Rogers City Manager's Blog

Biz Buzz at 7:27 AM on Thursday, Feb 23, 2012

2012-02-13T11:41:00.000-05:00

The topics for this Biz Buzz include:

· Ken Yarsevich from Michigan Travel on Tourism in Michigan and the Pure
Michigan Campaign

· Dennis Downie on the Nautical Festival/Quarry Centennial

· Ken Bradstreet on the Wolverine Clean Energy Venture

· Presque Isle County Board of Commissioners Chairman Carl Altman with an update on county activities

· Mayor Beach Hall on the State of the City of Rogers City

Ample time will be reserved for your questions on each topic.

The presentations are to help you plan for the future. Coffee and donuts will be provided. Hope to see you there.

Growing Small Towns (Forbes Article)

2012-02-09T08:36:00.000-05:00

America's Fastest-Growing Small Towns

These small communities may not stay that way for long.

By Beth Greenfield of Forbes

The population of The Villages, Fla., grew 29% between 2007 and 2010. // © Forbes

The nice thing about living in a small town, the old saying goes, is that when you don't know what you're doing, you can be sure that someone else does. But that may not stay true for long in the fastest-growing small towns in America.

Retirees are swelling some communities quickly, such as The Villages, a planned retirement haven in central Florida. The population of The Villages and its surrounding suburbs ballooned 29%, to 93,420, between 2007 and 2010, according to the U.S. census, putting it at the top of our list. Around 87,000 of those residents live in the retirement community at the area's core, a spread of tidy, single-story homes clustered around two "town squares" with shops and restaurants. The retirement community's population is up from 68,000 in 2007, said Villages spokesman Gary Lester, and it's aiming to reach 110,000 residents by 2016. With the baby boom generation reaching retirement age, that looks like an attainable goal. (Bing Cube: See photos of The Villages)

End of Article. Not end of story.... Rogers City is a great place to live! "Beautiful, clean, friendly, and affordable" are words recent arrivals have used to discribe why they have come to live here.

www.rogerscity.com has lots of information about our community, so browse around and learn more.

If you are able, visit us and find out for yourself.

“Biz Buzz” Series

2012-02-08T17:05:00.000-05:00

The “Biz Buzz” Series continues on Thursday, February 23, 2012. The start time will be 7:27 am at the Rogers City Area Senior Center.

The topics for this Biz Buzz include:

· Ken Yarsevich from Michigan Travel on Tourism in Michigan and the Pure Michigan Campaign

· Dennis Downie on the Nautical Festival/Quarry Centennial

· Ken Bradstreet on the Wolverine Clean Energy Venture

· Presque Isle County Board of Commissioners Chairman Carl Altman with an update on county activities

· Mayor Beach Hall on the State of the City of Rogers City

Ample time will be reserved for your questions on each topic.

The presentations are to help you plan for the future. Coffee and donuts will be provided. Hope to see you there.

New Spring 2012 LEGECI at District Lbrary

2012-02-08T14:18:00.000-05:00

New Spring 2012 LEGECI classes are available to register and the upcoming Wildlife Series, "Great Lakes Coastal Conservation" program coming Thursday, February 23rd at the Rogers City library. Visit www.pidl.org for information on classes and programs.

These are great program that you will not want to miss!

40 Mile Point Lighthouse Art and Craft Show

2012-02-07T15:38:00.000-05:00

You are invited…

“An Afternoon Of Arts & Craft Show”
MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND

Where: 40 Mile Point Lighthouse located in Lighthouse Park,
U.S. 23 - 7 miles north of Rogers City, Michigan

When: Saturday & Sunday May 26th and 27th, 2012
Time: 10:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. each day

You are invited to join us for our 8th annual “Afternoon of Arts & Crafts” Show which is held in Presque Isle County's Lighthouse Park. You will have the opportunity to enjoy the work of many talented Artists, Musicians and Crafts people from all over Michigan.

Memorial Day Week-end is also the Annual Open House Week-end at 40 Mile Point Lighthouse. This is a great family setting offering visitors a chance to step back in time and enjoy history. You may climb the Lighthouse tower, tour the Museum and Gift Shop, step aboard the restored Calcite pilothouse or visit the shipwreck on the beach. Enjoy our Rogers City Kiwanis Club's famous whitefish sandwiches or light refreshments served in the Fog Signal building.

This Memorial Day Week-end Event has it all and admission is free.

...hope to see you there!

Visit our website when you have a chance: 40milepointlighthouse.org

This event is sponsored by the 40 Mile Point Lighthouse Society

Pure Michigan Super Bowl ad

2012-02-06T15:10:00.000-05:00

Pure Michigan Super Bowl ad puts Holland in spotlight

Zoom

Photos

By Peg McNichol

The Holland Sentinel

Posted Feb 02, 2012 @ 10:51 PM

Holland —

Holland will be showcased on Super Bowl Sunday with the help of a Holland Area Convention and Visitors Bureau ad.
“It’s really exciting. We have not done anything like this before,” Sally Laukitis, the bureau’s executive director, said in a phone interview Thursday morning.
She said the bureau is splitting the cost of the full-page ad in the paper program with another organization, the Great Lakes Bay Regional Convention and Visitors Bureau. Laukitis declined to disclose what the ad costs, other than to say, “It was certainly in our budget.”
She said the choice to advertise at the Indianapolis game makes sense for several reasons, starting with the fact that the program booklet is a collector’s item.
“There’s a name recognition for Holland, Mich., on the East Coast,” she said, adding that the ad also ties in the statewide “Pure Michigan” campaign. “We like the fact that the program itself becomes a collectors’ item because people will take it home and not throw it away — they may be flipping through it a year from now, showing it to friends, and there’s a full-page ad for Holland.”
Plus, she said, the online version of the program will draw an estimated 500,000 views by people looking up news about game results for the New York and New Jersey teams.
This weekend’s Super Bowl program ad is the fourth full-page, sports-related ad by the bureau, Laukitis said; others included the yearbooks for the Detroit Lions, Detroit Red Wings and the Chicago Bears.

Chrysler Ad Praised

2012-02-06T15:02:00.000-05:00

Here is a link to a neat add:

http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120205/AUTO01/202050336/Chrysler-draws-praise-Clint-Eastwood-ad-touting-U-S-turnaround?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE

Rick Haglund Column on Michigan Economy

2012-01-30T16:12:00.000-05:00

Here is an interesting article about the michigan economy.

Michigan economy is proving skeptics (like me) wrong (Rick Haglund column)

Published: Sunday, January 29, 2012, 7:00 AM Updated: Sunday, January 29, 2012, 8:54 AM

By Rick Haglund

Grand Rapids Press File Photo

Job-seekers from across West Michigan complete applications for work during a Gentex job fair in Holland. Michigan’s economy is rapidly improving, threatening to prove those who were skeptical about the state’s prospects wrong. That would include yours truly.

Regular readers of this column might recall that, just a few weeks ago, I questioned whether Michigan’s economy this year could outperform its record in 2011. I cited a number of factors, including a University of Michigan forecast for slower job growth this year and a Michigan State University survey that found Michiganders weren’t very confident about their future economic prospects. But a variety of new data shows Michigan ended 2011 strong.

The state’s economic pillars might just be “built to last,” to steal a phrase from President Barack Obama. Michigan’s December jobless rate of 9.3 percent fell 1.8 percentage points from December 2010, tying West Virginia for the fourth-biggest decline among the states. Michigan added a seasonally adjusted 66,500 jobs last year, more than all but five other states: California, Texas, Florida, New York and Ohio, according to a Bureau of Labor Statistics report released Tuesday.

Jobs holding up
The state’s December jobless rate also was 1.1 percentage points below the 10.4 percent average rate that U-M economists George Fulton, Joan Crary and Don Grimes forecast in November.
Jobs held up much better than we anticipated in the final three months of the year, Grimes said.
A big part of that is the resurgence in manufacturing, led by Chrysler, Ford and General Motors.
The state added 26,400 manufacturing jobs last year, the second-highest number in the past 20 years, said state labor market analyst Wayne Rourke. “It wasn’t just autos,” Grimes said. “Job growth was much more broad-based last year.” Nearly every employment category in the state posted jobs gains.
Only government, and leisure and hospitality services shed jobs last year. Michigan also ranked 13th and the highest in the Great Lakes region in personal income growth between the second and third quarters of 2011, according to the latest Bureau of Economic Analysis statistics.

Still need to create more
The key to continued economic growth will be creating more jobs for those who have given up hope of finding one. Michigan’s labor force shrank by 100,000 people last year as people moved, died, retired or stopped looking for work. State labor market officials said in December’s jobs report that Michigan’s labor market has been shrinking since 2006. It’s a similar story for the nation as a whole, for reasons economists can’t fully explain. The size of the U.S. labor force has been stuck at 153 million people for five years. That’s the biggest mystery out there, Grimes said. It’s never happened like this before. He speculates that many factors are at work, including retiring baby boomers, students staying at college rather than looking for work and a whole lot of discouraged workers dropping out of the labor force. But a report released last week by Business Leaders for Michigan said the state can continue its jobs momentum by building on its core strengths, including engineering, auto manufacturing and life sciences. Michigan also must boost investment in higher education and revitalize its cities, the report released Tuesday said. Doing so could create as many as 500,000 jobs and additional per-capita income of $18,000 a year by 2020, according the business group. Those projections generate renewed hope for Michigan’s economic future.
E-mail Rick Haglund: haglund.rick@gmail.com

Whether or not Mr. Haglund is correct, only time will tell. However, I get the feeling that things may be changing around Michigan. Let's hope so.

High Tech Fun at Chrysler

2012-01-27T13:06:00.000-05:00

Here is an article from the Detroit Free Press that shows the future of manufacturing in America. Rogers City would be a great place to build a new WCM (World Class Manufacturing) center.

The article is by Brent Snavely, Detroit Free Press Business Writer

Chrysler workers are using tools normally found at film animation studios -- such as 3D videos and computerized motion sensors -- to reshape the way they assemble a car or build an engine.
The automaker and the UAW have created an amusement park-like atmosphere in a generic industrial building in Warren to teach problem-solving skills that workers apply back at their plants, said Scott Tolmie, World Class Manufacturing academy leader.
"It becomes unforgettable. They are able to experience hands-on training ... and we are constantly linking back what they are learning here to the shop floor," Tolmie said.
At one station, workers wear special goggles that show three-dimensional videos about safety hazards.
Another station has small wooden catapults that enable workers to shoot ping-pong balls at a target. Participants must adjust more than a dozen settings on the catapult in order to hit the center of the target.
At a mock work station, employees don a special black suit with motion sensors similar to those used by the movie industry to digitally track movement. The system identifies stressful actions and enables workers to devise more efficient and safer movements.
Chrysler has tried to teach employees several other manufacturing systems in recent years aimed at improving quality and reducing costs.
But those efforts had only moderate success. So, many employees cast a skeptical eye when Chrysler's manufacturing leaders introduced yet another regimen in 2009 called World Class Manufacturing, which helped Fiat pull itself from the brink of financial ruin last decade.
To get the American doubters to buy in, Chrysler renovated 25,000 square feet of its UAW training center in Warren with classrooms and high-tech tools.
"We had to make a splash," Tolmie said. "We had to really create a new idea in people's minds that this is not going away."
The new academy has been in its pilot phase since October, but will be unveiled to the media and local officials today by the UAW and Chrysler executives.
The lobby includes a giant touch-screen system about the size of six flat-panel televisions that employees can use to toggle through different manufacturing topics.
Chrysler's goal is to bring more than 1,200 hourly and salaried workers through the academy annually for two- or three-day sessions. Already, about 320 employees from 30 Chrysler plants have participated in the academy's pilot phase.
"WCM is not a flavor of the month," Tolmie said.
WCM was adopted by Fiat in 2005 and introduced to Chrysler in 2009 after Fiat acquired management control of the Auburn Hills automaker.
UAW Vice President General Holiefield has said he was initially skeptical of the new system but has since spoken highly of the process because of the way it gets hourly workers involved.
"WCM is a way of life within all of the Chrysler facilities," Holiefield said in October. "It will drive the quality right through the roof."
The process has its roots in Toyota's manufacturing system, said Jay Baron, chairman and president of the Center for Automotive Research. But it also shares each Chrysler plant's performance with the others.
"That's one unique aspect," Baron said. "What benchmarking does is it creates competition, and a little competition is good."
But Chrysler workers have more at stake than bragging rights. The UAW contract ratified by workers in October provides a $500 annual bonus that can increase to as much as $1,000 annually if a plant hits certain World Class Manufacturing targets.

