Barton City
Barton City, MI · Municipal
rapidgrowthmedia.com
Alpena builds accessibility roadmap by listening first, improving public spaces for everyone
Amy Stevens has spent decades thinking about accessibility, not because it’s her job, but because it’s her life. Living with limb-girdle muscular dystrophy, Stevens, 61, has used a walker, a manual wheelchair, and now a power scooter as her disease has progressed. Each change has given her a new perspective on how difficult it can be to navigate parks, sidewalks, and public buildings that many people take for granted.
The Saginaw News
Michigan lighthouse turns 150 with live music on National Lighthouse Day
TAWAS, MI -- A big birthday party is taking place on the sunrise side of the state on National Lighthouse Day. The Tawas Point Lighthouse turns 150. The lighthouse, built in 1876, has seen its countryman forge through wars, technology revolutions and environmental changes. To celebrate, the Michigan Department of...
Petoskey News Review
Otsego County Library to host pollinator garden program on Aug. 4
Residents can learn how to create gardens that support bees, butterflies and other pollinators during a free program at the Otsego County Library at 6 p.m. on Aug. 4. The event is titled "Pollinator Gardens." According to a community announcement, Kelly Draeger, district manager and soil erosion officer, will discuss ways to establish and maintain gardens designed to support pollinating species while enhancing residential landscapes. Attendees will receive information about the role pollinators play in ecosystems and food production, along with guidance on selecting native plants that attract bees, butterflies, hummingbirds and other pollinating animals. Participants will also learn strategies for designing pollinator gardens in spaces of varying sizes and explore methods for creating habitats that support biodiversity and local wildlife. The presentation is intended for both experienced gardeners and people who are new to gardening. Topics will include plant selection, garden planning and approaches that encourage pollinator activity in residential settings. "This is a wonderful opportunity for community members to learn how small changes in their own gardens can make a significant difference for our local environment," Jackie Skinner, director of the Otsego County Library, said in the announcement. "We're excited to welcome Kelly Draeger and offer this informative
Petoskey News Review
Former USCG Cutter Sundew to take part in SS Carl D. Bradley ceremony Aug. 5
When a distress call came from the SS Carl D. Bradley at around 5:30 p.m. on Nov. 18, 1958 as it was passing near the Beaver Island group in Lake Michigan, the crew of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Sundew in Charlevoix launched into action. In stormy waters, the Sundew searched for hours. Dick Selissen, a 19-year-old cook, was the one who spotted something amidst the churning waves. Clinging to a life raft were First Mate Elmer Fleming, 43, and deck watchman Frank Mays, 26. They were the only survivors of the 35-man crew. The tragedy echoed around the region, but struck Rogers City, about 80 miles east of Charlevoix, the hardest. Twenty-three of the crew called Rogers City home. More: 65 years later: The SS Carl D. Bradley sinking left its mark in Northern Michigan More: Remembering the sinking of the SS Bradley Now, 67 years later, Rogers City will pay respects to the vessel that saved Fleming and Mays. “The Sundew searched for survivors in merciless conditions,” said Karen Goddard, executive director of the Presque Isle County Historical Museum, in a press release. “The wind shredded its flags, its seasick crew members tied themselves to the ship’s furniture.
Up North Voice
The arts return to Mio
Editor’s Note: Interested in free weekly updates from Northern Michigan? Sign up for the UP NORTH VOICE MAIL. MIO- The 22nd Annual Nor-East’r Music & Art Festival took place at the Oscoda County Fairgrounds in Mio June 12-14. The weekend was packed with live music, art, workshops, food, camping, and family-friendly fun.
9&10 News
FEMA funding is $14.7M for Presque Isle Electric & Gas storm recovery
Presque Isle Electric & Gas Co-op announced July 22 that the Federal Emergency Management Agency has officially obligated $14.7 million toward the cooperative’s Category A debris removal costs. This funding is for recovery efforts following the historic March 2025 ice storm and marks the first federal funding approved for the cooperative’s recovery. The obligation is a significant milestone in the federal reimbursement process for Presque Isle Electric & Gas Co-op, though the funds have not yet been received. The cooperative has submitted approximately $145 million in eligible storm recovery costs to the Federal Emergency Management Agency following the catastrophic ice storm. President Allan Berg and CEO of Presque Isle Electric & Gas Co-op, called the announcement an “exciting day for our cooperative and our members.” Berg noted that while the funds are not yet in hand, the $14.7 million obligation is an “encouraging sign that the reimbursement process is moving forward.” The ice storm caused more than $150 million in damage across Presque Isle Electric & Gas Co-op’s electric system. Any reimbursement received from the Federal Emergency Management Agency will be used to reduce the emergency line of credit that the cooperative secured to restore service after the storm. The
climatecosmos.com
13 midwest lake towns retirees over 70 keep quietly moving to each spring in 2026 because the summers stay under 82 and property tax stays under 1800 a year
Most retirees over 70 are still packing for Florida or Arizona – and quietly regretting it by July. A small, sharp-eyed group has found something the retirement industry never advertises: Midwest lake towns where summer afternoons stay under 82°F and the property tax bill lands lower than a monthly car payment.
Up North Voice
Art on the Bay celebrates 49 years in Alpena
ALPENA — Bay View Park will become an outdoor gallery when the 49th annual Art on the Bay returns Saturday, July 18, and Sunday, July 19. The open-air fine art and craft show will be held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, July 18, and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, July 19. The event will take place at Bay View Park, at the corner of State Avenue and Prentiss Street in Alpena. Admission is free, and the show is open to the public.
Petoskey News Review
Soo Locks history program brings major Great Lakes story to Gaylord
The Otsego County Library in Gaylord will host a July 21 program exploring the history and ongoing construction of the Soo Locks, led by a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers park ranger. The event, scheduled for 6 p.m. at the library, 700 S. Otsego Ave., is part of the America250 speaker series, according to a community announcement. Michelle Briggs, chief park ranger for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, will present “The History of the Soo Locks,” focusing on how the locks were built and how they continue to function. The program includes historical and modern photographs comparing earlier construction with current conditions. The presentation will also highlight a new lock under construction, offering attendees a look at a large infrastructure project in the Great Lakes region. The Soo Locks have played a significant role in Great Lakes shipping for more than 165 years and are located in nearby Sault Ste. Marie, making the topic especially relevant for Northern Michigan residents, according to the announcement. Briggs has worked as chief park ranger at the Soo Locks, where responsibilities include interpreting the site’s history and explaining its operations and expansion. “The Soo Locks have played a critical role in the growth
takemetotn.com
Education Gets Exciting Inside 12 Michigan Aquariums Full of Wonder
Michigan is surrounded by more freshwater than almost anywhere else on Earth, so it makes sense that the state is packed with incredible aquariums and aquatic exhibits. From bustling city attractions to quiet nature centers tucked along the Great Lakes shoreline, these spots bring underwater worlds to life in ways that go far beyond a textbook.
takemetotn.com
Michigan’s Underwater Ghost Town Is A Haunting Time Capsule Beneath The Surface
Beneath the cold, clear waters of Lake Huron near Alpena, Michigan, more than 200 shipwrecks lie frozen in time like an underwater ghost town nobody ever evacuated. Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary preserves this extraordinary collection of sunken vessels, spanning centuries of Great Lakes maritime history. The sanctuary’s visitor center...