My News, by "Mike"
Scroll to the end to read copies of my most recent letters-to-the-editor in the EAGLE-HERALD on the marijuana issue in Menominee.
I take part in Wednesday evening sailboat races with my 1978 Lancer-29 sailboat, Menominee Marina, MMYC (M&M Yacht Club); when scheduled spring, summer, fall. Named "Santa Maria" by my wife Laura, and said for Saint Mary, not Columbus' ship. Now scheduled to be hauled out and placed on its storage cradle at NestEgg Marine in Marinette until Spring 2027.
Finally, after limited flying instruction in 2025 because of the CFI’s (certified flight instructor) medical problems; and in 2026 only available sporadically available on weekends because he flies for the state of Michigan – there is a new CFI here full time and I’m scheduled three days a week. So I hope now to solo the Archer-LX soon, get my required hours of solo time, and get a FAA (federal aviation agency) examination and check ride prior to the end of January. My passing the written exam expires the end of January (two year time limit after which I would have to retake it).
My sister looked up and said in the book of Guinness World Records, the oldest person to first receive a private pilot's license was age 87. I'm 87. She said if I wait until I'm 88 to take the FAA check ride and get a license I'll be in the book of world records.
Bicycle ride: Spring, summer, fall, a 10-mile bicycle ride with a group on Thursdays, and sometimes do another 8 or 10 miles alone or with someone on another day.
Teaching: I continue to teach a faith formation "Catholic" (catechism class) 5th and 6th grade, again starting October 2026 through May 2027. As well, I'm lector once a month at Mass at Holy Spirit Church in Menominee and an extraordinary minister of communion most Sundays.
I HAVE COMPLETED MY MOVE INTO THE CITY LIMITS
At age 87 I didn't feel I need a 3000 sq. ft. house, it's approximately three miles outside of the city in Menominee Township on the river. I enjoyed it and the location, however since my wife Laura passed away I have no need for a big house. I am now in an apartment on the bay, Bay View Appartments, 1326 1st Street. The planning what to keep and what I can't - it was necessary to get rid of stuff for the move from 3000 sq.ft. to 1000 sq.ft. Also a little emotional after having lived there 31 years, the memories of Laura, and she decorated it. After a time in it Laura decided to have the walls painted from original off-white/beige. She had the rooms painted in various pastels -- pink, coral, green, shades of blue in the same room, off-yellow, ... I told her it will look like an Easter egg. But the result was it looked great. So now after sale of the house, the closing was August 28th, I'm learning to live life in an apartment.
Below, copies of the latest two of my "letters-to-the-editor".
