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Previously
Featured Businesses ...
Hess Lake Vacation Rentals
Welcome
to Newaygo, where the Muskegon River flows and Mother Nature lets it
snow!
A local
vacation rental business, Hess Lake Rentals, invites tourists to come
Boat, Fish, Hunt and Snowmobile in beautiful Newaygo County Mi.
Hess Lake
Rentals features affordable, year round, waterfront vacation rentals
on Hess Lake, Muskegon River and surrounding water ways throughout
Newaygo County. The property listings are marketed towards families,
hunters, fishermen and other outdoor enthusiasts. You are encouraged
to visit our website
www.HessLakeRentals.com for property specifications and
availability dates.
Today
Newaygo County relies on tourism as its main economic support, with
agriculture and small manufacturing secondary. Hess Lake Rental’s
biggest challenge will come from increasing tourism in the off season
(September – May). This will come from our affiliation with local
fishing and hunting guides, local tourism associations, memberships in
various hunting and fishing directories, snowmobile associations and
getting involved with in the community by participating in local
organizations such as the Newaygo Chamber of Commerce.
Hess Lake
Rentals supports and donates cottages to some very special charities
such as Reeling and Healing, Reel Recovery and Anglers Legacy. These
national non profit organizations conduct fly-fishing retreats for men
and women recovering from life threatening cancer. Their missions are
to help men and women in the cancer recovery process by introducing
them to the healing powers of the sport of fly-fishing, while
providing a safe, supportive environment to explore their personal
experiences with cancer, with others who share their stories.
Hess Lake
Rentals also starting to feature local business and events on their
website in efforts to increase the tourism with in this wonderful
small town atmosphere that Newaygo retains.
Scott M. Wakerley, CPA
Tax season is here again! Everyone is
receiving their tax information in the mail including both individuals
and businesses. Many people are eager to gather everything so they
can get their refunds back, while there are others that know Uncle Sam
is going to ask them to pay up by April 15th. Whether you
are looking forward to tax season or not, there is a solution to help
maximize your refund or minimize your taxes owed. Scott M. Wakerley,
CPA is the answer that you are looking for!
Scott M. Wakerley, CPA is a Certified
Public Accounting Firm located in the growing city of Newaygo. The
firm serves the residents of Newaygo County to meet their accounting,
tax, and planning needs. Scott Wakerley established the practice in
the fall of 2004 since there were so many new businesses starting in
Newaygo, and no CPA Firms close by. Scott felt that it would be to
the benefit of the area businesses and individuals to establish his
business here.
Scott offers all of his current and
potential clients, “High quality, professional services”. While the
thought of taxes would send most people running for the hills, Scott
is very comfortable with them and is able to help his clients no
matter what the tax situation might be. Scott invests the necessary
time to make sure that each client understands their own situation and
makes sure that their needs are fully met. This is Scott’s
profession. It’s what he loves to do and plans to do until he retires.
Scott moved his office in July 2006 to
his current location in Newaygo at 162 East 82nd Street,
formerly occupied by Hart N Sole. The office is located on the south
side of M-82 across the street from the Plumb’s Plaza. The office
hours have been expanded for tax season and additional appointments
are available outside of these regular hours. The business hours are
9 a.m. to 7 p.m from Monday to Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday,
and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday.
Scott used to work at the national
accounting firm BDO Seidman, LLP, where he obtained his CPA license.
His experience there exposed him to an array of business and
individual clients from international manufacturing companies to
home-based businesses and from billion dollar families down to little
old ladies on social security income. Now, in his own accounting
firm, he focuses on serving small to medium sized businesses and
individuals. The firm’s services include business tax returns,
payroll taxes, personal tax returns, tax planning, resolving IRS
problems, bookkeeping, and establishing business start-ups. The
services offered by the firm are continuing to expand and will grow to
meet the needs of its clients.
Don’t let those last minute tax and
accounting problems get you down. Call Scott at 231-652-5966 to set up
an appointment for a free consultation. For all personal and
professional tax advice, Scott M. Wakerley, CPA is more than ready to
help. For more information on accounting services that the firm has to
offer, along with several useful tax tips, calculators, and
newsletters, visit the website at
www.smw-cpa.com.
