Summer is ending for another year. The mornings are a little chillier than they have been, and the children are getting ready for their return to another school year. A time to start slowing down, go back to a routine, and lead a more normal lifestyle, whatever that may be.

It means an end to a very busy time for the members of God's Country Cooperative Parish's (GCCP) many churches. They've had a very busy summer helping those in need with repairs, building, and cleaning. Whatever a friend or neighbor needed, the members were there to offer their services.

More than 30 people from GCCP churches took part in "Neighbors-in-Mission" and helped in projects for neighbors, some of which are still in progress.

They've cleaned, painted, stained, pounded nails, sawed boards, repaired roofs, chopped and stacked firewood, cleaned drains, laid floor tiles, and the list goes on and on. If you needed anything mended or done for you, and you missed out on the fun, call Mike Clark in Engadine at (906) 477-6254 and he will contact a person who can help you.

Where possible, individual property owners have paid for the materials used, while other building materials and tools were donated or bought with money coming from various GCCP church members.

The good news from the Newberry GCCP is the announcement that Catherine Labron of Newberry received the "Humanitarian of the Year Award" from the Lions of Michigan Service Foundation Saturday, July 22, in Lansing.

Ms. Labron was recognized for her ongoing work with mission trips. She had completed 65 mission trips to such places as Russia, Czechoslovakia, Jamaica, Mexico, India, Haiti (four times), Costa Rica, and others.

She also has led Mission trips to tornado-damaged Alabama, sites devastated by Hurricanes Hugo, Katrina, and others in Mississippi, South and North Carolinas, flooded areas in Iowa, and many others in Michigan.

She is not just a leader, she installed electrical conduit in a church, built a concrete block house for a family living in a cardboard shack, put down new floors in a school for the deaf in Siberia, built play areas for an orphanage in Russia, restored two old buildings for a youth director in Protovin, Szech Republic, and helped a group of nuns restore a monastery destroyed during World War II.

Ms. Labron uses her own money for these trips, and raises money for the supplies needed for all the repairs and construction. She does not just give out orders, she pounds the nails, she saws the boards, she carries the bricks needed for repairs. She more than deserves the Lions Award. I have the distinct pleasure of knowing Ms. Labron. I've seen her in action. She is a "work in progress." She always has a smile on her face and, by the way, did I mention she is in her "young 80's.

Also at Engadine is the HSC Snowbird Dinner to be held Thursday September 7, at the church. All donations from this dinner will help to fund the Engadine United Methodist Women's (UMW) missions.

The UMW is appreciative of everyone who attended Fourth of July festivities and helped to raise $913 from the brat and hot dog sales. The money will go to helping their missions through the year.

Since the request for extra operating millage for Newton Township was turned down by the voters, the township board has decided to make a new appeal for the emergency funds in the November election. This request is being made to improve the 57 miles of roads in the township. According to Township Clerk Alice Zdebski, the township's contribution to the fund is $10,000.

Curtis will host the Seventh Annual "Art on the Lake" Art and Music Festival Saturday, September 2. This will be the one-day festival on the shore of South Manistique Lake with arts and crafts, live entertainment, a silent auction, and special activities for the kids. It will be a fun-filled day for the entire family.

The food tent will feature "A Taste of Curtis" with specially prepared foods by local chefs. Entertainment will include Doc Woodward Blues Trio, Diamonds and Gold, playing country rock, and "Steppin in It" featuring western swing and blues.

The festival will open at 10 a.m., with exhibits closing at 6 p.m. There will be entertainment until 7 p.m. There is no admission charge. For additional information, call the Curtis Area Chamber of Commerce at (906) 586-3700

Congratulations to Carol Norman and her crew, who managed to collect more than 1,000 pairs of shoes for the children in Iraq. Carol's son, who is a U.S. Marine, told his parents that if they would help him, he would like to collect and send shoes to distribute to the children in Iraq.

A flatbed truck was parked along the route of the parade on the Fourth of July, an announcement was made, and there were Sammy's shoes.

Representative Gary McDowell contacted UPS Corporate Offices, and they agreed to ship the shoes, free of charge, to North Carolina, where another truck company had agreed to ship the shoes to the distribution base in Iraq. What a wonderful story of people helping people.

Weldon Slater will be performing as "Louis Armstrong" Thursday, August 31, at 7 p.m. at Chamberlin's in Curtis. There will be a free will offering taken at this performance, which will go toward the purchase of video equipment for the Curtis Community Arts Council.

Happy birthday to John Ketcher September 5.

Happy anniversary to Butch and Carla Crawford September 4 and Stu and Barb Hobbs September 6. Hope you all enjoy your special celebrations.

Stay safe and stay well. See you next week.