Sopport our friends this weekend during the traditional Saint Mary pilgrimage in Stipa, Czech Republic.
I was married in this church to my husband Ludek Pala on October 7, 1978.
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The first annual village bazaar opens in Fallasburg on Sept. 19 & 20.
Source: Fallasburg bazaar press release
Fallasburg Today up and running
By Emma Palova
EW Emma’s Writings
Lowell, MI- The “Fallasburg Today” blog with the Lovecraft theme by Andre Nores is up and running with three initial posts, a Facebook page plug-in and a twitter page @fallasburg.
The Fallasburg Historical Society (FHS) is celebrating 50 years of historic preservation of the 1830s village founded by John Fallass.
I consider it a sign of times that the quaint pioneer village nestled in the northeast corner of Kent County is now marketed on WordPress and on social media.
In an effort to bring awareness to the village, the FHS president Ken Tamke and the board asked me for some technology help last week.
I share their passion and love for history and I live three miles away from the Fallasburg Park. And I love nature at its best.
I embraced the project with fervor because of the dates of the upcoming First Annual Village Bazaar set for Sept. 19 and Sept. 20.
We had a good start: a Facebook page with 245 likes, a website www.fallasburg.org and the excitement of all.
I did the twitter first and then the blog and connected all that. My unifying theme has been “bringing the village alive” so the name “Fallasburg Today.”
Today, there is a live discussion on Facebook and twitter is starting up. People and other organizations like Whites Bridge Historical Society are interested in what is happening at the Fallasburg village.
They are sharing the posts on Facebook and tweeting.
I am a deep believer in progress otherwise we would still be walking and living in caves.
Check us out on www.fallasburg.org, on twitter @fallasburg and on http://fallasburg.wordpress.com
Copyright © 2015 Emma Blogs, LLC. All rights reserved.
Fallasburg Bazaar scheduled for Sept. 19th and Sept. 20th . Check out the list of vendors.
Come, cross the Fallasburg covered bridge and step into the past, present and future. Discover the village at its autumn beauty.
Sign up for Fallasburg Today newsletter for the latest news from the Fallasburg village, events, museum tours, maintenance projects and message from the president Ken Tamke. The first annual village bazaar is coming up on Sept. 19th & Sept. 20th from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. There is still time to sign up for merchants and crafters. Contact Tracy at gashtote@yahoo.com
Fallasburg is at its best in autumn covered in beautiful foliage and gentle breeze.
For more information on the village and the historical society go to http://www.fallasburg.org
Fallasburg Covered Bridge
Fallasburg Historical Society
13944 Covered Bridge Road – Lowell, Michigan 49331
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50 years of Fallasburg preservation.
First annual village bazaar is coming up on Sept 19 and Sept.20 at the Fallasburg Historical Village. Come and have fun.
August newsletter is here
I improved it with writing and blogging tips, a photo gallery Moments in time, Summer 2015. I added a 25 percent coupon off on summer blog design, a schedule of upcoming events and partner badges. Look for it in your in boxes and if you haven’t yet subscribe to it on the main site EW Emma’s Writings at http://emmapalova.com
The design on mailchimp is simple with themes available. However, I do find some of the steps cumbersome, but it is a great free service with most features until you get into analytics and automation.
Copyright (c)2015. Emma Blogs, LLC. All rights reserved.
New eyes one year later
By Emma Palova
EW Emma’s Writings
Grand Rapids, MI- It’s been exactly a year since I’ve had surgeries to remove cataracts from both eyes. The process took close to two months at the Verdier Eye Center in Grand Rapids.
In May, I went almost completely blind to a point where I could no longer drive or write because I couldn’t see the computer screen or the windshield. And that’s exactly what a cataract is- a dirty windshield or lights on the car. Some cataracts take years to develop, mine only took two years from the first consultation. They don’t necessarily just strike older people, which is also one of common misconceptions.
