CAUGHTCHA BEING GOOD!

George Siwirski, Glen Howse & Dick Pung

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Glen Howse and Dick Pung change LED lights at Sunrise Academy. Not pictured: George Siwirski. Courtesy photo
Last year George Siwirski and Glen Howse took note of how poor the lighting was in the middle section of the Sunrise Academy building, as they watched students trying to work in a dimly lit room. The two gentlemen asked if they could help do something to remedy the problem, offering their time and labor. They said if Sunrise purchased new LED lights, they would take care of installing them. Recently they made good on that promise and recruited their friend, Dick Pung, a master electrician from the Mt. Pleasant area, to help.  

“We are grateful to George, Glen, and Dick for their kindness and we appreciate them jumping in to do what they can to make Sunrise a brighter place for our students to learn,” said Mona Kay Woodham, Program Director at Sunrise Academy.

Correction

In last week’s Milton Township article about the proposed RV park, the Elk Skegemog Lakes Association was erroneously mentioned. Rather, it was an attorney representing TESA, the Torch, Elk, Skegemog Alliance, who followed up on a letter requesting the establishment of a special escrow account. We apologize for the error.   – Editor

Elk Rapids Chamber of Commerce
Chamber welcomes new business

The Elk Rapids Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting on September 17 for the Grand Opening of the Norte Bike Library shed.
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Lauren Dake, Antrim County Coordinator for Norte (holding scissors), with large group to celebrate Grand Opening. Photo by Wally Hibbard

MILTON TOWNSHIP
RV park hearing, resignation of township representative to Library Board discussed 

By Steve Yencich, Contributing Writer

Monday’s Milton Township Board meeting opened with a resident’s request to remove a large log from the O’Dell Road access point. A second resident asked whether or not the Vacation Rental Ordinance applied to his property, which has been leased to the same six-week renter for the past five years. It’s a situation that does not neatly fit into the existing ordinance definitions. The resident was told that a similar case had already been referred to the Planning Commission. It was suggested that the resident make contact with zoning administrator Chris Weinzapfel for additional updates. A third resident sought confirmation of receipt of his letter proposing the establishment of an escrow account to hold monies in reserve for scientific studies of the proposed RV Park on the Torch River and was told it had been received and filed.

Monthly reports were generally routine. Fire Chief Jeremy Ball reported that the EMS letter had been transmitted to Central Dispatch regarding simulcasting Kalkaska or Torch Lake EMS when Elk Rapids is already on a call and a second EMS call goes out from Milton Township. The move is designed to provide better EMS coverage when multiple calls for assistance are received. Ball reported that an additional 78 smoke alarms had been provided by the State Fire Marshall and will be made available to qualified Milton Township residents. Zoning Administrator Chris Weinzapfel summarized a proposed land division/lot merger agreement between two agreeing parties and asked for board authorization to move forward, which was unanimously provided.

Weinzapfel also reported that Tuesday’s Planning Commission hearing meeting on the proposed RV park on Torch River had been posted in multiple locations. However, on September 9, the park’s developer requested that the Planning Commission table the proposal until its October 13th meeting. The request for a delay raised a number of legal and procedural questions, so many that the township sought legal opinions as to how best to proceed.  Weinzapfel summarized a few of the options available, with one being holding the meeting as planned. Other ideas included opening the meeting for continued public comments or opening the hearing long enough to table the matter until October. Staff will be meeting with legal counsel to determine the best path forward.

Township Counsel Bill Derman reported that Antrim County Sheriff Dan Bean held a meeting with eight of the county’s 15 township supervisors to discuss a uniform fireworks ordinance. All eight supervisors were generally supportive of the ordinance, which will be modeled after the one used in Acme Township. Derman also advised the board that the Grand Traverse Land Conservancy had closed on a conservation easement for 152 acres of land with Interwater Farms (the White Farms) under the Farmland Preservation program. In other matters, the township recently received a request from local tribal members who offered to pay for the installation of lighting at the township’s pickleball courts. It was pointed out that the current township policy holds that all township recreational facilities are closed from dusk to dawn. Other trustees mentioned the availability of natural light during the course of the summer season and questioned the need for the lighting. After further discussion, the board unanimously voted to decline the offer.

