October 2021
MICHIGAN
COUNTRY LINES Cherryland Electric Cooperative
BEACON OF HOPE August 2021 Storm Recovery
Cherryland To Implement Power Supply Cost Recovery Charge Stand Up For Great Lakes: The Captain With A Cause
How North Manitou Light Keepers Are Protecting Maritime History
WATERFURNACE UNITS QUALIFY FOR A 26% FEDERAL TAX CREDIT THROUGH 2022
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Contents countrylines.com
/michigancountrylines
October 2021 Vol. 41, No. 9 /michigancountrylines
6 ROAD TRIPPIN' Christal Frost visits the Old Mission Peninsula to probe a ghost story (and vindicate the so-called ghost). 10 MI CO-OP KITCHEN Around the World: These recipes will transport you to all the corners of the globe.
Michigan’s Electric Cooperatives
14 BEACON OF HOPE Buying a lighthouse may seem like an unlikely venture … but it’s exactly what one group of friends did to restore the North Manitou Shoal Light Station to its former glory.
EXECUTIVE EDITOR: Casey Clark EDITOR: Christine Dorr
GRAPHIC DESIGNER: Karreen Bird
RECIPE EDITOR: Christin McKamey COPY EDITOR: Yvette Pecha CONTRIBUTING EDITOR: Emily Haines Lloyd
18 GUEST COLUMN Small Town Success: Toni Leaf-Odette's grandfather was a hard worker who opened his own business, but it was his generosity and love of his neighbors that made him a pillar of the community.
PUBLISHER: Michigan Electric Cooperative Association Michigan Country Lines, USPS-591-710, is published monthly, except August and December, with periodicals postage paid at Lansing, Mich., and additional offices. It is the official publication of the Michigan Electric Cooperative Association, 201 Townsend St., Suite 900, Lansing, MI 48933. Subscriptions are authorized for members of Alger Delta, Cherryland, Great Lakes, HomeWorks Tri-County, Midwest Energy & Communications, Ontonagon, Presque Isle, and Thumb electric cooperatives by their boards of directors. Postmaster: Send all UAA to CFS. Association Officers: Robert Kran, Great Lakes Energy, chairman; Tony Anderson, Cherryland Electric Cooperative, vice chairman; Eric Baker, Wolverine Power Cooperative, secretary-treasurer; Craig Borr, president and CEO.
CONTACT US/LETTERS TO EDITOR: Michigan Country Lines 201 Townsend St., Suite 900 Lansing, MI 48933 248-534-7358 editor@countrylines.com
CHANGE OF ADDRESS: Please
notify your electric cooperative. See page 4 for contact information.
The appearance of advertising does not constitute an endorsement of the products or services advertised.
Be featured!
#micoopcommunity
You can now sleep under the stars in a “hammock-only campsite” at Port Crescent State Park on Lake Huron. The sites were switched over to hammocks due to shoreline erosion, which made them unsuitable for campers. Such a great idea! @christina.b.lee
Use #micoopcommunity for a chance to be featured here and on our Instagram account.
MI CO-OP COMMUNITY To enter contests, submit reader content & more, visit countrylines.com/community
RECIPE CONTEST
GUEST COLUMN
Win a $50 bill credit!
Win $150 for stories published!
Up Next: Asian Inspired, due Nov. 1; Sweet Treats, due Dec. 1; Italian, due Jan 1.
Submit your fondest memories and stories at countrylines.com/community.
Submit your recipe at micoopkitchen.com, or send it via email (include your full name and co-op) to recipes@countrylines.com.
MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES
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cherrylandelectric.coop /cherrylandelectriccoop @cherrylandec BOARD OF DIRECTORS
David Schweitzer, President 231-883-5860 dschweitzer@cherrylandelectric.coop
One of the guiding principles of cooperatives is democratic member control. Cooperatives are democratic organizations controlled by their members, who actively participate in setting policies and making decisions. Directors are elected among members and are accountable to them.