Attractive Sunrise Coast

2012-01-26T11:37:00.001-05:00

Here is proof that other counties are getting energized by the prospect of increased tourism.

Pure Michigan ads attract interest in Sunrise Coast
by Holly Nelson
TAWAS CITY - “It is everything people don’t know about and they need to know about. It is everything people are looking for in a get-away vacation. When you go to the west side of the state it is very congested, it’s all about condos. This side of the state is very laid back, very relaxed. You can rent a cabin by the water and be right on the beach. There’s a total difference between the two. So that’s your benefit, that’s your glory on this side - and your quiet secret,” said Ken Yarsevich, an advertising specialist for Travel Michigan, a division of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC).

Yarsevich was in attendance at the Iosco County Board of Commissioners meeting, held Wednesday, Jan. 18, to discuss the results of the first two years of Sunrise Coast Pure Michigan campaigns.
“For us, at Travel Michigan MEDC, tourism is all about economic development. It brings people to your communities. People shop in your stores, stay in your hotels and increase your business sector,” he said.

He played radio ads promoting the Sunrise Coast, also showing one television commercial.

Not getting the whole story? You probably aren't. The stories at iosconews.com are previews. For the whole story, subscribe to the print edition or the E-edition of this newspaper today through the link on this Web site.

Tourism Up, but More Effort Needed

2012-01-26T10:50:00.000-05:00

Tourism has more good news for Michigan! Please see the press release below from Travel Michigan. Tourism is up! If Presque Isle County wants to earn its share of the tourism business, it will have to step up its game. Other communities are moving forward. Will Presque Isle County send a representative to the 2012 Governor's Conference on Tourism? Please see my notes below for suggestions on how our area could attract tourists.

News from Travel Michigan Vice President, George Zimmermann

The first set of 2011 Michigan tourism data is in, and I am happy to report it is positive. According to Smith Travel Research, hotel occupancy in Michigan in 2011 was 55.3%, up 6.9% from 2010. Additionally, revenue per available hotel room (RevPAR) in 2011 was $44.52, up 10% from 2010. In both categories, while Michigan’s numbers lag the national average, our rate of increase is better than the national average, continuing a trend which began in 2010.

Have you registered for the 2012 Pure Michigan Governor's Conference on Tourism? This year's conference will be at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel in Grand Rapids, March 25 to 27, and we expect this to be the biggest such event in Michigan's history. Keynote speakers include Governor Rick Snyder, national travel expert and CBS News travel editor Peter Greenberg, and Joel Secundy from Brand USA, the new public-private partnership created to, for the first time, market the U.S. as a tourism destination around the world.

One new feature this year is a special track for economic developers and regional and local officials, or anyone who wants to see their community grow and prosper via tourism. This new track will present information on the connection and the correlation between tourism marketing and development and other economic development activity and results.

Given this, I encourage everyone in the Michigan tourism industry to do two things. First, register for the conference. Second, invite your local economic developers, chamber members, city and county officials, mayors and council members, to join you at the conference so they will better understand the power and potential of tourism for your area and for Michigan.

So, register today and invite your economic development partners, city and county officials to participate in the most important Michigan tourism gathering of the year, the 2012 Pure Michigan Governor's Conference on Tourism.

Click here for complete conference details and registration information http://milodging.org/conference/

George

For more information, contact George Zimmermann at (517) 335-1862.

Tourism News & Trends

Charlevoix to be featured in Pure Michigan radio ads

Petoskey News– January 20, 2012
Rogers City was featured in Under the Radar Michigan. We have great attractions here!

Harbor Springs area to be featured in Pure Michigan campaign
Petoskey News– January 24, 2012

Ford: From the Quadricycle to the Prius

Wall Street Journal – January 21, 2012

Top 10 Beer Cities - #4 Kalamazoo

Livability – January 18, 2012

6 Michigan restaurants, 14 hotels get AAA Four-Diamond ranking

Detroit Free Press – January 20, 2012

Crowds flock to downtown Detroit for final day of Auto Show

Detroit News – January 22, 2012

Search is on for Michigan outstanding outdoor kids
WNEM TV-5 – January 20, 2012
Rogers City kids are up to the challenge!

Enjoy Michigan's Free Fishing Weekend Feb. 18 and 19

Michigan Department of Natural Resources – January 23, 2012
Fishing off Presque Isle County shores is some of the best anywhere!

Michigan Destinations

Selling Birmingham's Downtown Shopping District

Metromode – January 19, 2012

Audio: Travel Michigan Update-Timber Ridge Ski Area

WTVB 1590 AM – January 20, 2012

Q&A on Ice Carving in Pure Michigan

Pure Michigan Connect – January 19, 2012
We could do this....

Pure Michigan News & Updates

You’re Invited: Pure Michigan Ice Climbing Web Chat

Pure Michigan Connect – January 24, 2012

Pure Michigan offers insight on how Frankenmuth, Saginaw got their names
Saginaw News – January 18, 2012

Pure Michigan Apples: Success With Locally-Grown Theme In Supermarkets

Perishable News – January 23, 2012

Go Knaebe's Munchy, Crunchy Apple Farm!

BEYOND MICHIGAN

Hotel room prices rise 4.3% in 2011

LA Times – January 7, 2012
Many of our hotel rooms remain vacant!

Increased tourism a good sign for restaurants

National Restaurant Association Blog – January 4, 2012
Local restraunt operators tell me they have seen a small increase in business due to tourism in Rogers City, but not enough!

Increased tourism in Presque Isle County will result in more jobs and economic improvement. Please contact your Presque Isle County Commissioner and encourage them to invest in attracting tourists to our area.

National Marine Sanctuary Helps Community

2012-01-26T09:14:00.000-05:00

The following information is provided by Jeff Gray, Superintendent of the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary and Underwater Preserve:

Through research, education, and community involvement, the sanctuary works to protect the Great Lakes and their rich history for this and future generations. Education is one of our most powerful preservation and conservation tools. The sanctuary and our partners have developed programs to enhance awareness and stewardship of the Great Lakes and the ocean. Conducted on board ships, in our exhibits, and in classrooms, these programs have been delivered to everyone from kindergarteners to retirees.

We partner with educators to provide immersive experiences for students. Dozens of schools around the state participate in our underwater robotics contest. This program has set the stage for three incredible educational offerings in Northeast Michigan:

--Bob Thomson, a teacher at Sanborn Elementary in Alpena County, has woven sanctuary and ROV technology into his classroom throughout the year. Thomson also developed a week-long summer camp based on the underwater archaeology of the sanctuary and maritime technology.

Middle school teacher Bob Thomson helps his students maneuver their underwater robot into Thunder Bay. NOAA, Thunder Bay NMS

--At Alpena High School this spring, science teacher John Caplis will teach a class titled "Shipwreck Alley: Shipwrecks, Science, and the Marine Sanctuary." Students will explore the history, archaeology, technology, and science of the sanctuary during the trimester.

--Alpena Community College is about to launch a new degree program in Marine Technology. The program will train students for careers in the "Blue Economy." Featuring classes on technology (including ROV building and operations), underwater archaeology, diving, and working on ships, the program provides students with experiences to better prepare them for the workforce.

With these partners, we are inspiring students to be stewards and preparing them for careers in science, technology, engineering, and math. Please contact us to find out more about our education programs.

Thank you for your support of the sanctuary. As always, we welcome your feedback on Thunderstruck or any of the sanctuary's programs so we can better serve you.

Sincerely,

Jeff Gray, Superintendent

jeff.gray@noaa.gov

Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary

Jeff and all the folks at the Thunder Bay Sanctuary are great friends to Rogers City. We support the Sancturay expansion into the waters off Presque Isle County as a means to preserve our priceless maritime heritage. Keep up the good work Jeff and company.

Jobs for Veterans

2012-01-23T15:44:00.000-05:00

This story is by Gabrielle Mays as reported in the Houghton Bureau Reporter

HUBBELL -- With the recent withdrawal of troops from overseas, many veterans returning home are realizing that finding work can be a difficult task.
Sam Wareham is a former Electrician's Mate for the Navy, and he was able to find employment through the Veterans Services Division.
"They helped me get a job here when a position became available, and through them, they helped me get my applications together and fill out the applications properly," said Wareham.
Employment representatives work directly with veterans on a daily basis to connect them with employers in the area and place them into jobs.
According to the Joint Economic Committee, in 2010, the unemployment rate for veterans in the state of Michigan was 16 percent which is double the national average.
Wednesday night, Governor Snyder held the State of the State address, and he spoke about the current unemployment rate for veterans.
"Veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan, our unemployment rate was approximately 29 percent. This isn't right and we need to act. I encourage all employers to place a priority on hiring veterans," said Governor Snyder.
One particular company in Hubbell is doing just that. OSMOSE is a company that makes raw materials for the wood preserve chemical industry, and on Thursday they were honored for their outstanding service to veterans.
"This company is being honored today because of their consistent history of hiring veterans. They have about 60 people on staff total, and 20 of them are veterans," said Mark Tweedale, Employment Specialist for the Veterans Services Division.
Getting veterans back into the workforce is a top priority for Michigan Works, and with companies like OSMOSE doing their part, more veterans will be able to find jobs once they return home.

Article about Pure Michigan Campaign

2012-01-20T08:26:00.000-05:00

The article below shows how the partnership between Rogers City, Presque Isle County, the US-23 Heritage Route Management Council, and Travel Michigan is helping the economy in our area.

Pure Michigan rep gives presentation in Rogers City

Submitted by Phil Heimerl on January 20, 2012 – 5:20 amNo Comment

Business and community leaders gathered Thursday in Rogers City to hear a presentation about the effectiveness of the state’s Pure Michigan campaign.
Ken Yarsevich of the Michigan Travel Bureau provided statewide data and information that was compiled specifically for the six county area that makes up the Sunrise Coast – from Standish to Cheboygan.
Yarsevich said 2011 was the first year travelers from outside the state spent more dollars in Michigan on travel than residents did; and 98 percent of all travelers to northeast Michigan came from the greater Detroit and southeast Michigan areas.
“The Sunrise Coast is a haven and I vacation here myself”, he said
According to Travel Bureau statistics, the Pure Michigan campaign spent $27 million to promote travel in 2011 and tourism is Michigan’s fourth largest industry, generating $17 billion annually.
Statewide numbers indicated that non-residents traveling to Michigan paid $138 million in sales tax at retail businesses.

Nautical Festival Books Air Show

2012-01-19T16:12:00.000-05:00

The following story was reported in the Presque Isle County Advance:

Nautical Festival books major air show team for '12 event

1/18/2012 11:52:04 AM

Photo courtesy of Team RV

This year’s Nautical City Festival (NCF) will take a step up—way up into the clouds—to entertain. The NCF has booked Team RV, billed as the “world’s largest air show” to fill the sky with exciting formation aerobatics. NCF chairman Dennis Downie, treasurer Paul Dubbs and committee member Dick Bennett shared the news of the booking last week. Bennett said he witnessed an air show in Florida last year and pursued the idea before presenting the concept to the board. “It is the most expensive thing we have ever been involved in. But it is in conjunction with the 100th anniversary of the Calcite quarry and they have been very cordial to us,” Bennett said. The NCF hopes to secure donations from many vendors to honor Calcite. He said the show is not completely sponsored yet, but the response has been very positive. THE AIR SHOWS will cost in the range of $30,000-40,000. The festival will furnish rooms, meals and transportation during their four-day stay in Rogers City. They will meet the public at the festival big tent and be available at many events. The tentative schedule has them arriving in town on festival Thursday, Aug. 2 and conducting a media ride Friday morning for a 30-minute flight. That is followed by a sponsor ride, lunch and rehearsals later in the afternoon and a dinner in the evening with sponsors. (More on this story in the Jan. 19, 2012 issue of the Advance)

Great Television Show on Rogers City

2012-01-16T10:44:00.000-05:00

Please check out the Television show Under the Radar (UTR) Michigan. Episode 206 is about Ludington and Rogers City. This is one television program that is worth watching!

http://utrmichigan.onecreativegeek.com/episode-206

CutTime Players to Visit Rogers City

2012-01-10T08:36:00.000-05:00

Rogers City will be honored to host the CutTime Players from the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. They will perform at the Rogers City Theater on Thursday, February 23 and in Onaway on Friday, February 24, 2012. Time of the permormance is to be announced. Below is biographical information about some of the members of the CutTime Players.

