Dear Friends: Greetings from the Camelot of North America - "In
short, there's simply not a more delightful spot for happy summering
and wintering than here in ---- EAGLE HARBOR!!
This fall turned
into a second fabulous summer for the remaining residents of the
Township. A moose wandered through the village this week. It checked
out the ballyard and fire hall, then explored Eliza Creek before
heading up the Peninsula toward Copper Harbor. She was spotted
near Lake Bailey and Agate Harbor. I guess she was taking a color
tour up the Peninsula along with the tour buses and color watchers
clogging M-26.
The tour was well worth it this year. Fall foliage
was breathtaking. The Delaware Road and Gratiot Lake area were
spectacular when we toured them. The weather had been so warm
that there were still lots of wild flowers and beautiful gardens
blooming with blazing colored leaves above, making a feast for
the eyes everywhere. Predictions are that El Nino will push dry
air north causing a very light snowfall this year. Through the
first ten days of October we felt we were in the banana belt with
75 degrees every day. It will be interesting to see how accurate
the weather pundits are.
Turning back to summer-there were very
few rainy days-in fact, too few. The flower gardens needed lots
of sprinkling and grass turned brown in between showers. The Fourth
of July was a beautiful day, warm and sunny. The parade was enjoyed
by families and friends as some of us "older" participants
surprised the spectators with an aerobic routine that thoroughly
embarrassed some grandchildren. "Meemaw, you're too old for
that", was my Adam's comment-----NOT!! If you didn't run,
walk or bike the Popeye Race, you missed the bear patrol trying
to keep our resident bear off the road for the contestants. (Two-Tags,
as he was known, has now gone to bear heaven after wandering into
a downstate bear hunter's bait pile for a meal.) There were bears
around all summer, like the huge one we chased off our porch in
the middle of the night. It came through one screen to get in
and rudely exited through another.
Lake Superior cooperated this
summer by warming up to a pleasant swimming temperature. There
were no wild storms with high waves pounding the shore and discouraging
boaters and water skiers-in short, a lovely summer.
More people
are discovering this area as evidenced by quite a few property
sales and more homes being built. Just when we think real estate
prices have peaked, land and cottages are going for amazing amounts.
Assessments will probably rise, but those of us who are not buying
won't see much change in what we pay in taxes since there is still
the Michigan Cap on tax increases.
The new fire truck issue is
still alive. The survey replies indicated agreement that new equipment
was needed and that financing should be based on a special assessment
rather than vote extra mills on present taxable values which are
not equitable. More hearings will be held to discuss pro and con
the equipment needed before the Township Board makes a decision.
The delay in hearings, etc. has been caused by lack of information
requested from legal sources. The Township Board finally changed
attorneys and the process will be moving forward.
We are so grateful
to Clarence Bach for stepping in to man the transfer station on
Saturdays following the resignation of the previous solid waste
manager. Gary Everest has left the area, so winter hours were
started a bit earlier than usual. The biggest problem faced since
the advent of the compactors has been thoughtless people leaving
trash on the ground beside the compactor outside of scheduled
hours. Bad scene and happy critters!!
Our TV cable operation has
been moved to the transfer station site. A portion of the building
now houses electronic equipment and the dishes are installed on
site. All improvements in the building were made at Cable America's
expense and rent will be paid for the space. There is still plenty
of room in the building for storage of Township property such
as benches and barrels, and for future recycling when it becomes
a viable option.
A welcome addition to the area came in August
when Keweenaw Memorial Medical Center opened a primary care facility
in the Community Building. Until October 1st, a doctor and nurse
were on duty three afternoons a week handling a wave of virus,
bronchitis and sore throat calls that ran through the area. On
October 16th there will be flu shots available there, saving us
a trip to town. Hopefully, the regular hours will start early
next summer to handle medical needs of the residents and visitors.
No more trips to town on beach days for allergy shots, blood pressure
checks, stitches (we hope none), etc., and waiting, waiting, waiting
for a turn at the doctor's office.
The Community Building Restoration
fund had a great start this summer with an anonymous donation
of stock. The Board set aside a required matching $5,000 and by
the time the stock was sold, we had over $11,000 in the fund.
This will be used to replace the windows on the lower floor to
match the upper story windows and to scrape and paint the building.
The work had already been done to shore up the building and the
posts had been replaced in the lower floor to stabilize the second
floor. Restoration funds are also being raised by the ladies of
the Thursday morning coffee group. They held a bake sale and tea
to start a fund for redoing the kitchen. More fund raisers are
being planned for next summer. Dick Lantz heads a committee for
planning the restoration of the building.
The aerobic group has
been faithful all summer and fall. From a maximum of fourteen
participating during the summer, we have dropped to four or six
daily. Thanks to the Schuberts for a second TV (needed for the
larger group) and to the July Fourth Committee for funds for more
tapes. There is even a branch of the group in Singapore led by
Xuyen Lindblom.
Now for news of happenings at the Board meeting
of October 13th: A new Board member was appointed to fill the
vacancy left by the resignation of Peter Van Pelt. Nancy Sherk
will serve until the election next fall. She lives between Cat
Harbor and Sand Bay with her husband Doug (an MD). Nancy has served
on the Solid Waste Committee and Doug on the Board of Review in
the past. There were three other outstanding candidates to choose
from which is unheard of in this Township. Never have there been
so many willing to serve. Others who volunteered were Jean Olson
(Cat Harbor) Bruce Wagner and Virginia Jamison (both from Gratiot
Lake). It is great having our neighbors from Gratiot Lake participating
in the discussions at the Board meetings and accepting committee
responsibilities. We will hope to see more names on the ballot
when the trustee position is voted on by the electorate next November.
New neighbor from the marina road, Jack Hartmann, voiced his objections
to the Board concerning the use of soap and shampoo at the East
Beach by locals and tourists. After discussion, he has taken the
responsibility of putting up a sign to discourage the practice.
Signs will be posted at the West Beach asking people not to allow
their dogs on the beach. This has resulted from some dog owners
not cleaning up after their animals. There is a Keweenaw County
leash law and no dogs in this Township are legal if off a leash.
Seems a bit harsh for some of the beautifully trained dogs that
follow their owners around town.
Supervisor Boggio has proposed
a restroom facility adjacent to, or attached to the fire hall
to replace the privy that is currently in the area. The Board
will be considering that at the next meeting. The facility would
be heated and available year-round. It would be connected to an
adequate septic system with state-of-the-art flush toilets, no
less.
Now, Tuesday, the 14th can go down as the day the snow started
in the Keweenaw. We went to town and there was actually a white
cover on the roadside from the top of our hill to Quincy Hill
in Houghton. It wouldn't be too cold except for the wind chill
that was registered in the teens. This weather was ushered in
last Sunday night by the most spectacular display of northern
lights we have seen in years. They were rolling across the sky
and shooting to a dome in the sky. They didn't last too long-only
about 40 minutes, but what a sight. Our good neighbor Don Keith
alerted us and we left the shelter of our woods to enjoy the spectacle
from Cat Harbor. What a blessing to see some of nature's wonders
in this beautiful place!!
Have a lovely fall and wonderful Holidays.
We will check in again in January.
Ann and Gerry
Ann & Gerry Johnson Ann and Gerry Letter Archive:
November, 1996
Return or Go To: (Click for Page Menu)
HC 1 Box 280 B
Eagle Harbor, MI 49950
January, 1997
March, 1997