Softball Staff's Decision Making Saves a Life

May 14, 2011

University of Michigan director of athletics Dave Brandon will regularly offer his view on different topics related to U-M and intercollegiate sports. All of his posts, along with links to related content, will be available on his page, mgoblue.com/brandon, and he is also on Twitter at @DaveBrandonAD.

Competitive sports are not life and death, but the lessons learned sure can translate to everyday life, and in some cases saving one's life.

On Wednesday, April 27, at our Wilpon Softball Complex,

quick thinking, training and the resolve to win paid off big time. Not on the field but in the team lounge as the Wolverine softball coaches literally saved the life of a recruit's father.

The softball team had just finished their practice session on the field and Carol Hutchins, Bonnie Tholl and Jennifer Brundage were sitting down with a recruit and her father, watching a highlight video of Michigan softball. At the conclusion of the video, the father's head tilted back and Hutch thought he was looking up at the lights.

They called out the father's name. He was unresponsive, his eyes were open. That's when the 'team' went into action.

Tholl immediately c

alled 911

, while Hutchins and Brundage tried to lay the father down flat. Once he was on the floor, Hutch immediately

gave him CPR, starting with two short mouth-to-mouth breaths.

Jennifer quickly

went to get the automated external defibrillator (AED) located at the front door, while Hutch was working on the compression portion of the CPR. Once the AED was brought over, Hutc

h opened the man's shirt and the defibrillator pads were placed on his chest.

Brundage yelled at Hutch to get her hands off the father. The AED must first analyze the situation and any outside influence would not allow the rescue equipment to do its job.

Once the AED analyzed the individual, the AED read 'Shock Advised.' They are words that our softball coaches will never forget.

All three coaches looked at the AED to make sure what they read was what they needed to do. At that point, they applied the shock.

According to Jennifer, he didn't bounce, the shock made him jump.

"I don't think any description about the bounce effect does it justice until you see it," said Brundage.

While all this was happening, the softball freshmen were in the locker room, talking and calming the recruit, while the emergency took place in the team lounge. All this happened in minutes, maybe seconds. The ambulance arrived and the recruit's father was rushed to the University of Michigan Hospital.

Our coaching staff jumped into action having taken training courses on CPR and the proper use of an AED.

While CPR might look easy and the AED can be easily used, it was the practice and training they received that gave our coaches the confidence they needed to save someone's life.

Fortunately, this is a story with happy ending. The father survived and the Michigan softball coaching staff is credited with the biggest save of their careers. They saved a man's life.

Training, practice and the resolve of this staff to save the recruit's father made these few minutes more important than any sporting event could ever be. Our coaching staff of Hutch, Bonnie and Jennifer did not just make our athletic department team proud, they made us realize we have true heroes in our midst.

This wasn't just a game; it was truly a matter of life and death. This time they beat death. That is a big time victory.

Congratulations to our softball staff and team, we are so proud of all of you.

Go Blue!

ORV Ride and Business After Hours

ORV Ride and Business After Hours

The Indian River Chamber of Commerce Ambassador’s, would like to invite you to an organized ORV ride and Business After Hours (BAH), this Saturday, May 14th, at the Black Mountain Lodge

Bring your ATV, motorcycle or ORV and enjoy the trails surrounding the Black Mountain Lodge at 1pm (or rent one from IRSC; please call ahead for rental information: 231.333.3600)  IRSC will also have sport utility vehicles on site for test driving.

A special lunch menu will be available at the Black Mountain Lodge!!

You do not have to participate in the ORV ride to attend the BAH, you may join us for wonderful tastings from the Black Mountain Lodge from 3pm to 5pm.

BAH is $5 per member and $10 per not yet member.  (There is no additional charge to participate in the ride)

Please RSVP with the Chamber 238-9325 or reply to this email with your info.

This should help sell waterfront property

If you have followed the Asian Carp dilema, you know that the Great Lakes states - Michigan in particular - are trying to convince the federal government to take action in preventing the infiltration of these fish into the Great Lakes waters. While it is logical to most people that allowing an apex predator into the ecological system of these magnificent water bodies is not a great idea, the White House and US Federal Appeals Court don't seem to worried. After all, there are only 4 different types that area a threat to the Great Lakes (yes, not 1 but 4).

Last week, a report to the Great Lakes Commission confirmed that the food supply for the species is even better than originally believed. But it is all great...the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is studying the issue and the report is expected to be complete in 2015. You have to be @^$#%$# kidding me.

