The Guide July 2011

THEGUIDE•JULY201122

JULY 2011 Volume 2, Issue IV

Published by: Info Northeast Jerry Nunn, editor (989) 780-0900 [email protected]

Contributing writers: Jerry Nunn, Scott Nunn, Tim Reed, Casey Ressl, Kelly Trainor

Contributing photographers: Genie Ehinger - GeniesMagicMoments.com Penny Wojahn - PWonLocationPhotography.com

Advertising sales and design: Scott Nunn (989) 245-7140 [email protected]

Layout and design: Kathy Neff (989) 848-5732 [email protected]

Winner of the2010 O.B. Eustis

Environmental AwarenessAward

The Guide covering the counties of Alcona, Arenac, Crawford, Gladwin, Iosco, Ogemaw, Oscoda and Roscommon

INDEX 8 ........Restoring the Rifle 10 ......SuperMoto showdown in Victorian town 12 ......Waterborne battle in Paddletown 14 ......Big-hearted biker 16 ......Mainstreet Magic 18 ......Turnkey opportunity: AuSable River Camp 20 ......A caring spirit 22 ......A summer's float 24 ......Fine dining: O'Brien's, in Mio 26 ......From Tim's kitchen

A n i n t r o d u c t i o n

The Guide

CORRECTIONS:

Brad and Elaine Moore were incorrectly identified in last month's issue. Visit Brad and Elaine at Valley Mist Vineyards in Rose City.Also, Mi-Story founder Khaki Engster's name was mispelled in last month's column. We apologize.

We call him The Guide; that rustic and weathered fellow off to the left.

A compilation of photographs, sketches and imagination, we are proud to adopt him as this publication’s representative. Rugged and sturdy with a discernible wisdom, we think he fits the themes one discovers in Northeast Michigan and will serve as appro-priate front-man for the topics we discuss.

The Guide joined our little team just last month, appearing on our cover as we entered our second year of print.

Nonetheless we feel that he has been with us for much longer.

More essence than agent, yet as real as the myths and legends that surround our small towns, to us The Guide personifies the spirit of Northeast Michigan.

From him we will draw our inspiration.He is our history, part French fur trader,

born of Ojibwe, who grew to be a lumber-man and a mariner, before trying his hand at fishing and farming. As such, he walked

this land before the great forests met their inconceivable harvest, caught fish and tracked game in unimaginable abundance, drove rails, built bridges and carved high-ways to tame a land that still today remains predominately wild.

The Guide is the embodiment of who we are in Northeast Michigan; a people whose hardscrabble past fails to dim their dreams for the future, a tough and rugged race grown accustomed to dusting off just so they can tough it out. The Guide represents those who thrive on hardwork, who draw generous inspiration from meager accom-plishment, who realize without grudge that their existance holds greater value not because of who they are, but because of where they live.

The Guide is our culture, holding imagi-nation and intellect to equal value, appreci-ating the beauty of what is without regard to what it can provide and understanding that all that has worth does not necessarily deliver value.

While The Guide speaks strongly of Northeast Michigan’s past, he lives today.

As apt to be a tradesman as he is a resort owner, entrepreneur as much as artist, doctor or unemployed factory worker, The Guide understands the needs of his neigh-bor as much as his own, knows that the betterment of himself increases the value

of his community and, above all, realizes that when a society pulls together, no matter which direction they’ve chosen, they will all end up in the same place.

He is not without desire.The hard work he enjoys by day is bro-

ken by evenings on the lake or walks in the woods. If he wets a line by morning, lunch may find him socializing with fellow Op-timists, Rotarians or Kiwanis and by night he spends his time carving, or painting or strumming a tune. A float down a river may be followed by a meal in a local restaurant and an afternoon attending his favorite club. A visit to a school may lead to conversa-tions with senior citizens.

Like most who live and visit here, The Guide longs for the weekend and the festi-vals and hometown events that Northeast Michigan is known for. He’s as apt to attend a lake-side art show or county fair, as often as he is a jamboree, or gallery opening or theatrical performance.

Being the adventurer that he is, summer or winter means nothing to him, The Guide feels as much at home on the ice as he does in the mud.

So, we’d like to introduce you to The Guide, the spirit of Northeast Michigan.

We hope you appreciate that we madehim diverse.

By JERRY & SCOTT NUNNInfo Northeast

THEGUIDE•InfoNortheast.com 3

JULY 1STNATIONAL GUARD BAND OF THE GREAT

LAKES, free concert at 7 p.m., on the lawn at the CRAF Center, on the corner of Lake and Fourth Streets, in Roscommon. Info: (800) 676-5330CLASSY CHASSIS, vintage cars, part of the Fabulous Fridays series in downtown West Branch, every Friday all summer long. Info: (989) 345-2821

JULY 1ST - 2NDSAND LAKE BLUES FEST, music starts at 6 p.m. featuring the Rusty Wright Band, Greg Nagy Band, Blues Abusers and Those Delta Rhythm Kings, with food and craft vendors; located at Sand Lake Men’s As-sociation Pavilion, cost is $10 at the gate. Info: Sand-LakeBluesFest.com

JULY 1ST - 3RDJUNQUE SALE & BAKE SALE, 9 am. to 5 p.m. at Ye Olde Courthouse in Omer. Info: (989) 876-646837TH ANNUAL SUMMER CRAFT SHOW, at Houghton Lake Middle School, Fri. and Sat. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sun. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Info: (989) 366-8511

JULY 1ST - 4TH4TH OF JULY WEEKEND SIDEWALK SALES AT TANGER OUTLET CENTER, West Branch. Info: (989) 345-2594.

JULY 1ST - 16TH33RD HERITAGE FINE ART SHOW AND SALES AT FIFTH STREET GALLERY, West Branch. Info: (989) 836-2932

JULY 2NDHARRISVILLE LION’S CLUB KID’S FREE FISH-ING DAY, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Cedarbrook Trout Farm; kids 12-and-under fish for free. Info: (989) 724-52414TH ANNUAL BBQ CHICKEN DINNER 1- 6 p.m. at Au Gres City Pavilion; to benefit Au Gres Christian Charities Food Bank. Info: (989) 876-8811CHILDREN’S PARADE, 1 p.m. through downtown Harrisville, with kid’s on bikes and patriotic dressed pets. Info: 989-724-5107

HOSPICE OF HELPING HANDS ANNUAL DUCK RACE, noon at Irons Park, West Branch, cash prizes. Tickets cost $2 each or three for $5. Info: (800) 992-659225TH ANNUAL SUGAR SPRINGS ART SHOW, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. located at 5477 Worthington Court, Gladwin, featuring work of local artists and crafters, plus bake sale, food booth and soft serve ice cream. Info: (989) 426-4111HOUGHTON LAKE STATE AIRPORT ANNUAL FLY-IN, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., featuring a flea market and swap meet, with a bratwurst and hot dog lunch. Info: (989) 275-7874MIO MUD BOGS, 1 p.m. at the mud pit south of Mio on M-33. Info: (989) 826-3331

JULY 2ND - 3RD16TH ANNUAL CRAFT SHOW on the lawn at the Craftmakers’ Cabin in Harrisville. Info: (989) 736-1643 or (989) 739-9059

JULY 3RD - 4THTHE BIGGEST FOURTH IN THE NORTH, Barton City, featuring a horseshoe tournament, cook shack, beer tent, teen dance, adult music, parade, a crowd said to number 10,000 and more. Info: (989) 724-5107

JULY 4TH19TH CENTURY INDEPENDENCE DAY AT HARTWICK PINES STATE PARK, 1 p.m. at the picnic area, with a reading of the Declaration of Inde-

Every attempt at accuracy has been made while producing this calendar of events. Nonetheless, events can change or mistakes can be made. Thus, it is never a bad idea to call ahead, before heading out on that three hour drive north.