Melinda Lautner, Senior Vice President 231-947-2509 mlautner@cherrylandelectric.coop Gabe Schneider, Secretary 517-449-6453 gschneider@cherrylandelectric.coop Tom Van Pelt, Treasurer 231-386-5234 tvanpelt@cherrylandelectric.coop Terry Lautner, Director 231-946-4623 tlautner@cherrylandelectric.coop John Olson, Director 231-938-1228 jolson@cherrylandelectric.coop
CO-OP NEWS Cooperative To Place Power Supply Cost Recovery Charge On Member Bills Starting In November
General Manager: Tony Anderson Co-op Editors: Rachel Johnson, Courtney Doyle
Due to higher than anticipated wholesale power transmission costs, the co-op will be implementing a power supply cost recovery charge on member bills. The $0.008 per kWh charge will show up on member bills starting in November. See Tony’s manager’s column for additional details on how this rate mechanism works and what it means for the average member bill.
OFFICE HOURS Monday–Friday 7:30 a.m.– 4 p.m.
Cherryland Buys And Donates Grand Champion Pig At The Fair
ADDRESS P.O. Box 298, Grawn, MI 49637
The co-op purchased the Grand Champion pig from Cherryland member Matthew Horn, son of Travis and Heather Horn, during the 4-H livestock auction in August at the Northwestern Michigan Fair. The pig was donated to Goodwill’s Food Rescue to be distributed to local food pantries. Congrats to all on pigs well raised!
TELEPHONE NUMBERS 231-486-9200 or 1-800-442-8616 (Mich.)
PAY STATION Cherryland Electric Cooperative office 5930 U.S. 31 South, Grawn MI, 49637 Cherryland Electric Cooperative is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
Members Support Local Nonprofits Through Cherryland Cares Cherryland Cares distributes funds to local nonprofit organizations in need of financial support. The funds distributed by Cherryland Cares result from members electing to round up their monthly bills to the nearest dollar. Members can contribute to the Cherryland Cares fund by calling 231-486-9200, signing up through SmartHub, or emailing cec@cherrylandelectric.coop. If you are an area nonprofit agency seeking financial help, please call Shannon Mattson at 231-486-9234 or e-mail smattson@cherrylandelectric.coop. The deadline for fourth-quarter applications is Friday, Dec. 10.
October Is National Cooperative Month Cherryland is one of more than 900 electric cooperatives powering more than 20 million American homes, businesses, farms, and schools in 48 states. Thank you to all the co-op members and employees that keep Cherryland and the cooperative tradition alive and well.
4 OCTOBER 2021
PSCR Returns Tony Anderson, General Manager
T
he PSCR, or power supply cost recovery, is a rate mechanism that allows a utility to pass the actual costs paid for wholesale power and fuel to consumer members. Essentially, it is a tool for keeping your cooperative on budget. We have only used this tool once since the 2018 rate increase, and it was to give back money when power costs were lower than anticipated in 2019. Nearly 70 cents of every dollar expensed at Cherryland is spent on wholesale power costs. This leaves us only 30 cents to do everyday things like buy materials, meet payroll, and maintain our electric system. This tight margin could be drastically affected if we are off the mark in our wholesale power budgeting process. Up to April 2018, Cherryland used a PSCR charge via a separate line item on your bill. When rates were changed in 2018, wholesale rates were stable and predicted to be stable into the future. So, we dropped the separate line item from your bill, and we have enjoyed more than 3.5 years of stable wholesale power costs. Well, as you can imagine, times change. Stable times slowly transition to times of more volatility and hard-topredict costs. Transmission costs have gone up more than anticipated in 2021 due to increased investments in these
lines that are necessary to carry power long distances. Transmission costs are $10 million over budget at our power supplier, and Cherryland’s share has caused us to not collect enough revenue from your monthly bill. A resilient regional grid is necessary to transport energy across state boundaries and throughout the 15-state region that interconnects us to generation inside and outside of Michigan. Transmission companies are keeping up their part of the bargain by making the investments necessary to keep power flowing. These investments have increased our transmission costs by 15% this year. Utilities are not building generation in our region either. Wolverine Power Cooperative’s Alpine facility, powered by natural gas, was put into operation five years ago. Nothing of significance has been built in the upper half of lower Michigan since that time. This means a higher reliance on transmission lines to carry the needed power from farther away. This comes at a price.