Oh well, I guess rather than sport fishing and boating on the Great Lakes and all of the inland lakes fed by direct tributaries , we will just try fishing this way...

Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox is doing his best and you can help by clicking here.

Record Rainfall in Northern Michigan

The local rivers filled up the boat wells and pressed to the top of the seawalls.  I have never seen the river this high.
Both the Sturgeon River and Little Sturgeon River overflowed it's banks in some unprotected areas.

The 3 day storm dumped over 4" of rain on Indian River.

The Weather Man Got It Right...Unfortunately

Captain's Log. Star Date April 20, 2011...

This must be some SciFi episode because it snowed 5" last night.

The accumulation would have been greater but it rained as well.

Even the summer toys are snow covered.

More soon...

Is it really April 19th?

Forecast today is snow.  Yes snow.  Accumulation of 6"-10".

More tomorrow.  Oh my.........

There is an App for that.

I have been in New York for Spring Break with my family so I haven't posted in a while. While traveling, I tested a variety of real estate apps for my iPhone and my wife's Droid. I freely admit I am 100% converted to the iPhone from my years as a Blackberry guy. The iPhone really is amazing. I used the Zillow and Coldwell Banker apps for looking at home prices during our east coast adventure. It was amazing to press the locate button then suddenly have all available listings pop up on the map. It works great in northern Michigan as well. One touch and you have detailed information about the property with full color photos. Then you call me and tell me which homes we are going to look at!

To download the Zillow.com app for your smartphone:
http://www.zillow.com/mobile/

For the Coldwell Banker Apps:
iPhone: http://itunes.apple.com/app/coldwell-banker-real-estate/id325309137?mt=8
iPad: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/coldwell-banker-real-estate/id424003485?mt=8&ls=1
Android: https://market.android.com/details?id=com.coldwellbanker.android.v2&feature=search_result

This video explains the features of the Coldwell Banker iPad App

Vacation- and Investment-Home Shares Hold Even in 2010

I edited this article allowing it to specifically address vacation homes. Click on the link above for the full article.
billy


The market share of vacation- and investment-home sales1 held steady in 2010, although the sales volume declined with the overall market, according to the National Association of Realtors®.

NAR’s 2011 Investment and Vacation Home Buyers Survey, covering existing- and new-home transactions in 2010, shows vacation-home sales accounted for 10 percent of transactions last year while the portion of investment sales was 17 percent, both unchanged from 2009.

All-cash purchases have become prevalent in the second-home market in recent years: 59 percent of investment buyers paid cash in 2010, as did 36 percent of vacation-home buyers.

With an overall decline in home sales during 2010, the volume of 543,000 vacation-home sales was down 1.8 percent from 553,000 in 2009. Primary residence sales declined 5.6 percent to 3.81 million from 4.04 million in 2009.

The median vacation-home price was $150,000 in 2010, down 11.2 percent from $169,000 in 2009. By contrast, the median primary residence price declined a relatively modest 4.5 percent to $176,700 last year from $185,000 in 2009.

The typical vacation-home buyer in 2010 was 49 years old, had a median household income of $99,500 and purchased a property that was a median distance of 375 miles from his or her primary residence; 31 percent of vacation homes were within 100 miles and 41 percent were more than 500 miles.

“Even if purchases are delayed due to economic circumstances, the underlying long-term demand – the desire for purchasing second homes – remains because people in their 30s and 40s will reach the prime age for buying and will drive the second-home market in coming decades as conditions permit,” Yun added.

Currently, 40.7 million people in the U.S. are ages 50-59 – a group that dominated sales in the first part of the past decade and established records for second-home sales. An additional 43.8 million people are now in the primary buying demographic of 40-49 years old, while another 40.4 million are 30-39.

Lifestyle factors continue to be the primary motivation for vacation-home buyers, with the desire for rental income driving investment purchases. Vacation homes were more likely to be located in a rural area, while investment homes were more likely to be in a suburban location.

“Vacation-home buyers want the property for their own personal use, with 84 percent saying the primary reason for buying was to use for vacations or as a family retreat,” Yun said.

Thirty-four percent of vacation-home buyers said they plan to use the property as a primary residence in the future. Vacation-home buyers plan to keep their property for a median of 13 years.

Business After Hours at the Indian River Golf Club

Fun Golf Scramble Business After Hours

Call and reserve your spot now!