I couldn’t see the TV screen, so I couldn’t do my yoga practice. I cried hard. I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to see my son Jake and daughter-in-law Maranda at their wedding on Oct. 25.
I knew Dr. David Verdier from earlier stories that I had written for Advance Newspapers and Gemini Publications about his worldwide work for Orbis. He is a well-known eye surgeon who brought to West Michigan subspecialty skills of modern corneal transplantation and external eye diseases, cataract removal and intraocular lens implantation.
Dr. Verdier is recognized by his peers as a member of The Best Doctors in America, Who’s Who in the World, Who’s Who in Medicine and Health Care and Who’s Who in American Education.
As such other ophthalmologists have to recommend you to get to him. I asked my eye doctor Holzer that I want Dr. Verdier to do the surgery.
“You’ll have to wait to get in, but he’s worth waiting for,” said Dr. Holzer.
The whole process took several visits to the eye center, but it was well worth it. I overheard some patients waiting for the surgery say, that it is a frivolous surgery.
I would never call any surgery, a frivolous affair. It was done under local anesthesia and with an anesthesiologist present. The prep time for it took two hours.
Today, one year later I still don’t need eye glasses because Dr. Verdier also implanted lenses into my eyes that corrected the vision. I carry patient lens implant identification cards on me.
I am grateful to Dr. Verdier for his expertise and for “Taking my eyes to heart.” I even got a plant Kalanchoe to get well. Both, the plant and my eyes are doing well.
Here are the links to last year’s stories grouped in a mini-series “New Eyes with Dr. Verdier.”
https://emmapalova.com/2014/09/06/new-eyes-with-dr-verdier/
https://emmapalova.com/2014/09/13/new-eyes-with-dr-verdier-3/
https://emmapalova.com/2014/10/01/new-eyes-with-dr-verdier-iii/
https://emmapalova.com/2014/10/21/new-eyes-with-dr-verdier-iv/
Copyright © 2015 Emma Blogs, LLC. All rights reserved.
Czech Harvest Festival “Dozinky” in Bannister celebrates ethnicity
By Emma Palova
Bannister, Michigan- For years I’ve been going to the Czech Harvest Festival to honor my Czech heritage. I consider it a miracle that I even found out about it through a press release to the Ionia Sentinel-Standard from an insurance agent.
Considering that it takes place in the middle of nowhere in Central Michigan in the August heat, I think about what made me go that first time.
First of all, it must have been curiosity if anyone will speak Czech there at all. I am by nature a lover of new things, whatever they may be.
I was in for a surprise. A gentleman sang folk songs in Czech even though he didn’t speak a word of Czech to the lonely tunes of an accordion. A Czech polka band accompanied the hymns at the Czech Heritage Mass at the Saint Cyril Catholic Church. The hymns were in Czech. The gifts included bread and plum brandy.
The harvest festival opens with a parade of dancers and singers carrying decorated rakes and sickles. Then follow the three national anthems, American, Czech and Slovak.
And the absolute highlight were the dances in folk costumes starting with two-year-olds all the way up to 70.
Coming from a region in Moravia in Czech Republic which is big on folk costumes and traditions, I felt a sincere appreciation for dance masters Tom & Diane Bradley. The Bradleys completely recreated the Czech tradition of celebrating the wheat harvest based on research only.
The tradition in Bannister will live on despite the aging population of the organizers. The hall published a cookbook dedicated to future generations during the 100th anniversary celebration in 2011, so they will not forget the recipes of their ancestors.
We always eat the main meal at the ZCBJ fraternity hall either inside or on the large porch. That brings me to the staple of the festival which is Czech food. The women of the hall prepare traditional Czech fare that is dumplings, sauerkraut, fresh cucumber salad, ham and chicken. The dessert is either apple strudel or rolls filled with nuts.
Of course no Czech festival would be complete without beer.
Most of the participants have never been to Czech or Slovak republics. I admire the zeal that has lasted, thanks to the ZCBJ lodge, for more than 100 years.
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