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Here’s a roundup of news and photos around the Old Mission Peninsula…
Old Mission Non-Parade. The annual “Walk Around the Block” (we don’t call it a parade) is scheduled for Friday, July 4, at 11 a.m. in the village of Old Mission. Everyone is welcome to attend and/or participate in the Walk. Line-up begins at 10:45 a.m. on Grand Street, and the Grand Marshals this year are longtime well-deserving OMP residents Dave and Mary Shultz.
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The route will go from Grand Street to Traverse Street to Swaney Road to Bay Street to Woodland Road and back to Traverse, ending at the Legion Hall. A short ceremony will follow the walk. Stop by and celebrate the holiday with some good old-fashioned fun and frivolity. The organizers kindly request that there be no political presence or imagery. See you there!
Private Beach near Mission Point Lighthouse. I’ve had a few people ask me about the “private beach” sign on Center Road as you’re heading out to Mission Point Lighthouse. Although people have been using the beach for years, many don’t realize that this 600-foot stretch of beach is actually privately-owned and shared by six residents.
To the south is state beach under the control of MDOT, and to the north is another stretch of private beach that runs into Old Mission State Park, which is owned by the DNR and leased to Peninsula Township. If anyone is interested, the deeds are recorded with Grand Traverse County.
Seeking Bluff Road Input. The Township is asking for feedback from residents regarding the Bluff Road closure. Should the road remain closed? Or should steps be taken to open the road back up? They welcome your input. Call (231) 223-7323 or email [email protected]. Click here to read about the recent meeting with Township Supervisor Maura Sanders and the Grand Traverse County Road Commission.
Goats at BHP! Yes, my friends, there are goats coming to the new section of Bowers Harbor Park off Devil’s Dive Road. The new section is officially known as the Bowers Harbor Natural Area. The small herd of Alpine goats are excited to be here and will get to work eating all the invasives starting Monday, July 7, and continuing through the month of July on Mondays through Thursdays. Big thanks to Parks Committee member Michele Zebell for making this happen.
This is a combined project of the Peninsula Township Parks Committee and Child & Family Services of Northwestern Michigan’s “YouthWork Conservation Corps.” The goal? Reduce invasive species, including poison ivy and Autumn Olive, and provide space for native plants and habitat. The project is funded by a grant of $19,600 from the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians.
You are welcome to stop by and watch the goats do their important work, but please honor the guidelines to keep everyone safe. All dogs need to be leashed. Stay on the trail and within the designated observation area. Do not approach the goats; they are surrounded by an electric fence and will likely have poison ivy oil around their mouths and on their coats.
Haserot Beach. Here’s a little photo from the beach the other day. I love it when these pretty blooms come out and adorn the non-boat ramp. (Kelley Park boat ramp still in the works!).
OMP Garden Survey. Do you grow your own food here on the Old Mission Peninsula? Whether you’re new to gardening or have a plot that’s been in the family for generations, Erin Hafeli wants to hear your story! She’s working on a new column for Old Mission Gazette that will spotlight local residents who fill their kitchen with homegrown fruits, vegetables, herbs, and edible perennials from their own backyards (or front yards, or patios!).
These pieces will run throughout the winter months, when we all need a little inspiration and a reminder of the growing season to come. If you’re willing to share, please fill out the survey here. Feel free to include photos of your garden, harvests or preserved goods. Your story just might inspire someone else to get their hands in the dirt next spring. Thanks for the consideration!
And yes, I’m ridiculously excited about Erin writing a garden column for the Gazette! Here’s a photo of my deck lettuce for inspiration, and if you have an idea for a Gazette column, email me, [email protected]. I keep meaning to write a story inviting everyone, but haven’t gotten to it yet! Books, people profiles, history, photos from your photo albums, you name it, I’ll take it.
OMPUMC Chicken BBQ. With more than $5,000 raised, the annual Chicken BBQ fundraiser hosted by Old Mission Peninsula United Methodist Church was a big success. The committee was helmed by my neighbor Pat Sharpnack, who said she couldn’t do it without the teamwork from the church and community. It was a hot day inside and out, but the team was undaunted and cheerful. Some photos…
Hungry Caterpillar Quilt. After I posted Vicki Shurly’s recent library update celebrating children’s author Eric Carle, Donna Hornberger mentioned that she’d made a quilt based on Carle’s beloved book, The Very Hungry Caterpillar. Of course, I asked if I could post a photo here and Donna was happy to oblige! That is a really cool quilt, Donna!
Non-Motorized Workshop. Here are a few photos from the recent Community Workshop hosted by the Township’s Non-Motorized Transportation Working Group at the Old Mission Peninsula School gym. It was a great meeting, and about 100 OMP residents showed up to listen to a presentation by McKenna and offer input via a breakout session.
A roundabout at the corner of Bluff Road, Center Road and Gray Road was even suggested, and we all know how MDOT loves their roundabouts! UpNorthLive did a great job reporting on the meeting – check out their story here.
Lavender Time. As the cherry farmers get ready to start shaking those cherries (loosener has been applied; shaking will start in 7 to 10 days), the lavender farmers are getting ready to harvest their fragrant blooms, too. Here’s a photo of Brys Estate’s lavender at the corner of Center Road and Blue Water Road.
Strawberries. Have you consumed massive amounts of strawberries like yours truly? They are abundant this year and available at several farmstands on the OMP, including Local Yokels (corner of Gray Road and Center Road), Warren Orchards (Island View Road), Edmondson Orchards (they’ve taken over the farmstand across from Fire Station 2 on Center Road) and Wunsch Farms/Third Coast Fruit on Wilson Road (that’s their photo below). Get yourself some strawberries!
This Week’s Beach Report. Grand Traverse County just released their weekly beach report, and we are still in good shape for Haserot Beach.
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SUPPORT YOUR INDEPENDENT LOCAL NEWSPAPER: I started Old Mission Gazette in 2015 because I felt a calling to provide the Old Mission Peninsula community with local news. After decades of writing for newspapers and magazines like the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Family Circle and Ladies' Home Journal, I really just wanted to write about my own community where I grew up on a cherry farm and raised my own family. So I started my own newspaper.
Because Old Mission Gazette is a "Reader Supported Newspaper" -- meaning it exists because of your financial support -- I hope you'll consider tossing a few bucks our way if I mention your event, your business, your organization or your news item, or if you simply love reading about what's happening on the OMP. In a time when local news is becoming a thing of the past, supporting an independent community newspaper is more important now than ever. Thank you so much for your support! -Jane Boursaw, Editor/Publisher, Old Mission Gazette
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