blue water woman--fall 2015

Woman
blue water
fall 2015
School is cool
andrea glynn,
marysville school district
free

We’ve heard your questions about pre-planning.
You want to know more.
You want to know how.
We would like to introduce our Advance Funeral Planner
Michelle Wilkins-O’Hara.
Michelle is guiding local families through the steps of funeral pre-arrangement. She is providing
answers and options to the growing demand of those who wish to pre-plan.
John W. Kendrick, president of Pollock-Randall Funeral Home, sees a significant increase
in pre-need planning today. “Every week I see families who are utterly unprepared to deal
with a death, and whose situation could have been eased by some basic planning. It can be a
tremendous gift to survivors. Michelle will be available to help families pre-plan for funerals
so difficult decisions do not have to be made during such a difficult time.”
Michelle
Wilkins-O’Hara
Said Michelle: “I am honored to help the community fully understand their choices and
options. Pre-arranging allows the individual to personalize whatever type of service they
choose. Anyone who has had to sit and make funeral arrangements while grieving the loss
of their loved one can truly see the value of pre-planning. It is an opportunity to give your
family the gift of a plan and free them from the financial stress. I am looking forward to
guiding our families and having the privilege of working with the premier funeral service
provider in the Blue Water area.”
Michelle is a graduate of St. Clair High School, Rochester College, and an
honors graduate of The Outlook Academy of Advance Funeral Planning,
Franklin, Ohio.
Michelle loves spending time outdoors engaging in activities such as boating
and enjoying time with her husband Jon, her son Henry, and Sydney, their
Labradoodle. She is an avid gardener, exploring ways to create healthy meals
for her family. They are members of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church.
Michelle looks forward to hearing how she can help you! For more
information or to schedule an appointment with Michelle, call 810.982.0179
Michelle and her husband,
Jon, and son, Henry
Pollock-Randall
912 Lapeer Avenue
810.982.0179
www.pollockrandall.com
Manager: Ann Randall-Kendrick
Marysville
1200 Michigan Avenue
810.364-7100
www.pollockrandall.com
Manager: John W. Kendrick
Karrer-Simpson
1720 Elk Street
810.985.9605
www.karrersimpson.com
Manager: Thomas K. Simpson
If this has reached you at an unfortunate time or has offended you in any way, we apologize. By responding to this ad, you may be contacted by an agent “Advance Planner” who may offer you
a pre-need life insurance policy or an annuity underwritten and administered by Physicians Life Insurance Company of Omaha, NE.