The resignation of Milton Township representative, Barbara Johnson, from the Elk Rapids Library Board, was raised during the Supervisor’s Report. Ongoing disagreements between Johnson, the library board’s volunteer president, and library director Nanette Miller have worsened to the point that Milton township officials believe that Johnson does not represent the township appropriately. It was alleged that personnel issues that should have been dealt with by the library board’s personnel committee had been decided and unilaterally acted upon by the board’s volunteer president. Milton Township Treasurer Liz Atkinson has represented the township in meetings on the matter. She reported that the township had presented a formal request that Barbara Johnson resign and sought support for the proposal from board members representing the Village and Elk Rapids Township. Thus far, Johnson has refused to resign. While ER Township promptly supported the request, no response was received from the Village. 
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“We are baffled by the Village’s lack of response,” said Atkinson. “We no longer believe Barb Johnson represents Milton Township in a favorable light. We’re just asking for straightforward, honest communication to move the process forward.” The board unanimously voted to authorize Atkinson to reach out to the Michigan Association of Library Boards and other appropriate parties to gather information and report back to the Milton Board. There being no additional items for discussion, the meeting was adjourned shortly before 8 p.m.  

Terri's Take-aways
with Terri Glenn MSN, FNP-BC


Change, stress, and health care

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Change, stress, and health care 

If there ever was a year to discuss the way stress impacts your health care – welcome to 2020! My name is Terri Glenn and I have been privileged and blessed to work in health care, primarily women’s health care, for over 40 years. During that time, I have come to rely on my patients as much as they rely on me. They bring me the pulse of the world. Women especially carry the emotional and physical health of their families. Through them I have a front row seat to life. I started in the field of obstetrics where my focus was babies and childbirth. I returned to school 20 years later and as a nurse practitioner my scope widened to all stages of life. I am honored to have been asked by the Elk Rapids News to write about topics in health care that would be of interest to their readers. My goal is to address relevant health care topics and share some “take-aways” that I hope you find helpful. 

Let’s begin with change, stress and how it affects our health care. This year while navigating life during a pandemic we have all experienced change in our lives. No one is exempt. Coping with change and how it affects our life and health is unique to each one of us. Some have noticed very little change in their lives, while others have been completely devastated by this pandemic. Most are somewhere in between. No matter where you are on the spectrum, the global pandemic is an external trigger that causes an emotional response known as stress. We are designed to handle stress and in short term it can even be beneficial. However, too much stress will wear you down and can make you sick. It can affect all aspects of your life; the symptoms can be vague, and no part of your body is immune. 

One thing I am seeing is that information and technology are awesome, but they can also leave us anxious, confused and frustrated. What was once simple has become complicated with the plethora of information at our fingertips. Patients seem to be struggling right now with what to believe, where to go for information and knowing when it’s time to seek help. Google is great but you have to be very careful with the information you receive and how to apply it specifically to you. Common symptoms of stress you may have experienced are fatigue, body aches, weight gain (we call it the COVID-19, like the freshman 15!), weight loss, acne, stomach upset, bowel changes, sick frequently, anxiety/constant worrying, depression, difficulty sleeping, chest pain, rapid heart rate, elevated blood pressure, headaches, loss of sexual desire/ability, feeling overwhelmed, unable to focus, agitated, moody, feeling lonely or like losing control, increased use of alcohol, drugs, and cigarettes to name a few. As said, no part of body is immune and health issues caused by stress often present the same as other medical problems. If you are struggling with stress, as many are, seek help from your health care provider. 
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Take-aways​: Never before has it been more important to get your regular check-up, to be sure your blood pressure and other indicators of stress are not being adversely affected. Keep your immune system strong. Vitamin D3 is an important immune booster and COVID fighter. Be sure you are getting an adequate daily supplement. Eating healthy and exercising will help with anxiety as well as support your immune system. Sleep is key and if not able to get good, uninterrupted sleep, see your health care provider. Finding ways to relax is not a luxury, it is a must. Seek support through others who have a positive effect on your coping skills. Avoid those who spread worry and increase your anxiety. Do not avoid seeking medical care. You can be treated safely. In closing, “give faith a fighting chance.” It is the strongest anchor in this storm.