3


pendence followed by Vintage Base Ball pitting visitors against the Hartwick Pines Swampers. Info: (989) 348-2537GLENNIE FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION, 11 a.m. until fireworks at dusk at Warren Mervin Field, with a craft show, a car show, lawn mower races, food booth and more. Info: (989) 735-4291TAWAS COMMUNITY CONCERT BAND, 7:30 every Monday until Aug. 15, in East Tawas City Park next to the Iosco County Historical Museum. Info: (989) 739-2635MIO DOWNTOWN CRAFT SHOW, Info: (989) 826-3331PANCAKE BREAKFAST, 8:30-10:30 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church of Beaverton. Adults cost $4. Info: (989) 435-708616TH ANNUAL BBQ CHICKEN FUNDRAISER, 10:30 a.m. downtown Fairview, in front of the Family Bookshelf. Info: (989) 848-5400TAWAS BAY FIREWORKS SAIL ABOARD THE APPLEDORE IV, a three hour sail to view the fire-works over Tawas Bay; cost $55. Info: (989) 895-5193KID’S DERBY FISHING, 10 a.m. in Rose City Park. Info: (989) 685-2936FREEDOM RUN 5K WALK/RUN, 9 a.m. behind Glen’s Market in Roscommon, with an Ice Cream Social at 1 p.m. at the CRAF Center, followed by the Freedom Festival Parade and a cookout and children’s games from 6 p.m. until the fireworks dusk at the Roscommon Fire Training Center. Info: (800) 676-5330

JULY 5THTUESDAY NIGHT LIVE, with live music and danc-ing every Tuesday through Aug. 23, on Newman Street in downtown East Tawas. Info: (800) 558-2927

JULY 6THSTORYTELLER GENOT PICOR, 11 a.m. at the Al-cona County Library, Harrisville. Info: (989) 724-6796.HARRISVILLE HARBOR NIGHTS SUMMER CONCERT SERIES, 7 p.m. at Harrisville Harbor featuring DnA. Info: (989) 724-5107

HIS WAY, GOSPEL TRIO, 7 p.m. at the Gazebo in Roscommon, part of the first and third Wednesday summer concert series. Info: (989) 275-4975

JULY 7THSTANDISH HISTORIC DEPOT SUMMER MU-SIC SERIES presents Amanda Kari, 6-8 p.m. at the Standish Depot pavilion. Info: 9989) 846-7867 WEST BRANCH SUMMER MUSIC SERIES pres-ents Beverly Meyers, in Irons Park. (989) 345-3717 or (989) 345-0500OSCODA SUMMER MUSIC SERIES presents the folk music of George Schwedler Trio, 7 p.m. at Oscoda Beach Park Rotary Band Shell, with more music every Thursday through Aug. 25. Info: (989) 739-7322CHIPPEWA INDIANS portray the life of Michigan Indians at Zubler’s Indian Craft Shop in Houghton Lake; every Thursday, with hourly presentation from 1-4 p.m. Info: (989) 366-5691ANIMALS AROUND THE WORLD, 10:30 a.m. at the Au Gres Branch of the Iosco-Arenac District Library, part of the Summer Reading Program every Thursday through July. Info: (989) 876-8818

JULY 7TH-10TH62ND ANNUAL ST. HELEN BLUEGILL FESTI-VAL, with fishing contests, a medallion hunt, vintage car show, parade, kid’s day, horseshoe tournament, live entertainment, carnival rides, crafts, vendors and more. Info: (989) 398-3725 or www.BluegillFestival.org

JULY 8THAN EVENING WITH THE TAWAS BAY ARTISTS, 5 to 8 p.m. at the Tawas Bay Art Council Gallery, featuring a wine and cheese reception. Info: (989) 362-5613

JULY 8TH-9THANNUAL MIO POND FISHING TOURNAMENT, $2,000 in prizes in many categories. Info: (989) 826-3331GOOD OLE DAYS FESTIVAL celebrating Mikado’s Quasquicentennial – 1886, family oriented fun and traditional games, parade, old-style baseball, costume contest, view Mikado history, wilderness skills featur-ing Jim Miller and much more. Info: (989) 736-7721

WEST BRANCH FILM FESTIVAL, a celebration of the cinematic arts in downtown West Branch including film showings from a variety of categories. Info: (989) 345-5226

JULY 8TH-10THSUMMER FEST, featuring the 5th Annual Kiwanis Run by the Bay, Tawas Point Lighthouse Tours, bike and pet parade, beach volleyball, car cruise and show, and a street dance. Info: (800) 558-2927 or TawasSum-merFest.comGLADWIN FUN DAYS, on the streets of downtown Gladwin, with sidewalk sales, historical village, kids events and much more. Info: (989) 709-1120

JULY 9THGLADWIN ARTS & CRAFTS FESTIVAL, in the Gladwin City Park. Info: (989) 429-327242ND ANNUAL ROSCOMMON ART FESTIVAL AND CRAFT SHOW, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., on Lake Street and at the CRAF Center in Roscommon, with more than 70 vendors. Info: (989) 275-8760

JULY 9TH-10TH16TH ANNUAL ANTIQUE & COLLECTIBLES SHOW, Sat. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sun. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. under “The Big Top” at Harrisville Harbor. Ad-mission costs $2. Info: (989) 736-8265

JULY 10TH4TH ANNUAL NANCY DOUGLAS DOLL AND TEA EVENT, 2-4 p.m. at Ogemaw County Genealogi-cal and Historical Society, featuring a unique Eskimo doll collection. Info: (989) 873-5673

JULY 10TH-17THOGEMAW HILLS BIKE WEEK MOTORCYCLE RALLY, at the Ogemaw County Fairgrounds, Michi-gan’s largest motorcycle rally featuring a full week of camping, concerts, races and more. All bikes welcome. Info: (989) 312-1312

JULY 11TH-16THGLADWIN COUNTY FAIR - The Gladdest Little Fair in Michigan - with carnival rides, 4-H, youth and agricultural exhibits, grandstand shows, entertainment, Super Kicker Rodeo, quad racing, figure eight, demoli-tion derby and much more. Info: www.GladwinFair.org


JULY 12THSTRANGE LIFE FORMS FROM AROUND THE WORLD, 4 p.m. at the Alcona County Library, Har-risville, by The Organization for Bat Conservation from Cranbrook Institute of Science. Info: (989) 724-6796TUESDAYS IN THE PARK, Gladwin’s summer mu-sic series, kicks off in Gladwin City Park with Barons of Brass Quintet, and runs Tuesdays through Aug. 16, except Aug. 2, 7-8:30 p.m. cost is $5. Info: (989) 429-3272

JULY 12TH-16THARENAC COUNTY FAIR, a family festival with tractor show, livestock auction, flat track races, kids’ day, mud volleyball and more. Info: (989) 846-4461

JULY 13THEAST SHORE ART GUILD SUMMER IM-PROMPTU at the Harrisville Harbor tent. Info: (989) 724-6347

JULY 15TH-17THU.S.O. SHOW, a 1930s musical presented by Tawas Bay Players; shows start at 7 p.m., box office opens at 6:15 and all seats cost $10. Info: www.TawasBayPlay-ers.com

JULY 16THSUNRISE SIDE WINE AND FOOD FESTIVAL, noon to 6 p.m. under The Big Top at Harrisville Harbor, featuring Michigan vintners, breweries, local restau-rants, live music and art show. Info: (989) 724-5107EAST SHORE ART GUILD, with art work on dis-play at Harrisville Harbor. Info: (989) 724-6347GREATER GLADWIN GARDEN TOUR, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. featuring eight gardens in and around Gladwin; tickets cost $8 in advance at the MSUE office, or $10 day of. Info: (989) 426-5220 5TH ANNUAL ROSCOMMON RIVER FESTI-VAL, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Wallace Park in Roscommon, a celebration of the AuSable River with crafts, fine arts, rod makers, kayakers, guides, fly tying demonstrations, NRA youth firearms safety, kid’s games, and a wooden boat show that is free for entries. Info: (989) 275-8760MILITARY DAY, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Steiner Museum, Fairview. Info: (989) 848-5362

STICKY BUNS DAY, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Wellington Farm Park, a Depression-era working farm located just south of Grayling. Info: (989) 348-5187 or visit www.WellingtonFarmPark.org

JULY 16TH-17THMICHIGAN WALLEYE TOURNAMENT, captain’s meeting at Jerry’s Marina, East Tawas at 6 p.m.; a Michigan Walleye Tour event. Info: (989) 362-8641GAGAGUWON TRADITIONAL POWWOW, at Old Orchard Park in Oscoda; experience the Native American Spirit at this traditional dance and crafts events. Info: (989) 739-1994CURLEY MEMORIAL CANOE RACE, from Cooke Dam to Finish Line Park in Oscoda; an MCRA sanctioned event honoring Oscoda’s Curley family canoe legends. Info: (989) 739-7322WOOD SHAVING DAYS, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Hartwick Pines State Park, with wood carvers, wood burners, a steam-powered saw mill, blacksmiths, spin-ners and traditional crafters of all sorts. On Sunday at 1 p.m. catch the Swampers and Petoskey Mossbacks in Vintage Base Ball. Info: (989) 348-2537

JULY 17THRIVER FESTIVAL DOCK DOG BIG AIR COM-PETITION AND KAYAK PADDLE, at Wallace Park in Roscommon; a kayak paddle features $5 kayak rent-als or bring your own, free return shuttle. Info: (989) 275-4392 or AuSableRiverCenter.org24TH ANNUAL ROSCOMMON ROTARY DUCK RACES, following the Dock Dog Big Air Competition at Wallace Park in Roscommon, featuring hundreds of plastic ducks and $1,800 in prizes. Info: (989) 275-3075

JULY 17TH-18THHUNTER SAFETY COURSE, hosted by the Mio Moose Lodge. Info: (989) 275-5663.