The Indian River Chamber of Commerce Ambassador’s, Indian River Physical Therapy, Coldwell Banker and Burt Lake Marina would like to invite you to a "Fun Golf Scramble" Business After Hours (BAH), Thursday, May 12th, at the Indian River Golf Club, beginning at 5:30. Tee off @ 6:00pm; playing until 7:30pm when the appetizers will be ready. 
Join us for games, prizes and fun on the course followed by wonderful hors d'oeuvres and networking, afterwards in the Clubhouse.

BAH is $10 per member and $15 per not yet member.
(There is no additional charge to golf)
There are limited spaces, so Please RSVP early with the Chamber at 238-9325.

Spring Skiing in Northern Michigan

Spring skiing is my favorite.  Perfectly groomed slopes. Warmer, sunny days. And I think it is fair to say the lines at the chair lift are short.

Survey: Vacation Home Market on the Rebound

The following article provides secondary verification to what I have been saying for some time.  The noirthern Michigan vacation home market is ceertainly making a return but buyers are cautious.  They are willing to take a little less if they can spend less thus decreasing the overall investment and therefore risk.  I property with 200' of waterfrontage used to be a hot commodity but the 100' lot is now acceptable in trade for a lower cost.  Everybody still wants a vacation home but how much of a vacation home has changed.  The important factor to remember is that vacation homes are about lifestyle and family.  As one client said to me, "You can't take your kids up north to your stock options.- billy

http://www.sunshinestatenews.com/story/survey-vacation-home-market-rebound
After several years of negative trends in the real estate industry, finally a sign of life: A market study just out by a Stuart real estate marketing firm shows budding consumer confidence in the second- or vacation-home market.

"It's no exaggeration to say that four years ago -- unless you count commercial buyers grabbing up ultra-cheap foreclosures -- the second-home market was dead as a doornail," said Rolly Marsh, a market analyst with Washington, D.C.-based National Association of Realtors.

The good news comes via the third annual Cotton Report, which reports a polling of more than 800 participants on housing preferences, motivating factors, pricing levels and timelines for purchase. It included participants from 39 states, Canada, Europe and Latin America.

While no direct correlation was made to the harsh winter temperatures, the research survey did point to a significant increase in the number of homebuyers looking to buy a vacation home -- in fact, a year-over-year increase of 800 percent.

This trend is further supported by an increase in the number of buyers describing their transition as "a geographic relocation." Over the three years the study has been conducted, there has been a continuous trend toward smaller homes. The most popular size? It's now between 1,700 and 2,299 square feet. Homes ranging from 1,000 to 1,699 square feet saw an increase of 5 percent in interest levels from 2010 to 2011.

The Cotton Report also shows signs that pricing levels have adjusted to meet consumer expectations.

In 2009, respondents indicated the need for a 50 percent price reduction in order to re-enter the market. In the 2011 survey, this level of price reduction has changed dramatically, down to 20 percent.

"The second-home market is improving, more orderly and more predictable," the NAR's Marsh told Sunshine State News on Friday. "The bad economy and real estate decline of 2006 to 2008 in particular weeded out the speculators. Now we have second-home buyers who buy homes to live in them. Most aren't purchasing for a quick turnover.

"Buyers are returning cautiously, buying smaller and smarter," said Marsh.

The Cotton Report, an annual consumer report, is compiled by Cotton & Co., a 28-year old firm specializing in the marketing and sales of residential real estate throughout the United States and the Caribbean.

Says Stephann Cotton, the firm’s president, “The adjustment of pricing to realistic levels has brought buyers and sellers closer together. These price adjustments combined with the brutal winter up North have resulted in strong sales in many of our resort residential properties.”
The future of the 30-year mortgage is still up in the air, Cotton acknowledges, but the survey indicates that even though 36 percent of the respondents plan to finance their purchase with a 30-year mortgage, an equal 36 percent plan to pay with cash. The rest are opting for a 15-year loan.
“One of the most dramatic changes in buyer psychology was seen in the responses from those who are uninterested in a real estate purchase,” says Laurie Andrews, Cotton & Co.’s COO. In 2010, 96 percent of these respondents cited economic conditions or political instability as the reason for not purchasing. In 2011, the number was cut in half, with 46 percent of the respondents saying they now have no desire to move.
“These results show buyers are beginning to separate the home buying process from the economic instability,” Andrews said.

Spring or Winter...Wait a Day

One day it looks like February then next it looks like April all in the month of March. Hopefully this is our March "Coming in like a Lion". These photos are of the "GreenDock" on the Indian River which connects Burt Lake and Mullett Lake.

