Official Press Release from Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

September 12, 2010

Empire, MI - Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore (National Lakeshore) will be hosting a presentation on Lyme disease and ticks on Thursday, September 15, from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m., in the auditorium of the National Lakeshore Visitor Center in Empire.  Visitors are encouraged to come and learn about tick identification, their life cycles, the diseases they transmit, and the measures used for prevention.

Ticks are significant vectors of pathogens that cause human disease.  Tick-borne diseases do occur inMichigan, and can be serious or fatal if not properly diagnosed and treated.  There have been two reported cases of Lyme disease that the individuals affected believe were contracted while camping on North Manitou Island.  Evidence of similar problems has also been found on the mainland portions of the National Lakeshore.

Michigan State Universityand the Michigan Department of Community Health are working together at the National Lakeshore to research the emergence of Lyme disease and the associated ticks that transmit the disease.  Erik Foster of the Michigan Department of Community Health will be presenting the program on ticks and Lyme disease at no cost to the visitors.

For additional information about this presentation or its location, please contact National Lakeshore Chief of Natural Resources Steve Yancho at 231-326-5134.

Official Press Release from Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

September 9, 2011

In mid-June, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore (National Lakeshore) staff identified an ash tree near Little Glen Lake infested with Emerald Ash Borer (EAB).  This was the first time EAB had been confirmed within the National Lakeshore.  National Lakeshore staff is working with partners and visitors to assess and mitigate the damage caused by these invasive pests.

Emerald Ash Borer (Glen Lake)

Since the initial EAB discovery, National Lakeshore staff have been working with the Michigan Department of Agriculture to assess its spread.  It appears that up to 90% of the ash trees on the mainland in the National Lakeshore may be infested.  With the rapid rate at which the spread has occurred, all of the ash trees on the mainland in the National Lakeshore are at imminent risk.  The highest level of known infestation occurs at the north end of the park in the Good Harbor area. 

EAB was first discovered in the U.S. in Detroit in 2002; however, it is thought to have been introduced in the early 1990s in wooden packing material that originated in Asia.  Since its discovery in Detroit, EAB has been found in 13 states.  Although the insects are only able to travel about one mile per year on their own, EAB has spread far more rapidly through transport of firewood.  It is estimated that 80% of the infestations in Michigan are the result of firewood transport.

Superintendent Dusty Shultz notes, “The National Lakeshore is saddened by the news that this destructive insect has been found here.  We are in the process of working with other agencies to explore our options for control, but the outlook for the ash trees is bleak.”  EAB kills all species of ash (Fraxinus spp.) found in Michigan by feeding on the cambium layer that transports nutrients in the tree.  The feeding effectively girdles the tree, restricting nutrient transport and eventually killing the tree.  

In addition to EAB, area forests are threatened by numerous other pests, including Asian longhorn beetles (affecting maples), beech bark disease, oak wilt, and hemlock woolly adelgid.  In an effort to slow or prevent the spread of forest pests, the National Lakeshore instituted a partial firewood transport ban in its campgrounds in 2011, and plans to expand that to a full ban in 2012.  All firewood used in the campgrounds would have to be purchased onsite from the National Lakeshore’s approved vendors, or collected by camping permit holders as dead and down wood within designated areas of the National Lakeshore.  EAB may be here to stay, but visitors can help stop the spread of other invasive pests by not moving firewood. 

Contact:  Noel Mac Neil, 231-334-7685, ext. 227

Official Press Release from Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

September 2, 2011

For Immediate Release

Contact:  Lisa Griebel, 231-326-5134

Empire, MI – Visit Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore (National Lakeshore) on Saturday, September 10 at 9:00 p.m. for an evening under the stars.  Recently, Good Morning America announced that the National Lakeshore was voted the “#1 Most Beautiful Place in America.”  Park Rangers and members of the Grand Traverse Astronomical Society invite you to the Dune Climb to take a closer look at the night sky; a very important part of this beautiful place!  Learn some new constellations, view Jupiter, and find the Milky Way with the help of experienced astronomers.  The Grand Traverse Astronomical Society will bring several telescopes to take a closer look at one of the National Lakeshore’s often forgotten resources – the night sky.

The National Lakeshore and Grand Traverse Astronomical Society are partnering for this event.  The Society has been in existence for 29 years and its members regularly share their knowledge and enthusiasm with the public at the Northwestern Michigan College’s Rogers Observatory in Traverse City.  More recently, the Society has branched out to locations from street corners to national parks, sharing the wonders of the universe with the public.  The park’s first joint Star Party was this past October on the 40th anniversary of the National Lakeshore.  The last monthly Star Party for 2011 will be in October.

The public is invited to join the park on this fun and educational night.  Meet the Park Ranger at the Dune Climb on Saturday, September 10.  The event will begin at 9:00 p.m. and society members will have their telescopes out until 11:00 p.m.  Dress for the weather and bring a flashlight for the walk back to your car.

All Park Ranger-led programs are free.  Participants need only purchase the park entrance pass or have an annual pass displayed on their vehicle to join in the fun.  Please call 231-326-5134, ext. 328, for details or log onto www.nps.gov/slbe.  Also, check out our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/sbdnl.

Official Press Release from Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

August 23, 2011

For Immediate Release

Contact:  Lisa Griebel, 231-326-5134

Empire, MI – Join Park Rangers for another Families United with Nature (FUN) day at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore (National Lakeshore) and this time compete in the FUN Summer Olympics!  Meet Park Rangers at Esch Beach (south of Empire) on Saturday, August 27 at 2:00 p.m.  Families will make their own team flags and compete in a variety of fun summertime games!  Be sure to dress in clothes and shoes you do not mind getting wet and sandy.  Reservations are not required, but are recommended by contacting Park Ranger Lisa Griebel at 231-326-5134 or Lisa_Griebel@nps. gov.

FUN is a free outdoor activity club for all types of family groups (no matter the size and composition) hosted by the National Lakeshore.  The club provides a fantastic opportunity for families to get outdoors together and try their hand at something new, breathe a little fresh air, and meet other families who enjoy being outside.  FUN meets monthly, with additional special events held throughout the year.

When you join the club at any FUN event, you receive a free journal to document your outdoor activities and have the opportunity to earn rewards as a family for active participation.  All FUN activities are free; however, a Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore Park Entrance Pass is required to be displayed on the dashboard of your vehicle.  The Entrance Pass costs $10 and is good for a full week, or an Annual Park Entrance Pass may be purchased for only $20.  Both passes can be purchased at the Philip A. Hart Visitor Center in Empire.

For more information, please call the National Lakeshore at 231-326-5134 or visit their website at www.nps.gov/slbe.  Also, check out their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/sbdnl.

Official Press Release from Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

August 23, 2011

For Immediate Release

Contact:  Steve Yancho, 231-326-5134

Empire, MI – A lightning-caused fire was discovered on North Manitou Island by Park Rangers on backcountry patrol on Friday, August 19, 2011.  The one-tenth acre fire was ignited by a lightning strike on the southwest side of Lake Manitou, most likely during a storm that passed through on August 16.  The fire is smoldering in accumulated leaves and needles on the forest floor and is spreading very slowly at this time.

The fire is not presently being extinguished, but instead is being managed for the objectives of nutrient cycling and natural forest disturbance.  Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore’s (National Lakeshore) Fire Management Plan includes a provision for managing, rather than suppressing, lightning-caused fires on the Manitou Islands that do not threaten visitor or employee safety or sensitive park resources, such as historic structures.  Fire Incident Commander Dan Morford serves as the Fire Management Officer for both Indiana Dunes and Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshores, and has been on scene since August 22.  According to Morford, “This fire onNorthManitouIslandcould not be in a better location for this type of management.  It is bordered on three sides by shaded, moist areas, and Lake Manitou on the fourth side.  There is very low potential for this fire to grow to an unmanageable size.”  Morford and a squad of trained firefighters will remain on North ManitouI sland to monitor weather, fuels, and fire behavior, and to ensure it poses no threat to people or facilities. 

National Lakeshore Superintendent Dusty Shultz noted that “The fire program at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is managed by trained and experienced National Park Service fire personnel.  If we are no longer seeing fire behavior that is meeting our stated objectives, we will put the fire out.”  For visitor safety, Shultz has issued a closure of about five acres around the fire.

For more information on Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, visit the park’s website at http://www.nps.gov/slbe/ or call Chief of Natural Resources Steve Yancho at 231-326-5134.

Empire, MI – Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore (National Lakeshore) Superintendent Dusty Shultz is pleased to announce that the 10^th Annual Port Oneida Rural Arts and Culture Fair will be held August 12 and 13 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.  In addition to the many popular demonstrations, animals and exhibits, the fair will be a zero-waste event, will feature a chicken dinner on Friday, and will end with an astronomy party on Saturday night to celebrate the milestone 10^th year.

Each August, amid the pastoral setting of meadows, maples, barns, farmhouses and corncribs, the Port Oneida Rural Historic District awakens from its peaceful slumber and comes alive with activity true to the period when it was a community of robust farms.  Once again, visitors are invited to step back in time at the two-day Port Oneida Fair on Friday and Saturday to experience life as it was in the late 1800s and early 1900s.

Visitors can take the shuttle, drive, hike, or bike to the six unique historic sites where a variety of activities take place.  One can almost imagine the life of these farm families as the clip-clop of horse and wagon is heard toting visitors down Port Oneida Road on a scenic drive-by of the community’s historic homes, schoolhouse, barns and outbuildings.  Timber framers, candle makers and basket weavers will be demonstrating their crafts.  Potters and blacksmiths will be hard at work.  And oxen will be cutting hay in the fields.

Additionally, children can try their hand at the crosscut saw and other farm tools.  Do not miss the displays of wind-up musical instruments, flour sack dresses, and quilts, too.  Learn about knitting, soap-making, butter-churning, spinning, bee keeping and honey production.  Satisfy your curiosity and walk through many of the historic farmhouses and barns that will be open for tours. 

Interpreting the history of the Port Oneida Community and its settlers is an important aspect of the fair.  Who were the families that lived on these farms?  How did they live?  What did they do?  Park Rangers and families of Port Oneida residents will share these stories at various farm sites. Food will be available for purchase or you may pack a picnic lunch to eat on the trail or in a farm meadow. 

By partnering with Bay Area Recycling for Charities, the National Lakeshore will be going “green” and composting or recycling all materials possible throughout the fair.  The goal is to have a 95% recycle and compost rate.  Special bins will be placed at each site.  In order to reduce what is being put into a landfill, compostable service ware will be used.  These items (cups, plates, and utensils) are made from plant based materials and will break down in a compost pile within weeks, as opposed to plastics and paper material that would take generations to decompose in a landfill.

Also new this year, on Friday, August 12, starting at 5:00 p.m., Preserve Historic Sleeping Bear will present the Port Oneida Picnic; a chicken dinner for only $12.  Tickets need to be purchased in advance.  There will be music and activities to accompany dinner at the Olsen Farm.  Please contact Preserve Historic Sleeping Bear for ticket information at http://phsb.org.

Star Party (Spring 2011)

To close out the two-day fair, there will be a Star Party on Saturday, August 13, starting at 9:30 p.m. at the Thoreson Farm.  Join Park Rangers and the Grand Traverse Astronomical Society (GTAS) to experience a form of recreation that has been enjoyed by many generations and continues today.  GTAS members share their telescopes and knowledge while viewing the sunset, Saturn, and the full moon.  Learn about astronomy as it was in the 1900s.  Remember to bring a flashlight for the walk back to your car. 

It is the mission of the Port Oneida Rural Arts and Culture Fair to promote the preservation of rural traditional skills, crafts, landscapes, and communities of the Upper Great Lakes Region through education, artistic expression and the development of a coalition of community organizations.  Port Oneida is the largest intact historic agricultural district in the United States that is fully protected within Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.  It is historically significant because it conveys the land use practices, architecture, and evolution of agricultural technology common to subsistent farms of the upper Great Lakes region.  The Port Oneida Rural Historic District contains 19 historic farms (four privately owned), more than 300 buildings, and over 3,000 acres of land.  In addition to the farmhouses, barns, and wonderful variety of specialized outbuildings, the historic district contains the fields, orchards, fence rows, roads, cemetery, forest and other elements that make up the historic landscape.

 All events are free after visitors purchase and display the National Lakeshore pass on their vehicles.  For more information and a schedule of events, please visit the park’s website at www.nps.gov/slbe or call the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore Visitor Center at 231-326-5134.  Also, check out the National Park Facebook page at www.facebook.com/sbdnl.

Heritage Trail

Official Press Release from Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, TART Trails, Inc. and NWMCOG

August 3, 2011

For Immediate Release

Contact:

• Pam Darling, Marketing and Outreach Director for TART Trails, Inc., (231) 941-4300 or pam@traversetrails.org
• Patty O’Donnell, Regional Planner for NWMCOG. (231) 929-5039 or pattyodonnell@nwm.cog.mi.us
• Tom Ulrich, Deputy Superintendent for Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, (231) 326-5135 or tom_ulrich@nps.gov

Groundbreaking to Celebrate Trail August 12, 2011

GLEN ARBOR – The Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail is officially being launched with a groundbreaking ceremony at the Dune Climb on Friday, August 12, 2011 at 11:00 a.m.  When completed, the 27-mile trail will run from the southern edge of Leelanau County through the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore to Good Harbor Bay.  The groundbreaking celebrates the upcoming construction of nearly five miles of trail between Glen Arbor and the Dune Climb. Construction is scheduled to begin this fall and be completed next year.

The Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail is a project of the Leelanau Scenic Heritage Route Committee (LSHR).  Trail development is a partnership between the LSHR Committee, the Michigan Department of Transportation, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes, and TART Trails.  Funding for trail development comes from federal and state grants, foundations, and individual donations. “After five years, this amazing Leelanau Scenic Heritage Route project is taking physical shape.  By this time next year, we will be able to safely bike, walk, or wheel from the Dune Climb to Glen Arbor with the opportunity to stop at other park sites in between, ” said Patty O’Donnell, Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail Project Manager- Northwest Michigan Council of Governments

The trail was included in the National Lakeshore’s most recent management plan and garnered strong public support during the planning process. According to Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore Superintendent Dusty Shultz the “The Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail is the single most exciting project to come out of our recently completed General Management Plan.  The trail will provide a wonderful way to explore and learn about the park, as well as become a meaningful alternative for visitors to travel between park sites and local businesses – without having to use their cars!”

Heritage Trail

Julie Clark, Executive Director of TART Trails is grateful for the strong collaboration between partners. “Many partners came together to make this trail a reality. We are very excited for the groundbreaking ceremony on August 12^th as it officially launches the public fundraising effort,” said Clark.

Campaign Tri-Chair, Karen Van Nort is excited about the groundbreaking, “We are thrilled that families will have a safe place to ride their bicycles.  We hope the public will join us as we kick-off this legacy trail.”

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PICTURES: Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail pictures may be downloaded and reproduced at http://www.flickr.com/photos/63844875@N04/  Click on a photo you would like, and click on “All sizes” to download. For more information about the trail visit www.sleepingbeartrail.org

 About the Leelanau Scenic Heritage Route Committee

The Leelanau Scenic Heritage Route is a program of the Northwest Michigan Council of Governments which is funded by the Michigan Department of Transportation.  The Committee is dedicated to promoting measures which protect and enhance the scenic, historical, and recreational characteristics of M-22, M-109, and M-204 as they traverse the rural countryside and unique communities of Leelanau County.

 About Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is a unit of the National Park Service established in 1970.  The Lakeshore preserves the outstanding natural and cultural heritage of the area so that all may experience and appreciate it.  Significant resources of the Lakeshore include forests, beaches, dunes, and glacial landforms, as well as maritime, agricultural, and recreational historic features.

 About TART

Traverse Area Recreation and Transportation (TART) Trails, Inc. is a nonprofit 501 (c)(3) organization formed in 1998 and located in Traverse City, Michigan. TART works to enrich the Traverse area by providing a network of trails, bikeways and pedestrian ways; and encouraging their use. TART Trails include a network of trail systems located in Grand Traverse and Leelanau counties. It is estimated that the trails serve over 200,000 users annually while preserving valuable community green space. TART is working to integrate these trails into the community by advocating for interconnected bike lanes, bike routes and sidewalks, and is also working to extend these trails to connect with a developing regional trails system. For more information about TART Trails, please visit www.traversetrails.org

Official Press Release from Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

July 14, 2011

For Immediate Release

Contact:  Lisa Griebel, 231-326-5134

Empire, MI – Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is partnering with the Grand Traverse Astronomical Society to bring visitors an evening with the stars. On Saturday, July 30 at 9:00 p.m., join a park ranger and Society members on the #3 Overlook of the Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive in Leelanau County to view some of the best night skies in all the country. Watch the sun dip below the horizon, catch a glimpse of the rings of Saturn through a giant telescope, seek out constellations, and view the majestic Milky Way.  Please park at #2 Picnic Mountain, and walk down the sidewalk to the overlook.

The Grand Traverse Astronomical Society is partnering with the National Lakeshore for this event. The Society has been in existence for 29 years and its members regularly share their knowledge and enthusiasm with the public at the Northwestern Michigan College’s Rogers Observatory in Traverse City. More recently, the Society has branched out to locations from street corners to national parks, sharing the wonders of the universe with the public. Our first joint star party was this past October on the 40^th anniversary of the National Lakeshore. Three more evenings are scheduled through October 2011.

 The dark skies of the National Lakeshore were recently hailed as one of the ten best in the entire National Park System. “Just as the parks are dedicated to preserving landscapes, cultural sites, and habitat for wildlife, so are they concerned about overhead resources – particularly the kind of dark skies that reveal the beauty of the nighttime firmament,” declares National Geographic’s newly released Ten Best of Everything National Parks. Superintendent Dusty Shultz noted, “Many of our visitors come from cities where they rarely, if ever, get to see the Milky Way. Looking out over Lake Michigan, they are awestruck by the density of the constellations in view.” Shultz added, “We are pleased and honored to be working with the Grand Traverse Astronomical Society on this series of star parties and know the public will marvel at what they can see through the lenses of those fabulous telescopes.”

The public is invited to join us on this fun and educational night on Saturday, July 30. Park at Stop #2 on the Scenic Drive (Picnic Mountain) and follow the sidewalk down to the overlook. This will prevent lots of headlights interfering with the stargazing. The event, which begins at 9:00 p.m., will be offered just in time to also watch the sunset. Society members will have their telescopes out until 10:30 p.m. Dress for the weather and bring a flashlight for the walk back to your car.

All park ranger-led programs are free. Participants need only purchase the park entrance pass or have an annual pass displayed on their vehicle to join in the fun. Please call 231-326-5134, ext. 328, for details or log onto www.nps.gov/slbe. Also, check out our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/sbdnl.

You can also follow what is happening in the park and surrounding area by visiting the Sleeping Bear Dunes Visitors Bureau Calendar of Events, Facebook page and Twitter page.

Official Press Release from Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

June 20, 2011

For Immediate Release

Contact:  Lisa Griebel, 231-326-5134

Empire, MI – Join Park Rangers for another Families United with Nature (FUN) day at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore and this time discover how to reuse and recycle in a creative, playful and artistic way!  Meet at the Platte River Picnic Area on M-22 south of Empire on Saturday, July 23 at 2:00 p.m.  There are several different craft stations and outdoor games planned for everyone. This event is open to all families, no matter the size or composition, and is part of the park’s outdoor activity club, FUN.  Dress for crafts and fun.  Reservations are not required, but are recommended by contacting Park Ranger Lisa Griebel at 231-326-5134, or Lisa_Griebel@nps.gov.

FUN (Families United with Nature) is a free outdoor activity club for all types of family groups, hosted by Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. The club provides a fantastic opportunity for families to get outdoors together and try their hand at something new, breathe a little fresh air, and meet other families who enjoy being outside.  FUN meets monthly, with additional special events held throughout the year.

When you join the club at any FUN event, you receive a free journal to document your outdoor activities and have the opportunity to earn rewards as a family for active participation.  All FUN activities are free; however, a Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore Park Entrance Pass is required to be displayed on the dashboard of your vehicle.  The Entrance Pass costs $10 and is good for a full week, or an Annual Park Entrance Pass may be purchased for only $20.  Both passes can be purchased at the Philip A. Hart Visitor Center in Empire.  Family scholarships are available by request for those needing assistance.

For more information, please call the National Lakeshore at 231-326-5134

Official Press Release from Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

June 16, 2011

For Immediate Release

Kimberly Mann, 231-326-5134

Empire, MI – Superintendent Dusty Shultz is pleased to announce the next installment in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore’s highly successful Barn Restoration Workshop series.  This year’s workshop will take place June 24-25 at the often-photographed Bufka Barn located 11 miles north of Glen Arbor and 6 miles south of Leland on M-22 just south of Townline Road.  This year marks the 15^th anniversary of the partnership between the Michigan Barn Preservation Network and the National Lakeshore in developing this series of “hands-on” workshops.

Each year a different skill is highlighted, and this year, the workshop at the Bufka Barn will focus on stone masonry repair.  The course will include 1) basics about mortar, 2) mortar analysis, 3) mortar and raking demonstrations, 4) tuck pointing and finishes, and 5) tool use and equipment safety.  The course is set up so participants receive “hands-on” training of all techniques.  The park and the Michigan Barn Preservation Network are providing the skilled labor to conduct the workshop.   The workshop begins on site at 9:00 a.m. each day.  There is no cost to participants.  Tools and materials will be provided.  Participants should wear boots and gloves, and bring a sack lunch for each day that they attend.

Bufka Farm (Photo by Ileana Habsburg-Snyder)

Workers are not required to be skilled in the building trades, though experience will be helpful and appreciated.  The purpose of the workshop is to teach the techniques and train homeowners and interested persons how to do restoration work on timber and frame structures.  Past workshop attendees have ranged in age from 7 to 70, with each contributing their own unique skills to the project.

The public workshops started in 1997 at the John Burfiend Barn in the Port Oneida Rural Historic District, with subsequent workshops again at the Burfiend Barn, Brunson Barn, Lawr Barn, Klett Pasture Barn, Miller Barn, Barratt Pig Barn, and South Manitou Island’s Beck Farm.  Superintendent Shultz noted that, “An amazing amount of much-needed work has been accomplished on the National Lakeshore’s historic structures through these workshops, but perhaps even more significant is that these skills are kept alive and passed on to others in the community.”

Interested parties should contact the park Historical Architect, Kimberly Mann, at (231) 326-5135, ext. 501, or by email at kimberly_mann@nps.gov, to sign up for the workshop.  Campsites may be arranged for you at the D. H. Day Campground Group Site near Glen Haven, as needed.