Elk Rapids Almanac

PicturePhoto by Kathie Carpenter.
September 9 - A young possum seen under a tree in Bay Breeze – all alone and very scared and didn’t know how to play dead so it just stopped and stared at me, not moving a muscle. – Christine Petersen.

September 10 - Waiting for a mulberry, this young kit and his brothers (or were they sisters) were very frequent visitors this year. Their favorite foods are high protein-rodents, insects, and young squirrels and rabbits, but they love fruit and cheese and peanuts. – Kathie Carpenter.

September 16 - A good week for raptor sightings: driving north on Route 31, I spotted through my sunroof a mature bald eagle. It was cruising at treetop level following Tobago Creek going east to the marsh.  On two days this week a small hawk landed on a low limb of a white pine in our back yard. The give-away was silence: usually, our backyard is a cacophony of bird call of well-fed birds and squirrels. Should a hawk land…quiet like Communion Sunday. Then the ID challenge; out came our hawk books. After considerable research we pronounced it a Cooper’s Hawk.  – Ken Bloem.

TAKE NOTE: Audubon Bird Guide has a free app containing more than 800 species of colorful North American birds and uses the month, location and details you provide to help you identify birds.  www.audubon.org/app

MORE NOTES:  What is a gathering of possums called? A “passel” of possums. A possum (also called opossum in North America) is a marsupial, meaning it carries its babies in a pouch, like a kangaroo. It is omnivorous (eats plants and animals), especially eats lots of ticks, thus slowing the spread of Lyme disease.  It seldom gets rabies. Females are called “jills,” males are called “jacks” and young ones are called “joeys.”  (More info at kidskonnect.com, which has great worksheets for teachers and homeschoolers; also www.nationalgeographic.com).

Annual freshwater summit sessions

The Freshwater Roundtable is proud to announce a series of sessions that make up the 13th Annual Freshwater Summit. Sessions for the Freshwater Summit will be held virtually on October 2, 9, 16, and 23 from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m.

“We were unable to host an in-person event this year, but still wanted to gather as a community of learners,” said Christine Crissman, executive director of The Watershed Center. “We are looking forward to tapping into state and local expertise to discuss current challenges and opportunities facing local and regional freshwater efforts.” 

Presentations include permitting, planning, and stabilization of shorelines during high water levels; quagga mussel, lake trout, whitefish, and avian botulism research in Good Harbor Bay; equity concerns with water access and management; and lightning talks about local initiatives.

“In Michigan, and especially in this region, our lives are defined by water; commercially and recreationally,” said Dennis McCauley, president of the Great Lakes Environmental Center, Inc., sponsor of the Freshwater Summit. “We feel it is valuable to bring together professionals and interested residents alike to talk about water quality and water use issues that are impacting our economy, our shorelines, and our lives.”

A full agenda for each session and registration information is available online at https://www.gtbay.org/events/2020-freshwater-summit/. Registration is free and open to the public. 

 The Freshwater Summit is a product of the Freshwater Roundtable and is organized by The Watershed Center, NMC’s Great Lakes Water Studies Institute, Michigan Sea Grant Extension, Great Lakes Environmental Center, Inc., Inland Seas Education Association, NOAA’s Office for Coastal Management, Grand Traverse Conservation District, Conservation Resource Alliance, and Northern Michigan Environmental Action Council. The 13th Annual Freshwater Summit is sponsored by the Great Lakes Environmental Center, Inc.

