Elroy passed away peacefully on January 5, 2012.

Direct Donations may be made in lieu of flowers to:
“Elroy Urbanus Scholarship Fund” Manistee County Community Foundation, 332 First Street Suite 101, Manistee, Michigan 49660 • T: 231.723.7269 • F: 231.723.4983 • E: mccf@manisteefoundation.org

Mark your Calendars-Important Informational Meeting January 9, 2012 @7:30 PM at the Bear Lake Township Hall, corner of Virginia Street and US31. Sign Up Here!

On January 9th, 2012, we invite you to an information meeting about the new CERT program for Bear Lake, Michigan. CERT stands for Citizen Emergency Response Team.

Citizens helping Citizens, CERT, is about readiness, people helping people, rescuer safety, and doing the greatest good for the greatest number. CERT is a positive and realistic approach to emergency and disaster situations where citizens will be trained to help themselves, their families and neighbors in the event of a disaster. CERT volunteers will learn the skills to help emergency responders save lives and protect property. As a member of the Bear Lake CERT Team, citizens can respond to disasters, participate in drills and take additional training. CERT has a place for you regardless of your current skills, training or physical abilities.  Sign Up Here!

The Bear Lake Township Board has unanimously approved the creation of the Bear Lake Township Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). The Bear Lake Township Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) is a group of citizen volunteers created by the Bear Lake Township Board to be a component part of and to assist the Bear Lake Township Fire Department.  The CERT Program is part of the local and national Citizen Corps effort to incorporate and utilize volunteers in the community.  Sign Up Here!

Citizen Corps is endorsed by the President of the United States and the Department of Homeland Security. Bear Lake Township CERT members are trained in basic response techniques in order to assist local citizens and first responders in disaster or emergency situations.

CERT Mission Statement: TO PROVIDE AREA RESIDENTS AND FIRST RESPONDERS A QUALITY RESOURCE FOR SAFETY EDUCATION, HAZARD MITIGATION, EMERGENCY RESPONSE ASSISTANCE, AND OTHER VOLUNTEER EFFORTS.

Bring your friends, bring your neighbors! Join us on January 9,2012 at 7:30 at the Township Hall to learn more about becoming involved and giving back to your community. For more information, please contact Larry Gibson, CERT Coordinator at ljgibson.emops@gmail.com  Sign Up Here!

See you on January 9,2012!

The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Program educates people about disaster preparedness for hazards that may impact our area and trains them in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations. Using the training learned in the classroom and during exercises, CERT members can assist others in our neighborhood or workplace following an event when professional responders are not immediately available to help.
CERT members also are encouraged to support emergency response agencies by taking a more active role in emergency preparedness projects in their community.

Just the way we like it – just the sound of safe and happy homes!

Your Bear Lake Fire and EMS folks just want to remind you to watch those candles, check for frayed Christmas lights, keep that tree well watered, and keep decorations and unwanted items out of the mouths and reach of your beloved kids and pets!

Be safe this Christmas – that’s our sincere wish for you and yours!

Best wishes, Bear Lake Township Fire Department.

For more seasonal safety tips visit NFPA Project Holiday at:
‪http://bit.ly/uwwoBs‬

Check out the story at http://www.9and10news.com/Category/Story/?id=312351&cID=1

And go to www.bearlakemichigan.com/bearlakepromoters.html for more information on how to help.

Chief among them is that 23 local people routinely stop whatever they’re doing, leave their families and jobs to answer the pager for a fire, an auto accident or a medical emergency. They always put this community, or even those just passing through, first. They truly deserve our support. Here is just a sample of their commitment to Bear Lake – the Fire Prevention Week 2011 Open House.

This is the first of many more public education videos. Enjoy!

Bear Lake Township Fire Department Fire Prevention Week

The Seventh Annual Sparkle in the Park in the lakeside Hopkins Park, downtown Bear Lake will open on Saturday November 26!
Click here to see the full poster!

We also have postcards for sale to help support this event – Cards are available, $0.50 each or a variety pack of 10 at $4.00 from Pauline Jaquish, 7761 Potter Rd.,Bear Lake, MI 49614 add $1.50 if mailed, checks payable to Bear Lake Promoters.

The Bear Lake Promoters and the Bear Lake Village Council partner to bring another Christmas holiday lighting showcase for all to enjoy. There is no admission fee, however all donations are welcome from anyone who wishes to help support the event in 2011. Check out the YouTube video from 2010! You’ll find it listed in the post on this site from last year! Enjoy!
Mail to: Bear Lake Promoters,
P.O. Box 141, Bear Lake, MI 49614
“We all consider Sparkle in the Park Bear Lake’s gift to those who visit. It was so very rewarding to see the hundreds of cars drive through each night,” said Jaquish.

11 11 11 also is known as Remembrance  Day – marking the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month when the Armistice ended World War One in 1918. Over 9 million soldiers died during the 1914-18 ‘war to end all wars.’ And Bear Lake sent some of its own off to fight in the mud and misery.

Over 9 million soldiers lost their lives in World War One alone. You can learn more about the horrific state of ‘modern warfare’ at the Library of Congress web site: http://www.loc.gov/rr/program/bib/wwi/wwi.html

The Great War was also one of the first that saw widespread volunteerism of women. An exhibit of Women In Uniform can be seen at: http://blog.americanhistory.si.edu/osaycanyousee/2011/09/women-in-uniform-world-war-i-edition.html

For many families in our community the history of serving in the armed forces runs back through many generations and we thank you all.

And if you really care and would like to help those currently serving and surviving veterans and their families, do check out this article from Sunday’s Parade Magazine:

http://www.parade.com/news/veterans/articles/11-ways-to-help-veterans-on-11-11-11.html

And please consider contributing to the Bear Lake Care Packages packed with loving pride and sent to those currently serving overseas. Help us send a little bit of northern Michigan to bring a smile to those serving many miles away!
See the details at http://www.bearlakemichigan.com/xmas.html 

Courtesy of Bear Lake Promoters

Ten free turkeys (20#’s each) to be given away by the Bear Lake Promoters.
Turkey Drawing is November 18th, 2011.  (Need not be present to win)
Just fill out the form with your name and phone number.
Canisters will be at the following  businesses:

Auto Value | Bear Lake Discount Food Store | Bear Lake Bar and Restaurant | Bear Lake Ace
Honor Bank | Huntington Bank | Lakeside Restaurant | Richmond Drug | Village Cafe
Pleasanton Valley Greenhouse | Saddle Up Gas and Grocery