While we recognize that this is a significant event, the increased charge will be a relatively small amount. The increase will be $0.008 per kilowatthour. For an average member using 750 kWh per month, his/her bill will be increased by approximately $6. Power cost volatility moving forward will be the deciding factor on any future changes to this charge. I wish I had better news, but I remain hopeful that our member-owners will remember the long period of time in which we didn’t need this balancing mechanism. I also wish I knew how long it might remain on your bill during this return of an “old friend.” As we have always done, your cooperative employees will make every effort to be fiscally responsible. We know full well the importance of affordability to our members. We will appreciate your patience and understanding as we make this small adjustment that allows us to continue to provide the service that you all deserve and expect.
“As we have always done, your cooperative employees will make every effort to be fiscally responsible. We know full well the importance of affordability to our members.” MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES
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ROAD TRIPPIN'
CLEARING JENNIE’S NAME The Truth Behind The Ghost Of Bowers Harbor
By Christal Frost || Photos courtesy of Jordan Anderson
ocated snugly between East and West Grand Traverse Bays is Old Mission Peninsula: a 19-milelong, three-mile-wide stretch of land that harbors history, beauty, and award-winning wine. Ten wineries grace the breathtaking landscape throughout the peninsula, which is also dotted with farm stands, restaurants, and even a historic lighthouse. The Old Mission Peninsula is also home to many legendary stories. One story in particular, the story of Genevieve “Jennie” Stickney and the Bowers Harbor Inn, has spread beyond the rolling hills of Old Mission and into the hearts and minds of visitors across the world. But what is the true story of Jennie Stickney? And is she still wandering the halls of her former residence?
L
As the legend goes, Jennie and her husband, Charles Stickney, purchased a farm on Old Mission Peninsula in 1909. Like many Northern Michigan residents today, the Stickneys spent their winters in warmer locations but returned to work the farmland each summer. Their original farmhouse was damaged in 1927, and the couple hired their nephew to design and build the beautiful property now home to the Mission Table and Jolly Pumpkin restaurant. Rumors have spread that Jennie was a jealous woman who suffered from diabetes and obesity. It is said that her husband was having an affair with the nurse he hired to care for Jennie, and their affair drove her to hang herself from the rafters
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OCTOBER 2021
of the elevator shaft Mr. Stickney had installed. The rumors continued that Charles Stickney continued his relationship with the nurse and even left his entire fortune to her upon his death. However, like many rumors, those details are mostly false. In an October 2014 edition of the Grand Traverse Journal, author and historian Julie Schopieray set out to tell the true story of Jennie Stickney and clear her name. Schopieray writes that Jennie and her husband had hired a widowed nurse to care for them in their aging years. The couple became very close to their nurse and her children, and all of them traveled with the Stickneys for many years. Charles Stickney was in a wheelchair, which is why the elevator was installed. Jennie (not Genevieve, as the legend claims) actually died of heart disease, diabetes, and possible dementia in March 1947 at the coupleʼs winter suite in Grand Rapids. After her death, Charles Stickney returned, along with his nurse, to his home on Old Mission Peninsula and stayed for two years before he passed away. Stickney did, indeed, leave his wealth to his nurse and her children, as he and Jennie had no heirs. Although it is possible that Charles Stickney and his nurse did have an affair that prompted him to choose her as the recipient of his fortune, Schopieray writes, “The real story is about two elderly people who needed help from their
MISSION POINT LIGHTHOUSE
OLD MISSION PENINSULA
OLD MISSION INN
OLD MISSION INN
Michigan’s oldest, continually operating, historic bed & breakfast.
