SPY's Newsletter 4/1/2025

SPY’s Community Newsletter

#358

(3/31/25)

SPY’s Bowling Tournament Report

Our Tournament Chairman Jeff Gibbs would like to send out a BIG Thank-You to the 45 bowlers that participated in this year’s SPY's 9-pin No-Tap Bowling Tournament held on the 22nd of March at Buddy's on the Beach in Lake Odessa.

Congratulations to the Men’s top bowlers that each won cash prizes.  (Pictured left) is Josh Darling who tossed a 741 series, and (right) Kenyon Simmons who rolled a 739 series.

The top Women’s kegglers were (Pictured left) is Erin Gibbs stroked a 617 series, and Judy Scheidt who had a 596 series.

This year’s big money Strike Pot winner was Lucas Beard

Thank-you to the following fine SPY's supporters and prize donors:

Buddy's on the Beach

Rec Lending

Gene Maurer

Kendall Snow

Craig & Shana Cappon

Alana Cappon

Teresa Foltz

Jeff & Betsy Gibbs

 Andrew Griggs,

 Lucas Beard

First Adopt-A-Highway Trash Pick-Up Is This Saturday!

Our illustrious “Captain Highway” a.k.a. Derek Desgranges, fearless leader of the SPY’s Adopt-A-Highway project, wants to remind everyone about Saturday April 5th. will be the first highway trash pick-up of the season. The SPY's pick-up trash along M-43 from Round Lake Road on the west side of town to Shaytown Road on the east side of town, three times a year in conjunction with the Michigan Department of Transportation program. 

Again, if for any reason you can’t make it for the April 5th. pick-up day but would still like to help out by doing some picking up on a different day of that week, just give Derek a call at 269-838-7686 and get some bags and he will give you a small section to take care of.  What do you say, let’s have a great turnout and spiff up the roadsides leading into our community.

Next SPY Meeting

The next meeting of the Sunfield Area Sponsors of Programs for Youth (The SPY’s) will be held on Tuesday, April 8th, starting at 6:30 PM, at the Best Tax Service building on M-43.  Guests are always welcome!

Corporate Sponsor Salute---Part Two

One of the things the SPY's feel is important, if not downright essential, is to recognize others in the community who by their actions and deeds demonstrate that they share our values of building the community through service and by providing opportunities for youth.  The SPY's do not have the wherewithal or capabilities to address the multitude of needs that exist for youth today.  We do what we can.

So, when others step forward and give of themselves for the betterment of the community, the SPY's feel this should not be ignored.  For, as it is said, it takes many hands working together to improve the quality of life in a place we call home.

Back in 1998, the SPY's instituted formal "Corporate Sponsor" and “Platinum Sponsor” programs.  Through these programs businesses and individuals could partner with us so we could better meet the increasing cost demands of the many programs we underwrite.  To become a Corporate or Platinum Sponsor meant you contributed at least $500 in that year.

So, with this issue of the SPY’s Community Newsletter, and in each succeeding issue, we will continue to spotlight one of these special people to better show them how much we appreciate how much they mean to our youth and community.  This week’s special recognition will be Mark Woodman Plumbing & Heating of Sunfield.  Mark & Shari Woodman have not only been strong supporters of the SPY’s for many years, even before the beginning of the Corporate Sponsor program, but have long been a major force in community betterment and promotion.  They are fantastic people and we are honored to salute them.

Parting Comments

·      Deep Thought of the Week: You know you’re getting older when your favorite late-night show is the six-o’clock news.

·      Notable Quote: “Although the world is full of suffering, it is full also of the overcoming of it.”-----Helen Keller

·      That’s Puny Department: I’ve started telling everyone about the benefits of eating dried grapes.  It’s all about raisin awareness.

·      Did You Know Section:  After Mexico won its independence from Spain in 1821, its political environment was unstable, and its relationship with France — another European colonial power — was tense. These tensions came to a head in 1832, when a group of Mexican army officers went into a pastry shop outside Mexico City. The shop was owned by one Monsieur Remontel, a French national. The officers helped themselves to every pastry in his shop — after confining the owner to a room, according to some sources — and then left without paying. Afterward, Remontel demanded an enormous sum of 60,000 pesos as compensation from the Mexican government — about 60 times the total value of his shop.  Remontel wasn’t the only Frenchman to lodge such a complaint. Foreign nationals living in Mexico at the time, including a large population of French residents, started to complain about property damage sustained during civil disturbances, and sought redress from the Mexican government, with no success. Remontel became a kind of poster child for the growing demands, and in 1837, the French government got involved. France drew a hard line, demanding that Mexico pay a total of 600,000 pesos or prepare for war. The Mexican government couldn’t pay, so the French navy instituted a blockade at Veracruz, the main Mexican port along the Gulf of Mexico. After seven months, French soldiers escalated by firing on the fortress of San Juan de Ulúa and occupying the city. France eventually withdrew after being guaranteed payment through Great Britain.  Officially, the conflict was called the first Franco-Mexican War, but it became known derisively as the Pastry War in Mexico. Though the conflict may sound petty, it had a major influence on Mexican history. During the war, troops were led by Antonio López de Santa Anna, the former president of Mexico who was disgraced after losing Texas to the United States. Santa Anna lost a leg fighting the French (it was amputated after being injured by cannon fire), and the incident restored his public reputation. He went on to become president of Mexico seven more times.

Final 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. 

2.             We are glad to provide this means as a public service to help keep the community informed.

3.            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.