HOLLY, Michigan – Whether you were sleeping off a turkey dinner or just happened to miss Holly’s 10 seconds of fame last Friday on Good Morning America’s Shout Out, the Holly Express is pleased to bring you the exclusive video!

Flint’s Channel 12 ABC filmed the GMA Shout Out at the intersection of Battle Alley and S. Saginaw Street on Nov. 11. The clip aired on ABC’s Good Morning America last Friday, just in time to kick off Holly’s 31st Annual Dickens Festival.

The Dickens Festival continues weekends through Dec. 13 in downtown Holly, culminating on the final evening at 6 p.m. with a holiday parade of lights downtown.

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Regan Tackett and Linda Watson

DAVISBURG, Michigan – Pretty Pony Pastures announced it has awarded nine volunteers with the President’s Volunteer Service Award, a national honor offered in recognition of volunteer service.

Established in 2003, the award is available on an annual basis to individuals, groups and families who have met or exceeded requirements for volunteer service and have demonstrated exemplary citizenship through volunteering. As one of thousands of certifying organizations participating in the award program, Pretty Pony Pastures confers the award to recognize the outstanding achievements of its volunteers.  

This year’s awardees from Davisburg are: Rebecca Harrison, Gillian Tackett and Regan Tackett.  Other awardees are: Gloria Donal (Highland), Jenna Hutchison (Pontiac), Callie Keller (Clarkston), Riley Keller (Clarkston), Amanda Martin (Waterford), and Pam Martin (Waterford).  

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Festive Halloween decorations

HOLLY, Michigan - Tim Lake makes no bones about it – he loves Halloween just about as much as he loves decorating his yard for every season.

Lake’s house sits on the corner of Sherman and John streets, and this fall, looks like it belongs on the front of Better Homes & Gardens magazine.

Tastefully decorated with lights, illuminated pumpkins, festive hay bales, cornstalks and several ravens ominously lining his roof, Lake says it’s a labor of love.

The vintage 1960s ranch was bequeathed to Lake by his late great aunt, Esther Lake, a well-remembered and well-respected Holly Area Schools teacher, who dedicated 45 years of her services to the district.

“She just told me that she wanted me to take good care of the house,” Lake said. “Part of that is the outdoor decorating I do for all different seasons – I just like it to look nice.

“The kids love it - friends who live on dirt roads in the area bring their kids over here to trick or treat,” he said. “It’s a fun time of year to begin with, but the decorations really add to the excitement.”

In addition to the stunning exterior of his house, Lake owns a unique piece of Holly’s history, a wooden casket dating back to the early 1900s. Lake uses the casket as a centerpiece in his living room for his annual Halloween party.

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Reel Recovery group

ROSE TOWNSHIP, Michigan - Tom Brokaw once said, “If fishing is like religion, then fly-fishing is high church.”

Greg Snyder, a resident of Rose Township and a cancer survivor, agrees wholeheartedly with Brokaw’s statement. Snyder experienced fly-fishing for the first time in May when he attended a Reel Recovery retreat in Colorado – a two and a half day event that not only involved learning how to fly fish, but also gave participants the opportunity to engage in a few “courageous conversations,” about cancer.

Reel Recovery is a national non-profit organization founded in 2003 with a mission of helping men in the cancer recovery process by introducing them to the healing powers of the sport fly-fishing, while providing a safe, supportive environment to explore their personal experiences with cancer, with others who share their stories.