OUR TOWN: Flowers make our summer

FLOWERS MAKE OUR SUMMER: Let’s admire the gardening skills of our neighbors and friends as the blossoms are in full bloom now. Use camera lens to remember the glorious blossoms. Nature is in her prime and the colors are dazzling. Note: The writer is in awe and thankful for the Croes family’s flower beds on the Church Road in Anchorville.

BLANKETS/CLOTHING DRIVE SEPT. 9: Sleeping bags, too, will be collected at the Motor Cafe in the Premier Mall, 33151 23 Mile, Chesterfield, from noon to 5 p.m. The donations will be collected in a tent with the items to be given to McWarm, an outreach at St. Margaret of Scotland Parish in St. Clair Shores. Raffle tickets will be available for a Dec. 2 drawing. Please contact Michelle at 586-219-5015 for information.

SEPT. 9 CLASS STUDYING CLAUDE MONET: The Ira Township Hall, 7085 Meldrum, Fair Haven, is the site of an art history and art masters class from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Registration for the class is required at the Ira Township Hall, at the above address, during the hours of 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed noon to 1 p.m. Otherwise, place a check payable to Ira Township Parks & Recreation, in the drop box in the parking lot. To learn more, call Anna at 586-339-3969. Note: Claude Monet lived the years 1840-1926. On Nov. 4, a class studying the works of Georgia O’Keefe will be held.

SEPT. 10 VFW FLEA MARKET: Contact Michelle Watson at 586-746-6242 to participate at $10 a table. In the front hall, doors will open at 9 a.m. for setup and the show will be from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. VFW Post 7573 is located at 35011 23 Mile in Our Town. Shoppers are invited for breakfast at 8 a.m. in the Cove and with the market starting at 10 a.m.

VFW POST 7573 BIG BREAKFAST SEPT. 10: In the Cove, 35011 23 Mile, during the hours of 8 to 11 a.m., a generous donation or more of $10 is accepted for the meal. Children ages 10 and younger, $2. World War II veterans will eat free. The menu? Eggs, omelets to order, scrambled eggs, French toast, homemade gravy, biscuits, bacon, sausage and potatoes. Yum!

JOIN THE CHOIR! SING! Sept. 11 is the beginning of the fall season for the New Baltimore Interfaith Choir in 2023. First Congregational Church, 36223 Alfred, corner of Base, is the place to be at 7 p.m. There is no fee, no auditions, just the love of singing and performing. The choir has been doing just that since 1966, with just one devoted director. Call Bette Carrothers, 586-725-8051, to learn more. Hundreds of singers have shared the love of singing in this choir and the music goes on and on.

HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR TO SPEAK SEPT. 12: At the Chesterfield Township Library, 50560 Patricia, just off Chesterfield Road near 23 Mile, Chesterfield, in a white building, guests are invited to hear the moving words of Irene Miller, a Holocaust speaker and educator at 6 p.m. An author, her book, “Into No man’s Land-A Historical Memoir,” will be for purchase. Her story tells of courage, determination, perseverance and the power of the human spirit. Register at chelibrary.org or call 586-598-4900.

AB CHAMBER OF COMMERCE SEPT. 14: The September Coffee Connection will be at the Enlisted Heritage House at Selfridge ANGB. Contact Anchor Bay Chamber of Commerce Director Lisa at 586-725-5149 for further details.

VFW POST 7573 REMEMBERS MIA/POW: Friday, Sept. 15, in the Cove, at 4:30 p.m., there will be a special ceremony to honor MIA/POW from past wars. Following there is a steak-out meal where grilling a personal New York steak takes place outdoors over hot coals. Then, indoors, guests will add a baked potato, salad, rolls and dessert with friends. The fee is $18 a person. County singer Garrett Veal will entertain. Note: MIA (Missing in Action) and POW (Prisoners of War).

SEPT. 16 LIVE “ISLAND-STYLE” MUSIC SHOW: On Harsens Island, reached by car ferry, from Clay Township, (M-29/Pointe Tremble), for a fee, and the town of San Souci on the South Channel is where the show will be. Landing on Harsens Island, drive M-154 to San Souci. Bring lawn chairs and dress for the weather, as the show is outdoors. Watch freighters and pleasure boats sail by. From Our Town, travel M-29 through Anchorville, Fair Haven and reach the Dyke Road, past the Colony tower, and on to Pointe Tremble Road, soon seeing the ferry dock on the right on the North Channel of the St. Clair River.

MEAT BINGO SEPT. 17 AT VFW POST 7573: At 2 p.m., the games will begin with the cost of $1 per stick, over five rounds with three winners per round. Located at 35011 23 Mile, enjoy an afternoon with friends.

SEPT. 17 DETROIT LIONS GAME BUS TRIP: The Lions will play the Seattle Seahawks that day. There are limited seats of 54 on the motor coach, so call soon. Sponsored by Preferred Construction, departure will be at 11 a.m., from the Clay Township Park, 4710 Pointe Tremble, Clay Township, The advance fee is $175 a person, payable to the Clay Township Recreation Department, open Monday to Thursday, 8 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., at the above address. Include a list of the names in your group. For information, please call 810-794-9320 or email [email protected].

SEPT. 17 NB LIONS CLASSIC CAR CRUISE-IN: Want to enter a car? Email [email protected]. Or, call Lorenzo, 586-873-8893, Jeff, 313-310-5534, or Bob, 248-7003. At $15 please register before Sept. 15. On the day of the show, the fee will be $20. On Front Street, at Burke Park, on gorgeous Anchor Bay, from noon to 5 p.m., cars of readers’ past may be viewed and admired. Reminisce. Host New Baltimore Lions Club will give awards in various categories. Music, food, raffles and a cornhole tournament, too. For further information, go to newbaltimorelions.com. Proceeds benefit New Baltimore Lions charities.

