Out and About – Week of October 31st

Welcome to November! This is a very busy month for all of us, beginning with a week from today, Tuesday, November 8. November 8 is Election Day, a day when only the foolish will stay home and not cast a ballot. I don’t care if you vote for a write-in candidate named Bugs Bunny, as long as you vote. You have no excuse for not voting. The polling places have reasonable hours, and the St. Joe County Transportation Authority will take you to the polls and home again FREE of charge.
Sunday, November 6, is the time to set your clocks back one hour. It is recommended to do this before going to bed Saturday night. Remember, “Fall back in the fall and spring ahead in the spring.”
November 11 is Veterans Day. Hice-Shutes American Legion Post 170 will conduct a brief ceremony at the post at 11 AM, and the public is invited. We should remember our veterans every day of the year, but especially on this day.
Thursday, November 24, is Thanksgiving, the one day that is set aside to give thanks for our many blessings. It’s unfortunate that our society has become so greedy that many merchants feel they must be open on Thanksgiving Day. It sort of casts a shadow on Black Friday.
I was recently privileged to meet Debra Greenacre, the Library Director here in Three Rivers. The last librarian I knew was Ms. Verna Hancock, our high school librarian back in the fifties. I thought it might be nice to let everyone know a little more about the person who heads the staff at our public library today.
Debra was born and raised in Indian River, Michigan, located just south of the bridge near Mackinaw City. After working as a waitress for twenty-five years, she decided to go back to school. Upon receiving her teaching degree from Northern Michigan University in Marquette, she began her library career by serving as the Children’s Librarian in Ishpeming, just fifteen miles west of Marquette.
Debra hasn’t spent her entire life here in Pure Michigan. Prior to coming to Three Rivers, she served as a Library Director in Colorado for three years.
I was under the impression that libraries have sort of fallen by the wayside, due to the popularity of the internet. Debra reassured me that libraries are still popular, but in a different way. It has now become a great place to learn about more than just books. It has become a virtual information center. You can attend learning sessions put on by individuals who know what they’re talking about. If you have an interesting hobby, check with someone at the library, because it might be something that many others might be interested in hearing about.
Debra and her staff are very interested in knowing what the public would like to see at the library. Stop in anytime and share your ideas. There are also computers available, should the need arise to Google something.
See you Out and About!

Submitted by Norm Stutesman