A Formula for Murder," by Dave Vizard.

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Two Books That Will Make Bay City Even More Famous

September 9, 2012
By: Dave Rogers

The books: "Legendary Locals of Bay City," by Ron Bloomfield, and "A Formula for Murder," by Dave Vizard.

These are books about very different topics, but both set Bay City apart as a very special place. Both offer readers who are "into" Bay City a treasure trove of glowing recollections.

Dave Vizard, retired Bay City Times editor, has been writing his novel, "A Formula for Murder" for five years.

It was either luck, or incredible prescience, that the theme of his book is school officials protecting their institution instead of looking out for the interests of sexually abused youngsters.

Sound like he knew five years in advance that one of the nation's biggest stories in 2012 would be the Penn State scandal featuring accused abuser Jerry Sandusky, the late Coach Joe Paterno and a host of fact dodging officials.

Ron Bloomfield, Bay County Historical Museum curator, has found diamonds of information, and photos, about Bay City people among the sands of time stretching back to the beginning of our history. Isn't that what a historian should do?

Notable in our eyes are photos of Judge Thomas E. Webster, the longest-living local Civil War veteran and a startling photo he took of construction of the first Federal Building here in 1890.

Others include ironworker Dick DeMara on the Mackinac Bridge in 1956, a youthful Don Comtois with longtime museum director Maude Greenman and legendary local star pitcher John Gibson Clarkson with the Boston Beaneaters baseball team.

Highly recognizable local places like O'Hares Bar, Bay Medical Center, Central High School, the Bay City Players, State Theatre, etc., are sprinkled across the pages of Vizard's bona fide local thriller. Lansing's Green Door restaurant also makes a cameo appearance as the scene moves around the state.

Bay City Blade reporter Nick Steele turns a mundane obituary into a major crime saga and revives his lagging news career in dialog replete with salty language and breathtaking plot twists.

Today's drugs of choice and a female newspaper publisher nick-named "The Castrator" spice up the novel as it whirls along with Steele's probing for the murderer of three school officials.

Like retired attorney Brian Kennedy's "Improved Lies" a few years ago, Bay City becomes the setting for a tale that will keep you alert and turning pages until the cows come home.

And, the Legendary Locals you never knew will keep Mr. Bloomfield's book on your bed stand for many nights of fascinating reading.

Need we say we recommend both books. The contrast in styles will give you a much more eclectic view of your hometown.

NOTE: Mr. Vizard will be signing his books Oct. 20, 2-4 p.m. at the Horizon Book Store in Traverse City.

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