Sunfield Area SPY's Report---10/29/09

News Briefs

+ The Sunfield Area Sponsors of Programs for Youth would like to acknowledge some recent contributions to the Scholarship Fund and / or the Youth Activities Trust Fund. They came in from the following fine folks:

* Sandy Walliczek

* We had an Anonymous donation to the Danny Rumfield Memorial Fund.

* Durwood & Ardyth Dow contributed in memory of Carol Baker.

* Buddy & Jari Collins gave in memory of Roland Geiger.

* Mark & Shari Woodman donated in memory of Linda Sandborn.

* The following all gave in memory of Harold “Mac” McNamara:
LeRoy Jackson & Elaine Merryfield Buddy & Jari Collins
Mark & Shari Woodman Tim Rumfield
Robert & Diana Overholt Hertha Franks
Durwood & Ardyth Dow

We thank you all for using this means to help us help kids!

+ We would like to also acknowledge a special contribution that “fell through the cracks” and missed the usual mention in the column. A donation to the Scholarship Fund was made a few weeks back in honor of William & Nina Bosworth and came in from Durwood & Ardyth Dow. We thank you for your donation and apologize for missing it.

+ Trivia Question-Of-The-Week: Who was Mary Edwards Walker? (Answer later in this column).

+ Thought #1: Make peace with your past so it won’t screw up the present.

+ Andy Woodman’s Sports Trivia Question-Of-The-Week: Who holds the Major League Baseball record for most hits in a single season-----was it Pete Rose; Jimmy Z; Joe DiMaggio; Ichiro Suzuki; or George Sissler? (Answer later in this column)

+ “Honest Roy’s” Quote-Of-The-Week: “I keep some people's phone numbers in my phone just so I know not to answer when they call.”
+ Random Editorial Musing: If you’re keeping score---Michigan now has 22 gambling casinos, with more coming down the pipeline. Must be the Politicians’ formula for the “new economy”---trading our manufacturing base for slot machines.
+ The “Sports Trivia Just For Ward ‘Smarty-Pants’ Mac Cready Question-Of-The-Week: What player made Major League Baseball history when he won the National League batting crown, even though he played on an American League team? (Answer later in this column).

+ Thought #2: Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift."

+ Attention all SPY members! The Annual Meeting of the Membership Will take place on Saturday, January 9, 2010. The Annual Meeting will be held at the Centennial Acres clubhouse. Please make a note of the date on your calendars. Details will be sent to all members in December.

+ Louie “Trouble-Shooter” Trowbridge’s Tip-Of-The-Week: It's worth learning how to clean a microwave, no matter how conscientious you are about watching your nuked lunch. Luckily, cleaning the microwave is quick and easy. I recommend the natural method, which is probably also the best smelling. First, clean the crumbs out of the microwave. Next, fill a microwave-safe bowl with a cup or two of water. Add some lemon juice or a slightly squeezed half lemon to the bowl (some people use a couple of tablespoons of vinegar instead of the lemon).

Now nuke it! Microwave that for a few minutes until the water is boiling. Keep the door closed afterward to let the steam work its magic loosening dried-on food. After a few minutes, wipe down the inside of the microwave with a damp cloth. Food splatters should come off easily. Wipe down the outside of the microwave with a kitchen cleaner and you're finished!

+ Warning!!! A sinister, devious mind dwells among us! On the outside he is as congenial as ever, but below that mask lies a menacing threat to peace and tranquility for all whom he chooses to ply his “sport” of mental torture. How did Kerry Haynor get this way? Who knows? Must be the pressures of being the Supreme Commander of the Sunfield Air Farce has taken its toll on the boy. (Too many orange alerts to cope with). Before you get too lost in the rhetoric, let me give you the latest example of his antics in order that you loyal readers can get a glimpse as to what I refer.

When Kerry was enjoying his “B.R. Days”, (that is his bachelor days before Regina came along), he had an old Amana Radar-Range microwave oven. It was one of the first ever made---a monster of a contraption---a behemoth that took up half of his kitchen. He loved it. (I’m told that the Smithsonian wanted it). Along comes Regina---assesses Kerry lifestyle---and informs the lad some things have got to change---the Amana Radar-Range was in the top ten on her list. Kerry balked. Wasn’t going to happen. “You need to understand what’s sacred around here woman!” The microwave standoff started. A couple of months later, either the gods or faulty technology came to Regina’s aid, (or on second thought---sabotage), as one day the Radar-Range started smoking and belching flames. It had died a violent death. Instead of calling the fire department, Regina was grinning ear to ear and rubbing her hands together in glee. She figured that at last there would be a new microwave in her future. We move along now to a couple of weeks later when she walks into the kitchen only to discover Kerry standing in front of the Radar-Range waiting for the “food is done ding”. What! This can’t be! The monster has come back to life! Oh no!!! Kerry just looks at Regina and grins a sinister grin. “What’s the matter dear? You look a little pale.” Had Kerry had the *!@#* thing repaired behind her back. No. What Kerry had surreptitiously done was scour the county side in search of an Amana Radar-Range EXACTLY like the one he had that had bit the dust. And, as you’ll only experience with the uncanny Haynor luck, he found one right here locally. He secretly made the switch just to make Regina realize what she is up against. Regina was crushed. Kerry was giddy. And, I think I have finally discovered where Stephen King gets the ideas for his books.

+ Trivia Question-Of-The-Week Answer: She is the only woman to ever be awarded the Congressional Medal-Of-Honor. Also, in September 1863, she became the first-ever female U.S. Army Surgeon.

+ Andy Woodman’s Sports Trivia Question-Of-The-Week Answer: Ichiro Suzuki broke George Sisler's 84 year old record in 2004 when he finished the season with 262 hits as a member of the Seattle Mariners. Sisler acquired the record in 1920 when he had 257 hits with the St. Louis Browns.

Note: Suzuki collected his hits over 159 games during the modern 162-game season as opposed to 154 games in Sisler's era.

+ The “Sports Trivia Question Just For ‘Smarty-Pants’ Mac Cready Question-Of-The-Week Answer: Willie McGee became the first player to win a batting title in one league and finish the season in the other major league. McGee won the 1990 N.L. batting championship for the Cardinals, but finished the season as a member of the Oakland A’s in the American League after he was traded on August 29 of that season. Despite missing the final month in the N.L., McGee still qualified with enough plate appearances for the league-batting crown.

Highlights From Our Last Meeting

+ The October meeting of the membership was called to order by our beloved Veep---Barry Vezino. Regular reports were received and approved as read. (5)

+ Correspondence review consisted of a nice thank-you card from Orie Ramos.

+ Craig Mulholland gave a 50-60’s Dance report. Our regular standard of measurement of success was applied, and it was found that everyone had a good time. Next year’s dance has already been booked and will be held on Saturday, October 16th.

+ The membership formalized action on a $200 donation to help out the Junior High Band program.

+ The membership approved an allocation of $700 to cover the twenty Sunfield area kids involved in this year’s soccer program.

+ A Texas Hold ‘Em post-event report was given.

+ The membership took formal action on a request from Sunfield Elementary School Principal Ann Haglund for funding the purchase of two Mindstorm NXT robotics kits for use in a special education program they would like to institute at the school. The cost of the kits is $560.

+ A reminder was given about officer elections coming up at the Annual Meeting in January.

+ Some discussion took place concerning the change in the Girls 5th & 6th Grade Basketball program. No further information has been forthcoming concerning funding requests at this time.

+ To find out more about the SPY’s organization, download forms or applications, or catch-up on past issues of the “Dirt Sheet”, go to the SPY’s website at www.sunfieldspys.org.

+ MDLIV