Cash for Lake City Schools

Hey, a great opportunity to get some cash for our local schools. Don't our children deserve this?

Vote today, click the banner above to pick any other school but if you'd like to vote for Lake City Upper Elementary you can just click here!

GRPS Promotes Farm to School Menu

Okay, not in Missaukee but it is in Michigan and it is the best idea since reusable shopping bags.

The Farm-to-Cafeteria conference is underway in Detroit this week and promoting local growers in neighborhood schools is the main push. The conversation about healthy school meals happens often in Grand Rapids. In fact, this week the district is showcasing the importance of supporting Michigan agricultural businesses.

Grand Rapids Public Schools is among 400 schools statewide that has spent the week featuring local produce on its school lunch menus. It's all part of the "Mi Products, My Michigan, Mi School Lunches" initiative created by West Michigan school nutrition services.

-WZZM13.com

Lake City Area Schools dining program is managed by Chartwells. Chartwells is a company that claims to be committed to sustainability. You can read more about their commitment to corporate responsibility here.

Does anyone know of any local farms that provide products to Chartwells for service in Lake City Area Schools?

Don't Believe the Hype

Recently, lured by the promise of specialty pizza, I sampled the offerings of Lake City's newest dining establishment, Sylvia's.

I ordered:
Pizza w/
Sun Dried Tomato Sauce
Portobello Mushrooms
Roasted Peppers
Artichoke Hearts
Spinach

I got:
Pizza w/
Sun Dried Tomato Sauce
Canned Mushrooms
Diced Green Peppers
Spinach

I was informed that the canned mushrooms were indeed Portobello and that the artichoke hearts were merely forgotten. Additionally, I would suggest making it easy on your customers by offering a variety of specialty pizzas with set toppings on the menu such as: Four Cheese Pizza, Pesto Primavera, Margherita, Hawaiian... It would be a great idea to have some seasonal specialty pizzas based on what's available (Lake City is surrounded by farms). Hmmm, in the spring a nice morel and asparagus pizza would be tops. In the fall something with smoked ham, mmmm. Let me tell you what my favorite pizza of all time is, the Four Seasons (Quattro Stagione) with prosciutto, mushrooms, olives and artichoke hearts. I enjoyed this pizza in Italy where it was prepared with each topping enjoying its own quarter of the pie. The possibilities are endless...

At least the service at Sylvia's was friendly though I cannot say the same for at least one of my fellow diners. If looks could kill, you know?

Be warned, if you are looking for specialty pizza, Lake City still has nothing to offer...perhaps a trip to Traverse City is in order.

Now, let me ask you this, why does Lake City have four pizza joints across the street from each other (A&L, Marty's, Don's All American, BC)? It seems that pizza is superfluous while specialty pizza remains elusive. There's an opportunity here, Sylvia, take advantage of it.

Do You Know Where Your Children Are?

Rumblings about Missaukee starting near the end of July when "Men in Black" made a visit to a local child care center. At which time, it probably would have been prudent for the operators of this child care center to inform their customers about this odd visit. You know, it would just be a little nicer than having your child tell you about the men in suits who put letters in the rooms and performed a seemingly thorough search of the premises (if the youngsters can be believed, that is).

Hush, hush...

Having not heard anything regarding the results of any such investigation, this blogger performed a simple search to see if there was any news out there. Click here to share the discovery. Take a peak at the first "Investigation Report" listed and if you don't want to read the whole thing, just scroll to the final page.

Funny that a child care center, licensed to care for 60 children, can have their license recommended for revocation and there's not the slightest blip from our "media." Or...look at it this way, the state is broke, there is not enough money to go around to all the families that need assistance and this child care center, admittedly, has defrauded the state of over $20,000 and again our "media" lets this one slip.

Must be too busy getting ready for the Festival of the Pines.

It might be a good time to find a new child care provider, you can start here.

Slow Down Detroit!

Just when we start to get down on Missaukee, Wayne steps in to remind us that it's not all that bad...

Driver nabbed after license revoked 45 times
BY TAMMY STABLES BATTAGLIA
FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER

Despite having her driver’s license suspended 45 times, a 33-year-old Detroit woman was arrested Tuesday in Ferndale driving a car that had been reported stolen, police said.

Renee Lashon Beavers had a 24-ounce container of beer on her lap when a Ferndale Police officer spotted the stolen car eastbound on 8 Mile near Livernois just after midnight, Lt. William Wilson said today.

She told investigators she bought the green 1999 Dodge Stratus from another woman at a shelter in Adrian for $1,000. And she took it anyway after the woman demanded another $400, she said.

Investigators found an unsigned title to the car in the glove box.

Her license, which is currently revoked, has been suspended 45 times in Highland Park, Southfield and Detroit, according to investigators.

Police expect to ask prosecutors to charge the woman with – again – driving with a suspended license as well as having an open container of alcohol in a car, Wilson said.

Lawnmowers at the Beach

Alas, no photos of the famed Titties & Beer truck but we do have this wonderful sighting on Lake Missaukee:



Obviously taking a break from moving that lawnmower to take a dip.

In a county where 99%* of the inhabitants own a truck, this is a treat indeed (well, it gets even more bizarre...there aren't ANY trucks in that pic-wow)!

Only in Missaukee...

*I just made that statistic up and maybe I'll back it up with some on-the-road research later today...I'll just count how many trucks I see...and how many minivans.

Titties & Beer

Well, now you may be wondering at the willfully irreverent title of this post but I assure you it is in the spirit of acquiring greater knowledge (unlike the cute tyke in the above photo who is obviously being exploited by parental units). A worthy pursuit. Don't you agree?

I have heard legends tell of a green truck that has been seen traversing Missaukee County, particularly in the Lake City area, with the words Titties & Beer emblazoned across the windshield. One legend actually describes the driver of said vehicle as a woman!

I have not had the pleasure of viewing this site with my own two eyes and so, I call upon you, noble reader to report any Titties & Beer sitings here (please include photos if you are photographically proficient!).