Journey Through Time
​with Jackie Weber

ER Class of 1900
The Elk Rapids Graduation Class of 1900. Center is Lois Carns. From left is Israel Goldfarb, Martin Kramer, Edwin Marriott, Frank Pfeiffer and Frank Hurst. Classes were very small during those early years because they had to help on the farm. Photo courtesy of the Elk Rapids Area Historical Society

Elk Rapids District
​Library Corner

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Reopening Plan. The Library is open again  by appointment. Please call the Library to set up your 15 minute appointment. Masks are required and social distancing will be enforced. Curbside pickup will continue for those who prefer that. The Book Cellar remains closed and we cannot accept any book donations at this time.

Interconnected: A Community Flag Chain. All of the cyanotype flags are displayed on the porch. If you don’t want to make an appointment to come in to see them, be sure to peek through the windows. They are beautiful!

Community Cash. The Village Market has started the Community Cash program for this year. Save any receipts you receive from now on and bring them to the Library. You can put them in the drop box in an envelope or bag, or bring them in if you have an appointment. Remember to throw away all old receipts as they are not valid for the 2020/2021 program.

We’re here to help! With a generous grant from Northland Library Cooperative we have purchased 10 additional WiFi hotspots, bringing the total to 15. The digital divide is real, and we can help bridge the gap by providing free internet to our patrons, at home and at the Library. Our next purchase with the Library Enhancement Grant will be Chromebooks for check out.

Plan Ahead: The Library will be closed on Friday, October 2 for Staff In-service. 

VILLAGE OF ELK RAPIDS
Village Council Update 

The Elk Rapids Village Council met on Monday, September 21 at 7 p.m. Once the consent calendar and minutes were approved citizen comments were heard. First was Tom Kern to remind everyone that the Village Candidate Forum would be happening via Zoom on Wednesday, September 23 at 7 p.m. The link would be on the Chamber of Commerce website. He also stated the full support of the Chamber of Commerce in regard to Paddle Antrim’s request to expand the parking lot at Rotary Park. The rest of the speakers voiced their concern and frustration at the construction continuing on the B&B even after a cease and desist order has been presented.

The Village Manager Bill Cooper presented his Manager’s Report stating that Scott Howard, the village attorney, was still in discussions with the attorney retained by the B&B owners. In regard to the B&B only four of the five rooms are being rented out and the ADO (converted garage) would no longer be used for anything other than storage. Parking would be allowed with only one vehicle in parallel in front of the building. Legal documents are being revised and a consultant is being hired to formulate a parking plan that will be presented when complete. The B&B will continue to operate in the meantime. If legal action is taken Cooper says the resolution could be months in coming instead of the shorter possible three weeks following the current line of action. What followed was a heated discussion among not only the council members but various concerned citizens. A big concern about parking and safety was continually raised as well as the lack of enforcement regarding the cease and desist order.

Melissa West briefly discussed the concern for the trees in Memorial Park and detailed the meeting taking place Tuesday afternoon in the park to put together a special group to study the situation and suggest options to save the trees.

After a lengthy discussion Resolution 20-28 regarding the appeals process to the Short Term Rentals was approved. The contract regarding the electric vehicle charging stations was discussed and the concept was tentatively accepted, but a filled-out contract (the one the council had last night was a basic contract with none of the information filled in) would need to be approved by the village attorney.

Under New Business new health insurance for village employees and the dock harbor repair were approved. Paddle Antrim’s request for Rotary Park was also approved. The Elk Rapids District Library situation was discussed. Various members of the council voiced their opinion of the situation.

Under Correspondence the proposed improvements to West Ames Street has a public input deadline of October 2. There will be a presentation of the schematics on September 30, 5-7 p.m. at the Government Building.

