BINGO rules at Newberry Assisted Living Community

Participants get ready to win BINGO!

Newberry Women’s Club held a special get-together this month. Seven club members assisted residents of Newberry Assisted Living Community with a few rousing rounds of the perennial favorite, BINGO.

Tuesday's winning ladies and gentlemen received quarters as they filled out their cards, crying “BINGO!” when they covered all four corners, had a postage stamp corner or the traditional up and down, side to side or diagonal winner. At the end of game time, six people covered all for... a $1 prize each.

Following the BINGO games, those who participated were treated to various confections baked and donated by the Newberry Women’s Club ladies. There was also soda, water or coffee, served with a smile by club members.

During the social time, several of the residents took time out from their treats to voice a special thanks to those who remembered the assisted living community and shared this time of gaming and merriment.

Enjoy the photographs posted below.

Following the event, club members held their regular monthly meeting, discussing membership issues, updates to the club constitution, state convention requests and answering questions about the information needed for the club’s annual report to the state.

Next month’s meeting, scheduled for Feb. 16, 10 a.m. at Zellar’s, will feature a presentation about Heifer International. Eleanor Lane and Pearl Schnorr will act as hostesses. Please call regrets to these ladies.

As always, all members are encouraged to attend, and to bring a friend!

Marie Nicholson gets ready to call BINGO.

Club secretary, Sandy Caswell sets up treat plates for BINGO players.

Club treasurer, Eleanor Lane leaves a table where she just delivered a plate full of scrumptious cookies.

Residents of Newberry Assisted Living Community discuss the day's BINGO while waiting for treats prepared by the ladies of GFWC Newberry Women's Club.

Not an empty seat was had for the annual BINGO party hosted by the ladies of GFWC Newberry.

Almost time to renew fishing licenses

Michigan Department of Natural Resources has announced the release of the 2015 Michigan Fishing Guide, which includes rules and regulations effective April 1, 2015, through March 31, 2016. Copies of the guide can be obtained at any location where fishing licenses are sold.

This year’s guide is the third year the DNR has implemented improvements geared toward the request of anglers. The 2015 guide is printed on higher-quality paper to better withstand the wear and tear of fishing in Michigan, is of a smaller physical size (better able to fit in anglers’ tackle boxes), and includes an easier-to-read font size.
This is the first year the DNR solicited photos from the public for potential use on the cover of the fishing guide. This year’s selected photo was of the Muskegon River and was submitted by Amber LeClear. The DNR will collect potential cover photos for the 2016 guide as well; interested individuals should send theirs to DNR-Fisheries@michigan.gov. The DNR is looking for photos that focus on places to fish, not so much on people or fish species.

The 2015 Michigan Fishing Guide also is available in a user-friendly, electronic format online at michigan.gov/fishingguide.   

Graymont responds to DNR concerns

Officials with Graymont, Inc. have submitted a revised Land Transaction Application (LTA) to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) for a limestone mining operation in northern Mackinac County near the town of Rexton. The March 6 proposal, which amends a January 2015 LTA, is unchanged in the total amount and location of public land under consideration.

Revisions in the March LTA address DNR concerns with the previous proposal. Based on these revisions, department officials have recommended that the March 6 Graymont application be approved by DNR Director Keith Creagh. The LTA will be before Creagh for action at the March 19 Natural Resources Commission meeting in Roscommon. More information about the proposal, including a map of tracts under consideration, can be found at www.michigan.gov/graymontproposal.

Following is a summary of items of significant concern to the department in the company’s previous proposals and how those concerns have been addressed in the most recent application:

• Royalty rate on limestone mined and minimum annual royalty payment: Graymont has increased the proposed royalty rate for limestone from 18.75 cents per ton to 30 cents per ton. The company has proposed a minimum annual royalty to begin in 2020 and has committed to creating a regional economic development fund that will provide $100,000 a year for five years starting in 2015. Department officials find the royalty rate and minimum royalty acceptable.

• Consideration of timber and mineral values: Graymont has now included timber value in the purchase price of Tracts A and E. Lands to be offered in exchange for Tracts B and C will include equal or greater forest values in addition to land value. Non-royalty minerals were valued at $10 an acre. Department officials find the language acceptable.

• Final decision authority on land use and infrastructure such as roads, trails, mining structures, etc. on all parcels: Graymont has addressed this concern by including consultation, mediation and arbitration language to recognize public and DNR input in land use decisions. Department officials find the language acceptable.

• Effects on a neighboring facility: Graymont has included language to address potential impacts to a facility adjacent to Tract C. Department officials find the language acceptable.

• Adequate wetland protection and trail easement assurances in Tract E: Graymont has included language to ensure impacts to wetlands in Tract E are minimized and trail easements for public use are provided. Department officials find the offered wetland concept and trail easements acceptable.  

• Process for land exchanges: Graymont has revised the process for land it was offering in exchange for land it seeks to acquire in this proposal. If this LTA is approved, the state will immediately begin to work with the applicant to compete the exchanges. Department officials find the process acceptable. 

• The scope and timing of economic benefits to local communities: Graymont is developing a regional economic development fund to provide grants for local units of government, schools and/or small business. Department officials find this approach acceptable and expect further detail on the local economic benefits prior to director decision.

A memo detailing the recommendation from department officials to the director can be found on the DNR website.
 

There are multiple ways people can provide comments about this proposal. The public will have an opportunity to make comments at the March Natural Resources Commission meeting. The DNR continues to maintain an email address for the public to comment. Interested parties may send comments to DNRGraymontProposalComments@michigan.gov.

Mailed comments can be sent to the Roscommon Customer Service Center, ATTN: Kerry Wieber, 8717 N. Roscommon Road, Roscommon, MI 48653.
 

Comments will be accepted until a final decision is made.

Newberry women travel for convention

Four members of the Newberry Women's Club, an affiliate of the General Federation of Women's Clubs, attended the District 5 Upper Peninsula annual meeting Wednesday and Thursday in Menominee, returning home exhausted but full of enthusiasm for member recruiting and fund raising for Newberry Women's Club projects. An article detailing conference happenings is in the works. When complete, I will post a link to the story here. In the meantime, enjoy these photographs from the event.

On the road to Menominee

We ladies can always locate a Walmart!

Pizza party fun

Our pizza delivery "boy"

Venue overlooks the 3rd hole of the Riverside Golf Club in Menominee

American Legion Ladies Auxiliary display the colors . . .

While the tambourine sounds

I pledge allegiance . . .

Displays educate

Fun things to purchase

Decisions, decisions . . . What to bid on during the silent auction

Lots of information to absorb

Education fund "showers" money on club members

Break-out session - record keeping

Break-out session - membership

Break-out session - GFWC history and questions

Break-out session - fund raising

Lighting candles for those who passed during the past year

Special awards bring smiles