MISSION POINT LIGHTHOUSE
Surrounded by forests and incredible beaches, the Mission Point Lighthouse is a must-see for OMP visitors. widowed nurse, a person to whom Charles Stickney did leave his worldly possessions, but only out of respect and gratitude.” Although the details of her death and portions of her life have been grossly mischaracterized, the presence of Jennie Stickney’s spirit is well-known among the staff and visitors at Mission Table and Jolly Pumpkin. Stories of paranormal pranks continue to this day. Those who have felt her presence have welcomed the experience, even feeling honored to be recognized by Jennie. After all, Jennie Stickney was a woman known for entertaining, and she loved to be at the center of gatherings. It appears that she continues in that role, nearly 75 years later, as a beloved and eternal fixture of the Old Mission Peninsula.
2 Lads Winery
WINERIES
It’s not a trip to the Old Mission Peninsula without stopping in for a wine tasting or two. Check out the Old Mission Wine Trail to map out Tabone your wine tour! Vineyards ompwinetrail.com
Chateau Chantal Winery and Inn
Bowers Harbor Vineyards Brys Estate Vineyard & Winery
Mission Table
37 Chateau Grand Traverse
Christal Frost is a media personality based out of Traverse City. Her show airs weekdays from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. on WTCM NewsTalk 580.
Peninsula Cellars
Hawthorne Vineyards
Mari Vineyards Black Star Farms
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See the OLD MISSION PENINSULA in Action
Christal Frost filmed her adventure, now available on countrylines.com. 7
Captain With A Cause n an unsuspecting workshop situated along Cherryland’s lines in Interlochen, you’ll find Captain Ryan Matuzak. He’s the captain of his family sportfishing business, and as of 2014, he jumped on board as captain of a new adventure—Stand Up For Great Lakes.
I
By Courtney Doyle
Photo by: Corey Adkins, 9&10 News
The nonprofit started without any real intentions of growing into what it’s become. Initially, it was just a group of friends who thought it would be cool to make the trek from Wisconsin to Michigan, across Lake Michigan, on stand-up paddleboards. They reached out to Matuzak, who immediately warned them, “This is not amateur hour out there. There are some things I don’t think you understand about the lakes, and I’m going to help you.” That frank conversation and Matuzak’s expertise solidified his role as Stand Up for Great Lakes Safety Captain. He maps out routes and makes sure his paddlers are safe through high winds, massive waves, and cold nights. For the next year, Matuzak guided this ambitious group, helping it prepare for what would become one of many grueling, exciting, at times scary, and unbelievably rewarding journeys across Michigan’s Great Lakes. The first paddle took place in 2015. It took the team 25 hours to paddle across 60 miles of open water. And it wasn’t always smooth sailing. 8 OCTOBER 2021
“ It’s about volunteerism, it’s about the community, and it’s about the northern Michigan lifestyle that we love.” —Ryan Matuzak
Award-winning documentary crews tagged along to capture every exhilarating minute of these paddles. Head to the Cherryland Electric Cooperative Facebook page for a link to watch. Photo by: Becky Morris
When Matuzak isn’t navigating the open water as safety captain for Stand Up For Great Lakes, he’s captain of his family sportfishing business in Interlochen.
“A lot of things happened during the night. Some guys started going into hypothermia. We called the EMTs into the game, but nobody ever got off a board, though, which was unbelievable,” recalled Matuzak.
incredible experiences. Memories to last a lifetime. From paddling under the Mackinac Bridge, to laying a wreath over the shipwreck of Edmund Fitzgerald and learning what it takes to dig deep and persevere.
That’s just one of the many stories of treacherous waters, frigid temperatures, and close calls they experienced out on the big lakes. That first trek across Lake Michigan quickly turned into a goal to paddle across all five Great Lakes—raising money and awareness to protect the natural waterways we know and love.