Blue Water Woman Editor
Patti Samar and her husband,
new PoHo resident, Dale Hemmila
from the editor
A good friend of mine used to say: “Change is good!”
I used to agree with her because, for the most part, there wasn’t a lot of dramatic
change in my life. So, of course it was good...it was good for other people!
And then this past year, all kinds of change happened in my life.
Almost a year ago, my husband and I purchased a new home -- just two block
from my old home because, goodness knows, Little Old Stuck in Her Ways Patti
could not possibly change neighborhoods -- and so I left behind a home that was
special to me in many ways and for many reasons.
And so it has been an adjustment, this living in a new place. There has been much
upheaval and distraction and construction and just general chaos on many days.
And then, just as all of the construction began to wind down and life was feeling a
little more settled: my husband moved in.
Yes, I know most married couples begin living together before or upon taking their
marital vows, but we lived in two different peninsulas. When he retired earlier this
year, I knew it was just a matter of time before he showed up at our Port Huron door
with a moving van full of, well, “boy stuff.”
And so now I keep repeating that mantra, “Change is good...change is good...
change is good...” over and over in my head.
The fact of the matter is this: I moved all of two blocks. I run the same route. I
have the same friends. After living here for more than 20 years, everything here in
PoHo is ever so familiar to me.
My husband, on the other hand, has made the real sacrifice. After living his entire
life in the Upper Peninsula, he moved 500 miles away...just to be with me.
When he goes to the store, he very seldom sees familiar faces. He is still trying to
remember in what order are Holland Avenue, Krafft Road and Keewahdin Roads off
of Gratiot? (Hint, my dear, I just named them in order headed north...) His family
is no longer a hop and a skip away. Almost everyone he knows here he has met
through me.
All I can say is that I hope HE is repeating “change is good...change is good...
change is good” in his head, lest he hears me whine about this “new” house or all of
his “boy stuff” one more time and heads north packing.
I am the lucky one here. This change has brought me the biggest blessing of all
(and I best learn to appreciate it): The greatest love of my life living under the same
roof with me, in the same area code and zip code, happily ever after. I want him to
know that I am, indeed, ever so thankful for the sacrifices he has made for “us.”
This issue of Blue Water Woman has a loose theme: change. All three women
featured made recent changes in their careers: two earlier this year and one just two
years ago. All are excited, enthusiastic and passionate about what they do. And
certainly, when the opportunity to embrace change came along, they answered the
call with a hardy, “Change is good!”
Peace,
content
diane bauer 4
andrea glynn 6
katie phelan 8
advertise
in Blue Water Woman!
it works! just ask our advertisers!
The ad deadline for the next issue of Blue Water Woman
is October 30, 2015.
Prices start at just $125 for a business card sized ad!
Our most popular ad size is a quarter page at just $250;
sign a one-year contract and it becomes just $225 a quarter!
What a deal!
For more information, contact Patti Samar at 810-987-1256
or email her at pjsamar@aol.com
volume 5, number 3 fall 2015
Blue Water Woman is published quarterly by The Write Company,
511 La Salle Blvd., Port Huron, MI 48060. Circulation 7,500.
Editor & Publisher: Patti Samar, owner, The Write Company
Advertising: Patti Samar at 810-987-1256 or pjsamar@aol.com
News releases can be emailed to pjsamar@aol.com
Questions or comments?
Call Blue Water Woman at 810-987-1256
Mission: Blue Water Woman is the premiere publication
for women living, working and playing
in the Blue Water Area of Michigan.
Its stories and features are written and designed
to be inspriational, motivational and encouraging.
www.BlueWaterWoman.com
© Blue Water Woman is the property
of Patti Samar of The Write Company
The Write Company is a writing, graphic design and marketing
consultation firm. View our online portfolio at:
www.TheWriteCompany.net
Patti Samar
Editor & Publisher
Blue Water Woman
2 fall 2015 BlueWaterWoman.com

Victoria’s
Hair studio
Men l woMen l cHildren
714 Lapeer aVe. port huron
810. 987.4000
fall 2015 BlueWaterWoman.com 3

professions
diane bauer, st. clair
4 fall 2015 BlueWaterWoman.com
coming
full circle
by Patti Samar
Diane Bauer has come full circle.
When, as a young college graduate with a psychology degree in her
back pocket, she accepted her first post-college job, she didn’t dream that
over the next couple of decades she would be hired three times by the
same organization.
Bauer, a native of Deckerville, earlier this year became the executive
director of Blue Water Safe Horizons, a local nonprofit that, according to
its website: “…offers shelter and support services for survivors of domestic
violence, sexual assault, elder abuse and homelessness. The services and
support programs are delivered to the community in a variety of formats
ranging from shelter and housing to support groups and legal advocacy.”
BWSH operates two shelters in the area: Pathway Shelter, a 28-bed
facility that provides services to men who are homeless or victims of
domestic or sexual assault, as well as homeless couples and families, and
Carolyn’s Place, a secured 20-bed facility that provides shelter services to
women survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and/or homelessness
and their dependent children.
Carolyn’s Place is named for Carolyn Superczynski, the former
executive director of the organization who first hired Bauer when she
was right out of college. When Superczynski passed away in the 1990s,
Carolyn’s Place was named for her.
“I attribute my career to her,” said Bauer of her first boss. “She gave
me my start and believed that I could do this. I’ve come full circle. I
kind of fell into this work and the more I’ve worked within it, the more
passionate I’ve become about it.”
Though Bauer started her career with Safe Horizons, she did eventually
leave for other opportunities, including a stint in graduate school where
she obtained a master’s degree, but she twice returned to the organization
in different positions.
“It’s the work that brings me back,” she said. “I’ve always worked
with survivors throughout my social work career, most specifically with
domestic violence and sexual assault and that’s always been my passion.”
BWSH also serves the homeless population in the area and Bauer noted
that population can be very misunderstood.
“There’s still a lot of myths in the community,” she said, such as “that
the homeless look a certain way. It’s important for people to know it
could be you or me. People get displaced and find themselves without a
home and it might be just plain old economics.”
Fundraising is an ongoing process for a nonprofit in the human services
field. Bauer noted that quite a bit of her time during this first year on the
job was spent writing grants to help renew funding that is critical to their
budget. Financial support from businesses and individuals at the local
level is also an important source of income.
Bauer said now that she has spent almost a full year in her new position,
she is beginning to get a feel for the way the organization is being run and
is starting to develop her own “big picture” ideas of how she would like to
see it move forward in the future.
“I’ve started getting my footing here and envisioning the future,” she
said. “What could we do better and what could we be doing more of and
what would that look like?”
In her spare time, Bauer likes to spend time with family and friends.
More recently, she has begun travelling and has particularly enjoyed
cruising in the Caribbean.

