C

Lawson Aviation relocates to Thursday, December 21, 2017

Three Rivers... Since 1895
–page 2 Vol. 123, Issue #299
75¢
Three Rivers
ommercial-News
threeriversnews.com

A ‘cloud of
Lending a hand
Left, Jerry Moreland (left), *culture is not optional summer intern, helps Rob Vander Giessen-Reitsma, (middle) executive director
of *cino, hang a sign prior to Huss Future Festival 2017 on Saturday, July 22. Funds raised during the organization’s two-week, year-end
fundraiser will, among other things, help purchase supplies for Huss Future Fest. Right, Huss Future Festival 2017 featured numerous

support’
activities for attendees including an art tent.
Photos provided

City commission Last minute

sales and
Local non-profit raises
holds public hearing
encouraging, and motivating to have this
sort of cloud of support because so much
over $15K in two of the kind of work that we do is behind movies round
weeks the scenes.

By Alek Frost
Managing Editor
“It’s boring, nobody knows that it’s
happening, it’s not glamorous, it’s not
interesting, which is the case for so many
on MMFLA ordinance out downtown
holiday strolls
(nonprofit) organizations. Something like
and we do not want anything else that
series
By Alek Frost
this makes you realize ‘oh, people are
THREE RIVERS —*culture is not Managing Editor can be passed on to the children of the
paying attention, they appreciate what
optional, a Three Rivers-based nonprofit, next generation, whether it be from
we’re trying to do,’ and so anytime you get
began a Dollar for Dollar campaign on THREE RIVERS — The Three drug use or alcohol use.” THREE RIVERS — Three Rivers
this kind of support it puts that boring
Nov. 28 hoping to match a $5,000 private Rivers city commission held a public Smith added, “I’m a living example area residents and visitors alike will
slogging into context. You realize that
donation, and raise a total of $10,000 in hearing on a proposed Medical of ‘it stops here,’ and that’s what I’m in have one more chance to enjoy the
more people understand what it takes to
two weeks. Marihuana Facility Licensing Act front of you here today for, is to ask festive, well-lit downtown before
do this kind of work than you sometimes
That happened on the first day. ordinance and rezone ordinance on you please let it stop here. We don’t Christmas this week, in a collection of
realize, and I think that’s true for all kinds
Through social media and thanks to Tuesday, Dec. 19. have to do this, we don’t have to.” activities that promoters say allow for
of organizations in our community and
what Rob Vander Giessen-Reitsma, The ordinance, if passed, would Josh Vojtisek, a veteran of the United a great, family-friendly evening in
elsewhere.”
executive director of *cino, calls a “cloud authorize any or all of the five types of States Marine Corps, said he was downtown.
Outside of monthly donations from
of support,” the nonprofit reached its goal medical marijuana facilities that can diagnosed with PTSD (Post Traumatic The Last Minute Holiday Sales Stroll
regular supporters, *cino does “a few
in less than 24 hours. The quick be licensed by the State of Michigan to Stress Disorder) and a back injury, for is the final event for 2017 in December’s
fundraising events” each year to “help
turnaround enabled the organization to operate within the City of Three which he was prescribed a number of four-event series, the Main Street
support the work,” including the Huss
revise its original fundraising target from Rivers. The city could then charge up medications, including an Holiday Strolls, each of which has
Future Festival, the beer garden at
$10,000 to $15,000. On Dec. 12, the final to $5,000 per medical marijuana See MMFLA, page 3 featured a special theme. The Three
HarmonyFest, and other “one-off ”
day of the campaign, *cino exceeded its facility application, whether that Rivers Main Street program hosts the
fundraisers “here and there.” Vander
revised goal, raising $15,775 in 14 days. application is approved or denied. Stroll from 5 to 8 p.m.
Giessen-Reitsma said people support
Money raised during the year-end Approximately seven members of This Friday’s event features several
*cino and The Huss Project, which *cino
fundraiser will help pay general operating the public spoke during the public areas of focus. Participating stores and
runs, in a number of ways in addition to or
expenses, purchase supplies for Huss hearing, with two individuals speaking other businesses will host light snacks
in lieu of financial contributions.
Future Festival, and cover utilities at in opposition of the MMFLA and refreshments, and many will
“People support The Huss Project in all
*cino’s community house, among other ordinance, and five speaking in favor feature specials on merchandise, gift
kinds of ways. A lot of our supporters
things. of it. certificates, and other items to allow
don’t have the financial means to give
“We have expenses all of the time to do Pat Cast, who spoke in opposition of customers to round out their search
financial contributions but they support
the work that we’re doing, so this the ordinance, said her concern is for stocking stuffers and gifts. Three
us in all kinds of other ways through
(campaign) was designed to support that, “we’re going to have a degradation of Rivers Artists’ Guild’s Pop-Up shop
volunteering, through working on the
and recognize that those expenses need to our community if we begin with and art gallery at 52 North Main will
urban farm in the summer, all sorts of
be paid for. Things, really boring things, medical marijuana clinics being here.” be open, sharing space with the New
things. And so, that kind of community of
like gas for the lawnmower, garbage bags Anna Smith, who also opposes the Hope Holiday Center’s free gift-wrap
support is the way this kind of community
for the summer lunch program or seeds MMFLA ordinance, said her parents station. The artisan market at 36 North
project works.”
and seed starting supplies for the urban were “alcohol abusers” and as a result Main also remains in business through
For more information about *cino and
farm, hoses, all sorts of things that add up “abused their children.” She added that the weekend.
The Huss Project visit them online at
over the course of a year, to say nothing of people who abuse alcohol “or In addition to the shopping
the stipends we pay our summer interns,
www.cultureisnotoptional.com and www.
hussproject.com. Find them on Facebook
marijuana, in this case, don’t realize On the fence promotion, Rooster’s Wing Shack,
that supports the work. All of that is donor what they’re doing to the people Commissioner Janell Hart said she was
at w w w. f a c e b o o k . c o m / “on the fence” about how she would vote
Kelsey Block Brewing Company, and
supported.” around them, and my sisters and I the Riviera Theatre will each be open
cultureisnotoptional or www.facebook. on a proposed Medical Marihuana Facility
Vander Giessen-Reitsma said he was bare the scars of the things that and serving food and drink. The
com/hussproject. Licensing Act ordinance during a public
humbled by the community’s support. happened to us in our childhood, and hearing on the matter on Tuesday, Dec. 19. Riviera will feature a showing of the
Alek Frost can be reached at 279-7488
“It is remarkably humbling, we do not pass that onto our children, Commercial-News/Alek Frost Bing Crosby holiday season classic,
ext. 22 or alek@threeriversnews.com.
See LAST MINUTE, page 3

IMAGINE WHITE
CHRISTMAS
ITS A
WONDERFUL LIFE
HOW THE
GRINCH STOLE

YOUR AD Dec. 22 (6:00 p.m.) Dec. 23 (3:30 p.m) CHRISTMAS

Dec. 23 (7:00 p.m)
HERE!!!!!!
or... your competitors.
$7/adult & $6/child,
senior, student
$7/adult & $6/child,
senior, student ~FREE!~
The choice is yours.
269.279.7488
Visit trriviera.com for our
complete show schedule!
RIVIERA THEATRE & BAR Upcoming Events
WHAT WE’RE WORKING ON:
Road Commission meeting coverage TODAY’S WEATHER
HAVE A GREAT DAY: Olive M. Kline HIGH: 37º LOW: 33º To subscribe, place an ad or submit
©2017 Three Rivers Commercial, Inc. a news tip call: 269.279.7488