Sunfield Community Foundation Journal - 7/9/26

Sunfield Community Foundation Journal

Issue #9

(7/9/26)

Adopt-A-Highway Trash Pick-Up Is Here!

Derek Desgranges, aka “Captain Highway”, fearless leader of the SPY’s Adopt-A-Highway project, wants to remind everyone about THIS Saturday July 11th. will be the second highway trash pick-up of the season.  Anyone wishing to help out is asked to meet at the Best Tax Service building at 9 AM.

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.  If for any reason you can’t make it for the July 11th. 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.

There Are Blueberries Available Locally

The Sunfield Farmers Picnic Grand Parade and Annual People’s Choice Award Float Building Contest is Saturday, August 15, 2026 

Do you have plans for Saturday, August 15, 2026?  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 2026 Sunfield Farmers Picnic, Friday, August 14 through Sunday, August 15.   

How about entering a float in the Twelfth 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 “America 250 Red White Remember”.  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 14.

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.  The 2025 float winner was the Sunfield District Library’s summer reading program “Reading Colors Our World”. 

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 Karen Lane at 810-441-9713 to leave a message.  You may also just show up the day of the parade by 11:00 a.m. and we will fit you in. 

Contributions

·      John & Sandra Fisher made a contribution to the Scholarship Fund in memory of Erv Lubitz, Jr.

Parting Comments

·      Deep Thought of the Week: Example is not the main thing in influencing others---it’s the only thing.

·      Notable Quote:   "The two enemies of the people are criminals and government, so let us tie the second down with the chains of the Constitution so the second will not become the legalized version of the first." ----Thomas Jefferson

·      That's Puny Department:  Here are some sage words of advice from the ever-insightful Buddy Collins:

*If attacked by a mob of clowns---go for the juggler.

*Hold the door open for a clown---it's a nice jester.

*Ban pre-shredded cheese!  Make America grate again.

·      Did You Know Section:  The National League pennant race of 1908 was a three-team fight among the teams that dominated the league in the first decade of the modern era: the Pittsburgh Pirates (pennant winners in 1901, 1902 and 1903), the Giants (winners in 1904 and 1905), and the Cubs (winners in 1906 and 1907). The teams were clustered close together in the standings all year, with Pittsburgh never more than 2.5 games up or 5 back, the Giants never more than 4.5 up or 6.5 back, and the Cubs never more than 4 games up or 6 games back. When play began on September 23, 1908, the Cubs and Giants were tied for first place (although the Giants had six more games to play, with an 87–50 record as opposed to the Cubs' 90–53), and the Pirates were 1.5 games back with an 88–54 record.

On September 23, 1908, while playing for the New York Giants in a game against the Chicago Cubs, while he was 19 years old (the youngest player in the National League), Fred Merkle committed a baserunning error that became known as "Merkle's Boner" and earned him the nickname "Bonehead."

In the bottom of the 9th inning, Merkle came to bat with two outs, and the score tied 1–1. At the time, Moose McCormick was on first base. Merkle singled and McCormick advanced to third. Al Bridwell, the next batter, followed with a single of his own. McCormick trotted to home plate, apparently scoring the winning run. The fans in attendance, under the impression that the game was over, ran onto the field to celebrate.

Meanwhile, Merkle ran to the Giants' clubhouse without touching second base. Cubs second baseman Johnny Evers noticed this, and after retrieving a ball and touching second base he appealed to umpire Hank O'Day, who would later manage the Cubs, to call Merkle out. Since Merkle had not touched the base, the umpire called him out on a force play, meaning that McCormick's run did not count.

The run was therefore nullified, the Giants' victory erased, and the score of the game remained tied. Unfortunately, the thousands of fans on the field (as well as the growing darkness in the days before large electric light rigs made night games possible) prevented resumption of the game, and the game was declared a tie. The Giants and the Cubs ended the season tied for first place and had a rematch at the Polo Grounds, on October 8. The Cubs won this makeup game, 4–2, and thus the National League pennant.

The Cubs went on to win the 1908 World Series, beating the Detroit Tigers four games to one. Over a century later, it remains the last championship in Cubs franchise history

·      NOTE:  If you know of anyone who would like to receive these “Sunfield Community Foundation Journals”, just send me an email at john.sandrafisher@gmail.com with their email address and we will take care of it.