Out and About Blog by Norm Stutesman

With winter just around the corner, I thought it appropriate to share a conversation I had some years ago with a dog we had adopted. With all the dogs and cats needing adoption, I’ve found it more rewarding to visit an animal shelter than a pet store. I’ve also come to the conclusion that it doesn’t matter whether a dog …

We are in the middle of another “Highway Cleanup” project. This community event involves various voluntary groups who pick up litter along mile-long stretches of major highways. The cleanup lasts for several weeks. This should be the last one of the year. The volunteers can be found walking the shoulders of the highways wearing bright colored vests. As you approach …

The 2017 St. Joe County Grange Fair is now in the history books.. The next stop for the attractions is Hillsdale, Michigan. As far as I know, the fair has always happened in September. As a kid, I remember getting half-day off from school to attend this annual event. I think the students get the whole day off now. It …

If you you’ve traveled all over the state of Michigan and have never visited the upper peninsula, then you’ve never experienced the “Real Michigan”. The upper peninsula, or better known as the UP, is quite unique and a lot different than the lower peninsula. Both peninsulas are extremely picturesque, especially north of Cadillac in the lower peninsula. The upper peninsula …

This is the best time of the year to live in Michigan. The days of heat and humidity are behind us and the days of icy roads and freezing temperatures are still a month or two away. This is the season of multiple colors in the foliage and pleasant scents of fall in the air. I long for the days …

Monday was Labor Day. Summer activities are pretty much in the history books and the children are back in school. The days will soon be getting cooler and next month the colors will start becoming evident. If you’ve never been to the Air Zoo in Kalamazoo, this would be the perfect time to go, because the kids are back in …

Next Monday is Labor Day. This is generally the last chance to participate in the usual summer activities. It’s a national holiday, so there will be no mail delivery and the banks will be closed, and most importantly, there will be no garbage pick-up that day. As a result, everyone’s trash will be picked up one day later than usual. …

A final reflection on our week of camping. There was a time when sleeping in a tent was real camping. Some still consider it the only way to go. Two days before we broke camp, a family settled in next to our site. I was amazed at how much they enjoyed setting up their site. They had a family-sized tent …

If you have school-age children, it’s time to start shopping for those school supplies. I’m referring to grade school supplies, like pencils, crayons, notebook paper and three-ring binders. They’re not cheap, so I suggest you check out the ever popular “dollar” stores, and it’s not too early to start shopping now to avoid the crowds. I remember my mom buying …

If you want quaintness, all you need to do is visit Shipshewana, Indiana, located about a half-hour southeast of Three Rivers on Indiana Highway 5. We spent a weekend there recently visiting with other Lion friends. It was sort of a reunion. We had all gathered there five years ago, when the Lions of Michigan held their State Convention at …