Monthly reports included the high percentage of lost water, which will be further discussed after a short presentation from the DDA at the next meeting. West talked about the good turnout for the Grand Opening of the NORTE shed, and that Parks and Rec would be doing a bicycle tour of the parks at their next meeting. The DDA now has a full board and will have a workshop for everyone so that they can learn to work together (geared more toward the new members). Jim Janisse read a short proclamation making September 26, 2020 Downtown Day in Elk Rapids. It was voted on and accepted.

Mike Toscano talked about the need to keep and protect Bass Lake for the transient birds and other wildlife. He suggested getting Paddle Antrim involved to help and updating the parking lot as well as creating a rain garden to help with the runoff. Toscano hopes that this can be a topic of discussion at a future meeting.
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It was decided to put off the Ethical Conduct Ordinance discussion until next meeting, which will take place Monday, October 5 at 7 p.m. – Submitted by Jennifer Griffin, Contributing Writer

VILLAGE OF ELK RAPIDS
Planning Commission Update

By Jennifer Griffin, Contributing Writer

The Planning Commission met on Tuesday, September 22 at 7 p.m. After the approval of minutes and no citizen comments the commission went on to discuss the wording for recreational vehicle storage. The goal is to clean up the wording to make it not only more understandable but also updated. The commission decided to only discuss lodging of recreational vehicles, which included time limitations and enforcement as well as defining physical parameters. Charlevoix’s ordinance seemed to be the main reference choice out of all the selections. Kyle Storey will present the new wording at the next meeting.

Under New Business the discussion focused on short term rentals in nonresidential areas. The commission wants to tweak the new Short Term Rental Ordinance to include potential STR in nonresidential areas. The area being looked at was narrowed down to the Central Business District. After discussion it was decided that the topic would be revisited after the first of the year because then there would be more information available to work with. It was recommended by Kathy Wittbrodt that when they revisit the topic to also include talking to business owners while gathering the information.

Residential Dimensional Requirements was next up for discussion. The current smallest size a house could be is 650 square feet. The commission is looking at lowering that number due to the increase in tiny housing as well as the need for more affordable housing. Barb Mullaly recommended that things not be changed in R1 and R2 areas on the map (included in packet). It was also recommended that the commission speak with builders, realtors and lenders to get a clearer picture of the potential of the area. Storey will bring the new information to the next meeting.

Under Staff Report Storey reminded everyone that the West Ames Street project would be presenting three schematics for the public to comment on September 30 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Government Center. There is also a Northwest Housing Summit to be held virtually October 20-22 and A Planning Michigan Conference October 7-9 also to be held virtually if any commission members want to attend. Both are timely as the meetings can help further the discussion in regard to the housing ordinance changes being considered.

Barb Mullaly complimented Lauren Dake in regard to her work with NORTE. Dake gave a brief summary of the excellent turnout and said that McLain’s Cycle donated 129 bicycles. Mullaly went on to give a quick summary of Monday’s Village Council including the request for Paddle Antrim being approved and reminding everyone of the Candidate Forum on Wednesday night on Zoom. Mullaly also touched on events surrounding the public library, recommending that everyone read the memo written by Jim Janisse. It can be found on the website.

Royce Ragland also thanked Dake for her work with NORTE. Ragland brought up that the environmental ordinances need to be updated. For example, the storm water ordinance indicates that the property owner is in charge of controlling water runoff. Many property owners when landscaping cause the excess water to drain into the road. Mullaly suggested sending a copy of the ordinance to local landscaping companies so that they are aware and can help educate the public.

The next meeting is Tuesday, October 27 at 7 p.m. via Zoom.

Around Town 
with Rob Ford

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I had only been a member of a local church for a month or so when a longer standing member approached me with a simple request: “Would you like to become the new bell ringer?”

I couldn’t believe my luck. 

“Of course, I’ll become this church’s new bell ringer!”

You’re asking yourself, “Why was he so eager to ring an old bell?”
Here is why.

