GPA was busy the first of October taking the flowers down and getting out the fall decorations. We also took down the fall d+¬cor on the bridges. The new owners of the cabins out near the M-72 West bridge have promised to help keep an eye out for whoever has been destroying the decorations we put on that bridge. Hopefully this will help.
Getting ready for fall our wonderful Beautification Committee ordered straw bales and pumpkins, and made sure the scarecrows were all good. Then they picked a day to put them up. This means a day when they could get some wonderful husbands and friends to help – and our town was ready for Fall! These gals work miracles.
Trying to get a jump on December and take advantage of the warm weather some members spent an afternoon in a member’ barn repairing the snowmen for later (much later). The snowmen take a beating from the weather and the salt and should have a little repair each year. With lots of work and laughter they repainted some faces and added some glamour to others. If you look close next month you might notice. The Scarecrows stay up until after Thanksgiving and then those same great gals take everything down, put it away and the snowmen go up. Soon the Christmas lights go up and our town gets ready for December. We have to thank the ‘men of GPA’ for helping with manpower. In other cases the City also comes to our aid.
October is the month we elect new officers for the coming year. Beginning in 2018 our President will be Rebecca Knepper of WQON. Our VP is Ingunn Hraunfjord, the Manager of the Hallmark Store. They have their work cut out for them. nyone who manages to keep 60 women working together is to be admired!
For the next 4 months we are meeting out on 4 Mile Road at the new branch of Kirtland Community College. So far the meals have been outstanding. It isn’t easy to find a place for lunch that can seat all of us and feed us for a reasonable price. There is also the fact that we need a place where we can hear our President speak and she can hear us. And, we don’t disturb the other customers!
The Christmas Festival of Trees is our next big project and work on that begins early. It’ a yearlong process that includes buying trees, deciding on a theme and collecting items for the Christmas Store. Now the work begins in earnest. Our wonderful chairperson Gail Swope works every day on the planning and our members are signed up to help erect the trees and to sell tickets all thru the time of the sale Nov. 18 – 25. We’ll be in full swing to take part in the Christmas Walk on Nov. 18. Our theme for the GPA tree this year is Nature – so we are collecting ornaments of everything that personifies. All kinds of animals and other ‘nature’ items. We’ll also have our Memory Tree, where people can buy a special ornament and put a loved one’ name on it. The money we make from that tree goes to a local charity.
Don’t forget the GPA Christmas Store. WE’VE MOVED! Look for us on the first block of Michigan Avenue down near the Avalanche. We’ll be bigger and better than ever under the guidance of our shopkeeper Kathy Batha. All year we collect slightly used Christmas decorations and offer them to you at very low prices. Come by and check the hours we’re open and then come in and browse. I’m sure you’ll find something you just have to have!
###
Au Sable Media Group, LLC, is a veteran-owned company that owns and operates the Roscommon County Voice, Crawford County Voice, Michigan Boomers and Voice of the Au Sable.
Our focus is on the positive people and events that make Northern Michigan a great place to live, vacation, work and play.
We have been commercial printers and publishers since 2010, specializing in brochures, rack cards, magazines and other newspapers and publications. A new addition to our stable of marketing products are various promotional items such as shirts, hats, mugs, water bottles and much more.
Through our publications and website at UpNorthVoice.com, we cover the following communities: Roscommon, Houghton Lake, St. Helen, Higgins Lake, Grayling, Frederic, Gaylord, Lewiston, Johannesburg, Atlanta, Hillman, Fairview, Comins, McKinley, Mio, Rose City, West Branch, Hale, Glennie, Sand Lake, Harrisville, Tawas City, East Tawas, Oscoda, Au Sable AuGres, Standish, Omer, Sterling, Gladwin, Beaverton, Kalkaska, South Boardman, Fife Lake, Mancelona, Alden, Traverse City, and Waters.
Our staff regularly covers the following school districts: Roscommon, Houghton Lake, St. Helen, Grayling, Mio and Fairview.
We can also be found on Facebook at Roscommon County Voice, Voice of the Au Sable, Michigan Boomers and Crawford County Voice.
For information on promoting your business in any of our products please contact Tracy Constance at 989-275-1170 (tracy@ausablemedia.com) or Walt Smith at 989-390-5359 (waltsmith1955@gmail.com).
If you have information you would like to see published, email Theresa Ekdom at theresa@ausablemedia.com. You can also enter calendar items at your convenience at ww.UpNorthVoice.com.
Au Sable Media Group is an equal opportunity employer and follows all applicable state and federal laws.
