Gabriel B. Holdwick, DDS

02/24/2026

In a small community like ours, it is impossible to not feel grief in situations like Shana’s disappearance and passing. If you are able, consider helping her family bear some of their burdens as they navigate this horrible tragedy.

Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord.

It is with broken hearts that we share the tragic and unexpected passing of our belove… Janet Umbreit needs your support for In loving memory of Shana Umbreit

02/03/2026

It has been about four months since “The Move”, and while there have been a few bumps along the way, I couldn’t be happier with how things have been going.
The reason for this is, of course, because of my amazing staff. Several of them went out for a Girls Night at Hammer and Stain last week, and enjoyed dinner at the New Lugo’s Taco Street location in Harbor Beach. They gave rave reviews of both!

Thank you for all you do to make things run smoothly at the office, ladies!

12/08/2025

It is always a blast seeing everyone come out and enjoy the HB Christmas Parade!
Getting to see our town sparkle for Christmas is a highlight of the year for myself and my staff.

A special “Thank You” to Jason Holdwick for the use of his his generator, Dr. Hirn for the use of his trailer, the Parade Committee for all of their hard work, and to Amber, Wendy, Kerri and Lauren for handing out these fun magnets with our new address!

Merry Christmas!

09/19/2025

“The Move “ is finally underway!
Starting on Monday September 22, we will be seeing all patients from both offices at 227 N. Fourth Street.

I would like to extend a BIG thank you to the staff at both locations for their hard work over the past few months (and the last few days in particular). This wouldn’t be happening without them. I would also like to thank our patients for their continued patience as our “blended family” settles in together!

I will hold many fond memories of our time on State Street. Several patients have told me in the last few months they have never gone to another dental office! It’s where I got my start as a dentist, and even though moving is the right path forward, it is still a little bittersweet!

I am looking forward to making many new memories as we embark onward and upward!

08/03/2025

“To make the best better” is the 4-H Motto.

That is precisely what was going on this week at the Huron Community Fair for the 4-H And FFA members exhibiting small animal projects! Many members who are either very young, don’t have the resources or space to show larger projects, or simply enjoy the variety of showing various species decide to exhibit smaller animals like goats, poultry and rabbits.

Congratulations to all of the kids on a successful Fair, especially those whose animals I purchased today at the Small Livestock Association Sale, including:

-Mariah Bucholz, with her goat
-Cooper Roggenbuck, with his turkey, Jerry
-Charley Kramer, with his fryer rabbit
-Lucille Jimkoski, with her roaster rabbit
-Reese Booms, with her rabbit, Papaya, which was a fundraiser for the Harbor Beach FFA chapter.

On a personal note, it always thrills me to see the SLA Sale thrive. It wasn’t very long ago there was no SLA or auction for those species. Outside of the small animal barn is a memorial marker for friends of the SLA who have passed away. Melinda Klockziem (the former FFA adviser in Harbor Beach) and my mother are among the names listed. Both of these women were among the group that championed this idea. Mom happily volunteered to clerk at the first few SLA auctions, after working all day on Friday clerking the JLA sale. It was a passion project for her, as she always had a heart for those whose dreams were just a little out of reach.

Getting to watch SO MANY young people (especially the really young ones) share the excitement and lessons of the Fair in a way that is more accessible to them does great credit to the memory of both Melinda and my mom (and the others listed on the memorial!). I was delighted to join the other buyers and volunteers in continuing their vision!

08/02/2025

Congratulations to all of the 4-H and FFA members who exhibited large animal projects this week at the Huron Community Fair!

A special shout out to Ivan Kobasic, whose hog Clifford I purchased today at the Junior Livestock Association Sale!

Some of these kids might pursue careers in production ag, and some may not. That really isn’t the point, however. The point is to instill the principle of a phrase borrowed from the FFA Creed: “…for I know the joys and discomforts of agricultural life….”

