SPY’s Community Newsletter
(8/6/240
The Sunfield Farmers Picnic Grand Parade and Annual People’s Choice Award Float Building Contest is Saturday, August 17, 2024
Do you have plans for Saturday, August 17, 2024? The members of the Sunfield Farmers Picnic Board would like to have your organization’s float, your tractor or antique car, decorated bicycle or wagon in the Grand Parade on Saturday. The Board invites anyone who wishes to participate in the parade to please do so. Everyone is welcome to participate in the parade and all activities at the 2024 Sunfield Farmers Picnic, Friday, August 16 through Sunday, August 18.
How about entering a float in the Tenth Annual People’s Choice Award Float Building Contest? Represent your business or organization with a decorated float. The float must have your business or organization’s name and this year’s Picnic theme of “Helping Others”. Line up begins at 11:00 a.m. at the Sunfield Water Tower and begins at 12 noon. If you would like to register a float for this year’s parade, send an email to sunfieldfarmerspicnic@gmail.com and submit a color photograph of your float by 9 p.m. Friday, August 16.
Patrons will be able to purchase tickets from Picnic board members under the Sunfield Farmers Picnic Merchant’s tent in Van Buren Park after the parade to place their vote for the People’s Choice Award. The winner will receive a keepsake plaque and be announced at 7 p.m. at the beginning of the evening’s entertainment under the Big Tent. The winner will also have their name placed on a bigger plaque that will be on display at the Welch Historical Museum throughout the year.
All money collected from the donations will be put into the following year’s Picnic. Events such as this help us to cover costs for things including tent rental, entertainment and fireworks. Anyone else who wishes to be in the parade but not be in the float contest can let us know by sending an email to the address above or by calling Sara Carrasco at 616-589-4324. You may also just show up the day of the parade by 11:00 a.m. and we will fit you in.
Notice #1
The next meeting of the Sunfield Area Sponsors of Programs for Youth (the SPY’s) will take place this coming Tuesday, August 13th. It will be held at the Best Tax Service building starting at 6:30 PM. Guests are always welcome!
“Dirt Sheet News”
This “snitch” just in from one of our old top-notch agents: Next time you see Bryan Spitzley, you should ask him about his new “girlfriend”. It was one of those blistering hot days and there was a lady with a flat tire on the side of the road in front of Mark Baker’s (the mechanic on Sunfield Highway) house. Mark & Bryan both decided to help the damsel in distress. As they approached the car “she’’ removed her wig. It turned out to be a guy who was dressed in drag! Mark & Bryan changed that tire with the speed of a NASCAR pit crew!
Contributions
· Jim Peabody and John Fisher donated 24 dozen golf balls to the Dime Toss Booth activity.
· The following fine folks made contributions in memory of Wendel Peabody, Sr.:
Tony & Carol Santini
Marvin & Kathy Hengesbach
Andrea Miller
Howard & Connie Doss
Dave & Ginny Chase
Larry & Kate Terpstra
Renee Strimbeck
Ron & Marlene McDiarmid
Mark & Mary Hanna
Joann Briggs
Fordy & Terri Cappon
Dorothy Wysack
Shana Cappon & Darcy Weaver
For Sale
I have for sale a 1934 John Deer GP tractor that has been stored in a barn for a number of years. It has been owned by the same family since it was purchased new in 1934. Firm best offer received by September 14th can take possession. For more information contact John Fisher at 517-648-0969.
50’s / 60’s Sock Hop News
If you haven’t already heard, the legendary Art Meade is once again sponsoring what he is calling “The Third Annual Remember When 50’s and 60’s Sock Hop”. It will be held on Saturday, October 5th from 7 to 11 PM, at the Venue 1230, located at 1230 North Michigan Avenue in Hastings.
He has booked the fabulous “Misty Blues Party Band” out of Detroit. They are great! It’s a 7-piece band, with a horn section and 2 female singers. They are quite simply FABULOUS!
There will be refreshments and an open bar provided.
Tickets are $60 for a couple and $30 for a single.
Tickets are available from any of the following:
Art Meade 269-331-0661
John Fisher 517-648-0969
Sandy Johnson 269-953-5260
Razor’s Edge 269-948-8767
Olde Town Tavern 269-948-8531
At The Door
Parting Comments
· Deep Thought of the Week: The food stamp program is administered by the U. S. Department of Agriculture. They proudly report that they distribute food stamps to over 40 million people on an annual basis. This number is more than the entire population of Canada.. Meanwhile, the National Park Service, run by the U. S. Department of the Interior, asks us “Please do not feed the animals”. Their stated reason for that---“The animals will grow dependent on the handouts, and then they will never learn to take care of themselves”.
· Notable Quote: “Winners are not people who never fail, but people who never quit.”
· That’s Puny Department: It’s my first week working at the bicycle factory and they already made me a spokesperson.
· Did You Know Section: As the United States expanded westward in the 19th century, the American Southwest began to take shape, but the desert environment was unfamiliar to the colonists (many of whom hailed from Europe) and inhospitable to their pack animals. In 1836, a U.S. Army lieutenant made a novel suggestion: to import herds of camels, who were accustomed to rough terrain and could go without water for a week or more. The idea was initially dismissed, but was revisited when the Mexican-American War ended in 1848 and Mexico ceded 55% of its land to the United States, including desert regions in what’s now California, New Mexico, Nevada, and Arizona. Congress approved funding to bring over a herd of camels in 1855, and a Navy vessel that had been outfitted specifically for camel care sailed to the Mediterranean and spent the next five months acquiring 33 of the beasts. The ship unloaded 34 camels in Indianola, Texas — one adult camel had died, but two out of six calves born on the voyage survived. The group was known unofficially as the Camel Corps.
The camels proved the most useful on survey missions, helping to explore the region’s harsh climates and scout locations for roads. They even proved to be great swimmers, crossing the Colorado River more successfully than the horses and mules traveling with them. On one mission, camels even led survivors to safety after the traveling party got lost in the Mojave Desert. The experiment, while considered successful by those who actually worked with the camels, was largely abandoned during the Civil War. Over the years, many animals were turned loose, and it was not unusual to see rogue camels wandering American deserts for a time: One of the most notorious camels of the era, the Red Ghost, roamed the Arizona countryside until 1893.
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 Community Newsletters, just send me an email at john.sandrafisher@gmail.com with their email address and we will add them to the mailing list.
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