Babbling Books & Fly by Nite Gallery
If
you haven't stopped by the new location of Babbling Books & Fly by
Nite Gallery...you don't know what you're missing! The combination of
books and local art give the store a quaint yet sophisticated feel,
truly a nice blend. The new store has the same great tin ceilings
and hardwood floor.
They have also increased their book inventory and have 19 local
artists displayed throughout. As always, they can order nearly any
book at a 10% discount usually within just a few days.
So
what's new besides the location? Gift cards, for one, the perfect
gift for that hard to buy for person. Wireless internet, for two,
bring your laptop in and browse awhile. Artists, for three, stop by
and see the new additions to the store.
Browse awhile, sit on the sofa by the fire and soak in the sun
streaming in the large front window, bring your laptop and access the
wireless internet.
As
their logo states...your cultural connection, where books and art
meet!
Babbling Books & Fly by Nite Gallery is closed on Sundays, open
Mondays from 12:30-3, Tuesday and Wednesday from 11-6, Thursday from
11-8, Friday from 11-6 and Saturday from 10-5. Check out their
website next time you're online,
www.babbling-books.com, or give them a call 231-652-5600.
Dairy Queen of Newaygo
Open Year Round!
The idea
of a Dairy Queen in Newaygo started in late summer of 1999 when Al
Karrip along with his wife, Cookie (owners of Dairy Queen of Newaygo)
realized that while the city of Newaygo continued to grow, it was
still missing a place where families could get together and enjoy a
treat.
On March
15, 2000, Al’s dream was completed when Dairy Queen opened its doors.
Now when those cravings for famous Dairy Queen Blizzards come about,
look no further than 270 South Adams Street in Newaygo. Are you not
in the mood for a Blizzard? Then feel comforted by the fact that
“There isn’t a treat you could want that Dairy Queen does not have,”
says Al. All you have to do is show up between 11 a.m. and 9 p.m. (10
p.m. in the summer) any day of the week any time of the year.
Dairy
Queen has extended its food menu. There is a wide variety of
delicious food on the menu, and it is all made FRESH-TO-ORDER.
There are no warmers for food to sit under, so rest assured that any
food ordered at Dairy Queen is hot and fresh when the customer
orders. FRESH-TO-ORDER does not only apply to food but it also
extends to frozen treats such as the Dilly and Buster Bars and the
Chillabration Ice Cream Cakes. These treats are made on site daily by
employees that work at maintaining the high quality that Dairy Queen
strives for.
Dairy
Queen can also accommodate parties for up to 30 people with only a few
days notice. The Chillabration Ice Cream Cakes are perfect for these
parties. There are seven certified cake decorators on staff, two are
at level 3 certificates, that decorate cakes with a variety of
in-house designs or with a design that you bring in. For those large
parties at home, Dairy Queen offers free delivery of their cakes
without a minimum order requirement.
Dairy
Queen prides itself on sanitation and feels that it is the cleanest
restaurant in Newaygo County. These feelings are well founded, as
Dairy Queen employees check the restrooms every hour for cleanliness
and supplies. In 2004, when the Health Department started issuing
awards for sanitation, the first award was given to Dairy Queen, and
again in 2005 and 2006.
We have
been open for nearly seven years and we have seen the good times
(summer) and the not so good times (winter). However being a
successful business is not what it is all about. The many wonderful
people we have come in contact with have been great. To help make
just one of those people have a good day and put a smile on their face
is awesome. And our employees, we have had many young people work at
the Dairy Queen, some their first job. What a blessing to be able to
influence these young people to become good citizens in all aspects of
their lives. Our Heavenly Father has been good to both Cookie and I,
and for all that we thank Him. We also thank our many customers as
without them, we would have no business.
For a
quality meal and a treat for the whole family, any time of the year,
stop in at Dairy Queen. They are located at 270 South Adams Street in
Newaygo (on M-37). To order a Chillabration Ice Cream Cake or to plan
a party at Dairy Queen call 231-652-6597.
Newaygo Realty Inc.