JULY 18TH-20THART CAMP - A Summer Outdoor Camp Adventure - hosted by the Tawas Bay Art Council, for youngsters aged 7- to 15-years old. Info: (989) 362-5613

JULY 20THSHORELINE STEWARDSHIP, a Huron Pines volunteer restoration project in the Ocqueoc River

watershed; learn how to care for a shoreline with native plants, erosion control, invasive plant prevention, and more. To participate call Ryan at Huron Pines: (989) 344-0753 ext. 25

JULY 21ST-24THPIONEER POWER ANTIQUE TRACTOR AND GAS ENGINE CLUB SHOW AND FLEA MAR-KET, at the Pioneer Power Club grounds in West Branch, located on state highway M-55 just west of M-33; featuring demonstrations, entertainment, food and family fun. Info: (989) 473-4702

JULY 21ST-24THU.S.O. Show, a 1930s musical presented by Tawas Bay Players; shows start at 7 p.m., box office opens at 6:15 and all seats cost $10. Info: www.TawasBayPlayers.com

JULY 23RD8TH ANNUAL SUNRISE SIDE GARDENING CLUB GARDEN WALK, featuring 10 enticing gar-dens all within walking distance of downtown Harris-ville. Tickets cost $6 until July 22; $8 on the day of the walk. Info: (989) 724-6569SATURDAY NIGHT MUSIC BASH IN UPTOWN GRAYLING, 3-8 p.m. featuring a variety of bands, extended shopping hours and in-store specials. Info: (989) 348-4011WELLINGTON COUNTRY MUSIC SHOW, 7:30 p.m. at Wellington Farm Park, a Depression-era work-ing farm located just south of Grayling. Tickets cost $12.50. Info: (989) 348-5187 or visit www.Wellington-FarmPark.org

JULY 23RD-24THSPIKE’S CHALLENGE CANOE RACE, C-1 and C-2 races, featuring a $5,400 total purse, with reg-istration from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. Info: www.AuSableCanoeMarathon.orgPADDLETOWN PLAYOFFS WOMEN’S SOFT-BALL TOURNAMENT, at McQuaig Field in AuS-able. Info: (989) 739-7322 or registrations available at www.OscodaChamber.com

JULY 24TH-25THHUNTER SAFETY COURSE, hosted by the Mio Moose Lodge. Info: (989) 275-5663


JULY 25TH-30THIOSCO COUNTY FAIR, at the fairgrounds north of the light in Hale, a traditional county fair with carnival, midway, livestock and family events and grand stand events. Info: IoscoCounty-Fair.com

JULY 26THKID’S DAY AT AUSABLE RIVER FESTIVAL IN GRAYLING, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Grayling City Park, featuring games, inflatables, prizes, face painting, contests and more. Info: (989) 348-2921PADDLE TOWN DASH FOR CASH CANOE RACE, at Finish Line Park in AuSable, for registered paddlers of the AuSable River Canoe Marathon with races starting at 3 p.m. and a public meet and greet at 8:30 p.m. Info: www.AuSableCanoeMarathon.org

JULY 27THH.U.P. (HURRY UP AND PADDLE) RACE, uniquely designed and water worthy canoes built from one sheet of plywood, judging of design at 5:30 p.m., racing starts at 7:30, in Grayling City Park. Info: (989) 348-2921

JULY 28THTHE WRITING OF THE BOOK, BEFORE DNA, with author Robert Woolever, an Arenac County Museum Summer Education presentation, 7 p.m. at the museum in Au Gres. Info: (989) 876-7029

JULY 29THDAVE HERZOG’S MARIONETTES, 11 a.m. at the Harrisville Branch of the Alcona County Library. Info: (989) 724-6796

JULY 29TH-30TH35TH ANNUAL AUSABLE RIVER ARTS & CRAFTS SHOW, Fri. 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in Grayling City Park, a juried show featur-ing nearly 100 vendors with hand-crafted items. Info: (989) 348-2921GLADWIN COUNTY’S FIRST SETTLER SESQUICENTENNIAL CELEBRATION, celebrating “One County, Many Stories,” with a youth art exhibit, quilt show, pulled pork dinner historical dedications and a parade at 1 p.m. Saturday in downtown Gladwin. Info: (989) 429-3272

JULY 30THBATTLE OF THE TOWNSHIPS AND BUSINESS CANOE RACES, noon at Finish Line Park in AuSable, 10 man teams, $10 per team and all busi-ness are welcome. Info and registration: (989) 739-7322 AUSABLE RIVER FESTIVAL CLAS-SIC CAR SHOW, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. in downtown Grayling. Register before 11 a.m. awards at 2 p.m. Info: (989) 348-2921CLASSIC CAR CRUISE NIGHT, with a cookout at 6:30 and 7 p.m. cruise from North Star Auto Wash in Grayling; RSVP is appreciated. Info: (989) 348-2921

JULY 30TH-31STAU GRES CAR CRUISE AND SHOW, cruise starts at Au Gres-Sims High School on Sat. at 5:15 and ends at Au Gres Riverfront Park for a muffler rap competition and a dance, with a Car Show on Sunday. Info: (989) 240-461564TH ANNUAL AUSABLE RIVER CANOE MARATHON, the longest non-stop canoe marathon in North America begins at 9 p.m. in Grayling, finishes around 10:30 a.m. in Oscoda. Info: www.AuSableCanoeMarathon.orgAUSABLE RIVER DAYS, in conjunc-tion with the AuSable River Marathon, a first-year event with non-profits offering family oriented activities and informa-tion. Info: (989) 739-7322CIVIL WAR CANNON FIRING COMPETITION, Sat. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sun, 9 a.m. to noon at Range 35, Camp Grayling, featuring around 20 reenact-ment groups and sponsored by the Loo-mis battery of Michigan light artillery. Info: (989) 348-2921BIG FOOT BASH, 10 a.m. at the Michigan Magazine Museum, with speakers and presentations, bigfoot call-ing, rock throwing and left foot contests, and more. Info: (989) 848-2246 or (989) 826-3169

JULY 31ST11TH ANNUAL BLACK BEAR BICYCLE TOUR, a 100-mile tour that begins in Grayling at 8 a.m. and has the fastest riders ending in Oscoda around the same time as the AuSable Canoe

Marathon paddlers. Info: (989) 348-6868 or BlackBearBicycleTour.com

AUGUSTAUG 4TH-7THROSCOMMON COUNTY FAIR, at the Fire Training Grounds in Roscom-mon featuring rides, food, displays, demonstrations, mud bog, horse show and more. Info: (989) 275-8546 or www.RoscommonCountyFair.org

AUG 5TH-6TH46TH ANNUAL NORTHERN MICH-IGAN RELIEF AND QUILT SALE, at the Oscoda County Fairgrounds, featuring a huge quilt sale, a garage sale, food vendors, global crafts, Friday children’s auction, musical entertainment and more; open house on Friday, sales on Saturday. Proceeds go to Mennonite world-wide relief efforts. Info: www.ReliefSale.org

AUG 5TH-7TH27TH ANNUAL SAGINAW CHIP-PEWA INDIAN TRIBE POWWOW, at the end of Worth Road, near the casino in Standish, with a fry bread contest, baby parade, vendors and more; Grand Entry on Friday at 7 p.m. and at 1 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Info: 800-225-8172, extension 54071 or e-mail [email protected]

AUG 6THTAWAS UNTAPP’D & UNCORK’D, noon to 6 p.m., at Harbor Park in East Tawas, featuring 13 wineries, three breweries and 10 area restaurants, with live entertainment and a Super Raffle; cost is $10 in advance at Klenow’s Mar-ket or Reeds on the River, or $12 at the gate. Info: (989) 362-8197

AUG 6TH-7TH51ST ANNUAL TAWAS BAY WA-TERFRONT FINE ART FESTIVAL SHOW, Sat. 10- a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sun. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Tawas City Park, celebrating its return as a juried art show, with cash and other prizes for the artists and free admission for the public. Info: (800) 558-2927

AUG 12THJEFF DANIELS, 7 p.m. at the Kirtland Center for Performing Arts, at Kirtland Community College. Tickets cost $34


and $32; season tickets available with discounts for seniors. Info: (989) 275-6777 or www.KirtlandCenter.com

AUG 12TH-13THAU GRES WINE AND ART FESTI-VAL, 4-9:30 p.m. in KinderPlatz Park, Au Gres, with the wine tasting begin-ning at 7 p.m. Friday and the art festival continuing on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets for the wine tasting cost $20, must purchase in advance at Au Gres City Hall, Au Gres Library or Chemical Bank in Au Gres. Info: (989) 240-4615

AUG 12TH-14THGLADWIN COUNTY CARRIAGE FESTIVAL, with carriages galore, period re-enactors, costume contests, children’s activities, food and entertain-ment, a Grand Promenade parade and much more. Info: (989) 426-9277 or www.GladwinHistory.org

AUG 13THFOREST FEST, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Hartwick Pines State Park Logging Mu-seum; discover the ecology and natural history of Michigan’s forests. Info: (989) 348-2537

AUG 13TH-14THVICTORIAN ART FAIR IN IRON’S PARK, West Branch, featuring 275 arts and crafts exhibitors, with kid’s games, food concessions and old fashioned entertainment; free admission. Info: (989) 345-3856 or www.VictorianArtFair.com

AUG 16TH-20THOGEMAW COUNTY FAIR, with youth exhibits, carnival and midway, grand-stand events, entertainment and food, at Ogemaw County Fairgrounds. Info: (989) 345-5393 or www.OgemawCountyFair.com

AUG 23RD-27THALCONA COUNTY FAIR, in Lincoln, featuring five nights of entertainment for the entire family with 4H exhibits, livestock auction and more. Info: (989) 724-6967 or (989) 736-6169

AUG 26TH-28TH10TH ANNUAL BLUES BY THE BAY FESTIVAL, in East Tawas Harbor Park, three days and nine of the best blues bands around; $20 admission for all three days, refreshments available on site. Info: www.BluesByTheBayTawas.org

AUG 27TH-28THBLACK IRON DAYS, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Hartwick Pines State Park Logging Museum, featuring the largest gathering of blacksmith in the state, with period and traditional crafters, carvers, spinners and more. Info: (989) 348-2537


As our region’s largest conservation organization turns its restorative attention to the Rifle River, volunteers and organizations from across the state give their attention to Huron Pines. Together they’ll repair and protect one of Northeast Michigan’s most popular waterways.