Fast forward to 2021—and they’ve completed paddles across four of the five Great Lakes, raising tens of thousands of dollars for each trek. They’re currently planning and preparing in hopes of making their final, major paddle across Lake Ontario in 2022.
With the rough seas came unbreakable friendships and
But the activism doesn’t stop when they’ve met their goal of crossing each Great Lake. Every year, Stand
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Up for Great Lakes hosts a clean-up project on Torch Lake. They’ve started partnering on paddle projects with local students to raise money and awareness for Michigan’s fresh waterways—but also spark a passion in the next generation. As the tides begin to change, Matuzak says the most important part of this adventure for him was, “Probably sharing it with others and sharing the need for volunteerism. It’s about volunteerism, it’s about the community, and it’s about the northern Michigan lifestyle that we love.”
1. Lake Michigan 60 miles, 25 hours 2. Lake Huron 90 miles, 28 hours
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1 4
3. Lake Superior 60 miles, 22 hours 4. Lake Erie 80 miles, 24 hours 5. Lake Ontario Coming in 2022
MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES
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MI CO-OP Recipes
Photos by Robert Bruce Photography || Recipes Submitted by MCL Readers and Tested by Recipe Editor Christin McKamey
AROUND THE WORLD Take a journey without leaving your kitchen.
WINNING RECIPE!
EASY ASIAN SHRIMP STIR-FRY Judy Wojcik, Great Lakes Energy
2 tablespoons cooking oil (olive or sesame) 12 ounces shrimp (raw, tails removed, peeled and deveined) 1 cup snow peas 1 tablespoon grated raw ginger root 1 (8-ounce) can sliced water chestnuts, drained ½ teaspoon five-spice powder ¼ cup orange marmalade
RECIPE CONTEST Win a
$50
energy bill credit!
10 OCTOBER 2021
Asian Inspired due Nov. 1
Submit your favorite recipe for a chance to win a $50 bill credit and have your recipe featured in Country Lines with a photo and a video. Submit your recipe at micoopkitchen.com, or send it via email (include your full name and co-op) to recipes@countrylines.com.
Heat oil in a wok over high heat. Add shrimp and heat until they start to turn pink. Add snow peas, ginger root, and water chestnuts. Sprinkle with five-spice powder and cover. When peas are bright green, remove cover. When liquid is almost gone, add marmalade. Stir until dissolved. Serve immediately over cooked rice. Serves 2–3. Cooking time is about 10 minutes. Watch a video of this month’s winning recipe at micoopkitchen.com/videos
PAVLOVA
Angela Nobel, Great Lakes Energy 4 egg whites, at room temperature 1¼ cup white sugar 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 1 teaspoon lemon juice 2 teaspoons cornstarch 1 pint heavy whipping cream • fresh fruit (strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, mandarin oranges, etc.) Preheat oven to 300 F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. In a large bowl, beat the egg whites until stiff peaks form. Add sugar in one tablespoon at a time, and beat
until thick and glossy. Gently fold in vanilla, lemon juice, and cornstarch. Spoon mixture onto the parchment paper, either in one large pile or several individual piles. When cooked, the mixture does not grow, so whatever size you decide is the size it will be. Working from the center of the pile(s), spread the mixture out a bit, building up the edges slightly to leave a slight depression in the center. Bake for 1 hour and cool on a wire rack. While cooling, beat heavy whipping cream until stiff peaks form. Once meringue(s) has cooled, remove paper and fill the center with the whipping cream and top with choice of fruit. I had this on a mission trip to Ireland, and the Irish family used mandarin oranges to top the pavlova.