Rachel Noyes earned her Masters in Violin Performance and Suzuki Pedagogy at University of Maryland, College Park, where she was a student of Ronda Cole and David Salness, and her Bachelor of Music degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music with academic honors, where she studied with Donald Weilerstein and David Updegraff. She has participated at festivals such as Tanglewood's BUTI program, Musicorda (MA), and the Aspen (CO) Center for Quartet Studies. Rachel has had extensive experience as a chamber musician. As a founding violinist of the Chiara Quartet, she studied with members of the American, Audubon, Cleveland, Emerson, Guarneri, and Orion string quartets. Born into a musical family, she began playing the violin at the age of three in her mother's Suzuki program. She enjoys performing both chamber and orchestral music and is currently teaching and performing in the Bay area.

Gabriel Bolkosky, a native of Detroit, Michigan, began his violin studies at age three. His primary mentors were Michael Avsharian of Ann Arbor, Paul Kantor at University of Michigan, and Donald Weilerstein at the Cleveland Institute of Music. Gabe earned a Bachelors of Music, a Masters in Jazz Improvisation, and a Masters in Chamber Music from U of M. At the Cleveland Institute he earned a Professional Studies degree, served a year as Wellerstein’s teaching assistant and won the Darius Milhaud prize. He attended the Aspen Music Festival/Institute from 1991–98 on fellowship, first playing with the Aspen Chamber Symphony and then the Aspen Contemporary Ensemble for four years. During those four years he premiered hundreds of new works, and with his group, Non Sequitur, conducted workshops and concerts for thousands of students in the Aspen valley. As a recitalist, Gabe has appeared across the United States and abroad. He performs a diverse repertoire of classical and contemporary works with different collaborative artists from many genres of music making. Recently he performed in the premiere of Rzewski’s “Natural Things” for Carnegie Hall’s Making Music Series. He has also collaborated with other composers, among them William Bolcom, John Harbison, George Tsontakis, Derek Bermel, and Bernard Rands. Gabe has released six CDs that show his breadth as a musician. His debut solo album, This and That, features classical and jazz music. Other albums include The Shape of Klez to Come with the klezmer group Into the Freylakh; The Orchestra Is Here to Play, a live recording teaming the Gemini children’s music group with a full orchestra; The Oblivion Project Live, showcasing the music of Astor Piazzolla; Non Sequitur, contemporary and experimental music, including one of his own compositions; Home from Work, an eclectic mix of jazz, folk and blues in collaboration with San Slomovits; and as sideman on John Lindberg’s recording Two by Five. Gabe teaches violin at the University of Michigan. He is the executive director of The Phoenix Ensemble, a nonprofit organization dedicated to being a musical resource for artists and educational institutions. Gabe also directs PhoenixPhest! and PhoenixPhest! Grande, two amateur chamber music festivals held each May and August, and maintains a private violin studio.

Antione Hackney began playing viola though the Ann Arbor Public Schools instrumental music program at the age of ten. After two years of study he received the Sarah Pollack scholarship for private instrumental instruction. Over the next six years Mr. Hackney spent his summers honing his skills at the Interlochen Arts Camp, The Blue Lake International Orchestra and the Indiana String Academy. After studying with John Graham at the Eastman School of music Mr. Hackney began playing in the many numerous orchestras throughout the state of Michigan. He is currently in the viola sections of the Grand Rapids, West Michigan, Flint and Ann Arbor Symphonies.

Rick Robinson plays and writes personally expressive music driven by 22 years of experience as a bassist for the Detroit Symphony Orchestra (DSO). In 2012 he leaves that orchestra to fulfill his artistic potential while drawing new audiences to classical with a pragmatic attitude fully expressed in his CutTime® brand of established and future symphonic hits. Born into a musical family in Detroit, Robinson attended the Interlochen Arts Academy, Cleveland Institute of Music and New England Conservatory. He also held several principal positions with regional orchestras before joining DSO in 1989. Since then Robinson has worked hard in and out of the orchestra to prove classical music to new audiences. In 1995 he began CutTime Players, an eight-piece ensemble of DSO members to perform his transcriptions of famous symphonic repertoire for distant communities. He also began publishing these works as CutTime Players Publishing. Then he had a dream which launched a composition for large orchestra that DSO eventually premiered in 2006. This led him to pursue composing for another innovative ensemble, a string sextet with occasional woodwind solo called CutTime Simfonica.

Michigan No. 1 for R&D projects

2012-01-06T13:21:00.000-05:00

Site Selection Magazine: Michigan No. 1 for R&D projects

Michigan is the No. 1 state in the nation for research and development facility project announcements, beating out Ohio, Pennsylvania, Indiana, and North Carolina, according to the January issue of Site Selection magazine.

According to “States Reinvent the Future through Industrial R&D,” Michigan was also in the top 10 for the reported investment and job creation plans associated with these projects.

Michigan’s strong base of engineering talent and the strength of its research universities are cited as biggest reasons for the strong R&D activity – the Mitten State ranks no. 5 on the magazine’s list of top 12 states for Bachelor’s Degrees conferred in engineering.

“Access to talent is the most important factor in being an R&D state,” Michigan Economic Development Corporation President and CEO Michael A. Finney notes in the article.

Finney goes on to say that Michigan is producing “new engineers by the thousands:” all 15 of the state’s public universities offer engineering programs, with two of the nation’s top engineering programs belonging to the University of Michigan and Michigan State University.

The Big Three automakers continue to be significant contributors to the state’s R&D activity; other contributing factors include the state’s University Research Corridor, an alliance of MSU, U-M and Wayne State University focused on economic transformation, fostering invention, innovation, and technology transfer; and the MEDC’s business incubator and start-up support programs.

In a separate article in the same issue focusing on metro Detroit, “Where the Tech Jobs Are,’’ more attention is given to Michigan’s recent dramatic hiring wave, particularly in the tech sector.

Quicken Loans, Compuware and other companies have located high tech facilities in Detroit’s Woodward Corridor, bringing thousands of jobs to the area. And Grand Rapids was cited as the second metropolitan area nationally in positive employment change for 2011 – compared with Atlanta, which ranks 93rd and showed no employment growth in the same period.

--End of story--

Blogger note: Rogers City is a great location for a modern R&D facility. We boast scenic waterfront on Lake Huron, available broadband, reasonable real estate prices, full services, a competitive work force, and likely a new high tech power plant. Any developer looking for these qualities should investigate Rogers City, Michigan.

Goon News for Safe Routes to School

2012-01-05T08:16:00.000-05:00

ROBERT WOOD JOHNSON FOUNDATION RENEWS FUNDING FOR
SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL NATIONAL PARTNERSHIP
Project Will Help Create Thousands of Miles of Sidewalks and Bike Paths

Boulder, CO (January 5, 2012)– The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) has provided a three-year renewal grant of $2,999,725 to the Safe Routes to School National Partnership, a diverse, nationwide coalition of more than 550 organizations. The grant will support the National Partnership’s efforts to advance Safe Routes to School, a federal program that creates safe, convenient and fun opportunities for U.S. children to walk and bicycle to and from school.

“This program will help a generation of children to become more active and healthy through the construction of lasting street-scale improvements that will result in more walking and bicycling,” said Deb Hubsmith, director of the Safe Routes to School National Partnership. “We are grateful for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s generous support, and look forward to working with many partners to help reverse the childhood obesity epidemic in the next three years.”

The grant will build on policy wins from recent years, and advance built environment improvements in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. This project will result in thousands of more miles of sidewalks and bike paths, traffic-calming projects and safer street crossings, and will enable many more students to benefit from Safe Routes to School. The project will focus on supporting communities with high rates of childhood obesity.

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation is leading national efforts to reverse the childhood obesity epidemic by 2015. This grant contributes toward that goal, and has four main elements:

1) Helping all states to increase the award and obligation of federal Safe Routes to School and Transportation Enhancements funds, resulting in the construction of bicycle and pedestrian facilities nationwide, particularly in lower-income communities;

2) Developing a national learning network to share best practices among advocates for advancing street-scale improvements, such as sidewalks and pathways and joint-use agreements that develop opportunities for cities and schools to collaborate on creating safe places for kids to play and engage in healthy physical activity;

3) Advancing state-level policy reform in seven states (Calif., Fla., Miss., N.C., N.J., Ohio, and Tenn.) which will result in the award and obligation of federal transportation funds, street-scale improvements and joint-use agreements. The seven states were selected based on need and their capacity to succeed with the program goals; and

4) Publication of two policy reports highlighting the importance of the built environment in relation to improving health.

The Safe Routes to School National Partnership was founded in 2005 and is leading a national movement designed to make it safe, fun and convenient to walk and bicycle to and from school and in daily life. In 1969, approximately half of all school-age children walked or bicycled to school. Today, only about 13 percent of children in America walk or bicycle to school. Since 2005, Congress has dedicated funding for state departments of transportation to provide grants to schools and communities to build pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure and run educational programs to support more walking and bicycling. A growing body of evidence confirms that community and street-scale improvements to the built environment play an important role in increasing physical activity for children and adults.

About the Safe Routes to School National Partnership
The Safe Routes to School National Partnership is a fast growing network of more than 550 organizations and professional groups working to set goals, share best practices, leverage infrastructure and program funding and advance policy change to help agencies that implement Safe Routes to School programs across the nation. The National Partnership’s mission is to advocate for safe walking and bicycling to and from schools and in daily life, to improve the health and well-being of America’s children and to foster the creation of livable, sustainable communities. The National Partnership is a major program of the Bikes Belong Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit which is a sister organization to Bikes Belong Coalition. For more information, visit www.saferoutespartnership.org.

About the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) focuses on the pressing health and health care issues facing our country. As the nation's largest philanthropy devoted exclusively to improving the health and health care of all Americans, the Foundation works with a diverse group of organizations and individuals to identify solutions and achieve comprehensive, measurable and timely change. In 2007, RWJF committed $500 million toward its goal of reversing the childhood obesity epidemic by 2015. For nearly 40 years, the Foundation has brought experience, commitment, and a rigorous, balanced approach to the problems that affect the health and health care of those it serves. When it comes to helping Americans lead healthier lives and get the care they need, the Foundation expects to make a difference in your lifetime. For more information, visit www.rwjf.org.

Campaign to End Homelessness

2012-01-03T10:46:00.000-05:00

Here is a link to the website: http://www.thecampaigntoendhomelessness.org/

Economic Growth and the Great Lakes

2011-12-20T09:37:00.000-05:00

Economic Growth and the Role of the Great Lakes Highlight Discussion at Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, Detroit Branch Meeting

By Bill Perry | Published: December 14, 2011

“The best way to predict the future is to create it.”

Abraham Lincoln

DETROIT — The Great Lakes form the largest surface water system on earth, with 20 percent of the world’s fresh water located right in our backyard. With Michigan at the heart of that system, surrounded by four of the five Great Lakes, the economic impact of water for future economic development was the topic of conversation at an informal meeting held last month at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, Detroit Branch.
Emphasizing that water is a resource not a commodity, discussion centered on utilizing this resource as a catalyst for economic development; by adding value through safe and environmentally sensitive industries related to water technologies. This includes incorporating plans for the design, funding and implementation of a robust, vibrant, productive and sustainable aquaculture industry in Michigan.
“We here at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago’s Detroit Branch truly understand the importance of the Great Lakes to this region. Investment in research that would help to preserve the integrity of the Great Lakes is something that could have a long lasting impact on the economic viability of Michigan as well as the region as a whole,” said Robert G. Wiley, SVP and branch manager at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, Detroit Branch. Joining in the exchange of ideas was Paul Traub, research economist of the Federal Reserve Bank, Detroit Branch and Dennis Cawthorne, chairman of the board of the Mackinac Island State Park Commission.
“From my Mackinac Island perspective where I see two of the five Great Lakes intersect, I know firsthand the huge economic impact of this resource. We need to move in new ways to benefit from our unique location in order to both preserve this resource for the future and take advantage of its economic benefits,” Cawthorne emphasized.

Dennis Cawthorne, chairman of the board of the Mackinac Island State Park Commission; Paul Traub, economist at the Detroit Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago; and Robert G. Wiley, SVP and branch manager of the Detroit Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago.

Making the Case: Economic Growth and Fresh Water

Anyone who lives in Michigan knows that water makes this a special place. “The Great Lakes and their connecting channels, form the largest surface fresh water system on earth. Michigan is at the heart of that system, surrounded by four of the five Great Lakes. Water is what makes Michigan a special place, with more than 3,288 miles of Great Lakes shoreline, 11,000 inland lakes and 36,000 miles of rivers. The Great Lakes represent about one-fifth of the world’s fresh surface water supply, and nine-tenths of the U.S. supply. Environmental stewardship, sustainable economic development and responsible use of the Great Lakes are in the best interest of Michigan, the Great Lakes region, the country and the world,” said Dr. James S. Diana, Director, Michigan Sea Grant, and Professor of Fisheries and Aquaculture at the University of Michigan.