By JERRY NUNNeditor

PRESCOTT – The list of team members working together to protect the Rifle River watershed reads like a roster of environmental All Stars, with organizations, agencies, enterprise and individuals all pitching support towards a major league restoration endeavor.

With the recent acquisition of a $457,000 fund to further those integrated efforts, Huron Pines advances to the fore as the preservation-minded partnership’s Most Valuable Player.

While that pool of dedicated funds sets Huron Pines apart, other major players concerned with the Rifle’s care need not worry.

Conservation-minded team mates will still receive more than their share of time on the field.

As it has been from the beginning, restoration and preservation of one of Northeast Michigan’s most popular and pristine waterways will remain an all-out team effort, according to Brad Jensen, Huron Pines Director.

“Huron Pines depends on its conservation partners and we count on our community partners,” Jensen said recently, while speaking before the West Branch Optimists Club. “Without partnerships such as these we would not be able to undertake projects such as these.”

That spirit of teamwork was on display last month, when an updated

inventory of the Rifle’s stream bank erosion sites was undertaken by both the William B. Mershon and Ann Arbor Chapters of Trout Unlimited. Working side by side with community volunteers, under the guidance of Huron Pines project coordinator Abigail Ertel, the groups set out in canoes to survey streamside damage needing repair.

Once complete, surveys such as these will allow project planners to highlight the most egregious points of damage and prioritize the order in which they are repaired.

A high-quality, 60-mile waterway flowing through Arenac and Ogemaw Counties, a large section of the Rifle River is designated by the state as a Natural River. From its headwaters in Lupton’s Rifle River Recreation Area the river flows south, first through forest and then through farm, before passing through wetlands and dumping into Saginaw Bay a few miles southeast of Omer. Along with its 140 miles of tributaries, the Rifle River drains nearly 400 square miles of land.

Money for the project comes from various sources: $382,000 from the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, $30,000 from the Saginaw Bay Watershed Initiative Network,

While work continues on the Rifle River Watershed Project, The Guide will check in often to inquire how the project commences. We will also take a closer look at Huron Pines’ project partners, to help inform and update us all on the important work these groups do in maintaining Northeast Michigan’s most valuable resources – our land and water. Watch for the August issue as we visit with folks from Saginaw Basin Land Conservancy, a most important player in the protection of this region’s environmentally sensitive lands and waterways.

Before venturing out along the Rifle River to map stream-side erosion sites in Ogemaw County, members of the Ann Arbor-based William B. Mershon Chapter of Trout Unlimited receive preliminary training from Huron Pines project coordinator Abigail Ertel.


$30,000 from the Americana Foundation of Adolph and Ginger Meyer, and $15,000 from Healing Our Waters – Great Lakes Coalition.

In-kind contributions from project partners, closely involved government entities, private property owners and others increase the value of the project considerably more.

While the brunt of the Rifle River Watershed Project calls for a three-year time frame, work will continue even after that, whether under the guidance of Huron Pines or through the efforts of other groups that have already demonstrated a long-term involvement.

In the 20 years-or-so of restorative operations on the Rifle, groups as diverse as county road commissioners and canoe liveries, Boy Scouts, conservation and user groups, township planners, property owners and more have all played major roles in mitigating existing damage while minimizing future harm.

Involvement from those groups is central to the project’s success and the future good health of the Rifle River, Ertel says.

Yet, as diverse as the interests of those players are, the scope of the project may be even more far reaching.

Near the river itself, eroded banks will be repaired and replanted, access points may be revamped and woody debris will be installed to enhance fish habitat.

Along the river’s many smaller tributaries, road stream crossings will be inventoried and the worst replaced, flow restrictions will be inventoried for possible removal, and agricultural practices will be

examined and Best Management Practices instituted where appropriate.

Throughout the watershed, rain gardens will be installed to minimize run-off, municipal storm drains will be modernized or replaced, and special protection will be sought for properties that hold a significant benefit to the health of the river.

As the project gets underway, and as community and conservation partners make visible improvements to the waterway, Jensen anticipates the number of critically important partners will increase, allowing the project to expand even more.

“The neat thing is, once the project goes further along, you’ll see the contributions increase, with groups wanting to contribute to this road stream crossing, or to be a part of that storm water project,” Jensen says. “As people become more aware and as the project’s visibility increases, you’ll see more groups and individuals want to become a part of it.”

Help Kick-Off the Rifle River

Restoration ProjectAugust 20, 2011

The Rifle River will provide a variety of conservation-minded projects over the next three years and here is your op-

portunity to play a role from the begin-ning. Volunteers should come prepared

for a high level of physical activity, working in and beside the river in an

effort to stabilize the bank and improve aquatic habitat.

Info: (989) 344-0753 or online at

HuronPines.org


By JERRY NUNNeditor

WEST BRANCH – Each year bigger and better events draw rumbling motorcycles to Northeast Michigan for the Ogemaw Hills Bike Week.

This year, with a SuperMoto racing event rip roaring through the city's Victorian downtown, the noise of souped-up cycles may be drowned out by the roar of the crowd.

Running on a mixed track of dirt and asphalt, the Taco Bell Ogemaw Hills SuperMoto Spectacular will be held July 15 in downtown West Branch.

SuperMoto pits the best of three racing styles, motocross, flat track and road racing, and thus offers the high speed of asphalt with the thrills and jumps of motocross. Dirt, brought in for race and dumped on the street, is used to build obstacles, while short straightaways and abundant curves keep top speeds to a minimum.

Nonetheless, mounted on four-stroke dirt bikes sporting slicker, asphalt-worthy tires, racers tearing down Houghton Avenue and Fourth Street will likely see top speeds of 60 mph, according to race organiz-ers. Hay bales and other safety de-vices will separate the motorcycles from the crowd, they said.

“How often do you see mo-torcycles racing through a city's streets? This is definitely going to be a spectator event,” said race organizer Dave Duprey, owner of MiSuperMoto.com. "West Branch is

the only place in the nation to hold a SuperMoto on its downtown streets this year. This is attracting a lot of attention.”

While motorcycles racing through Victorian West Branch ought to attract a good-sized crowd, prospects of jumping temporarily-in-stalled hills of dirt, negotiating hair-pin curves, and riding rip-shod down the city’s main drag has certainly drawn the attention of racers.

“We’ve had calls from Texas and California, from guys who want to race. The other day, a team from France called and they’d like to come over,” said Duprey.

Planning for the race came together in just a few months time. Tom Youatt, West Branch city man-ager, says once safety concerns were addressed, city officials were quick to climb on board.

“We were very receptive to the idea,” Youatt said, noting the willingness and ability of Ogemaw Hills organizers to work closely with city officials. “I think it is going to be good for downtown West Branch and I think it is going to be good for the bike rally as well. I know the downtown business owners are very excited.”

As the largest annual, week-long motorcycle rally in Michigan, Ogemaw Hills Bike Week is a draw in itself, attracting thousands of motorcyclists to Ogemaw and the surrounding counties. Held at the Ogemaw County Fairgrounds, the event features seven days of camp-ing and concerts, as well as on and off-road motorcycle events.

Victorian Town Victorian Town


Events like the SuperMoto Spec-tacular, put on and promoted by the bike week committee, continue to grow with the support of townsfolk, according to Ogemaw Hills’ orga-nizer Kerry Klug.

“The level of enthusiasm and cooperation behind this event, and Bike Week as a whole really, is simply astounding,” said Klug. “Ev-erywhere we turn in our community – city hall, the Department of Public Works, the business community – people are really stepping up to the plate. There is no where we can turn that we don’t find an overwhelming amount of support.”

One business that stands out as cooperative is Bunting Sand and Gravel. Their gravel pit, located just off Interstate-75 at exit 212, is the scene of the American Motorcycle Association Pro Hill Climb, a major event in the national hill climb championship series.

Over the past few years, the hill climb event hosted amateur hill climbers, including a number of lo-cal youngsters.