SEE NOAH’S ARK SEPT. 25-26: Be off with friends to Williamstown, Kentucky, to see the manmade replica of the ark and museum. Call Laura at 586-424-5674 to be on a motor coach tour, planned by Laura Stone of East Harbor. The cost is $262, double occupancy, for overnight hotel stay, one breakfast, one dinner and admissions. Imagine the immenseness of the structure and be there.

SEPT. 29 LAWN CHAIR EVENING AT VFW POST 7573: Burgers, hot dogs, chips, pop and water for purchase, it is an evening to benefit to earn funds for Purple Heart signs to honor Purple Heart veterans, to be placed at the entrances of Chesterfield and Our Town.

COAT DRIVE DONATIONS ACCEPTED UNTIL OCT. 1: Coats, jackets, hats, gloves, mittens, scarves, sweaters, sweats, hoodies, snowsuits and boots. Donations accepted at 53183 Chesterfield Road, Chesterfield, and 51145 Clay in Our Town. The New Baltimore Lions Club is hosting a winter apparel giveaway on Oct. 7 at VFW Post 7573, 35011 23 Mile, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. For questions, please call 586-930-2994 or 586-212-3036.

OCT. 12 “A TUSCAN EVENING:” The Clinton Valley Kiwanis is hosting a benefit dinner to earn funds for Macomb County homeless families, especially for homeless children in the county. The event will be at Zucccaro’s Banquets & Catering, 46601 Gratiot, Chesterfield, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tickets are $55 a person ($500 for a table of 10). Must be 21 years of age to attend. Wine tasting, global varieties, full buffet dinner, auction, 50/50 raffles, cork pulls and door prizes. Tickets may be obtained from Anna Gloria, 586-360-8043, Lillian Thompson, 703-282-2596, Shelly Penzien, 586-232-3473, or Sara Orris, 586-228-3460. Checks are payable to Clinton Valley Kiwanis. The funds are distributed to the Macomb Intermediate School District Homeless Education Project and the Macomb Charitable Foundation for school supplies, shoes, clothing, food and sending children to summer camp. The MISD helped 1,326 homeless children, in the 2022/2023 school year, a 17% increase over the previous school year. The MCF assisted 562 children of all ages and their families over the past year. Let’s be there and boost these fine organizations in their work.

OCT. 14 ABHS CLASS OF 1960 CLASS REUNION: Catch up on the last 63 years with classmates. The event will be at the Rec Bowl bar and restaurant, 40 Crocker Blvd., Mount Clemens, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. It will be a luncheon, with all responsible for own food and drinks. A Saturday afternoon gathering of former Tars, remembering walking the halls of ABHS, classes, games, concerts and loads of fun, back in the days, is ahead for alumni. Please contact Margo at 586-725-0534 or [email protected].

OCT. 25-26 OVERNIGHT CASINO TRIP: Call Shirley at 586-531-1934 and be off with friends to Standish and the Saganing Eagles Landing Casino and then, overnight at Soaring Eagle Casino in Mt. Pleasant. The Wednesday departure is from the Lowes Parking lot on 23 Mile, Chesterfield, at 8 a.m. (Please arrive by 7:45 a.m.) Arrival back home is estimated to be around 3:30 p.m. on Thursday.

ZOOM MSU ONLINE PARENTING WORKSHOPS: On Tuesdays, during the hours of 8 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., the MSU Extension Parenting classes are: Sept. 5: Setting the Stage: Promoting Social and Emotional Health in Young Children; Sept. 12: Importance of Outdoor Play; Sept. 19: The Resilience Toolbox. For information, contact Courtney Aldrich at [email protected]. Registration at: https://msu.zoom.us/Webinar/register/WNJ46cnBPnQLWjDeTK2gs59g#/registration.

THE MUSEUM IS OPEN SATURDAYS: Located at 51065 Washington in Our Town, stop by between noon and 3 p.m. Greet the board members and enjoy the historical decor throughout the building. Monetary donations are accepted to ensure that the history of Our Town and the area is never forgotten.

NB PARKS AND RECREATION FALL PROGRAMS: Recreation Direction Adam Abraham and Program Director Emma LaPlante are anxious to announce programs for families in Our Town. The programs are Youth Theatre Improv, Pickleball on the Rise, Holiday Craft Show, Trick and Treat on Washington, and new: Youth Kick Boxing Fitness and Circuit Training. The office address is 52401 Ashley and the phone number is 586-725-0291.

INTERESTING QUOTES FROM AMERICAN WRITERS: “Methods of locomotion have improved greatly in recent years, but places to go remain the same.” Don Herold (1905-1960), “Everything in life is somewhere else, and you get there in a car.” E. B. White (1899-1985). “People travel to faraway places to watch, in fascination, the kind of people they ignore at home.” Dagobert D, Runes (1902-1982). “A journey is a person in itself; no two are alike. And all plans, safeguards, policies and coercion are fruitless. We find after years of struggle that we do not take a trip; a trip takes us.” John Steinbeck (1902-1968). “Remember don’t start conversations with strangers on a trip. No way of getting rid of them later.” Chilean Playwright Isidora Aguirre, born 1922.

To report news about your service organization, call Bette Carrothers at586-725-8051 or email her at [email protected].

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