Caughtcha being Good!

The Dalstra Family ​

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Scott, Jen and Brayden Dalstra.. Courtesy photo
PictureBob Ditzenberger on his new mobility scooter. Courtesy photo
One of our long-time local veterans Bob Ditzenberger was in need of a mobility scooter. His friends started searching and found a brand-new scooter on Craigs list. The owners had acquired it for a family member who passed away before he ever was able to use it. When the family heard the story and found out that Bob was a veteran, they decided to donate it to him! 

“My late father was a Korean War vet and Bob Ditzenberger was a vet, so it is a blessing and an awesome opportunity for us to be able to help to a fellow vet. We are very happy,” said Scott Dalstra.
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Caughtcha being GOOD and many thanks to the Dalstra Family for their extremely generous donation to a worthy veteran. 

Around Town
with Rob Ford

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If I were in the market for a summer job, I think I just found the perfect place to get one, the Traverse City Horse Show in Williamsburg. 
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If you have not been down to the Traverse City Horse Show lately, you probably could say that you haven’t ever been. So much has happened, so much has been added, so much more is going on and there are lots of great things to do in the form of the following summer jobs: 

Greeter. Of course, there’s a greeter and with all that’s changed and been added to the grounds, advice about parking and where things are always helps. And who doesn’t like handing out maps? 

Shuttle Driver. If you like to hustle, I can see this job being a cash cow. You could, after parking, easily walk the grounds, but who turns down a shuttle ride from a hustling teenager? Not me. And even though the ride was no longer than a hundred yards or so, it was long enough to get tipped. 

Food truck operator. Having worked in the restaurant business, food truck employee might be down the list of my preferred summer jobs. That aside though, I got a delicious lunch from a Mexican food truck that I’d go back again and again for. Throughout the grounds there are opportunities for coffee, pizza, and plenty of other good eats. 

Those look like great ways to spend the summer earning a few bucks, but in the pantheon of fun summer jobs, I found three others that I hope the folks at Traverse City Horse Shows will call and offer me. 

Jumping ring groomer. The whole object of equestrian sport is for heavy animals with human beings atop them to jump over things. Between galloping, jumping, and landing, they take a toll on the ground and it must be properly maintained. Enter four full sized tractors pulling grooming implements. A high-speed game of “follow the leader” ensues as they smooth out the divot- pocked jumping course. There are over a dozen rings out there so they’re constantly going from ring to ring and I thought that it looked like nothing but fun
 
Ring announcer. My behind the microphone resume includes running races, bingo games, trivia games, and festival parades. I handled the announcing duties for a charity donkey basketball game once that I suppose is equestrian adjacent. But I know that I would savor the opportunity to spend a few hours calmly introducing riders from around the world aboard their beautiful mounts and letting them each know the time to beat. 

Poop scoopers. Laugh if you want, but I imagine that these guys are the true MVPs of the event. The thanks for being big enough and strong enough to jump over a fence with your teammate on your back is that you get to poop whenever and wherever you want. And with the labyrinthian setup that this facility maintains, there are miles of roads, alleys and jumping rings that present opportunities to do just that. Amazingly, for having hundreds of horses in fairly close quarters, the place does not smell like Mackinac Island and I have a feeling that these guys are the reason. My favorite poop scooping jobs were the guys that stood right out on the course picking up random detritus at the same time that the horse and rider traversed the opposite end of the ring. From under the shade of a mid-ring decorative tree, they sprang into action at the drop of a … drop of a … well, you know what I’m talking about.

I’ll probably never get a job in the world of “big horse,” but I recommend that you go check out the Traverse City Horse Show. The big events are on Sundays but throughout the week it’s free to get in and walk around. They’ve got a ton of world class employees on duty, but still, watch your step.

Right Tree Summer Adventures
Excursion to St. Louis 

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Delilah Balsara, zoo staff, Allie Anderson, Ellie Crimmins, Morgan Bergquist, Jillian Sodini feed and pet stingrays at the St. Louis Zoo. Courtesy photo
Right Tree Summer Adventures launched their 14th summer with an excursion to St. Louis to visit the world-famous City Museum, the St. Louis Zoo and the Gateway Arch. Nightly campfire discussions focused on the theme of “Lies Girls Believe About Themselves.”  The fun and adventure partners with the opportunity to share, discuss and address important issues in girls’ lives in a safe, supportive setting. Right Tree is a local charity committed to helping girls discover their worth, their gifts, their voice and their future. For more info visit www.righttree.org

The Latest from the Library

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Free Movie Night at the Elk Rapids Cinema
Join us for a free screening of “Free for All: The Public Library” on Tuesday, July 15 at 7:00 p.m., hosted by the Friends of the Elk Rapids Library. Enjoy free admission, cash bar, and concessions. After the show you can meet library leaders, ask questions about the “Library for Everybody” campaign, and make your pledge or donation!

