SPY's Newsletter 3/22/25

SPY’s Community Newsletter

#357

(3/22/25)

Big Doings In The Village

Looking For Some Very Special Help Here!

The SPY’s Community Foundation is looking for three more people who would like to serve on the SPY’s Scholarship Review Committee this year.  If you think you would like to help us out, or would like further information as to what’s involved, please contact John Fisher at 517-648-0969.  This is not very time-consuming at all, and there will be only one meeting involved.

First Adopt-A-Highway Date Has Been Set

The first Adopt-A-Highway Trash Pick-up Is on the horizon.  The SPY's sponsor a trash pick-up event along M-43 from Round Lake Road on the west side of town to Shaytown Road on the east side of town, three times a year in conjunction with the Michigan Department of Transportation program.  We welcome any and all volunteers interested in helping keeping our area spiffed-up.  This year’s first pick-up date is set for Saturday, April 5th.  Please mark your calendars and stay tuned for further details.

The other 2025 Adopt-A-Highway pick-up dates will be Saturday July 12th, and Saturday September 27th.

Youth Job Opportunity

John Fisher is seeking an area youth(s) interested in some part-time work, primarily with lawn care and light chores.  If interested give him a call at 517-648-0969.

New Feature

One of the things the SPY's feel is important, if not downright essential, is to recognize others in the community who by their actions and deeds demonstrate that they share our values of building the community through service and by providing opportunities for youth.  The SPY's do not have the wherewithal or capabilities to address the multitude of needs that exist for youth today.  We do what we can.

So, when others step forward and give of themselves for the betterment of the community, the SPY's feel this should not be ignored.  For, as it is said, it takes many hands working together to improve the quality of life in a place we call home.

Back in 1998, the SPY's instituted formal "Corporate Sponsor" and “Platinum Sponsor” programs.  Through these programs businesses and individuals could partner with us so we could better meet the increasing cost demands of the many programs we underwrite.  To become a Corporate or Platinum Sponsor meant you contributed at least $500 in that year.

So, starting with this issue of the SPY’s Community Newsletter, and in each succeeding issue, we will be spotlighting one of these special people to better show them how much we appreciate how much they mean to our youth and community.  Our first such recognition will be the Mapes Furniture Company.  Mapes Furniture has not only been a strong supporter of the SPY’s for many years, even before the beginning of the Corporate Sponsor program, but have long been a major force in community betterment and promotion.  They are fantastic people and we are honored to salute them!

Parting Comments

·      Deep Thought of the Week: The more we care for the happiness of others, the greater our own sense of well-being becomes.---Dalai Lama

·      Notable Quote: “Anyone who says their wedding was the best day of their life has clearly never had two candy bars fall down at once from a vending machine.”

·      That’s Puny Department: The Roman emperor’s wife hates playing hide and seek because wherever she goes Julius Caesar

·      Did You Know Section:  When forming a mental picture of George Washington, many of us likely flip through the brain rolodex to recall a portrait of the founding father staring back at viewers in a stately manner or calmly seated before the Continental Congress. However, these cool-as-a-cucumber depictions marked a stark contrast to reality, as Washington was often in pain from the tooth problems he endured for most of his adult years.  Whether due to childhood neglect, poor diet, or genetics, Washington had his first tooth pulled at age 24 and spent the rest of his life trying to play catch-up with fastidious attention to oral health. It wound up being a losing battle, as he was saving his pulled teeth for use in dentures by his early 50s. While real human teeth were a prize component of dentures, Washington accepted sets that included animal teeth as well as lead-tin, copper, and silver alloys - though notably not wood, as is often erroneously reported. By the time of his inauguration in 1789, the first U.S. president was wearing a customized set of dentures, built by New York dentist John Greenwood, that featured hippopotamus ivory and an array of gold wire springs and brass screws to hold its human teeth in place.  Unfortunately, the access to cutting-edge dental technology didn't translate to an improved quality of life for Washington, who dashed off a series of letters to his dentist in later years that complained of the discomfort and bulging caused by his dentures. Still, the general seemed to realize there was little that could be done in this longtime war of attrition within his mouth, and when his final real tooth needed to be pulled in 1796, he gifted it to Dr. Greenwood

Final Notices

1.            If there is any organization or business out there that has something they would like to advertise or promote, please feel free to submit it to this Newsletter and we will help publicize it.  There is no charge. 

2.              We are glad to provide this means as a public service to help keep the community informed.

3.            If you are looking for further information about the SPY’s events---Corporate or Platinum Sponsorship information---scholarship forms---youth sports reimbursement forms---past SPY newsletters---etc.---just go to the SPY website at www.sunfieldareaspys.com.