“We’re all in this together” sang Kelsey Kruzel, fighting back tears under her blue graduation cap. As she neared the end of her graduation speech, she stopped. Her speech began with her love of High School Musical, a movie coming out in recent times. She compared one of the songs – the one mentioned above – to her graduating class. Mentioning key events from the history of the group, keying in on some of their more memorable experiences, she focused on the bond they share.

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Boy Meets Girl.

Boy makes friends with Girl, because he enjoys being there for people, and is secure in the knowledge that it could never go anywhere. “I’m too busy for a relationship.” was Boy’s warcry, and as a result, Boy deflected some, most, or all affection from many people. While part of it was a fear of being distracted from what was important (school, work, fill-in-the-blank), part of it was a fear that Boy had. You see, Boy had issues. Boy was great at learning about people, reading people, and finding out who they are – but Boy rarely shared much of himself – at least not with a lot of people.

Boy Meets Girl - An uncommon story of paper, ink, and romance in Boyne City.

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Our community has seen hard times as people we have known and loved for years have walked on.  It is only fitting that on the issue commemorating Memorial Day, I have the chance to address this.

I grew up with an appreciation for Memorial Day, having a Grandfather very active in the American Legion as I grew up.  A proud WWII Veteran, he taught me the value of duty and honor, straight from what was then the US Army Air Corps.  I look at Memorial Day from the standpoint of the veterans.  Literally the “Day to Remember” but I also see it in a different light.  “Memorial Day”  a day to remember, I also look at it as a day not to forget.  We remember those passed, but we can also try not to forget what we do have.  I cherish the people in my life.  I cherish each friend, each family member, each familiar face I pass as I walk down the street to Subway for my morning sandwich.  As we walk through our week, we carry the memories of those passed.  I’ve been told that they’re alive as long as we carry them with us.  If that is the case, I have the good fortune of having many good people from my past to carry.  As we remember, as we try not to forget, let us remember what makes this town unique and strong – we stick together, we help each other, and we get through everything as a community.  I’m proud to be a Boyne guy – through and through.

Several people were affected by events that were painful, and people pitched in to make the burden lighter.  Some come to Boyne City for the skiing, some for golf, some for the weather, but that’s not my reasoning.  I moved from Mount Pleasant back to Boyne City because there is a sense of community that comes with living here that I have never personally experienced anywhere else, and that keeps me here day in and day out.  These coming weeks will be hard, moreso for some than others, but we as a community stick together, and must remember to help one another whenever we can.
In brighter news, we see the Mushroom Festival right around the corner.  A weekend of food, fun, and entertainment surely lies ahead in our community.  I have longstanding memories of carnival rides, unhealthy food, and loud music echoing throughout Veterans Park, memories that are shared by many residents of Boyne City.
One last thing.  I’ve gotten more “Letters to the Editor” in the past month than I had received in the past.  I think that this is a great thing!  If you want the chance to get your voice out there, I strongly recommend it.  A brief reminder that they must be free of vulgar language, sexual content, and information that is “slanderous” or can not be reasonably verified.  One last thing that I ask is that you attach your name and phone number.  Your name will be printed with the letter, your number will not.  I will most likely call you.  This is not to question your letter, but only to verify that yes, you are indeed John Smith, and yes you did send a letter about the new construction project.  Why do I do this?  Well, it prevents me from making some very harmful mistakes, and makes sure that nobody is associated with something that they may not have written.  As always, I welcome your submissions and thank you for your support.  Our community has been through a lot this year, but we stand together and will get through it.  I hope to see you all at the Mushroom Festival.

Here we are, looking at almost eight months of The Boyne City Gazette, and things are good! I am as proud to be behind this product as I was on day-one as I walked the streets with my dream in a spiral binding. I am honored to help Boyne City show the world that we can get through any trials and tribulations simply by helping one another. So last week, with great success, I did my “Top Five Overlooked Things in Boyne City.” I enjoyed sharing the things I find special about this town, and I hope it helped everyone to see what amazing endeavors exist within Boyne. Today, we will continue with the “Frequently Asked Questions” of The Boyne City Gazette.

FOR THE REST OF THE STORY PICK UP A COPY OF THIS WEEK’S BOYNE CITY GAZETTE!

Someday, somebody’s gonna ask you

A question that you should say yes to

Once in your life

 By Chris Faulknor

First off, I hope everyone in Boyne City and beyond had a happy Easter. I had a good time spent with my family and friends, along with good food and a much-needed break. So normally, I sit down to write this, and it turns into story time. I must admit, it is a privilege to be able to share the high points (and the low points) of my life with the entire community. It makes me feel close to each one of you, and I am honored by your support. Today, you will find my column more informative, but I hope that it helps with some things. Since the beginning of the paper in September, I have been amazed week after week with the love and support I have seen from my home town. I have had the honor of delivering the news of the area to each of you. I have also had the honor of helping local businesses get word out about their products, getting the good news out about some of our wonderful non-profit groups in the area, and even spreading information about the upcoming events of the many churches.