This year, with AMA involve-ment, the event will attract riders from the national motorcycle racing stage, according to Scott Campbell, president of the Professional Hill Climbers Association.

“Any time you have a new venue enter the series, you create a new level of excitement. You also have the worry of what will the crowd be like; what will the hill be like,” Campbell said. To minimize those concerns his organization will come in days ahead of the race to “rework the hill.”

While most hills in the na-tional series are natural, the one in West Branch is man-made and, at 400-feet-tall, measures on the small side of the 350- to 700-foot-tall hills that racers normally tackle.

“Riders like it as close to verti-cal as we can get it,” Campbell said. “We’ll come in and put in some

verticals, maybe a tabletop, maybe a double jump, just a little something to shape the hill up some and add to the excitement for the riders and the spectators.”

Campbell said the event will fea-ture three classes of motorcycles – 450cc and smaller, 450 to 700cc and an open exhibition class, with pow-erplants limited only by the imagi-nation. While many hill climbers run extended rear forks to keep the motorcycle from flipping backwards, most bikes run on alcohol or nitro methane, with the larger machines “pushing 250 horsepower,” Camp-bell said.

“This sport is pure adrenaline. Those bikes hit those hills like rockets when they start their climb,” Campbell says.

While other race events, includ-ing motocross, enduro and flat track races, are held at the Fairgrounds during Ogemaw Hills Bike Week, motorcycle racing is far from the only attraction.

Popular events with non-bikers are the Show Your Iron event in downtown West Branch July 15, from 4 to 9 p.m. and the annual mo-torcycle parade, with its miles-long string of motorcycles leading from the Fairgrounds into downtown West Branch at 1 p.m. July 16.

Live entertainment will be featured July 15-16 by the bands Blackberry Smoke, Molly Hatchet, Geneva and Alan Turner and the Steel Horse Band. Organized motorcycle rides, both guided and self-guided, will lead from the fair-grounds through Northeast Michigan farms and woodlands.

In addition, towns and businesses across Northeast Michigan will fea-ture special events and promotions to welcome the bikers.

For more information on Oge-maw Hills Bike Week, including a complete list of events, go online to OgemawHillsBikeWeek.com.

Photos by Genie Ehinger


Waterborne battle in Paddletown

OSCODA – With the addition of three new canoe races during the frenzied week before the AuSable River Marathon, competitive paddling opportunities in this Isoco County town have just been doubled.

The feat offers a base for Oscoda's AuSable River Days, a celebration offering a slew of events including street dances,

entertainment, carving exhibitions, video presentations of historic moments in the marathon's history, as well as live coverage of this year's AuSable River Marathon's start, via large screen TV.

It also earns Oscoda its moniker of Paddletown U.S.A.

New this year is the Dash for Cash canoe race, an event open to

marathon racers and followed by a public meet and greet.

Also on the slate: A Grayling-style H.U.P. (hurry up and paddle) Race, an amateur event that has competitors building their own sea-worthy canoes from pre-packaged materials that include little more than a pound of nails, a few two-by-four’s and a single sheet of plywood. Competition includes a design component, as well as speed.

Racing action wraps up locally until the big day of the marathon, with business relays, a race that pits teams of 10 people in large warrior canoes battling against each other.

The events will be as fun to watch as they will be to participate in, says Justin Griffith, chairman of the AuSable River Canoe Marathon Committee’s Oscoda Division.

“Those big canoes are crazy,” Griffith said. “It’s weird getting 10 guys in a canoe and trying to get it to go down the river.”

While all the events are meant to build on the excitement of the

week leading up to the “big race,” Griffith says perhaps the most important is the Dash for Cash. That race is meant to attract professional canoeists away from their busy schedule up-river for a one day public appearance in Oscoda.

“That is an event designed to get the paddlers here during that week of excitement,” Griffith said, noting the disparite number of racers who call Grayling home. He says that historically, it wasn’t always like that.

“If anything, it’s due to exposure,” Griffith said, noting

JERRY NUNNeditor

2009 Winners of the AuSable River Canoe Marathon, Andrew Triebold and Steve Lajoie reached Oscoda in 14:17:42. This year Oscoda is offering plenty of canoe race action in the week leading up to the marathon.


AuSable River Canoe Racing Schedule

July 2011(and one bike race)

that in Grayling youngsters can watch professional canoe racers practice their sport on a daily basis. “I just think we need to build that excitement around here again.”

Canoe racing certainly owns its share of Oscoda’s culture.

While the Michigan Canoe Racing year starts here in March, with the Klondike Canoe Race, the racing schedule heats up big time later this month with the Curley Memorial Canoe Race, the state’s largest race held in memory of the legendary Oscoda canoe racers, Harry, Jerry and Kevin Curley. The two day event features C-1 and C-2 classes racing from Cook Dam to the AuSable’s Mill Street Bridge on July 16-17.

Held two weeks prior to the marathon, the Curley Memorial offers important opportunity for competitive paddlers to test the AuSable River’s lower stretch, in much the same way as the Spike’s Challenge familiarizes racers with the river’s upper stretches and the marathon’s unique running start.

Like Oscoda, Grayling has a whole slate of canoe races scheduled all week long just prior to the marathon. While some, such as the Spike’s Challenge and the marathon time qualifiers, are professional events, many of the races offer an opportunity for any adult or youngster to try their hand at competitive canoeing.

With a week’s worth of successful events planned around the AuSable River Marathon, folks in Grayling are pleased to see their fellow marathon hosts in Oscoda turn their focus to the river as the marathon nears.

“It think it’s exciting,” said John Lucey, a marathon racer and member of the Marathon Committee. With record numbers of marathon

entrants, folks in Grayling have all they can do to entertain them all and Lucey commends Griffith and others in Oscoda for expanding their roster of marathon centered events. “It’s great that they are trying to enhance the marathon with events like Dash for Cash to draw spectators and racers down to Oscoda for the day."

16-17: Curley Memorial Canoe Race, MCRA sanctioned event memorializing Harry, Jerry and Kevin Curley, from Cook Dam to AuSable Inn, with C-1 and C-2 classes. Info: (989) 739-199423-24: Spike’s Challenge Canoe Race, C-1 and C-2 races in Grayling, featuring a $5,400 total purse, with registration from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. Info: www.AuSableCanoeMarathon.org26: Kid’s Day at AuSable River Festival in Grayling, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Grayling City Park, featuring games, inflatables, prizes, face painting, contests and more. Info: (989) 348-292126: Paddletown Dash for Cash Canoe Race, at the AuSable Inn and Finish Line Park in AuSable, for registered paddlers of the AuSable River Canoe Marathon with races starting at 3 p.m. and followed by a public meet and greet with marathon contestants at 8 p.m. Info: www.AuSableCanoeMarathon.org27: H.U.P. (Hurry Up and Paddle) Race, featuring uniquely designed and water worthy canoes built by contestants from one sheet of plywood. In Grayling, judging of design begins at 5:30 p.m., racing starts at 7:30 in Grayling City Park. In Oscoda, the event starts at 6:30 at Oscoda Canoe Rental and the AuSable River Store. Info and registration: In Grayling call (989) 348-2921. In Oscoda call (989) 739-7322.30: Battle of the Townships and Business Canoe Races, noon at Finish Line Park in AuSable, 10 man teams in warrior canoes, $10 per team and all business are welcome. Info and registration: (989) 739-7322 30-31: 64th Annual AuSable River Canoe Marathon, the longest non-stop canoe marathon in North America begins at 9 p.m. in Grayling, finishes around 10:30 a.m. in Oscoda. Info: www.AuSableCanoeMarathon.org31: 11th Annual Black Bear Bicycle Tour, a 100-mile tour that begins in Grayling at 8 a.m. and has the fastest riders ending in Oscoda around the same time as the AuSable Canoe Marathon paddlers. Info: (989) 348-6868 or BlackBearBicycleTour.com

For a complete list of marathon related events and times, visit these

following websites:

AuSableCanoeMarathon.orgBlackBearBicycleTour.com GraylingChamber.com OscodaChamber.com

A sharing of cultures and a celebration of the Native American spirit with traditional dancing, drum circles, art, crafts, food and more.

When: July 16-17Where: Old Orchard Park, on River Road, eight miles west of downtown Oscoda.Info: (989) 739-1994

Gagaguwon Traditional Powwow

A sharing of cultures and a celebration of the Native American spirit with traditional dancing, drum circles, art, crafts, food and more.

When: July 16-17Where: Old Orchard Park, on River Road, eight miles west of downtown Oscoda.Info: (989) 739-1994

Gagaguwon Traditional Powwow


By JERRY NUNNeditor

LINWOOD – Gruff, grizzled and visibly confident, there is no mistak-ing Bubba Philipp as the hardcore biker that he is. Year-round, rain or shine, when the owner of Bubba’s Tri-City Cycle is not running his Bay County motorcycle shop he can often be found running the roads on his Harley-Davidson.

While Bubba is known to ride his bike in nearly any type of weather, every month of the year, much of that running around is for a very good cause.