KOREAN STREET TACOS Leslie Brasure, Alger Delta
Marinade: 1 pound flank steak, cut against grain into bite-sized pieces 2 tablespoons soy sauce 2 tablespoons sugar 2 cloves garlic, minced 2 teaspoons sesame oil 3 teaspoons water 1 teaspoon mirin Dressing: 1 tablespoon soy sauce 1½ teaspoons lime juice 1½ teaspoons sesame oil ¼ teaspoon sugar Other Ingredients: 1½ cups romaine lettuce, chopped 1 cup napa cabbage, chopped ¼ cup shredded carrots ¼ cup cilantro, chopped ¼ cup green onions, diced • small flour tortillas (I use street taco size) • sriracha sauce • lime wedges
IRISH BOXTY (POTATO PANCAKES) Deanne Quain, Great Lakes
2 medium russet potatoes, peeled & divided ²⁄ ³ cup all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking powder ½ teaspoon salt ²⁄ ³ cup buttermilk 4 tablespoons butter, divided Cut 1 potato into 1-inch chunks; place in small saucepan and add cold water
In a large ziplock bag, combine marinade sauce ingredients (soy sauce, sugar, garlic, sesame oil, water, and mirin). Place the sliced meat in the marinade and refrigerate for 2–24 hours. Combine the dressing ingredients in a small bowl. Whisk until well combined; set aside. Heat a grill pan over medium-high heat and coat with cooking spray. Once hot, add the steak and cook for 2–3 minutes, stirring often until it is cooked to your desired degree of doneness. Remove from pan and set aside. Pour some of the marinade into the pan and cook on high for 2–3 minutes until it has boiled and reduced a bit. Pour the reduced marinade onto the cooked beef and toss to coat evenly. Toss lettuce, cabbage, carrots, cilantro, and green onions with dressing. Layer meat and salad mixture on warmed tortillas. Serve with sriracha sauce and lime wedge. Enjoy! This is a frequent request from my granddaughter, Katja.
to cover. Bring to a boil and cook until tender. Drain, mash the potato, and transfer to a bowl. Shred remaining potato on large holes of box grater and add to mashed potato. Stir in flour, baking powder, and salt until blended. Stir in buttermilk. Melt 1 tablespoon of butter in large skillet over medium heat. Drop four slightly heaping tablespoonfuls of batter into skillet. Flatten into 2½-inch circles—— cook about 4 minutes per side or until golden and puffed. Transfer to plate and cover to keep warm. Repeat with remaining batter and butter. Serve with applesauce, sour cream, or maple syrup.
MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES
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AUGUST 2021 STORM BY THE NUMBERS
THE DAMAGE 70 mph
Total members
and greater wind speeds started on August 10 at 11 p.m. and toppled numerous large, healthy trees
impacted by outages:
15,347
Hardest hit area:
Williamsburg Power restored within 24 hours to over
90%
of members impacted
Final outage restored at 1 a.m. on
Saturday, Aug. 14 12 OCTOBER 2021
THE RESTORATION
22
broken poles replaced
48
lineworkers working to restore power
11
tree trimmers working to remove trees
Number of meals consumed by field and office employees:
325
THE POWER
OF COMMUNICATION Outage text message notifications sent:
50,883
Phone calls received:
1,414
People reached by storm restoration updates on Facebook:
75,957
Visits to outage center on Cherryland website:
14,082
MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES 13
The Crib with its new paint job, pictured here at sunrise.
BEACON OF HOPE How North Manitou Light Keepers Are Protecting Maritime History By Emily Haines Lloyd
T
here is a mystery, magic, and something altogether romantic about lighthouses. Whether it’s tales of swarthy sea captains and ghost-like specters wandering catwalks or the simple metaphor of light in the darkness leading one to safety, lighthouses feel like they have stories to tell.
The Crib, pictured here in 2016, was rusted and covered in bird guano when NMLK acquired it and began restoration.