Wine Tasting at Sage in the Odawa Casino

If you are looking for a fun afternoon activity while up north, this wine tasting a nice alternative.
Wine tastings take place every Saturday with the next one Saturday, March 5th, from 3:00pm to 4:30pm. The cost $10.00 per person. For more information - 231-439-6100
www.odawacasino.com

Fishing in Burt Lake

I helped Joe find his cottage on Burt Lake.  He knew I was great then  . . . now I am his hero!   lol

Haul your gear onto the lake.

 Set up your stuff

Catch a Bunch of Fish 

What the frack? US natural gas drilling method contaminates water?

I try to include positive things in my blog but I have a responsibililty to comment when things are not as they may seem.  I can't help but believe this is one of those situations.  Protection comes from education and action.  Whatever your opinion, please take the time to make it an informed one. The honest answer is I haven't yet made a determination for myself but the items in this chart can't be good for our water and environment. - Billy

A controversial new method of natural-gas drilling, embraced rapidly across the US, has contaminated water supplies with radioactive waste, according to an investigation by the New York Times. The paper said internal documents from the Environmental Protection Agency and state regulators showed that the dangers to the public from the drilling method – hydraulic fracturing – were greater than previously understood.

Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, uses huge volumes of water, chemicals and sand injected into rock at high pressure to release natural gas. Its development has unleashed a natural gas boom in the US and around the world. But the NYT said the waste water contained dangerously high levels of radioactivity. It was being sent to treatment plants that were not designed to deal with or being discharged into rivers that supply drinking water.

The NYT said its main findings included:
• More than 1.3bn gallons of waste water was produced by Pennsylvania wells over the past three years, far more than has been previously disclosed. Most of this water – enough to cover Manhattan in three inches – was sent to treatment plants not equipped to remove many of the toxic materials in drilling waste.

• At least 12 sewage treatment plants in three states accepted gas industry waste water and discharged waste that was only partly treated into rivers, lakes and streams.

• Of more than 179 wells producing waste water with high levels of radiation, at least 116 reported levels of radium or other radioactive materials 100 times as high as the levels set by federal drinking-water standards. At least 15 wells produced waste water carrying more than 1,000 times the amount of radioactive elements considered acceptable.

The investigation comes amid growing concern about the potential dangers of natural gas drilling as it spreads from western states to the more densely populated north-east. The investigative website ProPublica has published an extensive series on the threats to water supplies from hydraulic fracturing. It has also raised doubts about whether natural gas can indeed offer a solution to climate change, noting that the mining process is extremely energy and water intensive.

The dangers of natural gas drilling were also the subject of a gritty documentary, Gasland, which was nominated for an Academy Award. The film's director , Josh Fox, told the Guardian: "All these things are starting to add up in a very clear picture of a massive failure to protect public health."

Hartwick Pines to Host Three Snowshoe-Lacing Workshops

Hartwick Pines State Park near Grayling is hosting three two-day snowshoe-lacing workshops Feb. 26 and 27. This is your chance to lace your own pair of snowshoes. All three workshops will be held at the Michigan Forest Visitor Center at Hartwick Pines. The workshop fee is $180, which includes all materials and equipment needed to make one pair of Ojibwe-style snowshoes with a pointed toe and pointed heel. Class size is limited and reservations are required. To make a reservation, call Theresa Neal at 906-492-3415. For more information about the workshops, including photos, go online to www.michigan.gov/dnrevisitorcenters and click on Tahquamenon Falls State Park.

What is a Michigan Man?

Most people who know me are aware that after high school I attended the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.  I loved every moment I spent at U of M and given the opportunity would choose to be a Wolverine every time.  (No offense to my Spartan or Buckeye friends).

I learned so much and am very proud of my accomplishments in college.  I was privileged to work directly for some of the legendary coaches like Bo Schembechler, Red Berenson, and John Urbanckek, all true Michigan men.

Over the years I have often been asked what qualifies one as a Michigan Man.  The recent search for a football coach exposed some interesting viewpoints by many although most reporters have no idea what they are talking about in this regard (or others for that matter).

For me the answer is simple...it isn't a tenure or a position or even some grand accomplishment...it is a thought process, one I have seldom seen as blatantly as I did at Michigan.  It is a whole-hearted belief that the program is above all else and that no person is more important than the team. 

It is the knowledge that doing something the right way - with class and devotion - is more important than the final outcome.  It is knowing that you can lay your head on the pillow each night knowing you did your best for yourself, your team, and your program without compromise and that you are proud of each person associated with you.  It is never about me first...it is always about:

The Team. The Team. The Team. 