Since 1999 the burly and big-hearted Bubba has raised nearly $250,000 for Camp Fish Tails, the barrier-free, wheelchair accessible Bay County camp for special needs children and adults.

Each year Bubba donates and raffles off a brand new motorcycle to raise money for the camp. Proceeds this year’s raffle totaled $40,000. Bubba presented the check June 21.

Over the years, money that Bubba and his do-gooder gang of bikers raised has paid for a new beach, a barrier-free boardwalk, purchased a 24-foot pontoon affectionately named the “Bubbette,” and helped fund a camp medical center.

In addition to the raffle, other Bubba-organized events such as mo-torcycle rallies and picnics provide about $7,000 per year towards schol-arships to the camp, Sullivan says.

It all started 13 years ago when Sullivan was first appointed director. Looking for entertainment to close out the week-long camp, she caught word of the big-hearted Bubba.

“Our camp nurse said ‘I know this big, burly biker who would probably come and help,’” Sullivan recalls. “I said ‘Man that sounds like fun. Bring him on.’”

“Bubba and his friends came down and we had a great time. They came back the next week, and the next week, and they just kept coming back every week.

“Every Thursday since I’ve been the director, Bubba has been here for us. I can’t say enough good things about him. I don’t know what we’d do without Bubba,” Sullivan says. “Now we count on him as our clos-ing night program.”

As for Bubba, he says that Camp Fish Tales “somehow suckered me in and kept me. Now they can’t get rid of me.”

And his role has grown from that of a colorful spokesperson to vice president of Fish Tales, Inc., the camp’s parent organization.

“It’s not me. I’m just a small part of it,” says Bubba, listing a roster of Fish Tale contributors that includes organizations ranging from Boy Scouts to the Christian Motorcycle Association. “From the biker down the road, to a Bay City commis-


sioner, there are so many people involved I can’t possibly name them all.”

While Bubba now holds a place at the helm of the organization, he and his fellow bikers stay involved on a daily basis.

Functions and festivities that Bubba often helps with are casino nights, camp talent shows, derby races and carnivals. During the award ceremonies, when campers are honored for their week’s partici-pation, it is the benevolent band of bikers who present the awards.

“I don’t know what it is,” Bubba said, attempting to verbalize what it is about Camp Fish Tales that cap-tured his big biker heart. “They tug at you somehow.”

For all the time that Bubba donates, he recently resigned his position with the Ogemaw Hills Bike Week when he felt that organiza-tion took too much time from his work at the camp. While Bubba says that decision was hard, he said that

Camp Fish Tales, with its grass roots beginning by people who care for their community, has changed his perspective.

“I guess it’s my calling, for lack of a better word,” Bubba said, noting he never thought about community, or thought much about those who are often considered less fortunate.

“You know, I’ve been spoiled my entire life. My family has been blessed with good health. But when I spend time with the kids and adults out at the camp, they have such a great outlook on life. They are truth-ful and very straight forward and I felt very comfortable with that.

“These kids and adults are out there having a good time. You have to support that,” Bubba said. “And the best thing is, this is right in our community. Who can say no to sup-porting something right here in their own back yard?”

Certainly not a big-hearted biker like Bubba Philipp.

Long-time Camp Fish Tales supporter Bubba Philipp, shown here with camp director Lara Beth Sullivan prior to Bubba's Memorial Day Concert, has raised well over $250,000 over the past 10 years by raffling a motorcycle. This year's raffle raised nearly $40,000. Bubba presented the check June 21.


By JERRY NUNNeditor

WEST BRANCH – Undaunted after three years of courting Hollywood producers and failing to attract a feature film production, organizers of West Branch Area Film Association changed their tactics,

and asked creative writing students at Ogemaw Heights High School if they’d provide a script.

The idea of a student-written film production caught the attention of Rich Brauer, producer of the independent films Frozen Stupid and Escanaba in da Moonlight.

Brauer and a contingency of Ogemaw Heights’ students shot the film Mainstreet Magic barely one month later. The short musical is due to debut at the West Branch Children’s Film Festival July 8-9.

“The most exciting part about it was working with the students,” Brauer said, calling the production an

“elaborate music video.”“The students are fantastic to work

with and the writing is great. It’s not just a bunch of crazy stuff. We rallied together to produce it, we’ll shoot it all in one day and, at the end of the day, we’ll have a short film that includes the whole town.

“This is something we can all be proud of, especially the students,” Brauer said.

The day of the shoot, Brauer and his production staff were in downtown West Branch, as students scurried about preparing for filming. Everywhere that Bauer went, and every task he undertook, he was accompanied by students. At each step he took the time to explain what

he was doing and why.For high school senior Tori Miller,

17, who plans to study performing arts at Western Michigan University after attending Kirtland Community

College, the opportunity to work with a professional film crew was an irreplaceable experience.

“It was a lot of fun. Richard was very down to earth, very

easy to get along with,” said Miller, who plays a dancer in the film. “He just wanted us to go out there and have fun.”

Miller credits Brauer’s laid back attitude with setting students and others at ease and for making not only the filming, but the initial script writing session a success.

After premiering at the West Branch Children’s Film

Festival on July 8, the four-minute musical Mainstreet

Magic will be posted to YouTube. For more

information visit www.wbcff.com.


Brittany Richardson, 17, a senior who heads off for U.S. Army National Guard boot camp a month after the movie’s debut, said that script writing session included Brauer, Film Festival officials and nearly 30 students from the class of Ogemaw Heights creative writing teacher Laurie Rose. Richardson termed the script confab a “brain storming session,” and said that under Brauer’s guidance all participants had equal say.

“He came right to our class and helped us write the script,” Richardson said, noting that Brauer coached the students on ideas that would translate well into video. “I think, in the end, he definitely used everything that the students wanted. He made almost every idea we had work.”

For Film Festival officials, the film presented a perfect chance to work towards their mission of attracting a film crew to their downtown Victorian business district, according to Pete Fabbri, festival president.

“We’ve always wanted to attract

a film production crew,” said Fabbri. “We always had three criteria that we wanted to fulfill. We wanted it filmed downtown, we wanted it open to the public and number three, we wanted to include the whole community.”

That the film was written and acted in by local students just made the entire production a little bit better, says Fabbri.

“We’ve always tried to maintain an educational

component to everything we’ve done,” Fabbri said. “With Rich Brauer’s help we certainly accomplished that. I really can’t say enough good about all of them, really, especially the students. We got together and we made this happen. It was great experience.”

Mainstreet Magic, which depicts the caring atmosphere found in small towns, begins with the film’s star, an elderly lady played by Janet Ross, trying to cross a busy intersection. After stepping in front of a speeding car, Ross is pulled out of the way by Sarah, played by co-starring student Leah Lebzelter. Following Sarah’s good deed, a street-full of movie extras turn out to celebrate by dancing down the main thoroughfare.

The role of Sarah was filled by an open casting call in the weeks leading up to filming. The starring role played by Ross was never advertised.

“Auditions for Sarah were held at the library and there were four girls who were serious contenders for the role. It could have been anyone of them,” Fabbri said. During script

writing, when the starring role of an elderly lady was first discussed, Fabbri says Ross – a well known figure around downtown West Branch – came immediately to mind. “I don’t think there was ever any question, really. It was going to be Janet who played that role.”

For Ross, 88, the movie role playing was a first-time experience. And while she was impressed with the work of students, as well as townsfolk and Brauer Productions, nearly eight hours of production for a four minute movie made for a long day.

“It was a great experience,” says Ross. “What I liked about it most was, it was very inter-generational. That really rang a bell with me. I think that is very important to show. We all have something to contribute.”

THAT’S A RAP – As producer/director Rich Brauer films the action, Sarah, played by Ogemaw Heights High School senior Leah Lebzelter, saves Janet from a speeding car. Footage for the short film Mainstreet Magic was shot entirely in downtown West Branch and will premiere at the West Branch Children’s Film Festival on July 8.


As a convenience store, AuSable River Camp offers grocer-ies, ice cream, liquor, bait, recre-ational gasoline and more. As a re-sort, it offers three furnished rustic cabins and four others that are more modern. Set on five-and-a-half wooded acres, AuSable River Camp comes with a four-bedroom residence currently serving as a rental.

By JERRY NUNNeditor

OSCODA – Located halfway between Hale and Glennie, at the gateway to the River Road National

Scenic Byway, AuSable River Camp has been an icon to travelers along state highway M-65 for more than 80 years.

Considering the work that has gone into it lately, it may well serve as a traveler’s landmark for another eight decades.

When Dave and Linda Bell pur-chased the resort from Ted and Pat Peterson in 2004, it had been closed for five years.

The Bell’s invested plenty to bring the place up to snuff: The AuS-able River Camp now boasts a new heating system, siding, insulation, flooring and more. Major structural

Turnkeyopportunity!

