Sunday, January 30, 2011
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Program to be offered on Aging, Dementia, Friendship, and Community
78 million members of the baby boom generation are now beginning to enter their retirement years. Many will live into their eighties, nineties, or even beyond. They will offer rich gifts of wisdom and experience, but they will also strain society’s financial and health care resources. Many will ultimately contend with Alzheimer’s disease or some other form of dementia.
Some find the figures alarming. By age 65, studies suggest that one person in eight may already have Alzheimer’s disease, usually undiagnosed and asymptomatic. Of those who live to 85, half will develop some form of dementia. How will we honor our friendships when our cherished friend no longer remembers us? How will the structures of our communities need to change to serve the needs of those journeying into memory loss and dementia? How can we find new ways to think about dementia as a part of our shared experience rather than as an individual medical problem? These and other themes will be explored in a Citizen Reach presentation offered by Susan and John McFadden at the Au Train Community Center from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Thurdsay August 26.
Dr. Susan H. McFadden is Professor of Psychology at the University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh. The primary focus of her work has been on the challenges and opportunities presented by aging and later life. Rev. John T. McFadden spent more than thirty years in parish ministry, and currently serves as workplace chaplain for Goodwill Industries of North Central Wisconsin. Together they have written a book titled “Aging Together: Dementia, Friendship and Flourishing Communities” to be published by Johns Hopkins University Press in spring of 2011. In their book, they explore how we can maintain relationships centered in love and joy when a friend travels “the dementia road,” and how communities (including religious congregations) can value and include persons in the various stages of dementia.
John and Susan have owned a cottage on Sixteen Mile Lake for the past 12 years and hope to spend more time in the area as they enter their own retirement years. They have a particular interest in how smaller communities that are home to many retirees (as is increasingly true in the Munising - Au Train area) can serve as models of healthy integration of older residents, including those contending with progressive memory loss.
Some find the figures alarming. By age 65, studies suggest that one person in eight may already have Alzheimer’s disease, usually undiagnosed and asymptomatic. Of those who live to 85, half will develop some form of dementia. How will we honor our friendships when our cherished friend no longer remembers us? How will the structures of our communities need to change to serve the needs of those journeying into memory loss and dementia? How can we find new ways to think about dementia as a part of our shared experience rather than as an individual medical problem? These and other themes will be explored in a Citizen Reach presentation offered by Susan and John McFadden at the Au Train Community Center from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Thurdsay August 26.
Dr. Susan H. McFadden is Professor of Psychology at the University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh. The primary focus of her work has been on the challenges and opportunities presented by aging and later life. Rev. John T. McFadden spent more than thirty years in parish ministry, and currently serves as workplace chaplain for Goodwill Industries of North Central Wisconsin. Together they have written a book titled “Aging Together: Dementia, Friendship and Flourishing Communities” to be published by Johns Hopkins University Press in spring of 2011. In their book, they explore how we can maintain relationships centered in love and joy when a friend travels “the dementia road,” and how communities (including religious congregations) can value and include persons in the various stages of dementia.
John and Susan have owned a cottage on Sixteen Mile Lake for the past 12 years and hope to spend more time in the area as they enter their own retirement years. They have a particular interest in how smaller communities that are home to many retirees (as is increasingly true in the Munising - Au Train area) can serve as models of healthy integration of older residents, including those contending with progressive memory loss.
In My Opinion Bad Deal For Taxpayers
The history of legal cost concerning the 16 Mile Lake LS/R2 district began with a Writ of Mandamus whose purpose was to legally force Zoning Administrator William Rogers to do his job and enforce the zoning ordinance in the 16 Mile Lake area.
The second legal expenditure concerned a dog kennel in the area. The dog kennel case dragged on for several years due to lack of enforcement . A resident victim hired his own lawyer and the dogs were removed in two weeks.
The most recent legal expenditure concerning the 16 Mile Lake area again involves the behavior of Zoning Administrator William Rogers. On August 5, 2010,Circuit Judge Hon. William W. Carmody ruled: "It IS ORDERED, that ZBA's ruling and decision is AFFIRMED and all relief sought by petitioners is DENIED. This order closes the file."
The October 2,2009 ZBA ruling and decision follows:
” A. Find that the decision and interpretation of Mr. William Rogers that the transient rentals within the AuTrain and the LS/R II Zoning District are legal non-conforming uses be reversed and nullified based upon the following grounds pursuant to MCL 125.3602,125.3604.
1. Mr.Roger's decision, declaration or statement is not in conformity with the procedures set out by law and the AuTrain Township Zoning Ordinance;
2. That Mr. William Rogers had no authority to make an interpretation declaring illegal non-conforming uses were legal under law or Township Zoning Ordinance;
3. That such authority if it existed, was not properly exercised since no public notice and hearing as required by law and the Zoning Ordinance was provided to interested property owners either before or after the announced decision was offered.
4. That the transient rentals are illegal, non-conforming uses within the LS&R II district, have been so from and after 1979 and cannot be made legal under any authority possessed by Mr. William Rogers by mere declaration.
