By Cathy Kimmel-Srock
Review Staff Writer
It’s a worldwide phenomenon that has people out and about walking, meeting people, and definitely killing their phone battery. And while it is not all fun and games (see article on Page 17), a lot of Lake Orion is enjoying the positives associated with Pokemon GO.
For resident Mandi Bryce, it has been a good conversation starter with her 12-year-old son.
“We drove today catching and exploring,” Bryce said, noting that he hunted while she drove. “My son asked a lot of questions like, ‘what is the Eagles Club’ and ‘what is the difference between a city park and a county park?’”
In addition, Bryce said her son noticed churches of different affiliations and all of these things lead to good conversations between the two of them.
Resident Jodie Holden found a similar experience with her 9-year-old son playing the game.
“My 9-year-old son loves it,” she said. “It has encouraged him to be more physically active, and (we) have had some great conversations — non-Pokemon related — as we have been hunting.”
“I think it’s been great,” Holden added. “It’s also encouraged a good dialogue about Internet games, safety, and respect for others’ property.”
The safety aspect has been a concern for many, and while LO Police Chief Jerry Narsh reminded the public about being smart while playing, he does recognize the fun in the game, noting that everyone that has been playing in downtown have been “having a blast.”
“So far, the folks playing have been enjoying the downtown and meeting new people,” Narsh said, adding that these are positive things.
For those that have been out in the downtown in the past week, they may have noticed an increase in foot activity, especially among young people.

13-year-old LO resident Kyle Sementkowski joined his friends, Ryan Dinda and John Normand, in downtown to play at Children’s Park. The trio rode their bikes there to play.
“Children’s Park is usually loaded,” Sementkowski said, explaining why they are drawn to this area to play. Sementkowski, a frequent video game player, said his parents are happy that he is at least out being active, although they did warn him to be careful not to get addicted.
“It’s another way to get me outside,” he said. “They’d rather have me outside than inside.”
As downtown is a hot spot with several “Poke Stops” in a short distance around Children’s Park, it has even brought people from out of town to play.
25-year-old Metamora resident Julie Field is one of those people. For the third day in a row, she has joined her friends, Jacob Storm, 25, also from Metamora and Caleb Davis, 17, who is visiting from out of state, to play in the downtown. Storm works in a nearby business and told Field of the activity in downtown.
“When the game kind of exploded, he realized that everyone is down here and that it is a big hub to go to and he was like you guys need to come out to Lake Orion,” Field said. “For the last three days, we have been hunting here.”
Storm said that he and a few friends created a routine that a lot of people are following, a loop of active “Poke Spots,” and he noticed that with all the activity in this area, it was a place he could play and level up quickly.
When asked if they took to social media to share this tip and area, Storm chuckled.
“That’s like telling someone your fishing hole. You never tell anyone your honey hole,” he joked.
Word has definitely gotten out, but Field sees that as a good thing as a lot of the players are gamers who would be playing games anyway.
“It’s designed to be a social game, so that’s the point of the game to bring in more people because then you bring in more Pokemon together,” she explained. “These are all the people who would be playing video games regardless but just doing it inside their house, so now they are playing the video games outside.”

People are interacting and playing together in Children’s Park and surrounding areas. Friday nights have been extremely busy in the park, with Storm estimating that there were at least 60 people there the first Friday night, only three days after the game was released. It has continued to grow in popularity since that point, with not only friends playing together but also family.
Oxford residents and siblings Kamryn and Kurt Royster, 14- and 19-years-old respectively, are a perfect example of that. For a second day in the row, the brother and sister team were out hunting in Lake Orion.
“There’s always these lure modules around here, and the Pokemon are attracted to this area, so you can catch them easier,” Kurt said, explaining why they like to come to downtown Lake Orion to play.
His sister added that another reason this area is a draw is because of the water.
“You can catch the water Pokemon,” said Kamryn.
“It’s like the perfect spot,” Kurt added.
In addition for it being a great spot to play, a lot of people are also using it as an opportunity to enjoy what downtown LO has to offer in way of places to dine.
“We went to eat at 51 North, which we never would have gone if we hadn’t been walking around all day hot and thirsty,” Field said. “And I wouldn’t even be in Lake Orion if not for (Storm) telling me to come here because, hey, it’s a ‘Poke Stop.’”
In fact, 51 North Brewery is a gym, which is a location where players can compete with their Pokemon against each other. Locations are chosen at random, and for Mary Gindhart, one of the owners of 51 North, they thought it was kind of exciting.
“It’s a cool thing that is happening,” she said. “It’s kind of fun with all the kids walking around and if we do get a few extra people in here, that’s always a good thing, too.”
Downtown is not the only good place to play in Lake Orion.
“Canterbury has a lot of ‘Poke Stops,’” said resident Tammy Inglis. “You can keep doing the circle and keep collecting balls.”
Inglis, who is a teacher at LOHS, has been playing the game with her son.
“My 19-year-old son likes hanging with me and hunting,” she added. “You can’t beat that.”
Other popular spots include the Orion Center, Friendship Park and Great Lakes Crossing.
LOHS senior Brandon Kadulski, who was out hunting along with his brother Chandler, a junior, and their friend Hunter Foxlee, a sophomore, said that in addition to hunting at Children’s Park, he had also been to Friendship Park and the mall. He prefers the parks though.
“It’s nice to be outside and walk around,” Kadulski added.
Wherever you go “to catch ‘em all,” it is reminded to play with caution and awareness to your surroundings.