AuSableRiver Camp

Despite the economy - or in some instances because of it – Northeast Michigan still offers opportunity to those wanting to make an investment. In each issue The Guide will highlight a

long-established small business within our area that is for sale, visit with the owners and provide contact information for the realtor. We make no judgement of the investment. But we do present it as a possible opportunity. A turnkey opportunity.


improvements were made to the store. Once known popularly as The Red Store, and still called such by locals and familiar tourists, the newly installed red steel roof reflects the store’s past.

“Best as I can figure, it was built sometime in the early 1930s or late ‘20s,” said Dave Bell, standing among a collection of old, wall-mounted photographs and articles that serves as a monument to area history. “Even back then the cabins were here. And I’ll tell you what; the cabins are in excellent condition. The knotty pine interiors are about 80-years-old and they’re still beauti-ful.”

Operated year-round, AuSable River Camp serves a broad mix of customers – everyone from highway travelers to woodland cabin own-ers, from bus-loads of sightseers to nearby local residents. Set among the Huron-Manistee National Forest, groomed and maintained trails in-tersect the property and the AuSable River Camp serves as a pit stop to snowmobilers and other trail users.

Located one mile from the AuSable River and Five Channel hydro elec-tric dam, the resort is used as a base camp for anglers, hunters, canoers and hikers the whole year around.

“This area has been named as the seventieth most beautiful place in the U.S. for autumn colors,” said Dave. “I think it’s the most beautiful piece of property around. Out back we have giant oak trees; we have trails right across the street and the River Road National Scenic Byway starts just up the road.

“You can see for miles from all those river overlooks. It’s a spectacu-lar view any time of the year.”

To learn more about AuSable River Camp and other Northeast Michigan business opportunities, visit Heritage House Reality of Oscoda online at

HeritageHouseRealtyofOscoda.com or call (800) 626-6909.


Make a difference in someone’s day, and you’ll find contentment in your own.

by Kelly TrainorNorthland Area Federal Credit Union

Our parents taught us the prin-ciple from the time we were small.

“Treat others the way you’d like to be treated,” they said, until we’d heard it so often that we almost quit listening. Because really – when you’re six years old, how does “what goes around comes around” help with the bully on the bus?

But mom and dad never changed their tune. They were determined

to teach us, whether we wanted to listen or not.

Time passed. We grew, self ab-sorbed, and through self-preservation or youthful arrogance, many of us learned to fend only for ourselves. By graduation we felt grown up, important and even a little smug.

That is until we discovered real life was much harder than we’d thought.

Through it all our parents contin-ued to counsel, hoping one day we’d understand. “You never know what someone else is going through,” they said. “Be polite and respectful. Be kind. It will come back to you.”

It wasn’t until we experienced

Pink Warriors team Captain Terri King walks for the Iosco County Relay for Life.

Caring


adult struggles that we began to open our eyes. It turns out mom and dad were right all along.

Northeastern Michigan is a com-munity where people care about their neighbors. Out-of-towners flock here for the friendly atmosphere and breathtaking view. Frequent visitors and those blessed to call this place home know that kindness matters here. It can be as simple as a smile to an overworked cashier or letting an elderly person move ahead of us in line. A small act can make some-one’s day – possibly more than we can imagine – and their response may also make ours.

A person may never see the re-sults of their handiwork, yet reap the benefits all the same.

Sometimes, a thoughtful act can be its own reward.

I recently walked into a public restroom in Iosco County. Taped to the back of the stall door was a sealed envelope that read, “Inside is a gift certificate for groceries. If your family truly needs it, please take it. If not, please leave it for a family that does.” I left it behind, knowing that for some families it could be a lifesaver. For one family, it prob-ably was. And in the meantime, how many people felt their hearts touched by a simple envelope taped to a door?

If one person can change the course of someone’s day, banding together for a united purpose can change so much more! Opening our hearts to the communities we love can make a huge difference in the lives of those around us…and in our own.

The recent Iosco County Relay for Life event sparked a fire of good-will throughout Northeastern Michi-gan. Over a 24 hour period, 19 teams of caring people took turns walking a makeshift track in the Tawas City park to raise over $61,000 for the American Cancer Society. These people gave up their time, their energy – and certainly their sleep –

in support of thousands of families they don’t even know. Imagine what that kind of dedication means to a person facing something as wretched as cancer.

As it turns out, it can mean just as much to the walkers. That certainly proved true for Terri King, captain of Northland Credit Union’s Pink War-riors Relay for Life team. This year the group’s Relay-inspired efforts raised $5,000.

“I’ve experienced the emotions shared by a survivor, or his mother, and the small amount our team raised this year is like a million,” King said. “It is my pleasure to be a part of this dedicated team.”

Several Northland staffers partici-pated in this year’s Relay. Top walk-ers included Lisa Green who donated 12 hours and walked 9 miles, Nikki Foster (25 hours and 8 miles), Olivia Corcoran (20 hours and 9 miles) and Terri King (25 hours and 22 miles).

That, my friend, is dedication to others.

One smile to a stranger.That’s all it takes to start on a

path toward personal contentment and a stronger community. Treat oth-ers the way you’d like to be treated. Be polite and respectful. Be kind, and teach your children to do the same. It will come back to you.

Just like mom said.

– Northland Area Federal Credit Union is a 13 branch credit union located in Northeastern Michigan. They are committed to volunteerism and actively support dozens of organizations for the betterment of our communities. In 2010 alone, Northland volunteers donated over 1,100 hours to the communities they serve. For more information about Northland or their community involvement, please call 800-336-2328 or visit northlandcu.com.


By Casey ResslHuron Pines staff

NORTHERN MICHIGAN – Summer is here, truly here.

It never ceases to amaze me how Northern Michigan wakes up from the slumber of winter again and again, but here we are. With several days over 90-degrees under our belt, many now seek the cool respite of our coldwater rivers and streams. What sweet relief it is to dust off your kayak or canoe and take that long awaited float down your favor-ite stretch.

What do you see as you float down the Au Sable? The Pigeon? The Rifle? Are there trees along the bank providing habitat for fish? Did you glide through a newly installed bottomless culvert? Can you spot new plants taking root on a once eroding streambank?

Maybe you’ll spot one of our crew members collecting data to prioritize resources concerns or a Huron Pines AmeriCorps member re-moving invasive species like purple loosestrife. Or, maybe you’ll see a group of volunteers working away to stabilize a streambank.

If you don’t see us, know that we’re out there.

It may be subtle, but projects such as these are signs of Huron Pines and this organization’s partners – folks who are dedicated to the conserva-tion of our forests, lakes and streams. Crews are installing large woody debris to provide habitat for fish and insects. We’re improving road stream crossings to reduce runoff pollu-tion from entering our streams and to improve fish passage. And we’re removing aging dams to prevent failures that could cause extensive

fish kills.As a small

conservation nonprofit cover-ing 11-counties of Northeast Michigan, Huron Pines has its work cut out for it. For more than 30 years we’ve been steadily moving through restora-tion projects and inventory-ing watersheds to find new concerns. While each completed project is a step in the right direction, there is no shortage of projects on the horizon.

Many conservation organizations are up against decreasing

government investment, funding shortfalls and increasing demands on natural resources. But conserva-tion in Northeast Michigan does not reflect that sad story. Here we find dedicated and generous partners who will do whatever it takes to keep our natural resources healthy.

Huron Pines does not receive any government support for general operating expenses. What keeps this organization going are the commu-nities across Northeast Michigan. Huron Pines provides an opportunity to invest in what makes this region pulse: the forests, lakes and streams.

It’s inspiring to be a part of an organization that has such a hard working staff, an extremely talented and invested board, and of course, dedicated and excited volunteers. If you’ve never participated in a Huron Pines event, I encourage you

to join us. Not only will you further conservation in Northeast Michigan, but you’ll have fun and meet great people while doing it. If you’ve never contributed financially to Hu-ron Pines, I encourage you to make an investment that fits your budget. Rest assured, you’ll be donating to an organization that will leverage your donation to perform quality conservation work right here in your backyard.

So, next time you let the current carry you through one of Northeast Michigan’s many beautiful water-ways, take a look around and see if you can see the subtle footprint of our region’s conservationists. Chances are good that we’ve already been there.

Learn more at www.huronpines.org.

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By JERRY NUNNeditor

GRAYLING – If local art-ists have their way, this Crawford County town is soon to be the artistic capital of Northern Michigan – a nationally recognized destination for both cultivated aficionados and amateur connoisseurs who can help drive the local economy through their appreciation of fine arts.

With the opening of two new art galleries on the town's main drag, the economically-hopeful artists are off to a great start.

On Memorial Day weekend, AuS-able Artisan Village and The Main Branch Gallery greeted art lovers for the first time during Grayling's an-nual Spring Art and Wine Walk.

In a former Ben Franklin five-and-dime, visitors here will find the AuSable Artisan Village, a coopera-tive effort of regional artists. Already the Village is offering art classes. Workshops, artist’s receptions and meet the artist events are in the works. Most days, visitors will find an artist at work.

