SPY’s Community Newsletter
(3/4/24)
It’s Euchre Tournament Time!
News From Our Library
It is back! The Sunfield District Library is ready for it’s annual “March Madness For Book Lovers!” The brackets are set and ready for the first round. The teams are made up from books by Chris VanAllsburg. Chris is a Michigan author. He was born on June 18th, 1949, to Dutch parents from East Grand Rapids. He not only is an author, but illustrates his books, as well. He has won many different awards, including two Caldecott awards. Sixteen books are matched up randomly against each other, in the first round. The match-ups are as follows:
Jumanji vs. Just A Dream
Wreck of the Zephyr vs. Two Bad Ants
Queen of the Falls vs. Polar Express
Mysteries of Harris Burdick vs. Bad Day at Riverbend
Zathura! vs. Probuditi!
The Stranger vs. The Wretched Stone
The Z was Zapped vs. The Widow’s Broom
The Sweetest Fig vs. Ben’s Dream
Patrons are encouraged to check out and read the picture books. Then to vote through the first round of winners. Readers choose who will move on to the second round. This continues each week throughout the month of March, until we are down to the “Big Game”. Everyone who selects the correct finalist will have his or her name entered into a drawing, for a $20 prize. The competition is a favorite of our patrons and has been enjoyed by many families. Check it out!
News Briefs
· In the last SPY’s Community Newsletter there was a picture of Michael Haskin representing Precision Grade Excavating receiving a “Friend Of Kids Award”. The person in the picture making the presentation was incorrectly listed as Steve Grosshans. It should have been Matt Grosshans. Sorry for the mix-up. We’ll do better next time!
· ONLINE Sign ups are now open for the 2024 baseball/softball season! Please see the link below to register! Please note that all 10u, 12u, and 14u teams are going to be hosted by Lakewood Little League. Sunfield ball teams are only T-ball and 8u baseball & softball.
· The next meeting of the Sunfield Area Sponsors of Programs for Youth (SPY’s) will be held on Tuesday, March 12th. starting at 6:30 PM, at the Best Tax Service building on M-43.
· Time is running out!!! Friday, March 15th. is the deadline for submitting applications for any of the SPY’s Community Foundation’s scholarship opportunities. Questions? Call John Fisher at 517-648-0969.
· On Saturday March 23rd. the SPY's will once again host a 9-pin no tap Bowling Tournament / fund-raiser to benefit the SPY's various youth and community programs. This event is open to everyone! It will be held at the Buddy’s On The Beach Bowling Alley in Lake Odessa. Contact event Chairman Jeff Gibbs for details or to sign-up.
e-mail at MSgtGibbs@Hotmail.com
or via text at (517) 930-6989,
or via voice message at (517) 566-3355.
· The Sunfield Area Sponsors of Programs for Youth (the S.P.Y.’s) are pleased to announce that Seth DeMott has stepped up and has volunteered to take on the Chairmanship of the SPY’s Texas Hold ‘Em events. The next Hold ‘Em we are scheduled to work will take place Monday, March 25th thru Thursday, March 28th. Seth is looking for some chip sellers to work a shift or two. If you would care to volunteer, give him a call at 517-599-1583
Parting Comments
· Deep Thought of the Week: You know you are getting old when friends with benefits means having someone who can drive at night.
· Notable Quote: “I woke up this morning determined to drink less, eat right, and exercise. But that was four hours ago when I was younger and full of hope.”
· That’s Puny Department: The other day, as I sauntered into the world famous Swede’s Grill, I was immediately accosted by Chef Robbo. “Hey Fish,” he bellowed, “Have I got a good one for you today!” “Okay. Lay it on me.” I said. He grinned that smug grin of his and asked, “Did you hear the one about the broken pencil?’ “No.” I replied. “Oh, never mind”, he went on, “It’s pointless anyway.”
· Did you Know Section: Despite essentially being synonymous with his most famous character, Walt Disney didn’t draw Mickey Mouse. The iconic cartoon rodent was actually designed by Disney’s best friend, animator Ub Iwerks, in 1928. Indeed, A Mouse Divided: How Ub Iwerks Became Forgotten, and Walt Disney Became Uncle Walt author Jeff Ryan described Mickey as “basically the child of two dads.” The pair worked together for decades, and Iwerks created effects for such Disney classics as Mary Poppins and Sleeping Beauty, in addition to helping develop theme park attractions such as “It’s a Small World.” But he rarely received much credit for his contributions to the company, especially in comparison to its namesake. That began to change when his granddaughter Leslie Iwerks directed the 2000 documentary The Hand Behind the Mouse: The Ub Iwerks Story, but even today, Iwerks remains relatively unknown. For the first 20 years of Mickey Mouse’s existence, Disney voiced the character himself. The world was introduced to Mickey in the 1928 animated short Steamboat Willie, though Disney produced two previous shorts featuring Mickey that same year, Plane Crazy and The Gallopin’ Gaucho, which weren’t picked up by distributors. Steamboat Willie was the first of these to feature sound, though Mickey didn’t utter his first actual words (“Hot dog!”) until the following year’s The Karnival Kid. Disney last lent his vocal talents to The Mickey Mouse Club between 1955 and 1958, though 2013’s Get a Horse! patched together previous recordings to once again feature him as the voice of the famous cartoon mouse.
Notices
1. If there is any organization or business out there that has something they would like to advertise or promote, please feel free to submit it to this Newsletter and we will help publicize it. There is no charge. We are glad to provide this means as a public service to help keep the community informed.
2. If you are looking for further information about the SPY’s events---Corporate or Platinum Sponsorship information---scholarship forms---youth sports reimbursement forms---past SPY newsletters---etc.---just go to the SPY website at www.sunfieldareaspys.com.
3. NOTE: If you know of anyone who would like to receive these SPY’s Newsletters, just send me an email at john.sandrafisher@gmail.com with their email address and we will add them to the distribution list.