Newaygo
Realty Inc. owner, Estelle Derwin, states their mission is simple “We
Work In Your Best Interest”. Many times in a franchise, your hands
are tied in making your customer happy and therefore, just over a year
ago, Estelle broke away from the franchise and began Newaygo Realty
Inc.
“We are
small, but powerful” states Estelle. Currently Newaygo Realty Inc. is
ran out of Estelle’s home. Estelle has been in the Real Estate arena
for over 14 years. Newaygo Realty has extremely competitive rates.
Many times their fees and prices are more competitive because of their
small size. This however, does not limit what they can do for you.
NRI
offers traditional full service and one stop shopping. They belong to
2 MLS Boards with access to several others. They are able to find
listings all through-out the state of Michigan. One of the things
that set them apart from others is that they offer “Un-Bundling”. NRI
“Un-Bundles” the real estate listing package so you can select the
specific are you want advise/assistance in. Each package is molded to
your particular needs. NRI will also provide one, three, or multiple
services for a flat fee when for example in ‘For Sale by Owner’
situations.
Call
Estelle at Newaygo Realty Inc., 231-652-5100, for all your realty
needs. They will WORK IN YOUR BEST INTEREST!
Fremont
Area Community Foundation
The Fremont Area Community
Foundation (FACF) is a local nonprofit organization with a permanent
collection of endowed funds. It uses the income from the invested
funds to make grants for a broad range of charitable projects that
address community needs. The Foundation’s mission is to improve the
quality of life for the people of Newaygo County. We fulfill this
through five primary means: leadership, donors, endowment, grantmaking,
and philanthropy.
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FACF’s roots go back to
the early 1930’s when a few visionary philanthropists created
funds for the betterment of their community. These funds were
incorporated in 1951 forming the private Fremont Foundation.
Twenty-two years later, the Foundation was reorganized into its
current structure as a community foundation. |
Today, we
manage more than 275 funds, including three supporting organizations
and three geographic affiliate foundations.
FACF is one of
the largest community foundations in the nation on a per capita basis,
serving a population of nearly 50,000, with assets around $189
million. In 2005, the FACF Board of Trustees approved grants of over
$9 million to non-profit agencies within Newaygo County.
Since 1972, more
than $127 million in grants have made a significant, positive impact
on our community.
We are fortunate to reside
in Newaygo County among such remarkable natural resources, generous
and caring people, timeless values, and numerous nonprofit
organizations. Newaygo County is one of a kind.
Whether
you’re exploring philanthropic options or grant funding, the Fremont
Area Community Foundation is prepared to help you cross the bridge
that connects the needs of Newaygo County with the convictions of the
heart.
Baker College
The
Newaygo County campus of Baker College has been proudly serving
Newaygo and surrounding areas from its location in the NC RESA
building for over 13 years. Operated as an extension of Baker College
of Muskegon, the Newaygo County campus serves over 330 students
pursuing certificates, associate and bachelor degrees.
For nearly a century, Baker
College has quietly gone about the business of preparing students for
successful careers. The college has grown considerably from a college
of 150 students in 1911 to over 33,000 students in the State of
Michigan today. Today, Baker College is the largest private college in
the state and is home to one of the largest online educational
programs in the United States.
Flexible associate,
bachelor's and master's degree programs cater to students pursuing
careers in the business, health sciences, human services, education,
and technical fields. The mission as an institution - to provide
quality higher education and training which enables graduates to be
successful throughout challenging and rewarding careers - has never
changed.
Unlike "traditional"
colleges and universities, the employment of Baker graduates is their
sole focus. In fact, 99 percent of Baker graduates are employed. As a
result, every Baker College action - from curriculum design, to
student service offerings, to management decisions - is planned with
the needs of only two groups in mind: the students and the employers
who hire them.
In
Fremont students are now able to complete certificates in Emergency
Medical Technology, Medical Assistant, and Medical Reception, as well
as an associate degree in Management. Due to the close proximity to
the Muskegon campus, many students find it convenient to attend both
campuses. The college also offers a wide selection of classes and
programs available to be taken on-line. The flexibility of combining
on campus classes in Fremont with those in Muskegon, or those offered
on-line, allows students in this area to conveniently complete
degrees.
