Sunfield Area SPY's Report---11/26/09

Thanksgiving Greetings !

With the Thanksgiving holiday falling this week and families gather, it is a time to pause and consider the many blessings we enjoy. As you reflect and give thanks, I would ask you to consider the plight of some of our local citizens that are in need---folks who circumstances could use a boost. Here are some ways you can help---

* The Lakewood Community Council has once again requested our help with the annual Christmas Basket Project. Drivers that are familiar with the Sunfield area are needed on Saturday, December 12th, at 9 AM. We need volunteers to deliver to the designated families in the Sunfield vicinity. It will take just a couple hours of your time at the most.

This project helps close to 200 families in the Lakewood area. Anyone that would like to help out, just show up at the Central Methodist Church in downtown Lake Odessa at the above date and time. Please mark your calendars now and plan on lending a hand on this very special needs program. For further information please contact John Fisher at 566-8278.

* Once again, the fantastic folks at the Sunfield branch of Firstbank are sponsoring their “Adopt-A-Family” Christmas Tree. This is a great program that helps make some local kids’ Christmas a whole lot brighter. There are tags on the branches of the “Adopt-A-Family Christmas Tree” located inside the bank. Each tag gives the age and gender of a child, with a hint for a gift on the back. All you have to do to spread some holiday cheer is stop by the bank---take a tag or two off the tree---go buy a gift---and return it to the bank either wrapped or unwrapped by December 15th. That’s all there is to it. Get in the spirit! Stop by the bank today!

* Also, don’t forget Sunfield’s “grass-roots” assistance program called “Sunfield Cares” that is being spearheaded by concerned local folks. The “Sunfield Cares” program provides free milk all year long to local families in need. Contact David Rosier (566-8141) for further information.

+ Thought #1: You grow up the first day you have your first real laugh---at yourself.

+ Trivia Question-Of-The-Week: What was the name of Beatle John Lennon’s first girlfriend? (Answer later in this column).


+ Andy Woodman’s Sports Trivia Question-Of-The-Week: What NFL team once had Bob Hope, Henry Mancini, Maureen Reagan and Danny Thomas on its advisory board?
 (Answer later in this column)

+ “Honest Roy’s” Quote-Of-The-Week: “I’m not aging. I’m fermenting.”

+ Thought#2: Most people can bear adversity. But, if you wish to know what a man really is, give him power.

+ Swede’s Groaner Corner: I’m sure you’ve heard of Murphy’s Law, but what is Cole’s Law? (Answer later in this column).

+ The “Sports Trivia Just For Ward ‘Smarty-Pants’ Mac Cready Question-Of-The-Week:” In 1963 what baseball pitcher remarked "They'll put a man on the moon before I hit a home run."? (Answer later in this column).

+ Did You Know Department: Did you know that mailing an entire building has been illegal in the U.S. since 1916 when a man mailed a 40,000-ton brick house across Utah to avoid high freight rates

+ Louie “Trouble-Shooter” Trowbridge’s Tip-Of-The-Week: How to achieve good vision while driving during a heavy downpour----use sunglasses. I am not sure why it is so effective---but just try this method when it rains heavily. Most of the motorists would turn on HIGH or FASTEST SPEED of the wipers during heavy downpour, yet the visibility in front of the windscreen is still bad. In the event you face such a situation, just try your SUN GLASSES (any model will do), and miracle! All of a sudden, your visibility in front of your windscreen becomes perfectly clear, as if there is no rain. Give it a try sometime.

+ Thought #3: Education is when you read the fine print. Experience is what you get when you don’t.
+ Trivia Question-Of-The-Week Answer: Her name was Thelma Pickles.

+ Swede’s Groaner Corner Answer: Everyone knows it’s thinly sliced cabbage with a special dressing.

+ Andy Woodman’s Sports Trivia Question-Of-The-Week Answer: The old Los Angeles Rams

+ The “Sports Trivia Question Just For ‘Smarty-Pants’ Mac Cready Question-Of-The-Week Answer: Gaylord Perry was a five-time All-Star and was the first pitcher to win the Cy Young Award in each league, winning it in the American League in 1972 with the Cleveland Indians and in the National League in 1978 with the San Diego Padres. He is also distinguished, along with his brother Jim, for being the second-winningest brother combination in baseball history--second only to the knuckleballing Niekro brothers, Phil and Joe. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1991.
Perry was not renowned for his hitting ability, and in his sophomore season of 1963, he joked, "They'll put a man on the moon before I hit a home run." On July 20, 1969, just minutes after the Apollo 11 spacecraft carrying Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin landed on the moon, Perry hit the first home run of his career.

Highlights From Our Last Meeting

* The meeting was called to order by our Leader of Leaders, Darin “My Bachelor Days Are Numbered” Weller. Regular business reports were received and approved. (6)

* Correspondence consisted of a letter from the Lakewood Community Council requesting aid; a thank you from Sunfield teachers Mary Jenks and Sally O’Rielly for our support for the robotics classroom project; a thank you note from the family of Diane Ward; and the annual meeting notice from the Michigan Charitable Gaming Association.

* The membership voted to once again underwrite the Sunfield Senior Citizen Nutritional Program for the coming year. The cost is $500.

* The membership approved to once again make a $500 donation to the Lakewood Community Council’s Christmas Basket project. We will also be seeking helpers to deliver the boxes in the Sunfield area.

* It was announced that a Michigan Charitable Gaming Association’s annual meeting has been scheduled for December 3rd in East Lansing. The membership approved the paying of our annual dues for 2010.

* We approved a $50 expenditure to cover the costs of the just one girl from the Sunfield area participating in the Lakewood Youth Basketball League.

* Rosie Best had forwarded a request for some funding support for the Daughters of Union Veterans chapter here in Sunfield. It seems that they had lost their support to pay the utility bills for keeping the military service board and flag illuminated at night in front of the GAR Hall. The membership approved a donation of $400 to cover the projected annual cost.

* An informational piece was read concerning risks involved with providing youth programs.

* John Fisher presented an outline of a major new program that the SPY’s will be formally announcing at their annual meeting in January that will benefit the entire community. Stay tuned for details.

* Discussion was held and assignments made concerning the upcoming SPY’s Annual Meeting of the Membership to be held on January 10, 2009.

+ 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.

+ MDLVIII