marketing plan?
What marketing plan?
need help?
call your one-stop shop
for marketing consultation.
advertising creation & strategy.
print & e-neWsletters. direct mail.
logos/branding.
Website design.
aWard-Winning Writing
& graphic design Work.
patti samar. owner.
(Also Editor & Publisher of Blue Water Woman & Blue Water Living)
810. 987. 1256 www.theWritecompany.net
pjsamar@aol.com

professions
andrea glynn, marysville
school
is cool
by Patti Samar
Andrea Glynn just always knew she wanted to help children.
Now the assistant superintendent for the Marysville School
District, Glynn has come full circle in her life and in her career where
the decisions she makes every day help impact the children in her
community in a positive way.
A Marysville native, she graduated from high school in Marysville
and then attended Western Michigan University where she received
a bachelor’s degree in education. She accepted her first post-college
position with the Marysville School District as a second grade teacher.
She spent four years at Washington Elementary School before leaving
so she could advance her career in an administrative capacity by
becoming a school principal while under the age of 30.
“I pursued it early,” she said of her decision to leave the classroom
and become a building administrator with the Roseville School District.
“It was a great district to work in. They provided me with many
opportunities.”
However, though she was employed in Roseville, Glynn continued to
live in Marysville with her husband and growing family. After 14 years
of commuting, when the opportunity arose to again work within the
Marysville School District, this time as assistant superintendent, Glynn
readily accepted.
“Marysville is a solid district,” she said. “The community feel in
Marysville makes the job feel worthwhile. It’s nice to be able to go
to the evening functions and then see everything else that goes on
throughout the community.”
She noted that all school districts within the state have struggled
with a financial balancing act and many changes in assessment testing,
but she has been very impressed with the hard work put forth by the
teachers in the Marysville district.
“We have a staff and a district that have really high expectations and
the challenges we face just continue to push us farther,” she said of the
staff, and she noted that they work harder in order to continue to meet
those expectations.
Because she left the classroom a number of years ago, Glynn said
that family and friends will often ask her if she misses the kids. “But
what drives me is that whatever decision is made, it always filters down
to the kids,” she said. “I know that whatever is done at the central
administrative level filters down to the kids. The goal always is, when
faced with a difficult decision, is do whatever is best for the students.”
A mother of two, Glynn notes that although she has a very busy
job, her life is made easier with the help of a husband who is very
supportive, as is a helpful extended family in the community. “I try and
find a healthy balance,” she said. “My husband is very helpful. We both
try and remember that both of us work and being able to rely on family
also helps.
Overall, her “return” to Marysville has more than suited Glynn’s
personal and professional lives.
“It’s a nice fit to be able to be involved in the community and
contribute to the work place.”
6 fall 2015 BlueWaterWoman.com

who will be named...
Blue Water Woman
Easy
nomination
process!
of the Year?
Nominations now being accepted
for Blue Water Woman of the Year!
The Blue Water Woman of the Year Awards will honor women who reside in the
Blue Water Area of Michigan who demonstrate excellence and achievement
in one or more of the following areas:
?
• Volunteerism
• Mentoring other women
• Professional achievement
• Blue Water Young Woman of the Year (21 and under)
• Overall Honor: Blue Water Woman of the Year
Award Process:
Nominators MUST complete the nomination form and rules available at
www.BlueWaterWoman.com
A distinguished panel of judges from the Upper Peninsula has been asked to serve as an external,
nonresidential award selection committee.
Honoring the Award Recipients:
Those selected for awards will be notified by Blue Water Woman at the end of January/early February
2016. All will be featured in a story in the Spring (February/March) 2016 issue of the magazine. All
will be honored at a public reception (open to men and women) on February 19, 2016.
Deadline for Submissions:
Submissions must be received by email or snail mail no later than Friday, January 1, 2016.
Submissions can be emailed to: pjsamar@aol.com or sent via U.S. Postal mail to: Patti Samar,
Blue Water Woman, 511 LaSalle Blvd., Port Huron, MI 48060.
Use your smart phone
to visit our website
and view the
nomination form:
Sponsored by:
Woman
Blue Water Woman reserves the right to refuse nominations for consideration without cause. All decisions are final and subject
to approval by Blue Water Woman. Why? Because we said so. ;)