B. Finding that the present proceeding noticed and held by the Planning Commission with respect to the review of non-conforming uses by declared improper as not in accord with the AuTrain Township Zoning Ordinance and the Michigan Zoning Enabling Act.
C. This Board further find that the transient rentals currently operating within the LS&R II Zoning District(AuTrain Township) are illegal nonconforming uses and hence subject to Court-ordered abatement as nuisance. MCL 125.3407."
Zoning Administrator William Roger's decisions, declarations, statements, and procedures are directly responsible for the majority of money spent on legal fees concerning the 16 Mile Lake area.
Zoning Administrator William Roger's non-enforcement policy has proven to be an expensive mistake for the Township.
More importantly, it continues draining dwindling tax revenues . In his July 2010 Monthly Zoning Report, William Rogers states " Two complaints were received concerning rental properties in the 16 Mile Lake area. One was concerning a property that was already found in violation and sent a notice in February of this year." Zoning Administrator William Rogers failed to do his job and follow up with the initial violation notice for five months. This continued behavior will cost the Township more legal fees.
The solution is simple,
AuTrain Township needs a Zoning Administrator
who enforces the AuTrain Township Zoning Ordinance.
The second legal expenditure concerned a dog kennel in the area. The dog kennel case dragged on for several years due to lack of enforcement . A resident victim hired his own lawyer and the dogs were removed in two weeks.
The most recent legal expenditure concerning the 16 Mile Lake area again involves the behavior of Zoning Administrator William Rogers. On August 5, 2010,Circuit Judge Hon. William W. Carmody ruled: "It IS ORDERED, that ZBA's ruling and decision is AFFIRMED and all relief sought by petitioners is DENIED. This order closes the file."
The October 2,2009 ZBA ruling and decision follows:
” A. Find that the decision and interpretation of Mr. William Rogers that the transient rentals within the AuTrain and the LS/R II Zoning District are legal non-conforming uses be reversed and nullified based upon the following grounds pursuant to MCL 125.3602,125.3604.
1. Mr.Roger's decision, declaration or statement is not in conformity with the procedures set out by law and the AuTrain Township Zoning Ordinance;
2. That Mr. William Rogers had no authority to make an interpretation declaring illegal non-conforming uses were legal under law or Township Zoning Ordinance;
3. That such authority if it existed, was not properly exercised since no public notice and hearing as required by law and the Zoning Ordinance was provided to interested property owners either before or after the announced decision was offered.
4. That the transient rentals are illegal, non-conforming uses within the LS&R II district, have been so from and after 1979 and cannot be made legal under any authority possessed by Mr. William Rogers by mere declaration.
B. Finding that the present proceeding noticed and held by the Planning Commission with respect to the review of non-conforming uses by declared improper as not in accord with the AuTrain Township Zoning Ordinance and the Michigan Zoning Enabling Act.
C. This Board further find that the transient rentals currently operating within the LS&R II Zoning District(AuTrain Township) are illegal nonconforming uses and hence subject to Court-ordered abatement as nuisance. MCL 125.3407."
Zoning Administrator William Roger's decisions, declarations, statements, and procedures are directly responsible for the majority of money spent on legal fees concerning the 16 Mile Lake area.
Zoning Administrator William Roger's non-enforcement policy has proven to be an expensive mistake for the Township.
More importantly, it continues draining dwindling tax revenues . In his July 2010 Monthly Zoning Report, William Rogers states " Two complaints were received concerning rental properties in the 16 Mile Lake area. One was concerning a property that was already found in violation and sent a notice in February of this year." Zoning Administrator William Rogers failed to do his job and follow up with the initial violation notice for five months. This continued behavior will cost the Township more legal fees.
The solution is simple,
AuTrain Township needs a Zoning Administrator
who enforces the AuTrain Township Zoning Ordinance.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Horse head Update
I've made some good progress on this sculpture. The horse has ears and some of his mane now.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Healthy Hearty Harvest Feast
Thursday October 29 from 6:00 to 8:00 pm at the AuTrain Township Community building,
the Citizen Reach program features a FREE fun autumn cooking class by
MSU Extension's Vicki Ballas
The theme of Vicki's class will be a healthy hearty harvest feast including
HUBBARD SQUASH SOUP PUMPKIN BEAN BURGERS
APPLE PIE SMOOTHIES
Please join in and find out just how good healthy food can taste. Any questions, please call Vicki Ballas at 387-2530 or Citizen Reach coordinator Frank Castiglione at 387-3196.
BE SMART, BE HEALTHY,
BE THERE
every last Thursday of the month.
Thursday, July 02, 2009
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Saturday, May 02, 2009
Cooking Class April 30 at AuTrain Township Hall
The cooking class given by MSU's Vicki Ballas ,along with the presentation by Alger County Commission on Aging's Kris Lindquist and Rachel Nadeau was a success! There were approximately two dozen people in attendance. The food was great. I learned about some things I can do to easily make my home safer.
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