This week, I’m going to tackle some of the frequently asked questions I get in the office. I am happy to answer questions any time and from anybody, and I’m hoping that this will help all of you out.

Q: I didn’t get my paper this week

A: First off, I apologize for the inconvenience. It is important to me to see that everyone gets their paper, and this truly is a priority in my mind. I’ll start with a little bit about how the process of subscriptions work. First thing first, somehow, I receive the request to subscribe you. I get these by e-mail, over the phone, by mail, and in person at the office. Sometimes, I receive payment up-front, and other times, I am asked to send an invoice for the subscription. Both are perfectly fine! At this point, I add your name and address to the database of subscribers, which is printed onto a shipping label, stuck to a paper on Tuesday morning, and taken to the Post Office for mailing. They then, theoretically, reach your home, workplace, or other desired location. So why didn’t you get your paper? Well, a month ago, I would have said it was an issue in the delivery route. Now that the papers are mailed, there are two common reasons. The first and most common – I made a mistake. Yes, I, Chris Faulknor – make mistakes. Sometimes, the hang-up is in getting your name and address into the database. Sometimes, I mess up on the shipping labels. The other reason is that I received the wrong address. Either way, the facts and the solution are the same. The fact is, if you are not receiving your paper, I don’t know about it. So the first thing? You should, ideally, be receiving your paper on Wednesday. If your mail comes on Thursday, and you still have not received a paper, please call the office at 231-645-1970 or e-mail editor@boynegazette.com I will find out what the problem was, and I will not charge you for the week you didn’t receive a paper. I welcome new subscriptions, and want to make sure you receive the services you pay for.

READ THE FULL STORY IN THE APRIL 7TH EDITION OF THE BOYNE CITY GAZETTE

So what’s new this week in The Boyne City Gazette? Well, the first edition of our weekly e-mail newsletter went out to over forty different business owners. In this newsletter, anyone interested can get a preview on Monday Morning of what is coming in the Gazette on Wednesday, as well as access to advertising specials only available to those on the mailing list. Contact me if you are interested.

Also, the office you see below has truly become the center for our newspaper. People routinely come in to subscribe, place ads, and even just say hello. Anyone is more than welcome to stop by. I hope to see all of you out there in the trenches with me this week, as we set off to help our town thrive.

Seeing a face in front of me that I didn’t recognize, I went through the familiar introduction, hearing something unexpected in return: “I’m Jeremy McBain, the Editor for the News Review.” “This could be fun” I thought to myself, as images of The Reykjavik Summit floated into my mind. Unable to decide which of us got to be Ronald Reagan (and likewise, Mikhail Gorbachev) I returned to reality, as the silent auctions began to end, and I went to sit down at my seat, a plate of food in my hand. Looking to my right, I see not only Jeremy McBain (still haven’t decided.. Reagan…Gorbachev… anyway…) but News-Review Reporter Steve Zucker another seat down. As the evening progresses, so do our discussions, finding out that like any two reasonable people, we share a common affection for the writings of Robert Fulghum (the author of Everything I Need to Know, I learned in Kindergarten) and equally dry humor.

The evening progressed, and the awards began. I listened as Chamber Director Jim Bauman recalled the events of the year, and as Chamber Board Past President Rob Swartz spoke, making the way for the current President Jack Laurent. Past Commander Dean Kleinschrodt of the American Legion accepted an award on their behalf for their work on the Veterans Memorial, Tony Williams was recognized for his work in launching Freshwater Studio, Glen Catt received an award for the investment he placed in Boyne City in spearheading One Water Street, and Karen Guzniczak was heralded for her work in Stroll the Streets. As I sat, conversing with my table, I blinked. I wasn’t sure what I just heard, but it sounded like my name.

Looking up, I see Jim Baumann standing at the podium with a plaque. Young Entrepreneur of the Year it said. “Put the camera down, I’ll get a picture for you” several of the people at the table say, as I walk up to the podium, stunned. I’m still surprised, even as the plaque sits on my desk today. All I can say, as cliché as it sounds, is that there are so many people who have helped make this newspaper grow and succeed, and that I wish I could find a way to thank each and every one. Each subscriber, each advertiser, business owner, and even the car that flashes his lights and lets me go at the four-way-stop on Wednesday morning at 5:30 a.m. I am proud to be a part of Boyne City, and just as proud to be the person wandering Boyne City in search of unsuspecting subscribers. We walk into another week. Seeing snow, ice, and sometimes even hardship ahead, all we can do is stick together, help each other out, and keep Boyne City going. I hope you will join me in that goal.

