Library gets its game on
      Gamers in the library again? Yes! It's loud, it's fun and it's free. The Houghton Lake Public Library will welcome teens ages 13 to high school seniors to hang out, challenge friends, play Rock Band, Super Smash Brothers, DDR and Guitar Hero III and enjoy free pop and pizza.
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Yard sale to benefit Historical Village
      A yard sale fund-raiser is planned for Oct. 4 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. to benefit the Houghton Lake Historical Village. Proceeds of the sale will be used to replace the roof on the Historical Village Chapel. The Historical Village is located next to the Playhouse, 1701 West Houghton Lake Dr., Prudenville.
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MORTGAGE UP TO DATE
     Artesia Youth Park paid this year's mortgage bill to Roscommon County Road Commissioners. Of the $8,000 raised, almost $6,000 was donated by Lion's Leap participants. Artesia also raised money by hosting yard sales. Without the donation by Lion's Leap, Artesia board members were worried about how the bill was going to be paid. Anyone wishing to donate toward Artesia's scholarships for kids to play may call 366-3802 or visit www.artesiayouthpark. com. Pictured are (back row, left to right): Karen Bertetto of Artesia, Road Commissioners Clint Stauffer and Larry Paxton; and (front row): Nadene Clark of Artesia, Artesia Youth Park Director JoJean Thompson and Road Commissioners Jackie Bertsch, Kim Akin and George Pappas. (Courtesy photo)
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FIRST FALL FEST
     The North Higgins Lake State Park's first Fall Festival did not attract a large crowd of campers or visitors Sept. 27, but those who did come had a good time. Devon Lehman, 9; Samantha Lehman, 3; and Ty Lehman, 5, of Roscommon made the rounds of the campground, stopping at the campsite of Mary Sommers and Charlie Wade of Bay City, who had brought along an inflatable spook house for the occasion. Activities included a hayride and a visit from Smokey Bear. The South Higgins Lake State Park will hold its Harvest Festival this weekend. (RP)
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Study group to tour Roscommon
      The Higgins Lake Study Club will meet Oct. 8 at the Gallimore Boarding House in Roscommon. At 11:30 a.m., members will take a historical tour of Roscommon. Lunch is planned for 12:30 p.m. at Matt's Lake Street Grille. Guests may attend.
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Genealogists to focus on life of Heston
      The Roscommon County Genealogical Society will celebrate local celebrity Charlton Heston at its Oct. 9 meeting. Members of Heston's family who live in the area are being invited to the meeting to recall Heston's childhood days in St. Helen and the accomplishments of his lifetime. The meeting begins at 1 p.m.
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River House 'Event' to be at Playhouse
      River House, Inc., will host its annual fund-raiser, "The Event," an evening of dinner and dancing, Oct. 11 from 7 to 11 p.m. at the Houghton Lake Historical Playhouse. The Event includes wine tasting, wooden car races, a silent auction and a raffle drawing at 10 p.m. Proceeds support River House in the fight against domestic and sexual violence and homelessness.
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KCC to host talk on alternative energy sources
      Officials at Kirtland Community College are inviting the public to be part of what they hope will be the first in a series of forums on alternative energy and conservation at 10:30 a.m. Oct. 7 in the G.I. Stewart Auditorium.
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TEAM LEADERS
     Roscommon County United Way campaign committee members and team leaders are gearing up for the 2008-09 campaign to raise funds to support non-profit providers. Pictured, left to right, are Joy Dengler, executive coordinator; Kimberely Wallace, Roscommon team leader; Kim VanDuinen Hamilton, Houghton Lake team leader; Arlyn Tworek, St. Helen team leader; Pam Stephan, campaign committee member; Bob Bennett, campaign committee chair; and Al Cambridge, campaign committee member. The campaign kick-off is scheduled for 6 p.m. Oct. 17 at Coyles, Houghton Lake. Goal is $60,000. More than 25 agencies and programs, including scholarships for area youths to participate in such activities as sports and preschool, have received funds from previous campaigns. (RP)
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RECENT HISTORY
     As the Houghton Lake community pitched in and built the Happy Landings Playground 14 years ago, organizers clipped newspaper articles, took pictures and collected plans and drawings to document the project. On Monday, a jumbo sized scrap book of the project, along with five playground building instruction booklets, were donated to the Houghton Lake Public Library, where they will be available for viewing. Pictured (left to right) are Dianne Jackson, who served as Happy Landings fund-raising and public relations chairperson, Library Director Donna Alward and Happy Landings Chairperson Debbie Banks. Jackson and Banks said they are planning a 15-year celebration of the project next summer. (TRP)
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