“Investment in research that would help to preserve the integrity of the Great Lakes is something that could have a long lasting impact on the economic viability of Michigan as well as the region as a whole.”

Robert G. Wiley, SVP and Branch Manager

Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, Detroit Branch

“The Great Lakes is one of the greatest resources on the planet, and effective management of available high quality fresh water for human consumption needs is essential. As an example, new USDA Dietary Guidelines point out that Americans eat only 44 percent of the seafood required for optimal health,” explained Dr. Chris Weeks, Aquaculture Extension Specialist, North Central Region, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, at Michigan State University. “Since wild harvested seafood is considered to be at or near maximum levels, sustainable aquaculture development in Michigan is an opportunity to utilize the precious resources we have, albeit carefully and wisely, to help promote human health and at the same time increase employment opportunities in our state.”
Dr. Frank A. Fear, Senior Associate Dean, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Michigan State University added, “Without question, a primary issue in agriculture is water. Water for food will be a defining issue in the quest to feed the world.”
On October 31, 2011, the world’s population reached 7 billion, and human population continues to increase at a rate that makes food production a critical need for future generations. “According to the United Nations, food production must double by 2050 to feed a growing world population. At the same time, it is estimated that humans are already using 40-50 percent of globally available freshwater, with over 70 percent of that water utilized for agriculture. Centered in the Great Lakes Basin, Michigan is well positioned to significantly increase food production,” noted Kent B. Herrick, president, Aquaculture Research Corp. “This will be technically challenging, to increase scale in a sustainable manner, but Michigan, as one of the most diverse crop producers in the United States, already has strong capabilities to meet this challenge. Aquaculture development will be an important contribution to efficient protein production and integrated with a host of other agriculture advancements, we will expand value creation from our water sources.”

Restoration Leads to Economic Benefits

A recent example that highlights the benefits of ensuring water resources and connecting it to economic growth efforts can be found in the Great Lakes restoration project in Muskegon. A story posted in May on www.healthylakes.org by Jeff Alexander covered a Grand Valley State University research effort; a $10 million shoreline restoration project on Muskegon Lake. It is designed to generate more than $66 million in economic benefits. That’s a 6-to-1 return on investment over a 10-year period, according to the GVSU study.
“The results are clear and we are excited to know that this restoration project will have a significant beneficial economic impact on the community,” said economics professor Paul Isely chairman of the economics department.
The $10 million project is being overseen by the Great Lakes Commission and West Michigan Shoreline Regional Development Commission. According to the new report the project will generate:

A $12 million increase in property values
Up to $600,000 in new tax revenue annually
Over $1 million in new recreational spending annually in Muskegon
Nearly 65,000 additional visitors annually
$66 million in economic benefits over ten years
More than a 6-to-1 return on investment

The restoration project, funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, will bring about the removal of 180,000 tons of unnatural fill from the lake, restore several miles of shoreline habitat and advance efforts to heal one of the region’s most abused waterways.
According to the study, the work will make Muskegon Lake more hospitable to birds, fish and people. It will also bolster the economy of a community that has been hit hard by the national recession.
On a broader scale, the Muskegon Lake project highlights the tremendous economic benefits that can be realized by removing toxic mud from Great Lakes harbors, restoring wetlands and fighting invasive species. It also underscores the need for Congress to fully fund the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.
Congress funded the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative at $475 million in the 2010 budget and $300 million in the recently passed 2011 budget (a significant victory considering the fact that some U.S. House budgets had the initiative at $225 million).
The Muskegon Lake project builds off of an earlier study by the Brookings Institution found that every $1 spent on Great Lakes restoration creates $2 in economic benefits.

Public Hearing for Walking Trail

2011-12-19T14:38:00.000-05:00

This map shows a proposed improvement to an existing walking trail in Rogers City. The City Council will hold a Public Hearing at 7:00 pm on Tuesday, December 20, 2011 to take comments about the proposed improvement. The City hopes to clear the trail area of brush and trees to make it more walkable. Currently, the trail wonders out of the Airport Drive right of way (ROW) and on to private property. Opening up the path in the ROW will not only make the trail more user friendly but also set it in the public ROW. The City hopes to accomplish the project for $5,000 or less.

If you have comments on this project, please email mslown@rogerscity.com or come to the Public Hearing.

Rogers City Christmas Band Concert

2011-12-14T08:17:00.000-05:00

Terry Wolfgang Habermehl posted the following information:

"Rogers City City Band will be presenting a Christmas concert on Thursday , Dec. 22, 7:30 p.m. at the Rogers City Theater. Hope to see you there!"

Safe Routes to School

2011-12-13T15:18:00.000-05:00

Here is the Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE TUESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2011

CONTACT: Jeff Cranson, MDOT Director of Communications, 517-335-3084

MDOT announces Safe Routes to School grants

to 10 schools in four counties

December 13, 2011 -- The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) today announced that 10 Michigan schools in four counties will receive federal Safe Routes to School (SRTS) grants averaging approximately $155,500. The grants will pay for safety improvements and education programs aimed at encouraging students to travel safety between home and school. "These grants will fund sidewalks and infrastructure improvements that encourage children to safely walk and bike to school and enable schools to offer educational programs and safety campaigns," said State Transportation Director Kirk T. Steudle. "MDOT is proud to work with schools and communities on these initiatives."

"The grant will help Rogers City provide safe access for all families, not just to school but throughout our community," said Katy Xenakis-Makowski, superintendant/elementary principal/director of special education for Rogers City Area Schools. "The construction of new sidewalks to help protect children from traffic will help ease the minds of parents whose children walk to and from school, sometimes in the dark."

"We are thrilled to be part of the Safe Routes program at Washington Elementary and our whole team is excited about improvements to the outdated infrastructure in the neighborhood surrounding the school," said Crim Fitness Foundation Active Living Director Lauren Holaly. "These improvements, in combination with education and encouragement, will help create a vibrant neighborhood where healthy kids are using active transportation to get to school."

Federal SRTS funding enables schools to make infrastructure improvements and offer educational activities and safety campaigns that encourage students to walk and bicycle safely between home and school. MDOT and the Michigan Fitness Foundation partner to work with

-more-

MDOT announces Safe Routes to School grants

to 10 schools in four counties

December 13, 2011

Page Two

schools, neighborhoods, students, teachers, parents, school transportation directors and local law enforcement agencies.

The following projects were awarded funding. They are listed alphabetically by county:

Genesee County

Washington Elementary School, in partnership with MDOT and the city of Flint, will install sidewalks and crosswalks on Ohio, Missouri, Arlington, Franklin, and Vernon avenues, along with pedestrian countdown signals at the intersection of Vernon Avenue and Davison Road. It also will implement pedestrian and bicycle safety education, walking school bus, and parent patrol programs. The project budget is $331,022.

Muskegon County

Central Elementary School, in partnership with Laketon Township and the Muskegon County Road Commission, will install sidewalks and crosswalks on Giles and Horton roads and solar flashing beacons on Giles Road. It also will implement a walk-to-school club. The project budget is $265,664.

Newaygo County (two school systems)

Fremont Middle School, Daisy Brook Elementary School, and Pathfinder Elementary School, in partnership with the city of Fremont, will install sidewalks and crosswalks on Woodrow, Cherry, and Pine streets and Gerber and Mechanic avenues, multi-use nonmotorized paths on Oak Street and Lake Drive, a bicycle lane on Locust Street, and bicycle racks at all three schools. The project budget is $338,754.

Grant Primary Center, Grant Elementary School, and Grant Middle School, in partnership with the city of Grant, will install sidewalks and crosswalks on Commerce, Lake and Brink streets and Elder Avenue. The project budget is $246,878.

Presque Isle County

Rogers City Elementary School and Rogers City Middle/High School, in partnership with the city of Rogers City, will install sidewalks and crosswalks on Wenonah Drive, Huron Avenue, and West Erie and State streets, and implement pedestrian and bicycle safety education and encouragement programs. The project budget is $372,736.

MDOT's role is to administer the federally legislated SRTS program that creates opportunities for collaboration with agencies and partners not traditionally involved with transportation funding. The SRTS program provides educational programs, infrastructure

-more-

MDOT announces Safe Routes to School grants

to 10 schools in four counties

December 13, 2011

Page Three

improvements and encouragement activities to help children safely walk and bike to school and increase their physical activity. Funding was established by Congress under the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users of 2005 (SAFETEA-LU). SRTS funding is 100 percent federal, with no local match required. More information is available at online at: www.saferoutesmichigan.org.

###

MDOT reminds drivers: Snowplows need room to groom.

Good News about Michigan Tourism

2011-12-08T08:33:00.000-05:00

News from Travel Michigan's Director, George Zimmermann

Winter is approaching, but good news from our summer season keeps coming in. Use tax and sales tax data from June through September indicates 2011 was one of the best seasons for Michigan hotels in recent years. The total combined sales and use tax collected was $44,104,375 – the second highest of any year since 1999. The Michigan Department of Treasury reports that the total use tax of June-September was $29,561,930 – the highest number in 13 years. August and September also experienced the highest single month collections in recent history, with July numbers close behind.

We are also seeing positive lodging numbers for the fall tourism season; and yet another positive story in the Detroit News about growing hotel occupancy rates. According to Smith Travel Research, in October hotel occupancy in Michigan averaged 58.4 percent, a 5.9 percent increase from the same period last year. Detroit saw a 10.4 percent increase in occupancy rates from October of 2010 and was ranked 13 out of the top 25 U.S. markets. Michigan also continues to outpace the national growth-rate in lodging occupancy.

Combined these numbers help tell the story that Michigan has experienced very strong room sales so far this year. This is great news as we work to build on the success we have already had with the Pure Michigan campaign here in the state as well as regionally and nationally.

And while we are always thankful for good numbers, sometimes it takes a personal story to put it all in perspective. In today’s Tourism Update be sure to watch the incredible story of the Blakemore family from St. Louis, Missouri. As part of their visit to the Today Show with Kathie Lee and Hoda they received a family trip to the Great Wolf Lodge in Traverse City and a chance to create some great family memories in Pure Michigan.

With the snow starting to fall and the Pure Michigan winter ad campaign gearing up we are excited for the coming winter tourism season here in Michigan. We have placed nearly $1.7 million in winter advertising in Chicago, Milwaukee, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Ft. Wayne, Green Bay, South Bend and Toledo, plus Michigan markets for December and January. To quote a famous Christmas carol, it is a most wonderful time of the year.

For more information, contact George Zimmermann at (517) 335-1879

Lake Huron Predator Diet Study

2011-12-07T14:21:00.000-05:00

Here is a report from Jeff Schaeffer of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Great Lakes Science Center:

The third and final year of the Lake Huron predator diet study has once again been successful.

We still have many frozen samples, but expect that once again anglers were able to again provide about 2,000 stomachs during 2011.
Our total count for three years will be over 7,000, which is almost unheard of in a diet study, especially with large piscivores.

The study has been an unqualified success. We learned (and are still learning) how predators have responded to food web changes in Lake Huron, and study results are already being used in management decisions and as inputs in several models being developed to better understand Lake Huron's aquatic community. Results have been presented at a variety of venues including fishing club meetings, national fishery meetings, and even to the Great Lakes Fishery Commission and Michigan's Natural Resources Council. At least two graduate students have used study data as part of their theses, and more will likely use the data over the next few years. In addition, the story of how we came together to achieve these results has been "the talk of the town" in several meetings. The idea that citizens can do great science is topic of discussion among many scientists, but we simply did it.

The data collection part of the study is now over, and we will not collect stomachs during 2012. There are many people who have asked that the study be continued, but we need to move into the next phase with these thoughts in mind.

1. The study is continuing, but we have a huge amount of data to summarize, analyze, and publish. This much effort deserved publication in journals and we need to make sure that happens. This is a full time job that will occupy our time during 2012.

2. We believe strongly that we have already asked too much of you, and we can not ask any more.

3. The Lake Huron fish community has not changed that much over the past three years in that alewife are still scarce and prey biomass is likely low compared to the years prior to 1994, and especially during the 1980's when the previous diet study was performed. Three years of great data given that situation are more than adequate to answer all the questions that this study was designed to answer.

4. We are faced with shrinking budgets, and may not have the resources to fund additional sample processing. Ed and I also have additional responsibilities and new projects that require our time and attention. The new projects are one of the reasons you have not heard much from us over the fishing season.

For all those reasons, it is time to stop collecting new data and devote our attention the data we have. If any of you have stomachs that we have not picked up, please email Ethan Bright (Ebright@usgs.gov) so we can make arrangements to pick them up.

