Volume 2, Issue 17 SEPTEMBER 20, 2024
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WHITE LAKE MIRROR
Shelby Optimist Club and members Toyota films commercial receive state recognition in Pentwater By Linda Kotzian
By AnnaMae Bush
The Oceana Echo Volunteer Correspondent
Shelby Optimist Club member Bob Pochyla received recognition at an Optimist International Michigan Chapter ceremony in Ann Arbor recently for his 75 years as an Optimist International Club member. Pictured, (left to right, standing) are Kathleen Wyns, Optimist International Michigan District Governor Linda Thompson, Shelby Optimist Club member Jim Wyns, (seated) Veronica and Bob Pochyla. • Contributed Photo
wife Kathleen, volunteered to transport the Pochylas to Ann Arbor to accept the award at the Aug. 17 ceremony in person. Pochyla also served as Shelby Township’s clerk for 61 years and has held several officer roles with Shelby Optimist Club. In addition to being a charter member of the Shelby club, Pochyla was recognized at age 21 as the youngest Optimist member worldwide. Shelby Optimist Club headed into its next year with a Sept. 11 meeting at Stony
Lake Inn at 7 p.m. Members anticipate continuing their 75-year history of being “friends of youth” for youth causes and organizations throughout Oceana County. Become part of it by joining the Shelby Optimist Club or by attending one of their events. The first fundraiser, a golf scramble at Oceana Golf Club, kicks off this Sunday, Sept. 22. For details about events or joining Shelby Optimist Club, visit their website at shelbyoptimist. com or follow them on Facebook.
• Amanda Dodge/Echo and Contributed
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Optimist International clubs and their members have a long and remarkable history as champions of youth causes and organizations in their communities. A ceremony held on August 17 by the organization’s Michigan district honored that history, and some members of Shelby Optimist Club were front and center for the accolades. Shelby Optimist Club, formed Nov. 9, 1948, is 75 years old, making it only one of 33 Michigan clubs over 50 years old. Michigan is home to 84 Optimist International chapters in total. The oldest club has served its community for 102 years. Just as remarkable, the club boasts two members who were members since its inception: Roy Fox, who upon his death in 2020 had served 72 years; and Bob Pochyla, who was honored at the Ann Arbor ceremony for belonging to the Shelby Optimist Club for 75 years. Additional certificates issued at the Aug. 17 ceremony also recognized other Shelby Optimist Club members with over 50 years of service to the club: Jack Cheever (54 years), Bruce Fox (54 years) and Paul Inglis (52 years). Pochyla, who is 95 years old, lives with his wife, Veronica, in their home at the west end of the Village of Shelby. Another long-time member of Shelby Optimist Club, Jim Wyns, along with his
The Oceana Echo Community Correspondent
Hispanic Heritage Festival sets Hart aglow
Downtown Hart was literally glowing during the Hispanic Heritage Festival this past Saturday, Sept. 14. Irma Hinijosa of the Oceana Hispanic Center, who sponsor ths event, said, “The event was a success. We had 117 entries in the door prize drawings in two hours. That means that 117 people ages 15 or older visited all of the agencies at the agency fair and qualified to be in the drawings.” The event also included food, music and dancing and featured a Norteño band called La Prueba. “They are from Grant, Mich. and the band leader has local ties to Shelby,” Hinijosa said. “We ordered
125 glow sticks and gave them all away at the end. I estimate having over 150 people there throughout the night. “I am extremely grateful to the committee members who helped with making the event possible and for the generosity of all the sponsors. Without the collaboration of everyone involved in this event, it would not have been as successful as it was. From the bottom of my heart, thank you so much to everyone who helped! We look forward to bringing more cultural and community involvement next year, and I am thankful that the event was well received by our community.”
On Tuesday, Sept. 10, Pentwater residents were surprised to find a section of Hancock Street blocked off to traffic. A professional video production crew was filming a television commercial for the Toyota C o r p o rat i o n . Last spring, the crew was exploring location possibilities along the Lake Michigan shoreline. Michele Anscombe, owner of Painted Frog Art Studio at 320 S. Hancock, said, “They contacted me in early July and asked if they could use my studio for background and for props in their film. I think it was the colorful and unique exterior of the studio that initially attracted them. But they came inside and vetted several areas they wanted to film.” Anscombe said she was happy to oblige with her permission. Anscombe’s studio was not the only location they used. “I think they started at the sand dunes in Silver Lake and then looked for additional options in nearby communities and came to Pentwater,” she reported. “I know they spent some time on Longbridge Road and at Charlie’s Marina after filming here this morning.” Some art was removed from the studio and placed outside the building for the filming. The crew of 10-15 people spent four hours at Painted Frog Art Studio before having lunch at Gull’s Landing and then filming some informal shots of Hancock Street. No residents were used in the film, as Toyota had their own actors. The actors “shopped” in the studio and put large art purchases in the car to illustrate how easily the seats go down. All the film footage will be reduced to perhaps a one-minute-long television commercial. While it is a brief “claim to fame” for Pentwater, it will be used nationwide. So, keep your eyes open for the new Toyota commercial. Anscombe was impressed with their professionalism and polite demeanor. “They were great people to work with, and I am looking forward to seeing what they do with the footage.”