Dam dood idea

Feb. 2, 2005

BRIEFS

DAM GOOD IDEA? The Boardman River may be rippling a little closer to its natural state with the decommissioning of three hydroelectric dams.
Traverse City Light and Power plans to pull the plug on the outdated dams, clearing the way for their possible removal by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. One downside of their removal, however, would be the loss of Keystone Pond and Sabin Pond south of Traverse City. The ponds provide habitat for nesting swans, geese and other waterfowl in addition to providing a pleasant setting for a trail along the waterway.

SKI BUMMER: Due to budget cuts, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has reportedly discontinued plowing the trailheads of ungroomed cross country ski trails in the Grand Traverse region. Unless the lots are plowed by local citizens, the action virtually spells the end of skiing at trails such as Lake Ann or Lake Dubonnet for lack of a place to park. The rationale by Michigan‘s Legislature is that if user fees don‘t pay the way, the parking lots won’t get plowed. In short, cross country skiers are screwed, but snowmobilers get their parking lots plowed.

RAFFLE THIS: Speaking of skiing, tickets are on sale for the 2005 TART Trails Grooming Raffle. TART Trails provides grooming services on 69 kilometers of trails on both the Vasa Pathway and Leelanau Trail.
Raffle tickets are $100 each and the grand prize is $8,000 (if all 200 tickets are sold). The annual raffle was created to offset the cost of trail grooming, purchase new grooming equipment, and to repair and maintain existing equipment.
To purchase tickets, call the TART Trails office at (231) 941-4300 or visit Brick Wheels on 8th Street in TC. The winner will be drawn at the Vasa race awards party on
February 12.

CALLING ALL (FEMALE) ARTISTS: Creative ladies are invited to lend their talents to the 3rd Annual “From Women‘s Hands“ exhibition and sale this May 6-8 at the new Hagarty Center in TC. Last year, more than 100 female authors, visual artists and musicians contributed their works to the event, which drew a crowd of 900 in support of local women‘s cancer funds.
Application forms are availabe by calling Jennifer Hutchinson at 231-218-0096, or email jennifer@fromwomenshands.com.

ARTFUL BENEFIT: Artist Dominick Famiano is doing his bit for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwestern Michigan by offering four original art photography prints to benefit the organization at Instant Framer, The Copy Shop, Higher Self Book Store, Espresso Bay & Juice Island in TC during the month of February.
Each print featured in the “Art For Kids Sake” series depicts abstract images of driftwood found along the beaches of Lake Michigan. Check it out at the participating locations, or online at www.signatureantiques.com.

WONDERING how progress is going on Boyne‘s new Mountain Grand Lodge and Avalanche Bay? You can keep an eye on the progress of Michigan‘s largest indoor waterpark on a live webcam at www.avalanchebay.com. The indoor waterpark plans to open at Boyne Mountain this Memorial Day.