Open House at the New Library Location
Stroll through the future home of the Elk Rapids District Library at 8980 Cairn Highway. Tour the space, explore the project timeline, and get your questions answered. Tuesday, July 22, 4:00–5:30 p.m.

Can’t make these dates but have questions about the project? Visit our website, stop by the library, email or call us.

Upcoming Programs
•    Family Game Night: Mon 7/14, 5–7 p.m.
•    Tech Help: Tues 7/15, 10:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m., Thurs 7/17 1:00-2:30 p.m.
•    Make it: Tissue Paper Lanterns: Tues 7/15, 10:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
•    T-shirts to Bags project: Tues, 7/15 2:00 p.m. @ Shorts Pull Barn
•    “Free for All” showing @ the ER Cinema, Tues, 7/15 7:00 p.m.
•    Norte Bikes, Books & Bubbles: Wed 7/16, 10:30–11:30 a.m.
•    Evenings on River Street: Wed 7/16, 6–9 p.m.
•    Knitters: Thurs 7/17, 2–4 p.m.
•    Read to Dogs: Thurs, 7/17 4:00 p.m.
•    Storytime on the Lawn: Fri 7/18, 10:30–11:30 a.m.

All programs take place at the Island House Library unless otherwise noted. Questions? Call 231-264-9979 or visit elkrapidslibrary.org. Subscribe to our digital newsletter! elkrapidslibrary.org/newsletter  

ANTRIM COUNTY
Police Academy Graduates 

Five recent police academy graduates Deputies Keegan LaBlance, Edson Blaisdell, Cooper Pieprzak, Joshua Nycz, and Jeffrey Fletcher have joined the Antrim County Sheriff’s Office. The deputies are currently working full time under the supervision of Field Training Officers. Their training is expected to be complete in August. 
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Sheriff Kevin Hoch and Undersheriff George Lasater and Deputies Keegan LaBlance, Edson Blaisdell, Cooper Pieprzak, Joshua Nycz, and Jeffrey Fletcher. Courtesy photo

ELK RAPIDS SCHOOLS
School Board Update​

By Mark McAlpine, Contributing Writer

 The Elk Rapids School Board met for their regular meeting on Monday, July 7 in the high school library. All board members were present. Superintendent Bryan McKenna, Executive Assistant Kortni Huron, and Director of Finance Laurie McCann attended and participated in the meeting. The agenda was approved as presented.
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The board took special presentations from the Elk Rapids District Library and the Officer John Rice, School Resource Officer. Library Director Pam Williams and Assistant Director Aaron Hill provided an overview of the fundraising efforts for the new library and plans for a 12-year $3.54 million bond request on the August 5 ballot. Officer Rice presented a recap of the improvements made to school security over the past year. Those improvements include training, the introduction of an Emergency Operations Plan (EOP), door mapping system and introduction of emergency phone positioning apps. 

The consent agenda was approved as submitted. That agenda included the approval of minutes from the June 23 budget hearings and the authorization to make general funds and 2023 bond payments. A lengthy list of school personnel changes was also approved. They included the resignations of Alyssa Lein and Lisa Sarasin as paraprofessionals, the hiring of Jesse Kramer as a CMS Special Education Teacher and Kate Fries as a Lakeland Elementary Teacher. The spring 2006 list of coaches was approved.

In action items, the board passed resolution 06-25, which approved a new one-year contract for Nate Plum as principal at Mill Creek Academy. Plum served as interim principal for the 2024-2025 school year. The board also passed resolution 07-25, which approved a 2025-2026 salary amendment contract for Superintendent Bryan McKenna. 

Also, in action items, the board passed resolution 08-25, which approved student fees, fines and supplies; resolution 09-25, which approved the travel payment and reimbursement policy; resolution 10-25, which approved the special interest relationship policy; resolution 11-25, which approved district short- and long-term planning; resolution 12-25, which authorizes the use of credit cards by the district; and resolution 13-25, which approved the district Wellness policy.

McKenna presented his superintendent report with an overview of the status of the state school budget and district capital improvement projects. McKenna reported that while the Elk Rapids school district completed their 2025-2026 budget by the June 30 deadline, the state legislature has not finalized funding authorizations for next year. “All districts must have budgets submitted by July 1,” McKenna said. “Districts will have to move forward with a lot of assumptions until the school aid budget is finalized.” According to McKenna, the legislature is now on recess, and it is not clear when they will return. He anticipates that the board will have to consider an amended budget in the fall.

