLKM-FM, plenty of great food, door prizes, and even an official ribbon-cutting ceremony. Kudos to you, Jamie and your staff. Thank you for supporting and being a huge part of the Three Rivers community.

See you Out and About!

Submitted by Norm Stutesman

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