In summary, we can't thank you enough, although I will remind you that I made a wager three years ago at one of the spring workshops. Someone in the audience stated that "I would love to help with this, but we have done this before and we never see any results". My response was this: "if you guys get us enough stomachs for a publishable study, I will present results at your club's spring banquet or meeting". I would have to say that you won that bet, and I don't think that I was ever so happy to lose a wager. So our plan is to share study results as soon as we can, and hopefully begin that process by next spring.

We wish you happy holidays and best of luck for next year's fishing season.

Thanks,

Jeff

Jeff Schaeffer
USGS Great Lakes Science Center
1451 Green Rd. Ann Arbor, MI 48105
734-214-7250 (voice)
734-994-8780 (fax)
Jeff_Schaeffer@usgs.gov

Thanks to Julie shafto for sharing this information.

Students Help Lift Michigan Up

2011-12-06T09:55:00.000-05:00

The following article is from Kellie Woodhouse: University of Michigan's fourth-annual student-run 1,000 Pitches entrepreneurship contest received a record number of pitches this year.

The group received 3,303 video pitches of entrepreneurial ideas from U-M students, topping last year's pitch total of 3,031.
Those ideas include everything from a combined washing and drying machine to a robotic mosquito swatter to the instillation of coffee carts at the university's bus stops.
1,000 Pitches will announce winners on Sunday, Dec. 11. The contest closed Nov. 18.
The 1,000 Pitches contest began in 2008 as an initiative to "create the entrepreneurial spirit of change and innovation at Michigan," project co-director Najia Yarkhan said last month. This year, winners in nine separate categories will be given $1,000 each.
MPowered, the student group that sponsors 1,000 Pitches, also held its first summit in association with the contest on Dec. 3. The summit is a way to broaden the reach of 1,000 pitches, leaders said.
"The summit at the end (allows participants) to network with sponsors and each other," Yarkhan said. "We wanted to increase quality over last year."
At the summit,1,000 Pitches participants mingled with the event's sponsors —which include Ann Arbor's SPARK, Bizdom, Google, Quicken Loans, Mobiata, Pure Michigan, Energy Stage Partners, Menlo Innovations and several other local businesses.
Winners will also have a chance to tour local Google and Quicken Loans offices.
Thomas Madigan, a U-M junior who has worked with the project for three years, said the summit is one more way the 1,000 Pitches contest has become more established over the years.
"It’s getting a little more well known and through that turning into an overall better competition," he said.
Take a look at the finalists here.
Kellie Woodhouse covers higher education for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at kelliewoodhouse@annarbor.com or 734-623-4602 and follow her on twitter.

Rogers City students are bright and talented. Perhaps some of them see a future as business people and have their own ideas to help grow our economy.

Michigan Economy Story in Bloomberg

2011-11-30T16:53:00.000-05:00

Here is an interesting article about the Michigan Economy from Bloomberg publications:

Nov. 22 (Bloomberg) -- Michigan’s sink-or-swim automotive economy is swimming again and taking Toby McGowan with it.

McGowan makes $15.78 an hour as one of 280 production workers hired in the past two months at General Motors Co.’s Lake Orion assembly plant as the state’s carmakers increase sales and add personnel. He lost his last job at a print shop thanks to slow business.

“I had to cut out Internet, text messaging, cable TV,” said McGowan, 33, a single father who lives in Ortonville with his 4-year-old son. “Those aren’t necessary. I can put food on the table, keep a roof over our heads. I wouldn’t call it the most comfortable life, but it’s comfortable for me.”

Michigan lost 860,000 jobs from 2000 to 2009, almost half in the final two years. One of every five residents receives Medicaid assistance, and Detroit is in peril of state takeover. Since 2008, however, its economy fared better than that of any other state, except for oil-booming North Dakota, according to the Bloomberg Economic Evaluation of States. The index calculates growth by examining job creation, personal income, tax revenue, housing prices, mortgage delinquencies and the stock performance of state-based companies.

Republican Governor Rick Snyder, 53, said in an interview in Ann Arbor that the index confirms that “we are the value place to be.”

Snyder, who cut $1.5 billion in spending, said finances are more stable and a slimmed-down auto industry can better withstand downturns.

“We’ve gone through tough times, high unemployment,” Snyder said. “We have a lot of talent ready to work and we have a great work ethic in this state. We have low-cost housing because of depressed property values.”

Hinging on Building

The question is whether the surge, enabled by the Obama administration’s auto-industry bailout, will return Michigan to its prerecession state.

“We have an economy that cannot grow unless manufacturing is healthy,” said Kristin Dziczek, director of the labor and industry group for the Center for Automotive Research in Ann Arbor.

Dearborn’s Ford Motor Co. reported a third-quarter profit of $1.65 billion Oct. 26. The next day, Chrysler Group LLC, the Auburn Hills carmaker majority owned by Fiat SpA, raised its forecast for its first annual profit to $600 million.

GM’s U.S. sales climbed 15 percent this year through October from the same period a year earlier, according to Autodata Corp. Deliveries rose 11 percent at Ford and 23 percent at Chrysler, the Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey, researcher reported.

Newer and Cheaper

GM, Ford and Chrysler will hire or retain 42,300 employees nationwide over four years thanks in part to a new United Auto Workers contract that continues to pay rookies such as McGowan less than the $28 per hour that senior workers make, according to the Center for Automotive Research. Also, those higher-paid employees receive no raises under the four-year contract.

Such hiring helped Michigan’s October unemployment rate drop to 10.6 percent from 11.1 percent in September, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That’s one percentage point lower than a year ago, though higher than the 9 percent national rate.

Jeffrey Hickmott, 26, graduated with a mechanical engineering degree from the University of Michigan-Dearborn in 2009. He’s still hunting for a job and lives with his parents in Taylor, a Detroit suburb.

Tough Search

“It’s better than a year ago,” Hickmott said in a telephone interview. “Last year I had two interviews. This year I’ve had 20 or 30 contacts over the phone. They said they were impressed, but they wanted someone with more experience.”

His prospects may improve: A University of Michigan report last week predicted 0.8 percent job growth in the state next year and 1.4 percent in 2013.

Michigan’s rebound from the 18-month recession that ended in June 2009 gives it a higher BEES ranking -- in part because it fell so far. Compared with a decade ago, the state’s economic health has fallen 25.4 percent, ninth-worst among states.

During 2010 and the first quarter of 2011, though, Michigan’s economic health improved by 8.8 percent, second to North Dakota.

The state still suffers from free-falling property values, which have starved its municipalities of property-tax revenue. Statewide real and personal property values declined about 20 percent from 2007 to 2011, according to the state Treasury Department.

Detroit in Danger

Oakland County, with Michigan’s second-highest median household income of $62,626 in 2009, lost almost one-third of its overall property value in that time, according to Robert Daddow, deputy county executive.

Last week, Detroit Mayor Dave Bing said the city faces a $45 million shortfall by June, on top of a $155 million long- term deficit, and he said he would eliminate 1,000 city jobs in February. He warned that without union concessions, the city may face state takeover.

Snyder said economic growth needs a stable political and tax environment. The state this year cut business taxes by $1.7 billion and balanced its budget without temporary fixes.

In July, Fitch Ratings revised Michigan’s credit outlook to positive from stable, citing a balanced budget and improved economy. Moody’s rates Michigan’s general-obligation bonds Aa2, third highest, and both Fitch and Standard & Poor’s rate the state AA-, fourth highest.

‘Ready to Explode’

Doug Rothwell, president and chief executive of Business Leaders for Michigan, which includes 80 executives of the state’s largest companies, said most are more optimistic about Michigan’s economy than they are about the U.S. as a whole. Rothwell said there is pent-up demand for cars and services.

“The economy is ready to explode,” he said.

Doug Gaylor, 53, a New York-based municipal fixed-income portfolio manager for Principal Global Investors LLC, said he’s delayed replacing his 2001 Oldsmobile Silhouette minivan, which has 133,000 miles. He said he’ll look to buy a U.S. car first, when the next minivan repair costs too much.

Gaylor, who once oversaw a Michigan bond portfolio, said he’s impressed by the state’s handling of its finances and its positioning for more high-tech jobs in the future.

“They did a really good job of addressing problems in a timely manner, more than other states did,” he said in an interview in New York.

--With assistance from Craig Trudell in Southfield, Michigan. Editors: Stephen Merelman, Mark Schoifet

To contact the reporter on this story: Chris Christoff in Lansing at cchristoff@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Mark Tannenbaum at mtannen@bloomberg.net

Transfer Station Hours for the Holidays

2011-11-28T17:14:00.000-05:00

The Rogers City Transfer Station will have special holiday hours and dates. The Transfer Station will be closed on Christmas Eve Day, Saturday, Dec 24 and New Years Eve Day, Saturday, December 31, 2011.
The Transfer Station will be open on Friday, December 23 and 30, 2011 from
10 am to 6 pm for your recycling and waste disposal needs during the holiday season.

Merry Christmas from Dave, Larry, and Wayne!

Business After Hours

2011-11-21T14:42:00.000-05:00

Every one wants to see our economy pick up! But, what can we do to make this happen? Here is one way!

The Rogers City Area Chamber of Commerce is hosting "Business After Hours," Tuesday, November 22, 2011 at the District Library beginning with refreshments at 5pm and the E-Smart Technology presentation at 5:30pm in the Constance Jordan room. There is no cost to attend, and we hope business owners and the general public will take an hour to learn about the newest technology at the Library. The E-Smart Center will give you the ability to reach out and "touch" global markets today!

Come to "Business After Hours." You might learn how to improve your business. You might learn about advanced technology to simplify running your business.

What do you have to lose? Invest 30 minutes in your future. This might be the best investment you make in 2011.

You are welcome to join us at the Rogers City Branch of the Presque Isle District Library. I hope to see you there.

America Recycles Day--Today!

2011-11-15T13:32:00.000-05:00

Today is America Recycles Day. Did you know:

The U.S. is the #1 trash-producing country in the world at 1,609 pounds per person per year. In other words, five percent of the world's people generate 40 percent of the world's waste.

We use more than 80,000,000,000 aluminum soda cans every year. (But because so many of them are recycled, aluminum cans account for less than one percent of the total U.S. waste stream, according to EPA estimates. And there is no limit to the amount of times an aluminum can be recycled.)

The amount of wood and paper we throw away each year is enough to heat 50,000,000 homes for 20 years.

Plastic bags and other plastic garbage thrown into the ocean kill as many as 1,000,000 sea creatures every year.

An estimated 80,000,000 Hershey's Kisses are wrapped each day, using enough aluminum foil to cover over 50 acres of space -- almost 40 football fields.

Obviously, we have a long way to go to improve our consumption and recycling habits.

Recognizing America Recycles Day (ARD) (a program of Keep America Beautiful) on November 15 is a great place to start. Since 1997, public and private organizations have dedicated the day to encouraging Americans to recycle and buy recycled products.

Today is a great day to start recycling, or, if you already are recycling--give yourself a pat on the back and keep up the good work. Thank you for doing a good job!

Michigan Trail Wins Award

2011-11-15T12:42:00.000-05:00

North Central State Trail Recognized as Best Example of Michigan’s Trail System

Grab your bike or your favorite walking shoes and check out Michigan’s 62-mile long North Central State Trail. This crushed limestone trail that stretches from Gaylord to Mackinaw City was recently recognized by the Mid-America Trails and Greenways Conference as the best example of the state’s extensive rails-to-trails system.

“This is a perfect trail to have been chosen,” said Jim Radabaugh, the Recreation and Trails Section manager for the Department of Natural Resources. “From the shores of Mullet Lake to the rolling farm fields near Vanderbilt to the birch trees outside of Gaylord, a day spent on this trail is a day spent experiencing a little slice of Michigan.”

The North Central State Trail occupies what was once the northernmost segment of the Michigan Central Railroad. This Detroit-based railway, one of the largest and most profitable in the Lower Peninsula, constructed a land grant section of tracks northward from its primary service area to Mackinaw City in 1882. This spur line served what was then a booming area of old-growth timberland. When the Mackinac Bridge was opened for public use in 1957, passengers and freight in this area shifted to road-based vehicles, and the section of railroad line where the North Central State Trail runs today began to fall out of active use. The North Central State Trail was dedicated for public use in June 2008. That fall it was named one of the top five “Trails for Autumn” by the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy.

Michigan is home to the largest rails-to-trails system in the country with over 2,400 miles of trails available for use all across the Lower and Upper Peninsulas.

“We have long been a national leader in both the quality and quantity of our trails,” added Radabaugh. “Michigan’s trail system is a hidden gem.”

