Grand Haven has a home grown festival that started 100 years ago. It began as a picnic for the Coast Guard servicemen’s families. Women didn’t serve in this military branch back then. The festival has grown into welcoming more than 350,000 visitors each year. In 1998, the President of the United States recognized Grand Haven, MI as a Coast Guard City USA. It takes support of the Coast Guard; the local municipalities of Grand Haven, Spring Lake, and Ferrysburg; and hundreds of volunteers to organize this 10 day community event.
Here is a photo of a parade float. It was one of my relative’s grocery stores who created it. We think it is from 1934.
Some pictures of early in the week. Our local dignitaries were invited to ride on one of the ships. I was told that it was a wonderful experience.
Who is also home grown? Me. I was born and raised in Grand Haven. I have decided that the time is right for me to run for our local school board – Grand Haven Area Public Schools. Since returning to West Michigan in 2007, I have wanted to serve. The brick and mortar version of C2C was too consuming. I didn’t think I could do a good job for the Schools until now.
I attended Grand Haven Christian School through 6th grade. My parents wanted me and my sisters mainstreamed. So they transferred us to the public schools. I graduated from Grand Haven High School. My children started their education here and then completed their high school years in Vermont. I returned to Grand Haven in 2007 and started making plans to open C2C Gallery in downtown Grand Haven.
While living in Vermont, I was elected and served as a school board member for 6 years. I learned a lot about the management of schools, the different views of the community regarding education, contract negotiations, and the challenges of our students.
Effectively educating our children is so important for their futures. In my opinion, a good board member is not elected with an agenda. Board members must support the administration and teachers, providing resources and structure that allows them to do their jobs at a very high level. We must be active listeners with the skills to ask good questions. If you live in the Grand Haven School district, I hope you will consider voting for me. Click here for more information.
Gallery:
Cindy Bender, a former C2C artist will be exhibiting at the Holland Arts Council through September 7. Her artist talk is on August 8 beginning 5:30.
Do you remember Eli Zilke, a glass artist from Benton Harbor? He is the Production Designer and Instructor at Water Street Glassworks. You can visit them Wednesday through Sunday, 10-5pm. You might even see Eli blowing glass while you are there. They have a nice gallery for adding to your collection.
Studio:
This past month, I slowed my speed down a bit and moved onto the kickwheel. Plus, hand building my large beach bowls. I wish I had a better name for these serving bowls. Can you think of one? Basically, they are large bowls that are food safe on the inside and have Lake Michigan Sand in the exterior glaze. Every time you pick up a bowl, you will be reminded of the beach.
Have you heard?
Did you know that there are crafts’ people who travel the world helping rebuild historical structures? I think of the book, Pillars of the Earth. A novel where a resourceful monk works endlessly to build the world’s greatest cathedral.
Since the devastating 2019 Notre Dame Cathedral fire, there’s been a monumental effort to restore and rebuild the Paris landmark. One of the people working on the site is Hank Silver: a timber framer from New England and a member of Carpenters Without Borders, a team of volunteers dedicated to helping restore historical structures around the world.
“It’s a once-in-a-millennium experience,”Silver told NBC News. The carpenter moved from Massachusetts to France last year to help re-create the cathedral’s nave and is part of a small group of foreigners on the project. “It still doesn’t feel real if I’m honest,” he said.
It’s clear Silver isn’t taking the opportunity lightly, and he’s in good company, according to the leader of the restoration efforts, Philippe Jost. He told CBS News there’s a “spirit of unity” among those who have traveled from all parts of the world to help. He added that all the workers “have been marked for life.”
Notre Dame is slated to reopen Dec. 8 — see Silver in action as the team gears up for the unveiling.
New Recipes to Try with Home Grown Veggies:
Reasons for a High Protein Breakfast
Herbed Tomato and Roasted Garlic Tart
(I haven’t tried the tart. It has quite a few steps in it but they all seem worthwhile. Please let me know if you make it and what you think. Maybe, I will have time in the next week to make this recipe. )
I hope you found something interesting in this post. I do try. Summer is speeding along. Lake Michigan has warmed up. It’s perfect for water sports and fun.
Take good care,
Cyndi