Classes
available this fall in Fremont include Accounting, Early Childhood
Education, English, Geography, Health Sciences, Human Service,
Information Systems, Law, Management, Medical, Office Administration,
Psychology, Speech, and Spanish. Baker College of Fremont offers both
day and evening courses, with class options designed to fit the
busiest persons schedule.
While Baker College of
Fremont may seem small in size, the campus is located in one of the
fastest growing, dynamic communities in the State of Michigan. Baker
College of Fremont is ready to meet the challenges which present
themselves and to grow with this community. The campus has up-to-date
computer labs with full internet capabilities, spacious classrooms,
and a student commons which provides an enjoyable setting for studying
or socializing with classmates.
To
receive more information about Baker College, call the Fremont Campus
at (231) 924-8850 or 1-800-937-0337 or stop by the office at 4747 West
48th Street, located in the Newaygo County Regional
Educational Service Agency building in Fremont.
West Michigan Event Outfitters
After spending many years designing
flower arrangements for family and friends, Sherri Anderson-Patterson
found an entry-level job at a local floral shop. Under the tutelage
of experienced designers, Sherri advanced her skills and by 1993
became a part owner of the shop. One year later, she became the sole
owner of the shop and under her leadership it became an award winning
business, receiving accolades from the Florist Trans-World Delivery (FTD)
organization.
Jim Patterson was a career teacher for
Fremont Public Schools and was the Prom advisor for many years. “I
always tried to talk the kids into staying local for their prom. That
way we could maximize the experience with decorations and ambience. It
was a lot of work but loads of fun to transform the multi-purpose room
at the high school into something the kids could barely recognize.”
Sherri and Jim married in 1997 and
Sherri found it harder and harder to put in the necessary 60 plus hour
weeks to keep the floral shop running the way she wanted it to. “I’m
so picky about detail; I guess I’m a bit of a perfectionist when it
comes to my floral and wedding designs. We were trying to remodel the
house, and I just couldn’t be in two places at one time. The current
owner of the shop approached me, made an offer to purchase the shop
and I decided to sell. I thought a change might be nice.”
Three years later while creating the
floral arrangements for Sherri’s son’s impending wedding they hit on
the idea of a party rental service. This came about, in part because
of their frustration at the difficulty of finding the wedding and
party items to rent. “It wasn’t so much that items weren’t available
to rent, it was that everything we saw was beat-up junk!” And so,
West Michigan Event Outfitters LLC was born. At first, operating out
of their home, the ever-growing inventory soon took over every
available space. It didn’t take long for the word to spread about the
quality of the inventory and requests for items they didn’t have kept
coming in.
“We kept purchasing more inventory.
The living room, garage, basement, and family room quickly filled with
inventory. Eventually, Sherri and Jim began renting warehouse space.
“Even that became quickly filled and we invested in a tracked
high-density storage system.” Jim said.
As they began to do more rental
business, requests came for fresh floral decorations for weddings and
other events. The word began to spread and the planning for opening a
full-service floral shop began. The combined businesses opened on
December 1, 2005 at 34 E. Main in downtown Fremont, across from the
Dutch Bakery Restaurant. “We provide a full range of floral shop
services,” Sherri said. Teleflora and Flower Shop Network wire
services give customers the option of worldwide floral delivery. “We
can deliver around the corner or around the world!” she added.
A newly added service is men’s formal
wear and business suit rental. “This is such a natural fit for our
business model that I’m surprised it took a friend to suggest it to
us,” said Jim. “We offer complete tuxedo packages from two of the
finest lines available in our area: Bunny Tuxedos Unlimited and Jim’s
Formal Wear.”
Business hours for the store are
Monday-Friday 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The
phone number for Celebration Floral is 924-0694 and West Michigan
Event Outfitters can be reached at 924-3460. All major credit cards
are accepted. “Because of the comprehensive services we now offer, we
are becoming more of a one-stop resource to our prospective brides and
grooms.” Jim added, “Our customer feedback surveys are a valuable
tool that helps keep us on track. We continue to stress customer
service while offering the highest quality products and services.
It’s a formula that worked for Sherri before and it’s working for us
again.”
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"Explore
Newaygo Year-Round"