"Anything you want in the way of artwork you can find in Grayling," says Terry Dickinson, president of the AAV. "We have a great artist community here and many of them are world-class. The quality of talent you can find in Grayling is as high as you'll find anywhere."

A tireless promoter, Dickinson and a crew of volunteers worked around the clock in order to have the AuSable Artisan Village ready for its Memorial Day opening event. He says the outpouring of community support is all that allowed the ven-ture to happen at all.

"I can’t say enough about the people who've helped with this," Dickerson said, naming contractors and individuals who arrived after work to put in full shifts and get the gallery open. "The night before we opened we had a dozen people in here, cleaning and spiffing the place up, getting it ready to go."

If all goes as planned, Kirtland Community College will play an im-portant part in the city's art-inspired revitalization efforts. Technical sup-port that comes from the college may provide everything from classrooms, to instructors to business advice.

Kirtland administrators recently coordinated a trip to Berea Ken-tucky, where arts and crafts has driv-en the local economy for decades. The excurssion convinced Dickinson and others that they too can make an economic difference with art.

"It’s exciting. We have artists from across the state but almost allof them have some sort of connection to Grayling," said Dickinson, telling how artist referral has helped guide talent to AuSable Artisans Village.

“And that’s how this thing is going to grow, through artist referrals and word of mouth. As long as that con-tinues, we will build a strong base of artists and clientelle and that’s how we’ll eventually have a much larger gallery out on I-75.”

Townsfolk too, are hoping for success of the artistic economic endeavor.

“I never realized until we had our first art walk, how many artists and the quality of art work that can be found around Grayling,” said Jamie Greer, owner of J. Dap gift shop in downtown Grayling. “I think it is great that they’ve filled the vacant spots and are trying to create an interest in bringing people here.”

Across the street and just down the block from AuSable Artisan Village you'll find the Main Branch Gallery, with a collection of 13 world-class, nature-focused artists.

Like AuS-able Artisan Village, The Main Branch Gallery often has a resi-dent artist at work and both offer a full range of artistic medi-ums, includ-ing paintings

and drawings, photography, jewelry, woodwork, sculpture, pottery and more.

"We've been pretty happy," said famed wildlife artist Kim Diment, a partner in the Main Branch Gallery. "We were worried because we are tucked back out of the way, but we're done pretty well, especially on the weekends."

“Townsfolk are real hip on the idea of art galleries in their down-town,” Diment said. “The stores downtown all tell people we are here and we tell people who come here about the other gallery.”

Just like Terry Dickinson said: That’s the way this thing is going to grow.

Learn more about the main Branch Gallery and its artists at MainBranchGallery.com. You’ll find the AuSable Artisan Village on facebook.

Meet the Artists, July 9, 10 a.m. Main Branch Gallery234 E. Michigan Avenue, Grayling


The sign on the door says, ‘Come on in!’

And that we did, to our good fortune and culinary comforts.

Located on the south side of Mio, O’Brien’s Dinner Table Restaurant at the Song Bird Motel offers casual dining, served formally in an inti-mate setting.

Assuring personal ambiance, Betty O’Brien welcomes custom-ers with a friendly smile. In better weather guests dine in the Key West Room, or outdoors on the adjacent patio.

The day we arrived, the north air was chilly. We were seated in the garden room, overlooking the pink blossoms of the crabapple tree, amidst intimate lighting and décor true to the room’s descriptive name.

Restaurateurs Dan and Betty O’Brien most recently owned and operated a restaurant in Key West.

That was before they retired.Soon realizing they needed

something to do, the couple pur-

chased the Songbird Motel in 2007 and opened O’Brien’s Dinner Table the following January. Not long af-ter, they were joined in business by daughter Peggy and son Vincent.

Peggy was our server for the evening.

Family ownership pays off and it almost feels as if the O’Brien are not only inviting you in for a meal, but inviting you into their home. They

connect with customers in a way that is admirable – naturally person-able but lacking the forced familiar-ity that is too common these days.

Every meal at O’Brien’s comes with a generous helping of bread and three varieties of butters, cold salad and relish tray, and a cup of

chicken noodle soup.

The bread was fresh and butters flavorful, and while the relish tray well-stocked with an exceptional sweet and spicy corn relish that I really liked, the chicken noodle soup was a bit bland for my palette.

As an ap-petizer, my wife

Shannon and I ordered mussels ($7.95) served in a delectable garlic-wine sauce. Lem-ons were optional, but we used ours to make the savory

flavors pop even more. After eating these, I had wished I’d ordered the Mahi-Mahi, or one of the other sea-food selections.

Two dinners Shan and I can per-sonally recommend are the Smoth-ered Delmonico and Dan’s Special Garlic Chicken.

The chicken ($12.95), lightly browned and tender, is served aside a bed of mashed potatoes that Shan-non described as “heaven, just like grandma’s.” It was accompanied by crisp-cooked green beans, topped with almonds and a slightly sweet sauce.

The Smothered Delmonico ($18.95) held true to its promise with the flavorful ribeye drowning in sautéed mushrooms, onions, pep-pers and gravy. An extra large cut, by our standards, it was tender and juicy. It was served with O’Brien’s fries – sliced potatoes cooked crisp and topped with melted cheese.

A word of caution: Don’t eat too

much. You won’t want to pass up on O’Brien’s desserts. While they only offer two, either makes a great finishing touch to a great meal.

I decided to cash in on the O-Brien’s ties to Key West and try the Key West Key Lime Pie ($3.75). The tart treat was perfectly smooth and delightfully tangy and I was not diappointed.

Citrus not your bag? Shan tried the Chocolate Volcano ($4.75), a chocolate cake served warm, filled to overflowing with hot fudge and

circled with generous helpings of vanilla ice cream and whipped cream. Even a choclate lover like Shannon could not finish it all (a task I was to happy to help with.)

Next time you’re in Mio think about stopping in for a delicious & affordable bite at O’Brien’s, you won’t leave disappointed.

By SCOTT NUNNInfo Northeast staff

Fine: Dining:

excellent, admirable, of highest qualityadj.

to eat dinner, especially at N.E. Michigan’s best restaurantsv.

DAN'S SPECIAL GARLIC CHICKENDan's Special Garl ic Chicken

DAN'S SPE-CIAL GARLIC CHICKEN

Smothered Delmonico

O'BRIEN'S DINNER TABLE RESTAURANT320 SOUTH MORENCI AVENUE, MIO(989) 826-5547WED.-SAT. OPEN 4 P.M.-8 P.M.SUN. OPEN NOON-4 P.M.


Crab Cakewich

Ingredients: 1 lb premium blue lump crab meat 2 eggs beaten 4 tablespoons mayonnaise 2/3 cup bread crumbs

1 1/3 teaspoons Old Bay 1/3 teaspoon Cayenne Pepper 1 1/2 teaspoon coarse ground mustard 1/4 cup parsley

From Tim’s Kitchen

Directions: Combine ingredients and refrigerate for an hour. Form into patties and pan fry in butter and oil blend for 4 to 5 minutes until golden brown; grill a buttered Kaiser roll then assemble with leafy lettuce, slice of tomato and slivered red onion, top with roasted red pepper, caper, dill sauce.

Number of servings: 4– Tim Reed and his wife Sandy own Reeds on the River in Tawas City,

where this special menu item and other recipes are served.

Crab CakewichBy TIM REED

BREAKFASTON THE FARM

Where: Circle K Dairy, 4443 S. M-30, West BranchWhen: July 9, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Cost: The event is free but tickets are required for breakfast. Find out where to get your tickets by visiting

BreakfastOnTheFarm.com

Hosted by the group Young, Savvy and Into Dairy, the breakfast is a chance to learn the modern methods used on today's dairy farms. Held on Circle K Farm of the Kartes family just south of West Branch, the break-fast will highlight the jobs and equipment needed to care for a 210 head dairy operation. On self-guided tours, visitors can inspect the milk parlor, examine farm equipment and see a calf nursery.

Breakfast on the Farm is a national movement, meant to familiarize folks with their dairy-farming community members. The third-generation Kartes farm has received awards for producing quality milk. Management practices used on the farm include a Comprehensive Nutrient Manage-ment Plan, a written conservation plan developed for farms.

Keith and Heather Kartes and Cole and Lauren Kartes, members of Young, Savvy and Into Dairy, invite the public to the family's Circle K Farm for a complementary breakfast and to learn the modern methods used on today's dairy farms.

Phone: 989-848-2172 • 600 W. Miller Rd., • Mio, MI 48647

Chocolate SpecialtyHand Dipped • Homemade

Granny’s Chocolates

AMISH MERCHANTS OF OSCODA COUNTY

1 Northstar Storage Barns2 Country Feed Supply3 Country Cedar Crafts4 Shady Lane Footwear and Fabrics5 Pine Grove Woodworking6 Granny’s Chocolates7 Bylers Custom Cabinets8 Highland Rail

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Gerber Rd.

Bills Rd.

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albraith Rd.

Kneeland Rd.

Co Hwy 608 / W. Miller Rd.

Kittle Rd.

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67 N

SEW

Documents

The Guide July 2011