Welcome to Families First Monthly

20

From The Heart

The shrubs we planted in our yard last fall survived the winter and are flourishing a spring hello to the summer. The garden will get squash and tomatoes to join the strawberries already there. Oh, and a fence. The deer and the rabbits are fun to watch but I do enjoy harvesting what is planted. Summer recipes such as Tomato Pie and Zucchini Casserole depend upon it.

Our Twenty Year celebration continues as we include a poem about North Manitou that first ran in August 2000. I talk about starting the business with a lot of help, and little money, in this issue’s “Young Entrepreneur.” The “Then and Now” column covers some of the significant changes over twenty years in our beautiful area – remembering things gone and talking about things new. Kay Charter is back with us writing about her favorite migratory bird. A story from 2006 – “Time to Be a Better Dad” – is a good fit for Fathers Day, as well is a new story by Paul Sutherland about “Daddy Does it Different.”

This issue includes our annual “Festivals & Fun” story and a feature about The Discovery Pier. The Charity Spotlight is about The Dream Team and we cover summer reading and writing poetry with/for kids.

I am excited to share a summer here with family and friends. We also have plans to meet our new granddaughter who was born at the end of March—a road trip with a mission and gifts for her and her parents.
Happy Fathers Day to all the Dads who fit the bill, and best wishes to our area graduates of all ages.

Thank you for reading Families First Monthly and have a safe and event-filled summer.

Laura Lee Kalchik