Wherever these young people decide to go and whatever they decide to do in the future, they will take the best lessons we as community have to offer, and will grow to be employees, spouses, parents and citizens who know that life is full of “joys and discomforts” to be earned, relished, and survived in due season. THAT is a cause I am thrilled to support.

07/28/2025

Read about the exciting changes happening at the office in the Huron Daily Tribune!

07/18/2025

Earlier this month, we sent out a letter to all of our patients with some very exciting news!

On June 30th, the 10th anniversary of my purchasing Dr. Molitor’s practice, I purchased Dr. James Hirn’s dental office. It is my intention to merge our patients families and staffs, and eventually move to Dr. Hirn’s larger location on Fourth street. All of our current staff will be retained, and Dr. Hirn will be continuing on for a two years working a few less days.

As many of you are well aware, our schedule has been under incredible pressure for the last year or so, with waiting times for appointments reaching well in to 2026. The size of my current office is a big contributor to this. I am so thankful to all of you for your patience as we have done our best to serve your dental needs in a timely way, and I began to explore options for expansion. At the same time, Dr. Hirn was beginning to think about his retirement.

It became clear to both of us that my purchasing and merging the offices was the best way to ensure as many people as possible in our community retained access to dental care after Dr. Hirn’s eventual retirement, as well as seeing my current patients in a more timely way. Recruiting new dentists to rural communities is a challenge all over the country, including Harbor Beach. This path is the best way forward for our staffs, ourselves, and most importantly all of you.

My hope is to “make the move” in the next few months. All current appointments at both offices will occur as scheduled until you hear otherwise from us.

There will be bumps along the way, surely, and I humbly ask for your grace as we figure out the details of how this process will unfold. I am so incredibly thankful for your generous support over the last 10 years. None of this would be possible without that support. I don’t take the trust you have placed in me lightly, and I take the responsibility I have to our community seriously. I am looking forward to meeting many new faces in the coming months- be assured I intend to work hard to earn your trust as well.

07/02/2025

Registration is open for our 2nd Annual Pickleball Tournament. Go to the City of Harbor Beach website to register your team. Payment of $30 is required upon registration.

https://www.harborbeach.com/list-of-events/pickleball-tournament

06/12/2025

Last week, our office sponsored the Harbor Beach High School and Middle School bands to attend a performance of the musical Hamilton at Michigan State University. I played trumpet in the Harbor Beach band, and I can’t begin to imagine what my life would look like without music. As a student, trips like these made a profound impact on me, and I couldn’t be happier for the opportuntiy to play a role in making this trip possible!

04/30/2025

We still have some room for you and your team! Come and join us for some fun going toward a good cause!

There is still room for a few more teams to join the trivia fun on Sunday, May 4th. Details in the image. You can register at https://forms.gle/juapMdQCkksNZWn26

04/04/2025

Currently in Washington, Congress is debating some massive spending cuts to the federal budget. What happens in DC often seems very far removed from our daily lives in Harbor Beach, but these cuts will almost certainly have impacts on access to dental care in our community.
I have no crystal ball, but if Medicaid is in fact cut at the levels currently being debated, the Healthy Kids Dental program, as well as the Healthy Michigan Adult programs we see at the office will be at significant risk. The number of “Healthy Kids”children we see is substantial, easily numbering in the hundreds. The adult Healthy Michigan program is smaller, but we still see around 250 adults as part of this program.

At current funding levels I have been able to make this work financially, despite getting reimbursed less, In no small part due to my staff and I working harder to do more dentistry in less time. These are our friends and neighbors, the people who cook our food, high school sports standouts, and the folks who sit next to us in church. It’s difficult to sit in Mass on Sunday and not be compelled by the Gospels to provide some of these services if I can, and the funding we get through these programs is critical in that mission.

As you consider how to advise your representatives in Congress, know that if these programs are significantly cut or eliminated, there WILL be people in our community who will lose access to their dental care. I’ve already reached out to our local members of Congress, and I hope you will too.