McKenna also reported that ongoing carpeting, lockers, lighting, ceiling tiles and security capital improvements are being made at the high school. Mill Creek Academy is also installing the first phase of security updates. The construction schedule at CMS is on schedule according to McKenna.

The next board meeting is scheduled for August 4, at 8:15 a.m. in the high school library. The meeting time is a special meeting time for July and August only. 

Celebrate summer with YMCA Hayo-Went-Ha at Short’s Brewing Co. ​

YMCA Hayo-Went-Ha Camps includes a residential camp on Torch Lake and one on Arbutus Lake. Hayo-Went-Ha Camps offers campers from over 36 states every year the opportunity to make new friends, gain independence, and conquer challenges while on wilderness adventures at state and national parks throughout Michigan and southern Ontario. 

We are excited to welcome alumni, families, and friends to a special summer gathering in the heart of northern Michigan. Join us for the Friends of Hayo-Went-Ha Camps Summer Gathering on Friday, July 18, 3-6 p.m. at Short’s Brewing Company Pull Barn & Production Facility in Elk Rapids. 

“This gathering is one of the highlights of our summer,” said Amanda Macaluso, Director of Alumni and Community Development. “It’s a relaxed, joyful way to bring together board members, current staff, community supporters and alumni from all generations in a place we all love.” 

Guests will have the chance to meet board members, swap camp stories, and connect with fellow HWH community members while enjoying the laid-back atmosphere of Short’s Brewing Company. 
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Open to all alumni, families, and friends of Hayo-Went-Ha Camps. No RSVP required—just bring your camp spirit! For more information, contact Amanda Macaluso at [email protected] or 231-544-5915. 

​​New fast-track pathway to Registered Dental Assistant certification

NMC will offer a new fast-track pathway to Registered Dental Assistant (RDA) certification in January 2026, providing current certified dental assistants (CDAs) with a way to expand their career opportunities in as little as one semester.

This CDA to RDA completion option is for any certified dental assistant who has two or more years of experience and currently holds a valid CDA certification from the Dental Assisting National Board and current CPR certification.

Applicants will receive college credit for their CDA certification. They will then complete 10 credit hours (four classes) with a limited number of in-person sessions. After successful course completion, the student is eligible to take the Michigan Registered Dental Assistant examination.

RDAs are able to perform more procedures independently than CDAs, which expands their career opportunities. Average base salary for a full-time RDA in Michigan is $37,140/year, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The profession is expanding at a rate of 11 percent per year.
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For more information, please contact Beckie Wooters, program director at 231-995-1240 or [email protected]. For more information about the dental assistant degrees and certificates NMC offers, visit nmc.edu/dental.

​​MiLEAP partners with SBAM to expand benefits access for child care professionals

The Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP), in partnership with the Small Business Association of Michigan (SBAM), announced a $4.4 million investment to pilot Nurture Benefits, a new program designed to expand access to essential workforce benefits—including health, life and retirement options—for child care professionals across the state. The program aims to grow and stabilize Michigan’s early childhood workforce by making it easier for child care providers to attract and retain career professionals.  

The program builds on the state’s continued progress in strengthening early childhood systems and reflects MiLEAP’s commitment to ensuring that all children have access to safe, high-quality care while uplifting the professionals who provide it and the working families who rely on it. The program is funded through a larger $33 million federal Preschool Development Grant Birth through Five Renewal (PDG B-5) grant investment awarded to Michigan by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.  

“Expanding access to safe, high-quality, and affordable child care in Michigan begins with supporting the people who make it possible,” said Emily Laidlaw, deputy director of Early Education at MiLEAP. “This pilot program empowers child care providers to build strong, dedicated teams while creating a dependable early learning system that Michigan families can count on for years to come.” 

“Access to affordable health, life, and retirement benefits is one of the biggest barriers facing child care professionals—and it’s a barrier that directly impacts Michigan’s small businesses,” said Brian Calley, SBAM President & CEO. “When child care providers can offer robust employee benefits, they’re better able to attract and retain staff, which in turn helps working parents stay in the workforce. Through this partnership, we’re proud to support the people who make it possible for small businesses to thrive.” 

Administered by SBAM, the Nurture Benefits pilot will allow licensed child care employers to apply on behalf of their facilities to offer benefits to employees. The program will be available to any licensed or license-exempt child care provider in Michigan working 30 hours or more per week. Open enrollment is expected to begin in fall 2025, with benefits effective starting January 1, 2026. 
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For more information about the Preschool Development Grant Birth through Five Renewal (PDG B-5) and MiLEAP’s efforts to advance early childhood education in Michigan, visit MiLEAP’s Office of Early Education webpage. Source: MiLEAP, Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential