PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Michigan Bike Festival is back by popular demand. Labor Day weekend, Aug 30/31-Sep 1, 2008 are the dates for the festival.

Hanson Hills Recreation Area in Grayling is the site of the Michigan Bike Festival.
Visit www.michiganbikefestival.org for more information. The following events are being planned:

• Live Music Fri, Sat and Sunday evenings – Featuring “Jelly Roll Blues Band” Friday night to kick off the festival. Saturday night is the legendary and energetic “Twisted Finster” of WKLT double rock fame. Sunday wraps up with some bluegrass music from Michigan’s own “Who Hit John?”
• Social bonfires all weekend long starting with the “burning of the bike” Friday night
• Pig roast Sat and Sun evenings
• Food all weekend long including a pancake breakfast on Saturday and Sunday mornings sponsored by Grayling Youth Boosters
• Lance Armstrong Foundation (LAF) charity ride Monday, Labor Day – a separate LAF registration and fee is required for this event
• Bike rides including road and mountain
• Bike games and product demos from bike manufacturers
• Kids bike races for our energetic young folk
• Bike orienteering for the more adventurous sponsored by AuSable River Rats
• International Mountain Biking Association Mountain Bike Patrol will be on hand to teach basic trailside first aid along with representatives from Mobile Medical Response (MMR) bike EMT patrol
• Learn trailside bike repair from our very own Bike Shop Bob, a featured bike shop owner in Bicycling magazine’s tech column.
• Uncle Jimmie will bring his legendary jump box to thrill the audience with his bicycle acrobatics. He will also teach some advanced obstacle skills to those who want to experience new techniques and expand their bike handling skills.

This is going to be a family fun weekend packed with all sorts of activities, vendors, bike shops, and stuff to do and enjoy. We will be featuring free camping to those who wish to camp who have purchased festival tickets. Plus, individual tickets can be purchased for those who just want to enjoy the live music in the evenings.

Visit www.michiganbikefestival.org for more information and to sign up to volunteer

Another busy month of programs and activities at Hartwick Pines State
Park and Logging Museum.

Hartwick Happenings, August 2008

Forest Fest
Volunteer for Forest Fest
Vintage Base Ball
Black Iron Days
“An Evening at the Logging Camp”
Special Events for 2007
Volunteer Opportunities at Hartwick Pines
Join the Friends of Hartwick Pines
Internet Contacts

Forest Fest
Come out to the Michigan Forest Visitor Center on August 9th for the
11th annual Forest Fest, a celebration of Michigan’s Forests.
Programs and activities run from 10am-4pm and include children’s
activities and games, exhibits and displays on various forest and
natural resource-related subjects, and the status and health of
Michigan’s forests. And as always: Meet Smokey Bear! Children can
pick up a Natural Resource Passport at the visitor center (free of
charge) and visit activity stations to have their passport stamped for
prizes from the Friends of Hartwick Pines bookstore. For more
information contact Craig Kasmer at (989) 348-2537 or email at
kasmerc@michigan.gov

Volunteer for Forest Fest!
Do you want to see the 11th annual Forest Fest be the best one yet? You
can help by volunteering a couple of hours of your time on Saturday,
August 9th. There are many volunteer opportunities from handing out
children’s Natural Resource Passports, stamping the passports, helping
at the various activities, helping at the Visitor Center front desk and
the Friends of Hartwick Pines Bookstore. For more information and to
sign-up as a volunteer, please contact Craig Kasmer or Tina McFalda at
(989) 348-2537 or email at kasmerc@michigan.gov or mcfaldat@michigan.gov
by Thursday, August 7th.


Vintage Base Ball: Hartwick Pines Base Ball Club “Swampers”
The Hartwick Pines Base Ball Club’s Swampers fourth season continues
with a busy August schedule. On Sunday, August 3, the Swampers host
their rivals from Ludington, the Ludington Mariners at 1pm at the field
at the park picnic area. On Saturday, August 16th and Sunday, August
17th, the Swampers host the Welkins Base Ball Club of Port Huron for 1pm
games on both days. The Swampers will host their rivals “The Mighty
River Hogs of Midland County” during the annual Black Iron Days
Festival at 1pm, Saturday, August 23. The season will wrap up with an
away match against the Ludington Mariners at Historic White Pine Village
in Ludington on Sunday, August 31 at 1pm. Home games are played on the
field at the park’s picnic area and we are always looking for anyone
interested in playing, taking part as “cranks” (19th century term
for fans), umpires, and scorekeepers. Practices are open to all and are
usually on Thursday evenings at the picnic area at 6pm. The only
requirement to play is to be in reasonably good health and enjoy
baseball. For more information or if you have any questions, please
contact Rob Burg, the club manager, at (989) 348-2537 or email at
burgr@michigan.gov.

Black Iron Days
Come down to the Logging Museum on Saturday August 23rd and Sunday
August 24th for the annual Black Iron Days event. This event is
considered the largest gathering of blacksmiths in Michigan! From
10am-4pm, both days, enjoy the sights and sounds of the historic
steam-powered sawmill in action (powered by a 1912 steam engine), the
largest gathering of Blacksmiths in Michigan, woodworkers, textile,
pottery and other traditional artisans, “old time” music and much
more! On Saturday August 23rd at 1pm, the Hartwick Pines “Swampers”
will play the “Mighty River Hogs” of Midland County in a match of
1860 rules Base Ball at the field in the picnic area. This will be a
great opportunity for everyone to come out and cheer on the Swampers in
this final home match of the season. Another added attraction this year
is Jan VanHoesen’s Live Lynx Program at 3pm at the Visitor Center.
This is an always popular program featuring “Crystal”, a live
Canadian Lynx, and other wild animals. For more information call the
visitor center at (989) 348-2537 or email Rob Burg at
burgr@michigan.gov.

“An Evening at the Logging Camp” Lantern Program
Come out to Hartwick Pines on Saturday evening, September 20th and meet
the camp crew of the Salling, Hanson and Company’s Section 9 camp.
Learn what it was like to live and work in a northern Michigan logging
camp in the fall of 1896 when the Salling, Hanson and Company was
logging in what is now Hartwick Pines State Park. The Michigan Forest
Visitor Center’s doors open at 6:30 and the lantern program runs from
7pm to 9pm. Call Rob Burg at (989) 348-2537 or email burgr@michigan.gov
for more information about this free program.

2008 Schedule of Events
August 3: Vintage Base Ball. Swampers vs. the Ludington Mariners. 1pm.
August 9: Forest Fest. 10am-4pm.
August 15: Jim McGrath: Live Animal Program. 7pm at the Campground
Amphitheater.
August 16: Jim McGrath: Live Animal Program. 3pm at the Visitor Center
Auditorium.
August 16-17: Vintage Base Ball. Swampers vs. the Welkins Base Ball
Club. 1pm both days.
August 23-24: Black Iron Days. 10am-4pm both days.
August 23: Vintage Base Ball. Swampers vs. the Mighty River Hogs of
Midland County. 1pm.
August 23: Jan VanHoesen’s Live Lynx Program. 3pm at the Visitor
Center Auditorium.
August 31: Vintage Base Ball on the Road! The Swampers travel to
Ludington to take on the Ludington Mariners at White Pine Village. Time
TBA.
September 20: “An Evening at the Logging Camp” Lantern Program.
7pm-9pm.
October 1-31: Archaeology Exhibit of Hartwick Pine’s Logging Camps.
At the Visitor Center.
October 4: Hartwick Pines Challenge cross-country race.
October 18: “Critters in the Moonlight” Halloween Walk. Time to be
announced.

For more information about these events, call (989) 348-2537 or email
burgr@michigan.gov.

Volunteer Opportunities at Hartwick Pines
Besides Forest Fest, there are many volunteer opportunities at Hartwick
Pines State Park. We have a full schedule of programs where we always
need extra help, such as the upcoming “An Evening at the Logging
Camp” lantern program on Sept. 20th and the October 18th
“Critters in the Moonlight” Halloween Walk. There is also a need
for more volunteers to help staff the Friends of Hartwick Pines
Bookstore in the Visitor Center. If you are looking for a way to help
make Hartwick Pines State Park and Logging Museum one of the best places
to visit, then contact Rob Burg at (989) 348-2537 or email
burgr@michigan.gov.

The Friends of Hartwick Pines State Park
The Friends of Hartwick Pines State Park is a non-profit organization
that works with the park and museum to help present programs and special
events and to raise money to fund these programs. The Friends of
Hartwick Pines sponsors two annual festivals each summer: Wood Shaving
Days in July and Black Iron Days in August. The Friends Group also
operates the bookstore inside the Michigan Forest Visitor Center. Many
of the programs that we provide to our park guests would not happen
without the support of the Friends of Hartwick Pines State Park. Some
of the benefits of being a member of the Friends Group include a 10%
discount in the Michigan Forest Visitor Center bookstore and a Hartwick
Pines patch each year (usually designed by a member of the Friends
Group). If you want more information about the Friends of Hartwick
Pines or would like to become a member, please send an email to
friends@hartwickpines.org. The Friends of Hartwick Pines is
developing a new website: www.hartwickpines.org that will information on
the group and its programs added to as they become available.

Internet Contacts
Hartwick Pines State Park and Logging Museum are jointly operated by
two agencies of the State of Michigan: The Department of Natural
Resources and the Department of History, Arts and Libraries. Each
department, has a website for Hartwick Pines. Visit these websites for
more information on the park and museum and also for other offerings by
our two departments.
Hartwick Pines State Park: www.michigan.gov/hartwickpines
Hartwick Pines Logging Museum: www.michigan.gov/loggingmuseum
DNR: www.michigan.gov/dnr
HAL: www.michigan.gov/hal
The Friends of Hartwick Pines: www.hartwickpines.org

Crawford County Historical Society
97 Michigan Ave
P.O. Box 218
Grayling, MI 49738
August 4, 2008
All Media

August 18, 2008

From: Crawford County Historical Society
Grayling, Mi 49738

Re: 2008 Cemetery Walk

The Crawford County Historical Society will hold their 2nd Annual Cemetery Walk at Elmwood Cemetery in Grayling on Saturday, September 6, 2008 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. in the old cemetery only.

Tickets are on sale at Riverland, Flowers by Josie, AuSable Gifts and the Crawford County Depot Museum during regular business hours. Tickets are $5.00 each, children under 16 free and families $20.00.

Costumed interpreters will be at designated grave sites to provide some historical perspective about the family represented. Civil War veterans’ grave sites will be especially marked for viewing with information about the veteran.

Many interesting and colorful Grayling residents are buried in the oldest part of the cemetery and this year’s walk should be an interesting way to learn more about the earliest settlers in Crawford County. Visitors will receive a map of the featured sites and parking will be on area side streets.

Do you know the name of the bar before it became Spike’s? Ask the interpreter who will portray Nels Olson this question to find out the surprising answer.

Do you know the name of the first settler in Crawford County? Find out when you attend the 2008 Cemetery Walk!

For further information contact the Museum at 348-4461 or check the website at cchmgrayling@yahoo.com.

Grayling Harvest Festival with Model Toy Train Show & Swap

Saturday October 4, 2008
10am – 4pm
Sponsored by Crawford County Historical Society
Grayling Middle School
500 Spruce St
Grayling, MI 49738

Traverse City Model Railroad Traveling Display
Artists
Food Concessions
Vendors
Raffles
Shuttles to other activities
Free Parking

OTHER EVENTS
Farm Market
Antique Military Exhibit by the Michigan Museum of Military Transport
Live Entertainment
Grayling Promotional Association Arts & Craft Show
Historical Museum (former Michigan Central Depot)
Kiwanis Hartwick Pines 10K Race
Tractor Show/Parade


Admission:
$2 per person
$1 senior citizen
$5 family pass ( up to 6 people )
Children 12 and under free (with an adult)

Crawford County Historical Society
97 Michigan Ave
P.O. Box 218
Grayling, MI 49738
989-348-4461
August 18, 2008
For immediate release:
The Crawford County Historical Society is in need of assistance to replace the roof on the historic train depot which serves as the county’s historical museum. A donation from a local supporter bought the shingles; now they have to be put on the roof!
Robert Young, historical society member and Chair of the Roof Committee says, “There have been several commitments and donations for this project; we have the shingles…now we are trying to pay for the labor to replace the roof.” Quotes from local contractors are being collected so the board can make a decision at the next regular meeting of the Historical Society.
Citizen’s Bank and the Crawford County Historical Roof Committee have teamed up to collect donations for the “Roof Account” at the bank, to cover the cost of labor. Sue Cowan, Branch Manager, says, “This is a great way to show how involved Citizen’s Bank is with our community.”
For more information, you can also call Mr. Young at (989) 348-4461 Wednesday through Friday 10 am – 4 pm. Thank you for your help in spreading the word to those who can help!

Old U.S. 27 may soon be designated as a Heritage Route, the first step in including the old road in the National Scenic Byways program.
The old road was first designated as U.S. 27 in 1926. At its longest, U.S. 27 stretched from St. Ignace to Miami. The expressway from Lansing to Grayling was called U.S. 27 until 2001, when it was renamed U.S. 127.
The project is the brainchild of car enthusiast Craig Parrish of Lansing. He has been involved with the preservation of the former U.S. 66, which once stretched from Chicago to Los Angeles.
Today, parts of the road in Illinois, New Mexico and Arizona, designated as Historic Route 66, are designated as National Scenic Byways. ”We‘re trying to get 27 the same status,“ Parrish said. ”Old 27, the north-south road, was like Route 66 in its heyday.“
Parrish said he now has the endorsement of every city and county except one that Old 27 passes through in Michigan, and he‘s expecting a resolution endorsing the project to come from that county (Cheboygan County), shortly.
Once he has that, he said, he‘s hoping the Michigan Legislature will endorse the designation. Parrish said State Representative Joan Bauer has introduced the resolution, with State Senators Michelle McManus, R-Lake Leelanau, and Tony Stamas, R-Midland, co-sponsoring.
He said he‘s convinced that car enthusiasts would love to have a clearly marked, historic route to travel, much as they do on Historic Route 66. Parrish believes that could boost tourism.
He‘s organizing the second classic car tour of Old 27 for August 19-24, 2008. Participants in this event can travel from Coldwater to Cheboygan, or join for only portions of the tour.

A new 60th Anniversary book commemorating 60 years of the AuSable River International Canoe Marathon is now available for purchase at The AuSable River International Canoe Marathon website

NEWS FROM: GRAYLING VISITORS BUREAU FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
P.O. BOX 217 September 2008
GRAYLING, MI 49738

CONTACT: ILENE GEISS-WILSON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
(800) 937-8837
WEBSITE: WWW.GRAYLING-MI.COM


Birders Flock to Grayling For Spring Viewing

The Kirtland’s Warbler. Bald Eagles. Trumpeter Swans. Woodpeckers
and whippoorwills. Hawks and hummingbirds. They’re all part of the
natural beauty of Grayling and Crawford County, which is making the
county the focal point for northern Michigan birding from spring
through fall.
“Birding is considered the most popular outdoor pursuit in America,
and Grayling is birder-central for Michigan,” says Ilene Geiss-Wilson,
Executive Director of the Grayling Visitors Bureau. “From Michigan’s
rarest bird to the majestic bald eagle, the Crawford County area has
loads of species as well as locations to see them.”

The Grayling Experience
Birding in the Grayling area and entire Au Sable valley can be a hugely
rewarding experience for birders looking to add to their life-lists, says
Peg Ridgway, president of the Michigan Audubon Society. Since
Grayling is the heart of Au Sable River Country, and the Au Sable Valley
harbors some of the best bird viewing opportunities in the state, it’s
only a natural choice to make the city a key role in developing future
northern Michigan birding opportunities.
Here’s a sampling of the current opportunities awaiting birders on a
visit to the area this spring:

Kirtland’s Is King
Michigan’s rarest songbird, the Kirtland’s Warbler, calls more than
150,000 acres of state and federal forestland home near Grayling in
one of the most pioneering and successful endangered species
management stories in the United States.

Again next year, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and the
Michigan Audubon Society will offer birders a chance to see these tiny
singers up close and personal on daily tours.
Tours will take place starting at 7 and 11 a.m. May 15-July 4 from the
Grayling Ramada Inn. You’ll first see a movie about the tiny
endangered songbirds, which live only in five- to 15-year-old jack pines
in the sandy plains surrounding Grayling.
Led by a FWS/Audubon guide, birders will then travel to sites known to
have warblers, says FWS spokesperson Chris Mensing. Tour-goers will
hike more than a mile over uneven sandy ground, which can be
challenging for those with trouble walking. No special provisions are
made for photographers, and no attractors can be used to disturb the
nesting birds.
At last count, there were an estimated 1,697 singing males. Thanks to
wise habitat management, which includes a vigorous cowbird-trapping
program, the number of warblers has increased ten-fold since only 167
males were counted in 1987 and 1974. Cowbirds are enemies of
Kirtland’s and other species, laying eggs in their nests that when
hatched, displace Kirtland’s young.
Habitat has been increased over the decades by appropriate use of
controlled burns and more recently, clear-cutting and re-planting.
Currently there are 153,000 acres in the Huron-Manistee National
Forest, neighboring state forests and Fish and Wildlife Service lands
managed on a rotating 50-year cycle to cut and replace swaths of trees
so the birds will always find suitable nesting. Each year about 2,700
acres are developed into nesting habitat so 38,000 acres are available
to birds at any time. For tour information, call (517) 351-2555, or go
to http://midwest.fws.gov/EastLansing/tour.html.

Other Birding Opportunities
The tiny Kirtland’s Warbler isn’t the only species to attract thousands
of bird-watchers to Grayling. Check out this list of places to go and
birds to add to your life list on a visit to the area:

Hartwick Pines State Park--Located just north of town, it is a top
destination, says park interpreter Craig Kasmer.
“One of the simplest and easiest ways to birdwatch here is along the
Old Growth Trail,” he said. Walking amongst the majestic old-growth
white pines along the trail is not only akin to meditating on foot. It’s
also home to more than 40 bird species, mainly songbirds.
Expect to see warblers such as the Nashville warbler, black-throated
green, pine, black burnian and northern parula. Other species
commonly seen include evening grosbeaks, juncos, pileated
woodpeckers, vireos, flycatchers, tanagers and others that call the
10,000-arcre park home. Other great birding trails include the Mertz
Grade and Au Sable Trails. The latter meanders through dense forest,
crossing the Au Sable River’s East Branch twice. For more information,
call the park at (989) 348-2537.

Au Sable and Manistee Rivers—These twin streams that rise from the
highlands north of Grayling also are excellent birding choices. There
are numerous public access sites to visit, and great opportunities on
both rivers for canoe or kayak trips from a few hours to a few days.
Along the way, expect to view herons, geese and several duck species,
kestrels, woodcock, bald eagles and others that call the river valley
home.

Deward Watchable Wildlife Site—This relatively undiscovered natural
viewing area is near the headwaters of the Manistee River. It was
named for 19th century lumberman and innovator David Ward, who
besides operating a lumber camp here, maintained what was then
reportedly the world’s second largest orchard.
There are several fisherman paths that lead from the parking area to
the river, varying from one-eighth- to ¼-mile long. Glimpse views of
bald eagles, redtail and broadwing hawks, in addition to loons, geese,
grouse and woodcock. The area can also be canoed via the Manistee.
From Grayling, go north on Old U.S. 27 to County Road 612. Head west
to Manistee River Road. Go north to the Cameron Bridge area and the
site.

Dyer Red Pine Natural Area—Originally spared from lumbering to collect
seeds for state nursery programs, it is a 20-acre tract of red pine,
jack pine and oak. More migratory birds make their home here, and
birders can walk throughout the tract that also is close to Kirtland’s
Warbler habitat. To find the area, take I-75 Business Route through
Grayling to North Downriver Road. Head east to Wakeley Bridge Road.
Turn left and continue on the paved portion east about 1½-miles
where the road makes a 90-degree turn north. The unpaved two-track
road leading straight ahead is Dyer Truck Trail. Drive in, park, and
enjoy.

Mason Tract Pathway—This more than 12-mile pathway through the
dense valley floor of the South Branch of the Au Sable leads from just
north of a parking area at the river’s banks at Chase Bridge to end
near Canoe Harbor Campground. The trail is for hiking only and
provides beautiful views of the river and birds that range from
waterfowl to woodpeckers, both downy and pileated, whippoorwills,
grouse, hummingbirds and many others.

W.J. Beal Plantation—This area was named after a Michigan State
University botany professor and was an 1888 experiment to reforest
the region with a variety of trees. More than 40 types exist in this
small setting. “Supercanopy” birds including warblers also make the
red pine, spruce, dogwood, birch and other species home. To find the
plantation, head east from Grayling on M-72 to Industrial Drive, and
head south, or right, to the plantation area.

Rayburn Estate—Willed to the State Department of Natural Resources
Forest Management Division by its former owners, this prime example
of river habitat offers great views of the Au Sable River’s Main
Stream, a picnic area, and a bridge across the river. Multiple canopy
birds are common here, from river kingfishers, ducks and other water
birds, to tree-dwellers like warblers. To find the Rayburn, lead east on
M-72 from Industrial Drive and the Beal Plantation about one mile.
Look for a stone arched driveway on the north side of the road. Turn in
and follow it to the parking lot.

Wakeley Lake Quiet Area—This unique area surrounds one of the best
catch and release panfish lakes in the state. Federally managed, it’s
reached via a trail from a parking area just north of M-72 near Canoe
Harbor Campground on the Au Sable’s South Branch between Grayling
and Luzerne. A five-mile hiking and bike trail winds around the lake,
including a portion on a boardwalk over wetlands. Loons, eagles,
ducks, geese and at the lake’s north end, a heron rookery, are just a
few of the species birders will see, along with lakeside animals that
include wood and painted turtles.
There is limited walk-in lakeside camping. For more information, call
the U.S. Forest Service Mio Office, (989) 826-3252.

Hanson Hills Recreation Area—Operated by the Grayling Recreation
Authority within a 20,000-acre forest tract, the area features 1,000
acres and more than 35 kilometers of hiking and biking trails
meandering through the pine and oak hills on the city’s western edge.
Numerous songbird species also are present, says Director Justin
Andre. For general information on the recreation area, call (989)
348-9266, (888) 876-2196, or www.hansonhills.org.

Still more birding opportunities are available along the new Crawford
County Pathway Project, a paved biking and hiking route from
Grayling to Hartwick Pines State Park.

Make It Grayling for the North’s Best Casual Adventures!

For more information on the river and how to see it and its wildlife,
plus other fun in Crawford County, contact the Grayling Visitors
Bureau, (800) 937-8837, or www.grayling-mi.com.

NEWS FROM: GRAYLING VISITORS BUREAU FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
P.O. BOX 217 April 3, 2006
GRAYLING, MI 49738

CONTACT: ILENE GEISS-WILSON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
(800) 937-8837
WEBSITE: http://www.grayling-mi.com

An Au Sable Canoe Trip Can be Magical
Two side-by-side liveries offer paddling and lodging

The soft sound as a paddle dips into rippling water, and the
mini-whirlpool it fleetingly leaves as it lifts, before you once more
plunge the blade.

The soft breath of a cool morning breeze creeping from under ancient
cedars sweeping over the water. The scent of pine and cedar
perfuming the air. The sight of ducks, mink, bald eagles, deer,
seemingly oblivious to your quiet passing. The laughter and company of
good friends and family, and the discoveries that always await around
the next bend.

Those images, and more, are what canoeing on Michigan’s favorite
paddling stream, the Au Sable River near Grayling, is all about.

Whether it’s a 2 ½-hour jaunt, a five-hour day trip, or an overnight
riverside campground stay, it’s an experience you, your friends, and
family will remember and want to repeat, like so many do annually.

Two liveries have anchored the banks of this storied stream for more
than 60 years. They are almost side-by-side: Borchers Canoeing and
Bed and Breakfast, and Penrod’s Au Sable River Resort, on the city’s
east side.

Borchers was founded in 1932 by Ernie Borchers—who also originated
the Borchers trout fly—and has been owned and operated the last 15
years by Cheri and Mark Hunter. Penrod’s, begun by the Penrod family
in 1939, has been operated by the Humes family since 1969, and is
currently overseen by Jim Humes. He welcomes the generations of
canoeists who come here each season for good family fun.

“You leave your life behind and listen to the water, see the ducks,
watch a fish jump out of the water and feel the sun on your face. It’s a
magical way to share an outing with the family,” says Cheri Hunter of
Borchers.

“We will have three generations of one family standing in our office
and the grandfather will tell us ‘I went years ago and now my son and
grandson are coming with me.’ People come to have a good family
experience and that’s what we provide,” she says.

“The nice thing about this trip,” Humes adds, “is that this river is
very forgiving. It’s about a four- to five-mile-per-hour current and
most of the stream is from 2 to 4 feet deep so it’s good for novices
and families.”

Borchers operates a medium size fleet of canoes and open kayaks.
Kayaks are fast becoming a popular way to tour the stream. Penrod’s
has a similar number. Hunter and Humes described a typical trip down
the river.

After shoving off from the dock, the Au Sable turns gently as Grayling
disappears from your stern and you glide past riverfront cabins. About
90 minutes downstream, stop for a picnic lunch after you slip under the
bridge announcing the old Rayburn estate, now owned by the State of
Michigan. The lodge is gone but a climb via stairs to the top rewards
with a great view of the river and use the picnic tables for lunch. There
also are portable restroom facilities placed there each summer as a
courtesy to paddlers. Near the Rayburn property, you’ll pass the
entrance to Mud Creek. Keep to the right to avoid backtracking out of
the Mud Creek wetland.

Between Rayburn and Canoe Camp access, cedar trees, named
“sweepers” by the locals because they stretch over the river from both
banks, providing shade for the river’s trout and other wildlife and for
their ability to knock unsuspecting canoeists into the river. Here the
river’s bottom turns gravely and the current picks up a bit. Watch for
mink scurrying along the river banks along with beaver, deer, and
overhead, bald eagles, kingfishers and ducks.

Burton’s Landing marks the start of the famed “holy water” stretch,
so-named by fly fishermen because it is revered as holding some of the
top trout fishing in the United States. Here, Hunter says, is where
canoeists can practice the river etiquette they learned at the dock
prior to their trip: share the river, particularly when approaching
fishermen.

From there to the take-out point immediately below Stephan Bridge,
you’ll pass islands, more homes, riverside campgrounds and more
incomparable Au Sable scenery.

That's as far as most weekend paddlers get before landing and meeting
their shuttle for the ride back to town. However, both Penrod’s and
Borchers can arrange longer trips, including five-day camping
adventures the length of the river to Oscoda. Many river runners now
prefer kayaks, she added. “They are very maneuverable and it’s very
relaxing to be in your own watercraft and go wherever you want.”

Trips start at $24 and up on weekdays, $30 and up on Saturdays in July
and August. Kayaks start at $18 per craft. Rates vary by trip length
and there are volume discounts. Reservations are wise in July and
August. Canoes come with cushions, a Coast Guard-approved PFD and
paddles, but Hunter says, life jackets are encouraged, especially for
non-swimmers, and are required for children age 6 and under and
recommended for those 12 and under.

“We encourage the use of life jackets,” she adds. As at all
Grayling-area liveries, an alcohol policy is strictly enforced.
One-six-pack of beer is allowed per canoe, and no glass containers or
Styrofoam coolers are allowed.

Once your trip is over, you can enjoy a bed and breakfast experience
at Borchers or a night in classic riverfront cottages at Penrod’s.
Borchers has six guest rooms, with a full breakfast that often features
Borcher Pie, a puff pastry with eggs and cheese and served with ham
and mini-cinnamon rolls. Summer rates run $72-$92 per room per
night. Penrod’s offers 12 cabins, including some with two bedrooms
and fireplace. They rent for $60-$96 per night for up to four persons.
Penrod’s also rents mountain bikes.

For more information, call Borchers at (989) 348-4921, or (800)
762-8756, or go to http://www.canoeborchers.com. For Penrod’s, call
(989) 348-2910 or (888) GO-RIVER, or go to
http://www.penrodscanoe.com. For more on the Grayling area,
contact the Grayling Visitors Bureau, (800) 937-8837, or
http://www.grayling-mi.com.

Make It Grayling for the North’s Best Casual Adventures!

NEWS FROM: GRAYLING AREA VISITORS BUREAU FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
P.O. BOX 217 March 10, 2006
GRAYLING, MI 49738

CONTACT: ILENE GEISS-WILSON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
(800) 937-8837
WEBSITE: WWW.GRAYLING-MI.COM

Grayling-area welcomes back trout anglers for another season

For the dedicated fly fisherman, trout season is the equivalent of
opening day at Detroit’s Comerica Park, the Super Bowl, the NCAA
basketball tournament and the World Series, combined.

“Armed with the essentials, thousands of anglers head to Grayling,
Michigan trout angling’s nirvana, to experience the magic of fishing
the Au Sable and Manistee Rivers, two of the most storied trout
streams in the Eastern United States,” says Ilene Geiss-Wilson,
Grayling Visitors Bureau Executive Director.

Often, anglers come armed with hundreds of fly patterns to try to
“match the hatch,” by using trout flies that imitate the mayflies,
caddis flies and stone flies that the brown, brook and rainbows of the
rivers feed on. However, with a little knowledge of entomology, they
can zero in on some basic patterns and lighten their loads.

First, a little bit on trout fly nomenclature for the neophyte angler. A
nymph is the underwater stage of a mayfly. Nymphs can live on stream
bottoms or vegetation up to two years. A “dun,” in troutspeak, refers
to the mayfly just-hatched from its nymph stage. They float on the
river’s surface usually with blue-gray wings that appear like sails
before flying into the trees. In the “spinner” stage, flies return to the
water to lay their eggs and die to complete their life cycles. Caddis and
stoneflies live under water as well. Caddis larvae build tiny homes out
of sticks, stones and other flotsam. Stonefly nymphs live on the river
bottom.

Caddis emerge like mayflies, but their wings are folded against their
bodies like a tent. Stoneflies crawl out of the water onto stones, trees
or pilings to emerge as winged insects and also have folded wings. All
three are harmless to humans.

One common trait to remember, Geiss-Wilson says, is that flies
usually hatch and trout usually surface feed most actively during the
most pleasant time of the day—or night. However, trout consume a
majority of their food as it drifts by as nymphs or emerging mayflies,
caddis and stone flies. Armed with that knowledge, here’s a brief
timeline of major Grayling-area fly hatches.

Now-mid-May—Hendrickson fly. Created to imitate the first major
mayfly hatch of the season. When water temperature reaches the
mid-50s in late April to mid-May, flies generally emerge in afternoon
with the egg-laying “spinner” stage falling on the water around 5 p.m.
and tied in hook size 14 to 16. Try the Au Sable’s Main Branch and the
Manistee.

Emerging at the same time is the mahogany dun or blue dun, a larger
(size 12 to 14) fly that often hatches into June, along with
gray-black-bodies caddis flies in sizes 16 to 18, and dark-bodied stone
flies.

Late-May-early June—Smaller “sulphur” mayflies predominate in
afternoon and evenings, so named because of their greenish-yellowish
bodies, usually in hook sizes 16 to 18. Early- to mid-June also starts
the height of the season with the emergence of the brown drake
mayfly, usually on hook size 10 to 12. Along with the mahogany, this is
the first major evening hatch, often from dusk to late evening. Best
rivers include the Au Sable’s North and South Branches and the
Manistee.

Also emerging is the green-bodied caddis fly and “yellow sally”
stonefly, with a yellowish body, generally in sizes 18 to 16.

Mid- June to mid-July—Along with an appearance by flies with common
angler names as the ginger quill and light cahill, the king of Michigan’s
mayflies arrives on the scene. The giant Michigan mayfly (hook sizes 4
to 8, usually on a longer-shanked version) is the largest to hatch on the
Au Sable. Living for two years in muddy banks, it finally emerges and
the river’s largest trout lose all abandon to gorge on these flies. Often,
you’ll hear big fish actually slurping or sipping in flies as they float by
or gather at log jams, which make great trout feeding stations. Also
called fish flies in some parts of Michigan, they both hatch and lay eggs
in late evening to early morning.

Flies usually emerge from late evening to early morning and anglers
often look like miners going to work because of the lights they wear to
find their ways.

Best rivers for the “hex” hatch include the Manistee and the Au Sable’s
South Branch. Also emerging in mid-morning is the blue-winged olive
in hook size 16-18.

July and August—Flies will be active in both early morning and evening.
In the morning, look for the tiniest flies to emerge, in hook size
22-28, and known as tiny white-winged blacks, or “tricos.” Emerging in
evening is the pseudocloeon or tiny olive, in hook size 24, along with
mahogany, snow and gray drakes mayfly.

Caddis and stoneflies to emerge in the afternoon and evenings include
cream and yellow varieties in hook sizes 12 to 16.

Along with the right flies, many anglers head for their favorite
retreats, from riverside bed and breakfasts to motels, which pepper
the region. Here are just two.

Hard by the banks of the Au Sable’s North Branch, Fuller’s North
Branch Outing Club has been catering to trout anglers since the early
20th century. It’s been given a rebirth under the loving care of the
five-member Fuller family. Todd Fuller escaped the corporate sales
world to help run the bed and breakfast. “It took about two years to
restore it to where we were comfortable to have guests,” says Fuller.

The fly shop originally was a general store built by local
lumberman T.E. Douglas, who arrived here in the 1890s to make his
fortune. As lumbering waned, he looked for a new business and looked
at the trout-filled North Branch. “In 1903 Douglas added six rooms off
the back of the store and began promoting the Au Sable as a fishing
destination,” Fuller says. Douglas opened the Douglas Hotel in 1916,
welcoming anglers from across the world. Henry Ford, Thomas Edison,
Nash, the Dodge brothers, Harvey Firestone and other famous
Americans were frequent guests. The hotel closed in the 1960s, and
the Fullers bought it in 1996.

Today, Fuller’s features 12 guest rooms. The common area has
8,000 square feet of maple floors accented by sugar pine molding.
Windows are original hand-blown glass. Exterior is all original pine
clapboard, left the way T.E. Douglas intended. “The only television is
in one sitting room. There are no phones, so it’s a step back in time, a
getaway from the buzz,” Fuller says.

“Of the rooms, the Douglas Suite is one of the most popular. The
Douglas family lived there,” Fuller explains.
The room with private bath features a porch overlooking the river.
Each room is decorated differently and in a different theme, from
hunting and fishing, to one even featuring old license plates and auto
names to honor the auto magnates who stayed here.

Guided fishing trips are available aboard traditional Au Sable
River drift boats, and there’s a full-service fly shop selling custom-built
North Branch as well as Sage rods. Instruction and rental equipment
for never-ever fly anglers also is available. Non-anglers can try
canoeing, or renting a mountain bike. For more information, call
Fuller’s at (989) 348-7951, or go to www.fullersnboc.com.

If there ever was a quintessential trout angler’s riverside motel,
Gates Au Sable Lodge is it. Founded in 1970 by the late Calvin Gates
Sr., and now run by son Rusty Gates Lodge is just six miles east of
Grayling.
“We’re off the beaten path. It’s nice to sit down to dinner and
watch the river go by, and kids love trying to feed the fish in the bread
hole,” says Rusty. The “bread hole,” got its name from kids tossing
crumbs into the whirlpool, where huge trout slurp them up.