professions
katie phelan
unfur-getable
work
by Patti Samar
8 fall 2015 BlueWaterWoman.com
Katie Phelan goes to work every day knowing that she is saving lives.
Phelan is not a doctor or a nurse. As the executive director of the Blue
Water Area Humane Society, Phelan not only saves lives but she also helps
deserving animals find loving homes.
A licensed veterinary technician since 2002, Phelan first worked for the
man who raised her, her stepfather, veterinarian Dr. Gary Vyncke.
“I grew up with animals with his clinic,” she said. “And I worked for
him for seven years until he retired.”
Throughout her career, Phelan volunteered at the BWAHS and when
the opportunity to work as the executive director arose, she answered the
call.
“Doing this job is very different than being a vet tech,” she said, “but it
still involves working with animals. There are a lot of really fun parts of
this job and a lot of really sad parts, too.”
Phelan noted that the BWAHS is a no-time-limit shelter which allows
adoptable animals to remain at the shelter until someone adopts them.
However, some animals arrive at the shelter in poor health.
“The condition the animals arrive in can be tough,” she said. “Some are
pretty neglected. It can be hard to handle sometimes.”
The shelter staff will do all it can to work with an animal to help it heal
from an injury or help train an animal to be a good house pet.
“If we can train it, if we can teach it things, we will,” Phelan said. She
noted that a number of the staff members and volunteers spend a lot of
time working with animals that need extra time and training.
Volunteers and donors are essential to the BWAHS, as it is a nonprofit
organization not affiliated with any other agency.
“Our board of directors is very, very hands-on, so I don’t ever have to
go it alone,” said Phelan. “They are always eager to help out. They will
oversee certain fundraising events. It’s really, really great. We have a very
active board. And the staff and the volunteers are excellent. We have some
awesome supporters and we couldn’t do anything without them.
“Our goals are all the same,” she said. “We want the same things and
that is whatever is best for the animals.”
Phelan credits her husband and her own furry friends at home with
making her job easier. She is able to bring her dogs to work – she and
her husband have four dogs, two cats and two rats – and she noted that
her husband does not hesitate to spend spare time volunteering at the
shelter, cleaning and doing whatever needs to be done. “He really is super
supportive,” she said. “He’s my cheerleader and he does an awful lot of
stuff that we can’t always get to.”
One of the hardest parts of her job is watching animals walk out of her
life.
“Adoptions can be bittersweet,” she said. “You get attached to these
animals, but you know this family is going to take it home and love it.”
One of the best parts of her job is seeing the same animals, days, weeks,
months or even years later and knowing, based on their joy at seeing her,
that their memories of their time spent with her are happy ones.
“We will see the adopted animals at a fundraiser or when they come
back to visit and it’s nice that they don’t remember this place as being bad
or scary. They remember it as being fun and happy. We don’t want this to
be a scary place for them.”

Cell: (586) 801-6068
Email: diannare@aol.com
There is always
something fun
to do at
Lake Huron Woods
Senior Living!
• Independent living
located just 2 miles north
of the Birchwood Mall
• Full complement of
amenities & activities
• Close to shopping
& dining
• Offers living assistance
if needed
810-385-9516
www.lockwoodseniorliving.com
5221 Lakeshore Road
Fort Gratiot Twp, MI 48059-3122
fall 2015 BlueWaterWoman.com 9

Your
life could
change with
one stroke.
Capable of causing severe disability or even death,
one stroke could change your life forever. But it
doesn’t have to. When your life is on the line from
stroke, seek care quickly from McLaren Port Huron,
the area’s first hospital to receive Primary Stroke
Center certification. We’re the ones always standing
by to administer care that’s saving lives and reducing
the negative impact of stroke.
When it comes to stroke, your best choice—your one
choice—is clear. McLaren Port Huron. To learn more,
visit mclaren.org/phstroke.
Spot stroke symptoms FAST.
> Face drooping
> Arm weakness
> Speech difficulties
> Time to call 911 if you notice any of
the symptoms above—don’t wait
and don’t drive!
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