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is committed to the conservation, protection, management, use and enjoyment of the state's natural and cultural resources for current and future generations. For more information, go to www.michigan.gov/dnr.

Light Up the City

2011-11-14T08:34:00.000-05:00

Light Up the City is November 23, 2011

A parade through the downtown begins at 5 p.m. and Santa lights the trees in Westminster Park at 6 p.m. The "Light Up the City" event is sponsored by the Optimist Club of Rogers City. You may donate a lighted tree to the project with your personal message for $40. This is a fund raiser for the Optimists as well as a great community attraction. It's not too late to sponsor and decorate a tree! The "Parade of Lights" will start and the Water's Edge and go through downtown to Westminster Park. If you want to participate, please call the Rogers City Area Chamber of Commerce. Call 734-2535 for more info.

Shop Locally to Help Your Community

2011-11-08T08:27:00.000-05:00

Based on a statistical model:
Spend $100 locally, $62 stays right in your community
Spend that same $100 in a national chain, only $42 stays in your community
Spend that same $100 on-line, $0 is returned to your community

You amy not find everything that you want locally, but you can find everything that you need.

Check with the Rogers City Area Chamber of Commerce to locate a business that offers the goods or services that you are seeking.

Election Day

2011-11-07T17:24:00.002-05:00

Please exercise your constitutional right to vote in the City election on Tuesday, November 8, 2011. The polling location is Rogers City High School. The polls are open from 7:00 am to 8:00 pm.

Michigan State Park System Best in the Nation

2011-11-04T08:28:00.000-04:00

A longtime leader in outdoor recreation, Michigan can now officially boast being No. 1, receiving the 2011 National Recreation and Park Association Gold Medal for the top state park system in the nation.

The award, given for excellence in planning and long-range resource management, recognizes Michigan’s innovative Recreation Passport program and the creative strategic planning the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Parks and Recreation Division has done to deliver a high quality customer experience to every state park visitor.

Michigan’s 99 state park and recreation areas are popular destinations for residents and visitors alike, and help make the quality of life in the state unbeatable. The state parks offer 22 million annual visitors access to more than 13,000 campsites, trails, inland lakes, rivers and the Great Lakes.

They are also a key partner in the state’s Pure Michigan tourism effort – which last year helped to generate $17.2 billion dollars create an estimated 152,600 jobs statewide.

Governor Rick Snyder has appointed a Blue Ribbon Panel on Michigan State Parks and Outdoor Recreation to guide the state park system in the future.

“This award is a credit to the people of Michigan,” said Michigan Governor Rick Snyder. “For more than 90 years, Michiganders have realized that these unique areas are an integral part of the cultural enhancement, economic enrichment and overall quality of life that we value. Our parks are what we make of them and the people of this state clearly prize these treasures. I commend the DNR for its outstanding stewardship of these resources and look forward to working with all stakeholders so that we have a parks system that serves our state and its visitors for generations to come.”

Michigan beat out North Carolina, Florida and Missouri for the top honor. In addition to the Recreation Passport, the state parks recreation initiatives include Recreation 101 programs, ongoing efforts to make state parks more accessible for all visitors and alternative lodging and green initiatives.

A local note: Harry Whitely, who is being honored Saturday night, November 5, 2011 at the Annual Dinner of the Rogers City Area Chamber of Commerce, has long been a key factor in the Michigan DNR, as a Board Member and strong Champion for State Parks and Trails. This national recognition of the quality of Michigan's Park system can be attributed, at least in part, to Harry's leadership and vision. If you have not already done so, please consider purchasing a ticket to the annual dinner in honor of Harry Whitely and his many contributions to our community and our State Parks.

For more information on state parks in Michigan, go to www.michigan.gov/stateparks.

State of Michigan Economy

2011-11-03T08:23:00.000-04:00

Michigan ranks 2nd in Bloomberg study of states’ economic health

Michigan’s economic health is second-best in the nation, according to a prominent national ranking released today.

Bloomberg, a respected global leader in business and financial information, released its first-ever economic health evaluation during a conference in New York City. The Bloomberg analysis considered important indicators such as personal income, tax revenue, employment and housing prices.

This pure analysis of data has placed Michigan at the top echelon on the ranking, second only to North Dakota, which is experiencing an economic boom fueled by oil exploration.

Rogers City is contributing to the revitalization of the local Michigan Economy. The City has spent approximately $10,000,000 over the past two years mostly from federal grant funding and USDA-Rural Development low-interest rate loans to accomplish several major infrastructure projects such as a new water tower, a refurbished wastewater treatment facility, water and sewer mains, and new street lights/improved streetscape. These projects are paying fair wages to many construction workers in our area and are improving the quality of life for residents and visitors.

Key Club Induction Ceremony

2011-11-02T08:41:00.000-04:00

Congratulation to new Rogers City H. S. Key Club officers & members! Last evening, 49 new members were inducted into the Key Club. The club motto is "Caring--is our way of life." The Key Club does excellent work, including refurbishing the Ocqueoc Outdoor Center, contributing to the Food Pantry, and recycling aluminum tabs to help the Veterans Hospital.

This year's Key Club officers are:

President--Abbey Idalski
V.P. -- Mariah Lloyd
Secretary--Kelleigh Lamb
Treasurer--Andrew Deletka
Historian--Cynthia Kerr
Editor--Rebecca Myers

Mrs. Marilyn Dimick and Mr. Mike Myers are the Key Club's Advisors.

Go Rogers City Key Club!

America Recycles Day

2011-11-01T09:03:00.000-04:00

To learn more about recycling, visit:

http://americarecyclesday.org/pledge/index.php?lang=

Halloween Party Thank You

2011-11-01T08:26:00.000-04:00

Thanks to the Kiwanis Club, Key Club, Hospice of Michigan, Fire and Police Departments for making the Halloween Parade and Party a big success. Over 200 children participated in the organized activities which included a parade, "pumpkin bowling," scary costumes, and lots of treats. Everything proceeded without incident and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves.

The Kiwanis Club organized the event and provided most of the treats. The Mike Myers Family deserve a special thank you for providing the decorations. The Key Club provided positive energy, helped with set up and tear down, served up the treats, and ran the pumpkin bowling. The Fire Department was generous with their facility, moving all the fire trucks out of the Fire Hall, so the party could take place.
Police Office Matt Bission handed out over 300 glow bracelets to help identify numerous ghosts, princes, pirates, and other action figures. Hospice provided popular popcorn treats. All-in-all it was a grand time.
Thank you to everyone who made it possible.

Purple Martin Nature Center and Lakeside Inn

2011-10-28T14:20:00.000-04:00

Cindy Vezinau is developing the Purple Martin Nature Center and Lakeside Inn, located on Depot St. Today, 40 students from CMU are helping develop the site to offer non-profit programs for children in addition to commercial lodging at the Inn. Stop in and see the changes going on. Also, don't miss the "Flash Mob" at 3rd and Erie at 3:30 pm.

Rogers City Needs Entrepreneurs

2011-10-20T14:40:00.000-04:00

We need you to be entrepreneurs. These are people who start businesses. We have examples of success! Domaci, Scill's, The Painted Lady, Sexy Shoes, and more. You could be the "next big thing!" If you have some ideas about starting a new business in Rogers City, please email me.

Our website www.rogerscity.com contains a report about the business climate here and many opportunities available.

Holiday Extravaganza !

2011-10-18T09:18:00.000-04:00

You're Invited !

.... to the 7th annual Holiday Extravaganza !

October 21st & 22nd - Friday 4pm - 8 pm & Saturday 9am - 4 pm

Arts, Crafts, Holiday Gifts & Treasures... this is more than

just a Craft show.

Do your Christmas Shopping Early this Year !

Our Artists will be offering unique Handmade Baskets,

Jewelry and Cosmetics You will find many beautifully

crafted Holiday Gift items, Wonderful Edibles, Ceramics

and one of a Treasures. Also Stain Glass, Original Watercolors,

and so more.

On Saturday you might enjoy a nice luncheon, sponsored

by the Rogers City Senior & Community Center.

This is a perfect opportunity to start your Christmas shopping

early this year, so bring along a friend and enjoy!

Our Location…

Rogers City Senior & Community Center

at the corner of Third St. & Superior in Rogers City,

US 23, 40 miles North of Alpena

This event is an annual fund-raiser for, and sponsored

by the Rogers City Senior & Community Center.

...hope to see you there!

(Post credit to Debbie Stiller)

New Website Coming Soon

2011-10-03T15:15:00.000-04:00

Rogers City will launch a new website very soon. Check in to see the new format which will make the site easier to use and contain more fresh information. The expected launch is Wednesday, October 12, 2011. Your comments are always welcome.

City Council Meeting

2011-09-30T10:09:00.002-04:00

City Council meeting has moved up to Monday, October 3, 2011 due to the annual Michigan Municipal League Meeting next week. The meeting time remains at 7:00 pm. If you have a question or comment, please come to the Council meeting and "sound off." This is your local government--we want to hear from you.

Nautical City News

2011-09-29T16:34:00.000-04:00

This is a special edition of the Nautical City News. Look for a full newsletter in the next edition.

Mayor’s Message: Thanks to all the citizens of Rogers City for putting up with the many challenges of the USDA construction projects. Many of you put up with torn up streets, discolored water, and possibly other issues. The good news is that most all the street work has been completed; although, some clean up items are still in progress.

Other, project work is still on going at the Waste Water Treatment Plant (WWTP), new water tower, and new well drilling efforts. The WWTP project will most likely continue into next year, but it has remained in continuous operation during the construction. The WWTP continues to meet all regulations and standards. The improvements will make the WWTP more energy efficient and reliable.

The new water tower is structurally completed; however, it is not yet in operation. Electrical system installation was delayed due to Consumers Energy power supply issues. The new water tower is expected to be in operation by the end of the year.

The well drilling going on in the Seagull Point Park area will result in higher quality drinking water for all. A primary and a test well have been successfully drilled with preliminary water test results positive. A third well is going to begin drilling soon.

Again, I want to thank each of you for your patience with these large and complex projects. They will make Rogers City a better place to live for decades to come.

Internet:

Rogers City’s website has a new look and some new content at www.rogerscity.com

There you will find a link to Facebook, a calendar of local events, links to other websites, information about taxes, Chamber of Commerce information, and the City Manager’s weblog. Your tax information is also on the Presque Isle County website: www.presqueislecounty.org

Street Light Construction:

Phase 2 begins in October 2011 and should be completed before the end of the year. There may be periods when there are no street lights operational on Third Street between Huron and Depot Street.

Elections:

Don’t forget to register and vote in the election scheduled for November 8, 2011.

Dashboard/Citizen’s Guide:

To obtain full funding from the State of Michigan, Rogers City has published a Dashboard and Citizen’s Guide. These documents are available at City Hall and at www.rogerscity.com

☺ Shop Rogers City ☺

City Hall will be closed on November 24 and 25, 2011.

Community Mediation Services

2011-09-29T10:25:00.002-04:00

Have a serious problem with someone? Try the Community Mediation Services as a means to resolve the problem. Their mission is "to assist people in resolving their disputes in a confidential, affordable and peaceful manner by providing trained mediators in a neutral setting." Call 1-800-873-7658.

International Walk to School Day--October 5, 2011

2011-09-28T16:41:00.000-04:00

Everyone is welcome to celebrate International Walk to School Day on October 5, 2011. The Rogers City "Walking" School buses will be in operation with various community leaders and parents walking with the students to school. Walking does a body good! Come out and set an example on October 5, 2011.

Rogers City has participated in the Safe Routes to School (SR2S) program for over four years. If you believe in walking as an important part of a healthy life you are welcome to get involved. Please contact me and we will find a role for you to help with this great SR2S program

Website

2011-09-26T15:52:00.002-04:00

Rogers City's website will be getting a new look soon. Watch for the updated sight coming soon.

Employment Opportunity

2011-08-30T16:40:00.002-04:00

If you're unemployed, you may be able to get a job cleaning up the Great Lakes.
The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative has about $6 million for federal agencies that propose restoration work in federally-protected areas in the Great Lakes basin.
A requirement for projects is to put at least 20 unemployed people to work. Interested? Reply with your name and email address or phone number.

Freighters Off Shore

2011-08-27T13:21:00.002-04:00

Rogers City Community Theater

2011-08-23T11:37:00.000-04:00

The Spotlight is on Rogers City Theater! Willy Wonka Jr. Opens Thursday, August 25th. Doors opens at 7:00 with show at 7:30 pm on August 25, 26, and 27. Also they are showing a Sunday Matinee; doors open 2 and show at 2:30 pm only on August 28, 2011. This youth theater production is great fun. Don't miss our talented young people perform!