It is a lesson I grasp tightly.  I hope each day I live my life this way.  I hope I pull, push, drag, carry, lead, coax - whatever it takes - each person in my life toward this mindset.  The irony is that it is exactly the value set my parents instilled in me and I saw Bo instill into many.  I am so thankful to have been taught this lesson and to have seen how to share it with others.  Go Blue!

2011 Indian River Winterfest

Fun Things to Do in Northern Michigan

The Indian River Winterfest kicks off this weekend with a variety of events for all.

Friday, January 28th
7:30 -9:00am “Business before Hours” at Citizens National Bank
5:00 - 10:00pm Winterfest Poker Run
6:00 -10:00pm Lions Club Bingo
12:00pm Downtown Business Snowman Contest Judging
 
Saturday, January 29th

9:00am - 4:00pm  Indian River Sprint Dogsled Races- Hometown Inn
12:00 - 4:00pm    “Taste of the North” at the Indian River Golf Club
                            Cross country skiing, wine tasting and delicious food
                             from local restaurants, to benefit the Wildwood Grooming Fund
3:00 - 5:00pm    Fire Department Broomball Challenge:
                          Tuscarora vs Topinabee - Ice Rink; Cooperation Park
5:00 - 6:30pm   Dusk Snowshoe Hike - Burt Lake State Park
5:00 - 8:00pm   Indian River Physical Therapy Family Skating Party Ice Rink; Cooperation Park
8:00pm             Winterfest Party at The Inn Between, River St., Indian River

Sunday, January 30th
8:00am - 12:00pm VFW Breakfast
9:00am - 4:00pm Indian River Sprint Dogsled Races- Hometown Inn
For more information - 231-238-9325 or http://www.irchamber.com/

July 4th, 2010. Indian River Schedule of Events

4th of July Parade – Sunday at 2pm

The Parade will take place downtown on Sunday, 2pm the 4th of July. 

Indian River Fireworks – Saturday Night on Burt Lake
On July 3rd, the skies over Burt Lake will once again come alive with the brilliance of the Annual Tuscarora Township firework display (with a July 5th rain date).

Good Things Do Happen

Wed May 05, 2010 2:37 pm EDT

When losing a golf tournament really makes you a winner
By Shane Bacon

There are times to be competitive. Moments when all you want to do is humiliate your opponent as you defeat him. It's the nature of sports, and what our internal competition meters usually read.
That, we all know, is how athletes feel most of the time. But, at times, and these are few and far between, we see acts that defy wins and losses. A moment when a girl is brought in on crutches to score a layup to break a record or someone being carried around the field after she twisted her ankle rounding the bases. Opponents coming together to transcend the game.

That is what happened between two collegiate golfers, vying for a spot in the NAIA National Championship.
Grant Whybark (left), a sophomore at the University of St. Francis, had locked up a spot in nationals with his team, which won the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference Championship, but was in a playoff against Olivet Nazarene's Seth Doran (right) for individual honors.

As championships go, both the winning team and winning individual are asked to move on to nationals, so if Whybark won the playoff against Doran, he'd be honoring both spots and Doran wouldn't be asked to move on.

What happened next is the type of stuff movies are made about. Whybark stood over his tee shot on the first playoff hole, looked down the fairway and back at his ball, and hit it 40 yards right of the fairway, out of bounds by a mile. He made double bogey, Doran made par, and Olivet Nazarene had a man in nationals.

What makes it so incredible? Whybark intentionally did it, because he felt Doran had earned a spot in the next round. "We all know Seth very well," Whybark explains, "and he not only is a very good player, but a great person as well. He’s a senior and had never been to nationals. Somehow, it just wasn’t in my heart to try to knock him out.

"I think some people were surprised, but my team knew what I was doing and were supportive of me. I felt Seth deserved to go (to nationals) just as much as I did.  "It was one of those things where I couldn’t feel good taking something from him like this. My goal from the start was to get (to nationals) with my team. I had already done that."
Too many times we read about cheap shots or fights or cheaters, and it is stories like this that make it all seem petty. A golfer simply knew his place, was comfortable with where he was, and thought that a senior, playing in his final tournament as a collegiate golfer, had done enough to earn one more week with the game he loved.

I'm not a big believer in karma, and I'm sure the story won't end the way it should, but if Whybark somehow won nationals, it would make for a really nice screenplay. Whybark did what most of us would never do, and although he is short a trophy in his case, he earned respect from anyone reading this story.
Nice shot, kiddo.