Info Northeast, your gateway to the happenings in Northeast Michigan

Landowners and resource professionals discuss how soil types impact forestry management decisions at a past event hosted by Huron Pines.

Wildlife habitat improvement opportunities go on display in Ogemaw County with the help of Huron Pines.

Would you like to see your property thrive with wildlife and shine with natural beauty? Learn how to make the best of your acreage through practices that range from the very simple to the more complex, from the very short-term to the long-term.

Changes you can start with include something as simple as allowing an area to naturally regenerate for wildlife habitat. Or, you can go as far as developing a Forest Stewardship Plan that outlines tree plantings, wildlife areas, and rotational tree cuttings for income. Opportunities are available to learn about and participate in cost-share programs that benefit wildlife in the Rifle River area.

Above, Volunteers build up a head of steam in the Frick Eclipse steam engine in preparation to operate the saw mill. Below, Carl Hunt, Tractor Club President, feeds oats into the flat belt powered thrashing machine.

Wellington Farm USA –

15th Annual Antique Tractor

& Engine Show

By JIM SMITH

One more time, Wellington Farm USA in Grayling, has celebrated the core of its reason for existing; Aug. 27 through Aug. 29 saw the presentation of the 15thj Annual Antique Tractor and Engine Show on the grounds of this “Living History Museum”. Wellington is dedicated to the preservation, recreation and interpretation of what it was like to live on a farm in rural Michigan, specifically in 1932. Built on the site of a rural community actually named Wellington, owners Howard and Gloria Taylor have turned their sixty acre farm into a truly unique traveler’s destination.

Originally called the “Flat Belt Festival” this August weekend attracts scores of antique tractor and old engine enthusiasts with their restored machines to demonstrate everything from plowing and harvesting of crops to sawing lumber from logs with circular sawmills and steam engines to power them. In addition the entire Wellington Village is open with demonstrations of wood stove cooking, thrashing and grinding grain into food, both animal and human, in the grist mill. Flat belt driven shingle mills and lumber planes demonstrate how boards, fresh from the saw mill are converted into finished lumber or shingles for the roof. Food of all kinds was available at the several concession stands operating throughout the Farm.

Beginning Oct. 1, the $10 Recreation Passport replaces the state park sticker for access into all state parks, recreation areas and boat launches. To get the Recreation Passport, Michigan residents can check “YES” on their license plate renewal forms. The Recreation Passport also helps preserve forest campgrounds and trails, historic and cultural sites in state parks, and local parks. Where can $10 take you? Visit www.michigan.gov/recreationpassport for more information.

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St. Joseph Health System in collaboration with NE Michigan Community Partnership is presenting an Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) on Sept. 20 and 21.  The two day workshop is for community members interested in learning the skills to competently and confidently intervene with a person at risk for suicide.

The Bay Area Big Band Orchestra will be performing on Friday, September 24 at Camp Grayling’s Officers Club. This will be a dinner show, doors open at 5:30 p.m. Bringing to life an era of big bands and ballroom dancing, the Bay Area Big Band generates an electricity and excitement guaranteed to bring you out of your seat. The swinging sounds of jazz, one of America’s purist art forms, is the foundation of this group.

Spots still open for jewelry classes Sept. 24-25

ROSCOMMON – There’s still time and open spots for those who want to register to attend the upcoming Kirtland Art Guild’s Jewelry Workshops, sponsored by Kirtland Community College, on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 24-25, at the Ramada Inn in Grayling.

S.O.S. - Help Is On The Way

BY JIM SMITH

New partnership in Grayling means more options for troubled mortgage holders.

Times are tough, tougher perhaps than at any time since the Great Depression.  Unemployment is at historically high rates through out the country and more families than ever before, in our country’s history are threatened with the loss of their largest investment, their homes.  Without belaboring the conditions that got us to this point, there is help available. There is also risk involved. 

DNRE Invites Public to Discuss Redevelopment Plans for South Higgins Lake State Park's Boating Access Site at Sept. 2 Open House

The Department of Natural Resources and Environment will host an open house to discuss the redevelopment of the boating access site at South Higgins Lake State Park on Thursday, Sept. 2, from 4 to 6 p.m. The meeting will take place at the current boating access site pavilion within South Higgins Lake State Park.