Need a Break?

2011-08-22T15:34:00.002-04:00

Make that last minute vacation to Rogers City before school starts. Lot's to see and to do. The beaches are clean and sandy. The water is warm and clear. Visit the Lighthouses and museums--some of the best in Michigan. Ride the trails and enjoy our many parks. Find unique shops and great dining. We had BBQ ribs at Scill's Grill on Saturday night--wow!

Hammond Bay Biological Station

2011-08-19T12:58:00.000-04:00

Here is a picture of an adult sea lampray eel being studied at the Hammond Bay Biological Station. The scientists and researchers at the station are doing cutting edge work to determine how to prevent the sea lampray eel from destroying sport and commercial fishing in the Great Lakes. This facility is a true treasure for Northeast Michigan. Please let your legislators know how important it is to continue funding of this critical research.

Hammond Bay Biological Station

2011-08-19T11:01:00.001-04:00

Representatives from Congressional Staff and the City of Rogers City toured the Hammond Bay biological Station last week. The experience was fantastic.

The Hammond Bay Biological Station is conducting important research on the Sea Lampray Eel, an invasive species that has had a devestating impact on Great Lakes fishing. The bright young professional scientists and staff at the Station were most impressive. We are lucky to have this great facility and these great people as part of our community.

The U.S, Geological Survey (USGS) and Great Lakes Fishery Commission (GLFC) are responsible for this station which is helping to preserve sport and commercial fishing in Lake Huron and Lake Michigan too. City of Rogers City representatives, the GLFC, and the USGS are asking Congress to continue funding for the Hammond Bay Biological Station.

Flushing Water Mains

2011-08-18T13:11:00.000-04:00

The Water Department will be flushing water mains at various locations throughout Rogers City from 8-21-11 through 9-2-11 between the hours of 9:00 P.M. to 7:00 A.M. Due to the process of flushing water mains, there may be some discoloration of your water at times. Please, check your water for discoloration before doing any laundry. The purpose for the flushing is to improve water quality. This service is provided as part of your utility service. For more information call 734-2191.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Serving on the "Front Line"

2011-08-09T11:19:00.000-04:00

Thank you to all friendly local service people: waitresses, store clerks, repair persons, gas station attendants, and more. Every day you greet people, putting a "good face" on, regardless of your backache, sick child, or other problems. You are important! Thank you for representing Rogers City to this community and to our visitors.

An article by Mary Beth Stutzman, entitled "Fortifying Alpen's Font Line" describes the importance of everyday working people in the service industry very well. Ms. Stutzman, formerly a waitress desribes the important inpact of those people who worj "on the front line." If the tone of a community is positive, it helps everyone!

Mayor Beach Hall

2011-08-04T09:01:00.000-04:00

Here is a link to a video interview of Mayor Beach Hall filmed on August 2, 2011. Tara Sotirin from Sunrise Cable Network (SCN) conducts the interview. Over the next few months each City Council member will have an opportunity to be interviewed. You can also find links to the interview on the Rogers City Facebook page.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-AtzZdl6Dk

Walking School Bus

2011-07-20T08:18:00.000-04:00

Last night City Council approved the Walking School Bus Program, providing payment of $9 per hour for up to 240 hours to two "Walking School Bus Coordinators." Funding is provided by the Michigan Fitness Foundation.

If you like to work with kids and parents, and you like to walk, this is a great opportunity to make some money doing something you like to do. You must pass a background check. The City is an equal opportunity employer. Contact Mark Slown at City Hall.

Summer Fun

2011-07-18T14:31:00.000-04:00

Summer means fun at the beach! Enjoy all of Rogers City's many miles of public shoreline, including smooth walking beaches, rocky areas for fossil hunting, fishing areas, and sandy swimming beaches.

Huron Pines Shoreline Stewardship Workshop

2011-07-18T14:28:00.000-04:00

Huron Pines is hosting an exciting evening to learn how to keep our shoreline healthy on Wednesday, July 20 from 5-8pm at the Russell Memorial Park in Millersburg. Spend time learning about shoreline stewardship techniques, including identification of common invasive plants and the benefits of native species. Learn how to help local conservation efforts to keep our area pristine.

Small Town Charm

2011-07-14T08:20:00.000-04:00

Jessica Luetzow posted the following comment on the City's Facebook page: "I was home in Rogers City over the past weekend and I went and walked the historical walking tour of the buildings in Rogers City! It was very cool, I think that the city needs to do more things like that, I like how you are trying to get to that small town charm, I think there are so many other things that Rogers City can do to be a great small northern michigan town!"

Solar Car Visit

2011-07-13T17:13:00.000-04:00

The University of Michigan's national champion solar car, the Quantum, embarks Saturday on a 1,000-mile, four-day "mock race" that will ring Pure Michigan's Lower Peninsula. The Quantum, which is street legal, will cruise along US-23 through Rogers City. Stops in St. Joseph, Ludington, Traverse City, Mackinaw City and Tawas City will simulate the upcoming Australian race route.

Little League Fundraiser

2011-07-12T17:25:00.002-04:00

There will be a Little League Fundraiser Hot Dog Lunch tommorow (Wednesday) in the Courthouse Lawn from 11a-1p. It is a free-will offering for the Junior Girls Softball Team who will be traveling down to Croswell/Lexington for the State Little League Tourney this weekend.

Thanks for the support and please pass the word.

Trash Pickup is Thursday!

2011-07-06T18:49:00.000-04:00

Please spread the word: "trash pickup is on Thursday." The contractor, PAC Sanitation, requested that only Thursday be pickup day. Pickup will only move to Friday if a Holiday is on a Thursday, like Thanksgiving. The rest of the time, trash pickup will remain on Thursday. Please put your trash out tonight for pickup in the morning and help spread the word, thank you.

Pretty Yards in Rogers City

2011-07-06T15:54:00.000-04:00

Here is another picture of one of hundreds of pretty flower gardens and lovely landscaping all arounf the City of Rogers City. If you have a picture of one, please share it with me so I can post it here on this blog. Thanks, and thank God for gardens.

Transportation Available!!!

2011-07-05T17:19:00.000-04:00

Presque Isle County Council on Aging (PICCOA) is celebrating 35 years of service to the community. PICCOA offers service in the Rogers City Area on Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm.. There is a "fare:" Under 60 years old $3 and over 60 or handicapped $1.50 round trip. Call 989-766-8191 or visit www.piccoa.org

Consumer Confidence Report 20110

2011-07-05T09:01:00.000-04:00

2010 Water Quality Report for Rogers City

This report covers the drinking water quality for City of Rogers City for the calendar year 2010. This information is a snapshot of the quality of the water that we provided to you in 2010. Included are details about where your water comes from, what it contains, and how it compares to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and state standards.

Your water comes from three groundwater wells located at 104 Lake St., 198 E. Friedrich and 1242 Forest Ave. The State performed an assessment of our source water in 2003. Well No. 3 was determined to have high susceptibility to contamination. Wells No. 4 and No. 5 were determined to have moderately high susceptibility to contamination. Copies of the reports are available at City Hall.

· Contaminants and their presence in water: Drinking Water, including bottled water, may reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. The presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate that water poses a health risk. More information about contaminants and potential health effects can be obtained by calling the EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791).

·
Vulnerability of sub-populations: Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population. Immuno-compromised persons such as persons with cancer undergoing chemotherapy, persons who have undergone organ transplants, people with HIV/AIDS or other immune systems disorders, some elderly, and infants can be particularly at risk from infections. These people should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers. EPA/CDC guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminants are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791).

· Sources of drinking water: The sources of drinking water (both tap water and bottled water) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells. Our water comes from wells. As water travels over the surface of the land or through the ground, it dissolves naturally-occurring minerals and, in some cases, radioactive material, and can pick up substances resulting from the presence of animals or from human activity.

· Contaminants that may be present in source water include:

* Microbial contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria, which may come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural livestock operations and wildlife.

* Inorganic contaminants, such as salts and metals, which can be naturally-occurring or result from urban stormwater runoff, industrial or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas production, mining or farming.

* Pesticides and herbicides, which may come from a variety of sources such as agriculture and residential uses.

* Radioactive contaminants, which can be naturally occurring or be the result of oil and gas production and mining activities.

* Organic chemical contaminants, including synthetic and volatile organic chemicals, which are by-products of industrial processes and petroleum production, and can also, come from gas stations, urban stormwater runoff, and septic systems.

In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, EPA prescribes regulations that limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems Food and Drug Administration regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water which provide the same protection for public health.

Water Quality Data

The table below lists all the drinking water contaminants that we detected during the 2010 calendar year. The presence of these contaminants in the water does not necessarily indicate that the water poses a health risk. Unless otherwise noted, the data presented in this table is from testing done January 1 – December 31, 2010. The State allows us to monitor for certain contaminants less than once per year because the concentrations of these contaminants are not expected to vary significantly from year to year. All of the data is representative of the water quality, but some are more than one year old.

Terms and abbreviations used below:

· Action Level (AL): The concentration of a contaminant, which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements that a water system must follow.

· Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG): The level of a contaminant in drinking water below, which there is no known or expected risk to health. MCLGs allow for a margin of safety.

· Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL): The highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. MCLs are set as close to the MCLGs as feasible using the best available treatment technology.

· Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level (MRDL): The highest level of a disinfectant allowed in drinking water. There is convincing evidence that addition of a disinfectant is necessary for control of microbial contaminants.

· Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level Goal (MRDLG): The level of a drinking water disinfectant below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MRDLGs do not reflect the benefits of the use of disinfectants to control microbial contaminants.

· N/A: not applicable ND: not detectable at testing limit ppb: parts per billion or micrograms per liter ppm: parts per million or milligrams per liter pCi/l: picocuries per liter (a measure of radioactivity) RAA: running annual average

Samples Collected at the Wellhouse:

Regulated Chemical Contaminants	MCL	MCLG	Our Water	Sample Date	Violation Yes / No	Typical Source of Contaminants
Barium (ppm)	2	2	.02 to .03	2008	No	Discharge of drilling wastes; erosion of natural deposits
Selenium (ppb)	50	50	ND	2008	No	Erosion of natural deposits; discharge from mines
Nitrate (ppm)	10	10	ND	2010	No	Runoff from fertilizer use; leaching from septic tanks, sewage; erosion from natural deposits
Fluoride (ppm)	4	4	.7 to 1.6	2010	No	Erosion of natural deposits

Radioactive Contaminants	MCL	MCLG	Our Water	Sample Date	Violation Yes / No	Typical Source of Contaminants
Alpha emitters (pCi/L)	15	0	2.80 **	2009	No	Erosion of natural deposits
Combined radium 226 / 228 (pCi/L)	5	0	1.9 to 2.4	2009	No	Erosion of natural deposits

** These test results were done only at Well #5

Unregulated

Chemical Contaminants²

Our Water

Sample Date

Violation
Yes / No

Typical Source of Contaminants

Sodium (ppm)

Range = 6 to 11

Ave = 7.6

2010

N/A

Erosion of natural deposits

²Unregulated contaminants are those for which EPA has not established drinking water standards. Monitoring helps EPA to determine where certain contaminants occur and whether it needs to regulate those contaminants.

Samples Collected in the Distribution System:

Contaminants Subject to an Action Level	Action Level, MCL, or MRDL	Our Water	Sample Date	Number of Samples Above AL	Typical Source of Contaminants
Lead (ppb)³	AL = 15	3.0	2010	0	Corrosion of household plumbing systems; Erosion of natural deposits
Copper (ppm)³	AL = 1.3	.170	2010	0	Corrosion of household plumbing systems; Erosion of natural deposits; Leaching from wood preservatives

³90 percent of the samples collected were at or below the level reported for our water.

Regulated Chemical Contaminants	MCL, or MRDL	Our Water	Sample Date	Violation Yes / No	Typical Source of Contaminants
Total Trihalomethanes (ppb)	MCL = 80	Range = 20 to 41 RAA = 25.9	2010	No	Disinfection byproducts
Haloacetic Acids (ppb)	MCL = 60	Range = 10 to 24 RAA = 19	2010	No	Disinfection byproducts
Free Chlorine Residual (ppm)	MRDL = 4.0 MRDLG = 4	Range = .04 to 1.60 RAA = 2.35	Monthly 2010	No	Disinfectant added to control microbes

About total trihalomethanes:

Some people who drink water containing trihalomethanes in excess of the MCL over many years may experience problems with their liver, kidneys, or central nervous system, and may have an increased risk of getting cancer.

