Volume 2, Issue 1

The Gander Resumes

A little over a year ago, we published a demonstration issue of the Three Pines Gander for two reasons. First, we wanted to gauge the level of interest in a new outlet for local news. Second, we needed to test our own capabilities—whether we could produce a trial issue that had important and interesting information. It was important to test whether such an issue could be created without a large staff, separate offices, or even a printing press that rumbles and roars. It turned out that interest was high and that we could, with careful planning, produce such an item.

If you’ve been looking for the Three Pines Gander since then, please accept our apologies for the delay. As with any enterprise, be it shopping for a house, purchasing a car—or Heaven help us, investing—we didn’t want to jump into the fray without a healthy, internal debate about the practicality of our idea. You know perfectly well what sorts of questions and occasional expletives come up in your own financial and career discussions, so we’ll leave it there. The conclusion we reached was that while we might have to accept a certain burden up front, eventually we’d be doing ourselves a favor by following local issues and examining their consequences. After that, it’s simply a matter of sharing.

The Three Pines Gander will begin as a monthly issue, published online. You can read each issue for free at www.threepinesgander.com. We’ll place a few free paper copies around town, too. If you’d like your own paper copy mailed directly to you, or you know someone who desires the same, purchase a subscription and you’ll be guaranteed every issue we publish for a year. Take a look, in whichever way fits you best. Let us know what you think. Thanks for reading! -Eds.

New Year Changes for Pleasanton Township

PLEASANTON TWP. -- Laptop computers for township officers, new locks on the township hall doors and a change in zoning and legal staff are coming to Pleasanton Township. They’re just a few of the changes sought by Tony Merrill, who oversaw his first meeting as township supervisor on Monday, January 12.

Richard J. Figura was appointed legal counsel for the township. Dave Ertel, also newly elected to the Board in November’s election, said that Figura would keep his costs down. "His average fee is between $175-185 dollars an hour but he charges $125 for governmental units. There won’t be a retainer." Since Figura lives in Empire, Ertel expected that travel time to and from the township would be added to his fee, but Board members agreed that many issues could be handled over the phone and internet. "He really seems pro-MTA [Michigan Township Association] and pro-township. He got laws on the books under his watch," added Merrill. Figura replaces attorney Richard Wilson, whose billing to the township for services during the sewer project had been in dispute. Figura was approved as legal counsel without objection.

Another personnel change made at Monday’s meeting was for Zoning Administrator. Rochelle Rollenhagen, a resident of Pleasanton Township, was approved without objection. Judy Girven, who had voted to retain Vern Bowling as Zoning Administrator at an earlier meeting, decided she favored Rollenhagen. "There have been problems that he hasn’t addressed properly," she said. "I’d be in favor of switching." Rollenhagen pledged to attend Township Board meetings regularly, which some Board members have cited as an issue with Bowling. "As the Zoning Administrator, [I would consider myself] the staff," Rollenhagen said. "When I worked in Suttons Bay I never missed a meeting."

In other appointments, the Board of Review, which oversees property tax disputes, received three members: Carol Merrill, wife of a cousin to Tony Merrill, was appointed, along with Neil Hughes and Tim Babcock, son of Board member Bob Babcock. David Wilson was approved to serve as auditor for the township. The Board expressed concern over the State’s allegations of ethics violations by the current auditor, Bob Ward. Township clerk Ledford said she would send a letter to Ward notifying him that the township would cease its work with him.

Computers and internet access also came up during the meeting. Supervisor Merrill estimated that five laptops were needed: for himself, Township clerk Connie Ledford, Treasurer Judy Girven, and possibly for the assessor and Zoning Adminstrator. Board members debated the cost of the laptops, which brands to consider and how to deal with software sharing. Dave Ertel expressed interest in issuing a township newsletter in paper or electronic form. "People around town talk about a lack of communication," he said. "Most people don’t get the [Manistee News Advocate]. Some don’t have a computer." Merrill suggested that Ertel start work on the newsletter. Ertel also reported on quotes he received for internet service to the township hall. Girven and Merrill both expressed interest in updating a Bear Lake website with current township information.

Next on the agenda was discussion of changing the locks on the hall doors. Merrill said that too many people had obtained and kept keys over the years. Babcock volunteered to look into prices for new locks and there was discussion on how best to provide access to people renting the hall.

In committee news, Babcock reported that there was no Parks meeting. Ertel reported that the Planning Commission had a short January meeting. Two seats on the Planning Commission, held by Jerry Mathieu and Max Coalter, expired on December 20. Terms for four members don’t expire until 2010. Board members said they expected those members to complete their terms. Merrill expressed reluctance to appoint the two vacancies, saying that he first wanted to reduce the number of positions from seven to five. "The Planning Commission is already down to six," he said, noting a current vacancy. "We’re smaller than Bear Lake Township, which has five members for its Planning Commission."

