A Community News Organ

Archive for January, 2011|Monthly archive page

Council Meeting Report: Get It in Writing

In Politics on January 24, 2011 at 10:06 pm

Meeting date: January 20, 2011, 7 PM

The Alert aims to report as thoroughly and accurately as possible on Village meetings; however, we usually have just one reporter per meeting, and some topics may be missed or misconstrued. Please submit any corrections to elberta.alert@gmail.com, or simply comment on the blog. We value your input! Official minutes of the Village Council meetings are to be posted on the Village of Elberta website. That page is currently under construction, but look for current and archived minutes to appear soon.

Arthur Melendez, on behalf of the Elberta Arts Council, proposed a sculpture/art walk to be located along the waterfront on Old M-168. One council member voiced excitement about the idea, the others sounded receptive. Those present at the meeting were still unsure when M-168 and the associated property will finally be under Village jurisdiction.

Total expenses due from the Village for the month of December 2010 were $38,680.98. The council voted to pay this amount. Read the rest of this entry »

“Skin Deep,” a One-Minute Interreview, January 7, 2011

In Culture Bluffs on January 21, 2011 at 6:49 pm

The Benzie County Players presented Skin Deep at the Mills Community House for five showings in January. Debbra Eckhout, Rachel Evans Higgins, Josh Stoltz, and Mark Vandeperre starred in this new comedy written by Jon Lonoff and directed by Steve Elrick.

Reviewers’ summary: The play was about a spinster woman whose botoxed, conniving sister sets her up on a blind date with a sheepish restaurateur. What follows is a host of insecurities and humorous misunderstandings which happily lead to the conclusion that beauty is only “skin deep.”

Thomas Votruba: OK, so, one thing that was kind of weird for me, which I might just be like, having a brain fart, or something, but when all four actors walked out onstage, I almost expected more actors to come out, and bow, and take the flowers, and everything. And then I realized, wait, there really were only four actors in this play. So, watching this play, you might get the feeling that there are more actors than there really are. Read the rest of this entry »

Here’s the Drill on Fire Department Figures

In Alert Reader, On and off the Apron, Politics on January 19, 2011 at 12:26 pm

Frankfort City Superintendent Josh Mills responds to “We Didn’t Start the Fire…”

Doug Holmes has always been supportive of the Fire Department, attended every meeting, and voted on the establishment of pay for personnel and approval toward equipment expenditures. I’d like to make a few clarifications regarding fire department funding and salaries.

Mr. Holmes is correct in saying the Fire Department has good equipment. It is a mandate to have sound, working equipment, and we have been successful in accommodating this through procurement of grants and budget control. [Mr. Mills is responsible for writing Fire Department grants.—Ed.] Well over $200,000.00 in grant funds have been procured to purchase well-deserved equipment for this department, which responds to a 56-square-mile area encompassing the City of Frankfort, Village of Elberta, Gilmore Township, Crystal Lake Township and Lake Township. Currently, Crystal Lake and Lake townships have fire millages to pay their share. Frankfort, Elberta and Gilmore pay out of their respective General Funds. Read the rest of this entry »

Foghorn: Monument to Edison Berryhill!

In Foghorn, You Mist It the First Time on January 18, 2011 at 6:56 pm

The Alert recently spoke with a longtime Elbertian about Edison Berryhill, an unsung hero of Village maintenance…

There really ought to be a monument to Mr. Berryhill, who was our department of public works person for many years. He collected garbage twice a week and took it to the old landfill out at the end of Zimmerman Road. He plowed all the roads and the sidewalks. He was tireless and did almost all the work by himself. He just had an extraordinary amount of energy—when he was on leave from the Village during the summer, he would work at the Cherry Factory that used to be next to the Cabbage Shed. He was in charge of grading all the roads, which were all gravel back then, and he did it with a big machine that made a terrifying racket. He did a wonderful amount of work for the Village and nothing’s dedicated to him, and there should be.

Calendar: January 2011

In Calendar on January 12, 2011 at 11:46 pm

Wednesday, 5th, 7 pm, Village Community Building, Elberta Parks and Recreation Committee meets.

Tuesday, 11th, 5:30 pm–9 pm, Grow Benzie, 5885 M-115, Benzonia, Potluck Workshop “Building a Living Soil,” with ag guru Craig Schaaf. Part 1 in a series of 6 hard-core gardening workshops.

Saturday, 15th, 4 pm–6 pm, Elberta United Methodist Church, 555 Lincoln Ave., Community Dinner. Come for food and fellowship at Elberta’s best church.

Thursday, 20th, 7 pm, Village Community Building, Regular Village Council Meeting

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