Seventeen rooms feature TV and two double beds. A front door on each
leads to a mini-patio and the river a few false casts away. There are
benches, picnic tables and fire pit on the grounds. Rusty’s wife, Julie
runs the knotty pine Hungry Fisherman Restaurant, which serves
homemade meals for breakfast lunch ($5-$8) and dinner ($9-$35).

Guest enjoy meals looking at the river and bird feeders visited by
multiple species including hummingbirds. There’s also a full-service fly
shop with guide service and instruction available and a meeting room.
Rates are $85 double occupancy, $60 single.

Gates Au Sable Lodge is six miles east of Grayling. Take M-72 east. Go
north on Stephan Bridge Road to the riverside. The lodge is on the
right. For information, call (989) 348-8462, or go to
www.gateslodge.com.

For more on accommodations and other things to see and do in the
Grayling area, contact the Grayling Visitors Bureau, (800) 937-8837, or
www.grayling-mi.com.

Make It Grayling for the North’s Best Casual Adventures!

The Icehouse Quilt Shop is located in a building that was owned by the
Pennsylvania Central Railroad during the earliest railroad days. This
landmark was used to store ice for the dining cars of the trains. Ice
from nearby lakes was cut into blocks, transported to the icehouse and
stored for use during the warmer seasons. As refrigeration was
invented and automobile travel replaced trains, the original purpose of
the icehouse became obsolete. No longer needed to store ice, the
building was used to store beer, feed, and building materials. In the
1930's, Rasmussen Lumber leased the building from the railroad to
store lumber. This use continued by DuBois Lumber until Dave Wyman
decided to turn the old icehouse into a retail shop. The icehouse was
connected to an adjacent building which had been a clothespin factory.
Opened since 1980, the Icehouse Quilt Shop offers patrons the unique
opportunity to experience a bit of Grayling's heritage. Various classes
are available at the Icehouse. From wallhangings to large quilts, and
wearable art jackets, vests and tote bags. Several times a year
"guest teachers" fly in to teach cloth doll workshops. Hand quilting or
machine quilting, there's a class just right for you. Their
knowledgeable staff, who are quilters and crafters, await your
questions. Call for more information at (517)348-4821and sign up
today.
The Icehouse Quilt Shop has several events planned. They are all open
to the public. Some events are offered for a fee.

Take a trip back in time to the days of the old-fashioned
single-screen movie theatre. The Rialto Theatre in Grayling,
Michigan, offers just such nostalgia. This period facility is the
"traditional" single-screen movie house and has been owned and
operated continuously by the same family since 1915. Although the
original building was totally destroyed by fire in 1930 it was rebuilt
immediately and hired C.Howard Crane, (the architect for the Fox
Theatre in Detroit) who utilized all the latest technology and built with
a typical decor of the 1930s. The exterior has remained the same
since the original rebuild.
The original ticket dispenser is still used in the box office and
the tickets for it are purchased from the same company that has
supplied them since 1915. The tickets have been consecutively
numbered since 1915. Also remaining from prior to the fire are the
old ticket chopper, a Brandt Junior Automatic Cashier and the 16-mm
projector in the foyer. The velvet curtain has been in the theatre since
1940. The same projector has been in use since 1954 and although
there was discussion about replacing it, the owners were told that it
was the Cadillac of projectors and advised to continue using it.
Seating was replaced in the fifties. The marquee was installed in 1940
and the original replacement letters of cast aluminum are no longer
available.
The screen has been replaced several times over the years, usually
due to accidental damage. One story told by the current manager is of
a janitor/projectionist who worked there all his life from ten years of
age, who was working overhead and dropped a hammer into the
screen causing a seven-inch gash. The air conditioning system is from
1930 and it is still in good working order.
The Rialto was founded in 1915 by George N. Olson (the current
owner's great grandfather). At Mr. & Mrs. Olson's demise in 1956, the
theatre continued in operation by their daughter, Georgiana Olson
and her husband, Thomas Stancil. In 1982 ownership was transferred
to George L. and Marilyn Stancil. That transfer began the third
generation. In July of 1999 ownership was transferred to Geoffrey
(the founder's great grandson) and Deanna Bichler and the Rialto
Theatre was incorporated.
Today, The Rialto Theatre Corp. continues to run first-run Hollywood
films just as it has for the past 87 years. The manager chooses which
films to run and uses his discretion to not show certain films that
would be objectionable to the community. While the current owners
(The Bichler's) reside in Winter Park, Florida Park, the founder's oldest
grandson Arnold Stancil, who has been involved in the business for 46
years, manages the facility. At present, Mr. Stancil's grandson,
Michael Freese, helps to keep the tradition alive by his employment
as concessionaire, thus bringing the fifth generation into the picture
of this historic main street fixture.
This Rialto Theatre is a member of the League of Historic
American Theatres and while research continues it is believed that the
old Rialto is currently the only continuously owned, for profit,
single screen theatre in the State of Michigan and quite possibly, the
United States.
In today's fast-paced society, Grayling and Crawford County are
justifiably proud of the marvelous opportunity to step through the old
Rialto's doors and return to a bit of Grayling's history.

For additional information, contact Arnold Stancil, C/O Rialto
Theatre, PO Box 259, Grayling, MI 49738 (989)348-5948 or email to
STANCIL@voyager.net