I’ve often used this little column to tell you all what’s going on with me. Things from my past, present, and hopefully my future. Many of you have read about my adventures in teaching dance, most notably to a group of very talented young men and women over at Concord Boyne. I am pleased to announce that beginning in January, weekly dance classes will be coming to Boyne City. I can tell you at this point that they will be at Concord Academy, who is allowing use of some of their space. I also know at this point that there will one class for students after school, and one class for the community later in the evening. I will continue to place updates here, however, if you would like to call and get information, feel free to reach me at 231-645-1970.

In other news, the paper goes well once again, with loving support from the citizens here in Boyne City. Those of you who pick up a paper every week in the local stores and gas stations, I thank you as always for your business. To the men and women who get a paper on their doorstep early every Wednesday morning, thank you for your subscriptions. Every time I get a call from someone complementing the paper, or even giving suggestions on how to make it better, it makes me see just how much the community cares for their Gazette, and I am both humbled and grateful for the support. As I look around and see the snow, I hold hope for the economy in our area. I see the businesses that are impacted so much by the tourism in the area, and see huge potential as the ski season kicks off. To anyone impacted by the events going on, hopefully this little message will inspire you to hang in there a little longer. Times are tough, but I see a light at the end of the tunnel (not so original, but you get the idea.) As we plow through another week (in more ways than one) and get ready for the holidays, I’m right beside you all, and we will see our town through this together. It is my hope that in the end, we can all look at each other and say “I was there in 2009 when the economy was rough, but Boyne City pulled through like we always do, because we leaned on and worked with each other.” Here’s to another week.

“Boyne City works because Boyne City works together”

As many times as I have thrown this quote to the open air, I continue to like it more and more every time. Spoken by City Manager Michael Cain during our State of the Community breakfast, I see this common theme coming true every time I go downtown. Despite hard times in our economy, Boyne City continues to come together and find new ways to succeed. I give major credit to both the Chamber of Commerce and our Main Street program for facilitating this process. The Earlier Than the Bird promotional was a major success, due to the enthusiasm and effort put in by our local business owners. Seeing downtown Boyne City flocked around stores in their pajamas, smiling and excited made me realize that Boyne City can make it through whatever is coming. As my own personal admission, I didn’t see much of this until I became a small business owner myself. Since beginning this business three months ago (yes, it’s been three months) I have found a this to be a community that truly supports small businesses from subscribers to advertisers, and even people willing to help the Christmas Baskets in their time of need. We have a solid community that works together. With that momentum and energy, let us all try to keep that spirit up through these winter months and help each other out.

As an addition, after last weeks remarks, I got numerous comments on my previous occupation as a Paramedic and the story I told. As the request of some of our community, I will share another of my experiences.

December 2008

I sat in the back of the ambulance, leaned against the cabinet. As my partner drove us south to our next post, I nodded off. Having run six calls that night, and due to get off in an hour, my energy was slowly beginning to wane. As always, I heard the radio click. Alright, it might be someone else, it might be us. “Medic 291 from Dispatch” Yeah, it’s us. I picked up the mic “291, go ahead” I mumbled. As my partner frowned, I crawled up to the front seat, dragging my stethoscope behind me. “291, Dispatch. Respond to a long distance transfer from Collegetown Medical Center up north to Biggertown Community Hospital. We drove to the hospital and picked up our patient. Having been used to everything from nursing home transfers to dialysis runs, as well as emergency calls, knowing what to expect was out of the question. I found myself in the room with a girl in her mid-twenties, who was a pale shade of white, looking very tired. As the nurse came in and explained, she had been sick for days, experiencing a flare-up of a chronic illness she had since childhood. In addition to that was the revelation that she had a blood-borne disease. As always taught in school, I put on my gloves, and we took her into the ambulance. As I loaded the IV pump, cardiac monitor, and plethora of toys I had come in with, we talked, moreso her than I. This is probably one of the brighter aspects of my job: the chance to talk to so many people about so many things. She told me about her family, and continued to talk of her college and friends on the ride down. As the conversation grew more in-depth, she talked about her interactions in the medical facilities. She went on to describe the stigma placed on blood-borne diseases. While they can only be transferred through bodily fluids, she noticed that people were afraid to touch her, and seemed uneasy. The conversation progressed, as I smiled and tried to be understanding. We pulled into the hospital and moved her to her new room. As I got her paperwork to sign, I took the gloves off, knelt down, and shook her hand. She held onto my hand and smiled, wishing me a happy holiday season.

Note: Yes, I did this. I believe that sometimes, the small risk is worth the benefit of helping another human being. What you read up there is one of my prouder moments as a Paramedic. As you see more into how I do my job, you see more of who I am and what I stand for, and you see the real me.