As many know, it’s a popular practice to install new members of any organization into the open board of director type positions. In my 30-plus years of living in Elk Rapids, I’ve been involved with the school, the Chamber of Commerce, the Downtown Development, Rotary, Harbor Days, and lots of other organizations. It’s just how it works that new members to the team get assigned to stuff.

Which is what made becoming the bell ringer so attractive.

When the big “approach” would come from some other corner of the church, and it did, I could now say, “No thanks, I’ve already committed to something else.” I knew that Elders, Trustees, Deacons, and whatever other named positions with whatever other organizations came with that little expectation that you would attend regularly scheduled meetings and make decisions. Meetings and decisions that were mostly just mundane and time consuming. Every now and then though, those meetings got testy, involved public comment and debate, and often even made the local newspapers. 

I’m not against doing my fair share and helping any organization prosper. I am a staunch believer in volunteerism and that’s why I decided to put my talents to use at the business end of a rope, ringing a bell and making sure that the 10:00 service got off to the kind of start I felt it should on a weekly basis.

Better yet, I knew that when the time came for the bell ringer to hold a public meeting or make a tough decision … it never would have to hold one or make one.

In my brief but storied tenure as bellringer in the local religious industrial complex, never did anyone ever demand changes, question operating procedures, campaign for or against privatization, cause delays, or any of that bellringing related public discourse bric-a-brac that I hear echoing throughout the currently toxic public arena.

I tell you all of this in the context of a recent bonfire chat between myself and a neighbor. 

“Rob, you need to start going deeper with your columns.”

The inference being that for 20 years I’ve provided my point of view on the quirky things, but never tackled the serious things head on. If you read between the lines of my column, you could figure out how I really felt, but now I needed to express myself even “deeper.” 

Apparently, from seasons of standing around watching cords of firewood reduce to ash, he had come to enjoy what others had to plumb from “between the lines.”

And I appreciate that. 

Somewhere along the way I read that “ambivalence killed the media guy.” In other words, if you didn’t move the meter, raise the temperature or get under the skin of your audience, your career would languish and somebody else would come along that could do those things. Going “deep” is where this happens. 

In a different world, a world that needed one more person’s opinion shouted in its face, maybe I’d do that. But right now is not that time. From the beginning, and to this day, my sense of humor and my sense of fair play have been the boundaries I’ve worked between.
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With that still being the case, I tell my neighbor what I told the church, “Thanks, but I’m happy just getting to ring the bell.”

ELK RAPIDS SCHOOLS
Meet hometown graduate – Julie Brown, Superintendent ER Schools

PictureJulie Brown. Courtesy photo
By Steve Yencich, Contributing Writer 

Right now, new Elk Rapids Superintendent Julie Brown’s life is all about beginnings and endings. There are stories to tell about tying up loose ends and preparing to assume new responsibilities. In their telling, Elk Rapids Schools and community have an opportunity to learn a lot about their new school district leader.   

“I am a person who is pretty passionate about life and believe people have the best of intentions. I love my family, and I think I was born to give back and support people. So teaching was just something I was always going to do.” Upon graduating from Elk Rapids High school in 1987, Brown went to Adrian College. Her first teaching job was in Urbana, and then in a school district near Flint. “I think that’s where I first learned that it didn’t matter, race or ethnic or religious backgrounds, it was so diverse there, but the kids were the same. They want to know that they’re cared about, they want to know what the boundaries are, and they want to know if you’re going to support them.”  

That understanding was essential in the classroom, but as time passed, Brown began to realize that the more significant the influence she could have on teachers and staff, “the more kids I could touch and families I could help.” This led to positions as a high school assistant principal, a middle school principal, a curriculum director for a medium-sized district, and, ultimately, her current role as superintendent of Houghton Lake Area Schools.