Upcoming Meetings

• Pleasanton Twp. Board
  2nd Monday at 7pm
  (Feb. 9)
• Bear Lake Twp. Board
  3rd Tuesday at 7:30pm
  (Feb. 17)
• Village of Bear Lake Council
  3rd Wednesday at 7:30pm
  (Fe.b 18)
• Dump Dates
  (Feb. 7 & 21)

NORTH SHORE
by Jeanne Crampton

We are pleased to offer new installments of "North Shore," a
column popular with Manistee area readers for many years. During the winter months, the scene shifts from the north shore of Bear Lake to the west shore of the Sea of Cortez, yet still written from a local’s perspective. --Eds.

Yup, here I am again in Baja, 2500 miles from Bear Lake. I love my Bear Lake home, but when the snow and ice descend, I must admit that my desert home becomes very attractive. Things have changed quite a bit since I wrote my last "North Shore" column for the News Advocate.

I no longer travel with the truck and camper---the two cats (yes, I have another) and I are in a mini-van, and are intimately acquainted with the Motel 6 chain. For ten years I've had an old Avion 27-foot trailer parked on a lot out in the desert with propane fridge and heater, solar electricity and gravity-feed water from a 500-gallon water tank. This year I really went for luxury! I bought a 36-ft. 5th wheel (a sort of large RV), parked it on the new lot next door, moved cats Cookie and Gracie in, and we are living it up.

So far we have water and propane, solar power for the batteries, and maybe (this is Mexico) a sewer connection next week (until then, a holding tank). Sybarites that the cats and I are, we love the new queen size bed. It came equipped with a memory foam pad. We also have a shower that spews forth warm water.

You may recall that "marmalade" cat Morris passed on just before my trip down here in 2005. Cookie (fat, stray tabby with an attitude) was already living with us, so she came along. Last year, madly trapping Pleasanton Twp. feral cats, we acquired Gracie. She was supposed to remain feral, as in "trap, neuter and return," but she decided she liked being a house cat. This is her second year in Baja. I can't say she and Cookie are bosom buddies, but so far no blood has been spilled.

Gracie is, however a typical two-year old. My older daughter says Pleasanton Twp. cats are, she's sure, crossed with raccoons and have opposable thumbs. She "inherited" (by forced transfer) two of our once-feral kittens who enliven her life in La Crosse, WI. My Bear Lake daughter took the other two and still has her artificial Christmas tree up because "the kittens enjoy climbing in it so much." Here in Baja, Gracie is presently spending her time opening, or trying to open, every cupboard and closet in the new trailer. I am looking for child-proof latches.

The poor economy has affected Mexico. There are fewer tourists than usual. The shopping area in town is very quiet, and many of the smaller businesses have closed. The poor people are poorer than ever, and since Mexico has no welfare system, there are surely days of hunger. Thankfully, rice and beans are still cheap, and even a nutritionally sound combination. The fish and shellfish are declining in the Sea of Cortez, as they are world-wide, but they are still available to the Mexican fishermen. Twenty-five years ago, San Felipe was just a sleepy little fishing village, and in the face of reduced tourism, they are able to supplement their income by returning to this tradition.*

Gringos down here are astounded that I do don't have a TV, nor plans for one, or a radio. The gentleman hooking up my solar is baffled because I keep explaining that I have no wish for great amounts of power--"just enough to read by at night" is my chant. I’ve never been a big fan of TV, and I love the peace and quiet.

*Mexicans who fish for a living generally use methods that their great-grandparents used, employing large, circular nets, hand-thrown from large dinghies called pangas. Sadly, they’re the only ones using sustainable fishing methods. Japanese fishing ships run drag nets for hundreds of miles, even illegally in protected reserve areas, as marine law enforcement is very limited. The drag nets both rip up the bottom and catch tons of unwanted sea creatures, all left to die on the deck.—Eds.

DIGITAL TV SWITCH
As we go to press, it looks like Congress will delay the mandatory digital television switchover, scheduled for Tuesday, February 17, until June 12. But the current Senate bill would give local stations permission to switch early, if they choose to. So far, local stations appear to be inclined towards switching this month. The Gander has discovered that converter boxes don’t always bring in crisp pictures—unless one has a strong antenna. We’ll have more, next issue. In the meantime, call your local station if you need them to delay.


Next issue: Sunday, February 28, 2009 -- see you then!