Hi,
Here we go on a running start into 2006. New Year�s Day is past and resolutions
were made, and maybe broken by now. All we can do now is look forward to spring.
Although we have had some fairly decent weather, except for the lack of
sunshine. I think the weatherman was looking for a new record for days without
sunshine, but on the 15th day when the sun broke through for about five minutes,
he almost cried.
Help for Home Heating Bills
It looks like we can look for a lot of cold days ahead for the next couple of
months. Due to the increase in the cost of gas and electric, a lot of our
seniors will be hurting to pay their bills and still buy food and medicine.
There is help for them though. In addition to Michigan�s Home Heating Tax
Credit, energy assistance is provided to low income seniors citizens through
various other means, both federally and state funded. The State Emergency Relief
Program helps low income households with emergency heating assistance, as well
as, other non-heating energy needs that cause a threat to life and health.
Eligibility is based on income household assets and the need for emergency
service. For more information, you should contact your local Family Independence
Agency office or call the Home Heating Energy Assistance Hotline at 1(800)
292-5650.
Trivia
Here�s a little trivia for you. Did you know that Lewis Waterman, an insurance
salesman, devised the first fountain pen in 1803. Of course this is all
irrelevant today, because everyone is using computers today and ballpoint pens.
Minimum Wage Ballot Proposal
Signing this petition gives people the right to vote on raising the minimum wage
at the general election scheduled for November 7, 2006. Petitions are available
to sign at the union hall. If approved by voters, it would raise the minimum
wage in Michigan from $5.15 per hour to $6.85 per hour on January 1, 2007.
Credit Union Meeting - February 4
Remember our 56th Annual Credit Union meeting will be held at 6:30 Saturday,
February 4, at Godwin Heights School auditorium. Hope to see you there. They
tell me there will be many cash prizes, as well as, vacation and restaurant
certificates.
In Closing
Our next retirees� meeting will be February 21, at the union hall. Hope to see
you there. Come join us for coffee and donuts. So long for now and please say
your prayers for our sick and the families of our deceased.
In Memoriam:
11/14/05 John Koster, 11/6/05 Donald Madison Sr., 11/28/05 Ernest Thompson
Retired January 1, 2006
Adams, Clifford
Anez, Donald
Bemister, James
Cepaitis, Al
DeVries, Scudder
DeWitt, Harvey
Dietrich, James
Foster, Robert
Gillett, Susan
Guest, Johari
Hartke, Robert
Kaechele Jr., Frederick
Lenfield, Terry
Makowski, Donald
Pitzer, David
Rittersdorf, Frederick
Roeters, Gerry
Schumacher, Steve
Seibold, Richard
Younce III, Edward