“Houghton Lake is a phenomenal group of communities. It’s a strong community that rallies for kids.” Shortly after her arrival, a financial shortfall was discovered that ballooned to a $1.2 million deficit caused not by theft, but by simple human error. Brown immediately suspended the district’s finance director and called for multiple meetings with principals, teachers, staff, and community groups. Brown said great effort was made to make administrative layoffs and operational cost cuts upfront, before asking any bargaining groups to accept salary cuts.  

Brown said the key was being “open and honest and in doing the work with people in a transparent fashion, they understood the situation. I think there was a great relief that we got a handle on the problem and had been very open in fixing it.” Brown says the experience reinforced what she’d come to understand about leadership. “If you have the wrong leader in the central office, it gets noticed.”  With the right leadership, she said, it will all flow so well that, “you almost don’t think you even need a leader.” 

In terms of approaching her first day on the job here, “Getting to know people is my top priority. I want to get into the buildings. I need to get to know who we are, know the kids, know the teachers, know the parents, being visible in the community, that’s my first goal.” But of course, along with that, she’ll also be gathering information and impressions. “What I want to listen for is “what also?” We do all these great things, what’s also is there that I might be missing or that people want to be heard?”  
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While packing and preparing for her new role, Brown also provided a few updates on ER district priorities. The district is currently interviewing a person with the necessary qualifications to become director of daycare programming and remains committed to filling the position. Brown authored the district’s final report on the Return to Learn Plan due to TBAISD on October 1. She will also be reviewing the district’s strategic plan to ensure programming is consistent with the outlined goals. The story of the hometown graduate who returns to lead her district is about to begin and promises to be of great interest to all concerned.   

ER Schools welcome new teachers

By Barb Mosher, Contributing Writer

Elk Rapids Schools are fortunate to draw in quality teachers each year. We will be featuring several of them in each of the next several issues.

New Lakeland Elementary School kindergarten teacher Molly Abbring appreciates the warm welcome she’s received from the school and community. “To be a teacher in a school district as special as Elk Rapids is truly a dream come true,” she says. Molly earned her bachelor’s degree in education from Central Michigan University, graduating with honors. She and her husband, Brian, a law enforcement officer, have a five-year-old daughter, Grace. They recently moved to a 54-acre farm with their dog, cat, and pet rabbit and plan to add cattle, horses, and 4-H goats or lambs. The family enjoys hiking, camping, fishing, gardening, and horseback riding.  

Brooke Spaulding looks forward to helping Cherryland Middle School students discover areas of literature and language arts they’re passionate about. The CMU graduate grew up in Traverse City and attended St. Frances High School where she was the drum major but says she’s “proud to be an Elk now!” Brooke is also a classically trained singer and hopes to work with the annual CMS musical. She and her husband, Kevin, who works in retail management, were married in July. They have a dog and two cats and enjoy hiking and camping. “I’m thrilled to work with students from all three grades,” she says. “I’m inspired daily by my colleagues.”

Ashlee Friess says she’s “ecstatic to get back into the classroom and see those faces that will change the world.”  The new resource room teacher for Lakeland and Mill Creek is a graduate of East Carolina University where she played volleyball while earning a degree in elementary education. Ashlee has taught in a variety of settings including inner city, suburban, and rural school districts. She and her husband, Dan, a real estate agent, have three children in Elk Rapids schools: Preslee (9th), Cody (8th), and Payton (6th). Three Labrador retrievers—Dasher, Dancer, and Prancer—and a horse named Penelope complete the family. 
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Scott Fowler enjoys focusing on relationships and building rapport with students and fellow staff members at the start of a new school year. The new sixth and seventh grade math teacher is a graduate of Western Michigan University with majors in elementary education and elementary/middle school math. Before joining the CMS staff, he taught fourth grade in Charlotte, Michigan, providing him with prerequisite elementary math knowledge and experience that will be valuable in teaching middle school math. Scott enjoys live music, playing guitar, disc golf, tennis, video games, hiking, and travelling.