About lead in drinking water:

If present, elevated levels of lead can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Lead in drinking water is primarily from materials and components associated with service lines and home plumbing. The City of Rogers City is responsible for providing high quality drinking water, but cannot control the variety of materials used in plumbing components. When your water has been sitting for several hours, you can minimize the potential for lead exposure by flushing your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using water for drinking or cooking. If you are concerned about lead in your water, you may wish to have your water tested at your expense. Information on lead in drinking water, test methods, and steps you can take to minimize exposure is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline 1-800-426-4791 or at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/lead.

Health Effects Language for listed contaminants:

Organic Contaminants:

Chlorine: People who drink water containing Chlorine in excess of the MRDL may experience eye and nose irritation or stomach discomfort, possible anemia.

Haloacetic Acids: Some people who drink water containing haloacetic acids in excess of the MCL over many years could experience nervous system or liver damage.

Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs): Some people who drink water containing TTHM’s in excess of the MCL over many years may experience problems with their liver, kidneys, or central nervous system, and have an increased risk of getting cancer.

Inorganic Contaminants:

Barium: Some people who drink water containing barium in excess of the MCL over many years could experience an increase in their blood pressure.

Copper: Copper is an essential nutrient, but some people who drink water containing Copper in excess of the Action Level over a relatively short time could experience gastrointestinal distress. Some people who drink water containing copper in access of the Action Level over many years could suffer liver or kidney damage. People with Wilson’s disease should consult their doctor.

Fluoride: Some people who drink water containing fluoride well in excess of the MCL over many years could get bone disease, including pain and tenderness of the bones.

Lead: Infants and children who drink water containing Lead in excess of the Action Level could experience delays in physical or mental development. Children could show slight deficits in attention span and learning abilities. Adults who drink this water over many years could develop kidney problems or high blood pressure.

Nitrate: Infants below the age of six months who drink water containing Nitrate in excess of the MCL could become seriously ill and, if untreated, die. Symptoms include shortness of breath and blue baby syndrome.

Selenium: Selenium is an essential nutrient. However, some people who drink water containing selenium in excess of the MCL over many years could experience hair or fingernail losses, numbness in fingers or toes, or problems with their circulation.

Radioactive Contaminants:

Alpha Emitters: Certain minerals are radioactive and emit a form of radiation known as Alpha radiation. Some people who drink water containing these alpha emitters in excess of the MCL over many years may have an increased risk of getting cancer.

Combined Radium 226/228: Some people who drink water containing radium 226/228 in excess of the MCL over many years may have an increased risk of getting cancer.

Monitoring and Reporting Requirements:

The State and EPA require us to test our water on a regular basis to ensure its safety. We met all the monitoring and reporting requirements for 2010.

We will update this report annually and will keep you informed of any problems that may occur throughout the year as they happen. Copies are available at City Hall located at 193 E. Michigan Ave. This report will not be sent to you.

We invite public participation in decisions that affect drinking water quality. The Rogers City Council meets the first and third Tuesday of every month at 7:00 pm. For more information about your water, or the contents of this report, contact Chuck Kieliszewski at 989-734-2191. For more information about safe drinking water, visit the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency at www.epa.gov/safewater/.

Right Start in Michigan

2011-07-01T09:02:00.000-04:00

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Right Start in Michigan and its Counties – 2011

Michigan Mothers and their Babies: Overview and Trends 2000-2009

As Michigan seeks to revitalize its economy, the well-being of the next generation must be strengthened. This review of the current status of mothers and babies in Michigan and its counties, as measured by nine key indicators, reveals the areas to improve maternal and child health. The key measures include the percentages of births to teens, to teens already parents, to unmarried women, to women without a high school diploma or GED, to those receiving late or no prenatal care, to those who smoked during pregnancy, as well as the percentages of low-birthweight babies, preterm births, and deliveries covered by Medicaid.

Michigan and the Nation: Michigan mirrors the national averages on most aspects of maternal and infant well-being, but it was

· BETTER than the national average with significantly lower percentages of new mothers

o without a high school diploma or a GED (17%) and

o those who had received late or no prenatal care (5%).

· Its worst rankings among the 50 states were for unhealthy births, which elevate their risk of chronic disease, developmental delay, and even death.

o babies born too soon (31^st) - less than 37 weeks in utero or

o babies born too small (36^th) — less than 5.5 lbs..

· Its best ranking—19^th of the 50 states—was its relatively small share (18%) of teen births to a teen who was already a parent.

MICHIGAN TRENDS: Over the decade between 2000 and 2009 Michigan improved on three of the five indicators where a trend could be calculated.

· The biggest improvement was the 13 percent decline in teen mothers who were having another baby – dropping from 21 percent to 18 percent of teen births

· Teen births and preterm births also dropped over the decade.

· The most dramatic worsening was the 20% increase in births to unmarried women.

· The percentage of low-birthweight babies weighing less than 5.5 pounds rose slightly.

In 2009 more Michigan babies were born to mothers in economically insecure circumstances than in 2000. Roughly half of Michigan infants were born to low-income mothers without health insurance, and births to unmarried mothers represented roughly 40 percent of all births in 2009. Women unmarried at the birth of their child are likely to remain single parents with the heightened risk of poverty.

The large differences in maternal and infant well-being among Michigan counties generally reflect the economic conditions—mothers and their babies fare better in the more affluent counties. The largest discrepancy on the key indicators among the counties was in the percentage of newborns whose mothers had no high school education or GED: it was eight times higher in Oscoda County than in Livingston County.

While babies born to women in Michigan’s two largest communities of color—African-American and Hispanic—suffered from higher risk for most adverse circumstances than their white counterparts, births to women in the African American community showed improvement on all five measures where trends could be calculated. Research has shown birth disparities affect early development, school readiness, academic achievement and lifelong potential

POLICY IMPLICATIONS: The findings from this review point to a need for the following:

· More robust family support services in an era of such acute economic stress. Critical interventions such as home visiting services and other family supports will be necessary to improve the life chances of children born in adverse circumstances.

· Improvement in women’s health access: Michigan’s worst rankings on these key measures are for the two critical outcomes for infants: being born too small or too soon. Both these conditions elevate the risk of developmental delay, chronic disease and even death during infancy. Infant health is inextricably entwined with that of the mother so policies and programs that improve the health of women before they become pregnant and between pregnancies could increase the likelihood of a healthy birth.

· Expanded access to family planning: Given the financial pressure on families, access to family planning is essential to address the large percentages of unintended pregnancies among teens and women in their early 20s. Young women in these age groups need to have the opportunity to complete their education and post-secondary training or education before becoming parents.

· More access to maternal/infant health services for the Medicaid eligible: Counties with the largest percentages of uninsured low-income women were also among those with the worst overall rankings on maternal and infant well-being. The risk to these women and infants is now further compounded by the lack of available obstetric services at the hospitals in many of these same counties. The erosion in Medicaid rates for providers is affecting access to health care.

· A focus on improving maternal and infant health in communities of color: Maternal and infant indicators in communities of color continued to reflect persistently higher levels of risk. These inequities impede Michigan’s economic recovery as these children face risks to their optimum social and cognitive development, academic achievement and eventually employment possibilities

Grant for Regional Ports Study Awarded

2011-06-30T08:21:00.000-04:00

Thanks to Ray Spain for ther following story:

A regional study will be performed on ports in Alpena, Cheboygan and Rogers City.
The Northeast Michigan Council of Governments (NEMCOG) has received $26,000 from the state’s Coastal Management Program to perform the study, which over the long term could help expand opportunities for commerce and recreation at the three ports.
The short term goal is to provide the foundation for further development of existing ports by completing an inventory of port and community assets; and identifying opportunities and constraints, strategies for future activities, and opportunities for regional collaboration.
A new Regional Ports Committee will meet in the near future to discuss the project scope.
Michigan’s Coastal Management Program was developed under the federal Coastal Zone Management Act and approved in 1978. Since then, the program has assisted organizations in protecting and enhancing their coastal areas, funded studies related to coastal management and helped to increase recreational opportunities in Michigan’s Great Lakes coastal area.

Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) Approves Permit

2011-06-29T15:15:00.000-04:00

As of today, June 29, 2011, the MDEQ has approved a permit for the Wolverine Power cooperative to install two 300 Megawatt generating stations and associated equipment in Rogers Township near Rogers City. The exact site is located on the Carmeuse Lime and Stone property, inside the Calcite Quary.

Double Handed Race

2011-06-28T10:17:00.000-04:00

Yesterday, 28 sailboats sailed in to Rogers City's Marina. Trophies were issued to the winners. The Double Handed Sailing Association named Rogers City a "Friend of Doublehanded Sailing" and gave us a trophy! Many thanks to the Rogers City Area Chamber of Commerce, Plath's Meats, and all the sponsors for a great event showing one of our best community assets: sailing on Lake Huron from our Marina.

Family Fun Day--July 2, 2011

2011-06-27T15:40:00.000-04:00

Family Fun Day is coming to Rogers City on Saturday, July 2, 2011. This is a day at Lakeside Park filled with great activities for everyone, especially for young people. Don't forget the great Fireworks display after dark!

Apology for Construction Inconvenience

2011-06-24T09:03:00.000-04:00

To all experiencing inconvenience and especially to those who lost access to their driveway or alley during the construction project--please accept the City's and staff's sincere apology. City staff members including Toby, Chuck, Ray, Roger, and I have been working overtime (without pay) to get the job done right and as swiftly as possible. We are sorry for your inconveniences. Thank you for your patience.

Planning Ccommission

2011-06-23T11:20:00.002-04:00

The City's Planning Commission will hold a meeting at 6:00 pm on Monday, June 27, 2011 at City Hall to discuss the green belt/set back on M-68. At 5:30 pm prior to the meeting, the Commission Members and public are invited to meet at the corner of M-68 and Airport Road to examine the green belt area.

Rogers City Manager's Blog

Biz Buzz at 7:27 AM on Thursday, Feb 23, 2012

Growing Small Towns (Forbes Article)

These small communities may not stay that way for long.

“Biz Buzz” Series

New Spring 2012 LEGECI at District Lbrary

40 Mile Point Lighthouse Art and Craft Show

Pure Michigan Super Bowl ad

Pure Michigan Super Bowl ad puts Holland in spotlight

Photos

Chrysler Ad Praised

Rick Haglund Column on Michigan Economy

Here is an interesting article about the michigan economy.

Michigan economy is proving skeptics (like me) wrong (Rick Haglund column)

Published: Sunday, January 29, 2012, 7:00 AM Updated: Sunday, January 29, 2012, 8:54 AM

High Tech Fun at Chrysler

Attractive Sunrise Coast

Tourism Up, but More Effort Needed

National Marine Sanctuary Helps Community

Jobs for Veterans

Article about Pure Michigan Campaign

Nautical Festival Books Air Show

Great Television Show on Rogers City

CutTime Players to Visit Rogers City

Michigan No. 1 for R&D projects

Goon News for Safe Routes to School

Campaign to End Homelessness

Economic Growth and the Great Lakes

Economic Growth and the Role of the Great Lakes Highlight Discussion at Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, Detroit Branch Meeting

Public Hearing for Walking Trail

Rogers City Christmas Band Concert

Safe Routes to School

Good News about Michigan Tourism

Lake Huron Predator Diet Study

Students Help Lift Michigan Up

Michigan Economy Story in Bloomberg

Transfer Station Hours for the Holidays

Business After Hours

America Recycles Day--Today!

Michigan Trail Wins Award

Light Up the City

Shop Locally to Help Your Community

Election Day

Michigan State Park System Best in the Nation

State of Michigan Economy

Key Club Induction Ceremony

America Recycles Day

Halloween Party Thank You

Purple Martin Nature Center and Lakeside Inn

Rogers City Needs Entrepreneurs

Holiday Extravaganza !

New Website Coming Soon

City Council Meeting

Nautical City News

Community Mediation Services

International Walk to School Day--October 5, 2011

Website

Employment Opportunity

Freighters Off Shore

Rogers City Community Theater

Need a Break?

Hammond Bay Biological Station

Hammond Bay Biological Station

Flushing Water Mains

Serving on the "Front Line"

Mayor Beach Hall

Walking School Bus

Summer Fun

Huron Pines Shoreline Stewardship Workshop

Small Town Charm

Solar Car Visit

Little League Fundraiser

Trash Pickup is Thursday!

Pretty Yards in Rogers City

Transportation Available!!!

Consumer Confidence Report 20110

Water Quality Data

Regulated

ChemicalContaminants

MCL

Chemical
Contaminants

Radioactive
Contaminants

Alpha emitters
(pCi/L)

Combined radium
226 / 228 (pCi/L)

Chemical Contaminants²