14 OCTOBER 2021
The story of North Manitou Shoal Light Station, built in 1935 and known locally as The Crib, in the straits between the Manitou Islands and Sleeping Bear Dunes, has its own rescue story to tell. It starts with a peculiar notice in 2016 alerting the public that there would be open
bidding on The Crib in a public auction. If you’re wondering how one goes about purchasing a lighthouse, ask a group of friends who collectively are the North Manitou Light Keepers (NMLK), a nonprofit group formed specifically to purchase, restore, and open this maritime treasure to the public. In their everyday lives, these lighthouse rescuers are known as Todd and Natalie Buckley, Dave and Sherry McWilliam, Jake and Suzanne Kaberle, and Dan and Anna Oginsky, who all live and work around Michigan. “Within just a few days, a couple of my friends had mentioned there was ‘this lighthouse’ for sale,” remembers Dan Oginsky, president of North Manitou
“
We wanted to honor the Coast Guard and the noble work they and this lighthouse did to keep people safe in the straits. We also want to build community, giving people something positive to rally around.
”
The founding members of NMLK on a Crib Cruise in 2017, pictured left to right: Anna and Dan Oginsky, Jake Kaberle (wife Suzanne not pictured), Dave and Sherry McWilliam, and Todd and Natalie Buckley.
Light Keepers and Great Lakes Energy member. “At first, you can’t help but think—‘how cool would it be to own a lighthouse?’ It’s only later you start to realize what a big undertaking it’s going to be.” Dan, his wife, Anna, and their friends realized that if they were serious, they needed to create a more formal organization and started NMLK as a nonprofit to explore the specifics of what custodianship of a lighthouse would look like. They decided to move forward with the bidding process and came up against one other serious bidder, each day outbidding the Light Keepers and testing their resolve. Finally, the team decided just one more bid, and then it was time to step away gracefully. They placed their final offer … only to be outbid once again. “With 24 hours between bidding rounds, we had a few hours left when my wife, Anna, came to me and asked, ‘Would you be mad if I thought we should bid once more?’” Dan said. Anna had finally taken a long look at the pictures of The Crib and told Dan, “It told me not to give up on it.” The Light Keepers conferred and made one last bid. With that final bid, they secured the lighthouse. It’s an exciting story of an endearing victory, except now the Light Keepers had a “mothballed” lighthouse, covered in guano (yup, bird excrement), and the mighty task ahead to restore it to some former glory.
—Dan Oginsky
With a laundry list of not-inexpensive tasks to complete, the Light Keepers drew on the community and the affinity so many have for lighthouses. The team set an ambitious five-year goal to have The Crib ready for its first visitors in July 2021. “We wanted to honor the Coast Guard and the noble work they and this lighthouse did to keep people safe in the straits," said Dan. “We also want to build community, giving people something positive to rally around.” In the end, more than 160 bags of garbage, guano, and debris were hauled away from The Crib. Then scaffolding was built so that the lighthouse could be blasted, primed, and painted. Next came the removal of steel plates and 1930s windows and the replacement with new, clear glass— letting the light shine on the inside for the first time since the 1980s. The NMLK is already looking at phase 2 of the project, which involves
renovating the lighthouse’s interior— including a kitchen, great room, and multiple sleeping quarters that would allow individuals to stay overnight at The Crib. While always keeping things moving forward, the Light Keepers were able to take a moment to celebrate. With two weeks to spare, the first visitors took a charter out to The Crib for a tour, with more scheduled throughout the summer. NMLK is looking to expand tours more next summer and recommends signing up for their newsletter and membership at northmanitoulightkeepers.org to be the first to know. So if you’ve ever wanted to visit a maritime feat in the middle of one of the country’s most beautiful areas, or have ever dreamed of being part of a rescue mission of history, maybe it’s time to see some folks about The Crib and what it means to be a lightkeeper.
Getting power out to The Crib is a big part of phase 2 planning. Once NMLK started talking to folks in the community about how to power up, community members connected the team to Cherryland Electric Cooperative, who recently went out to The Crib to test equipment and see what it would take to power up the mighty beacon.
MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES
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PHOTO CONTEST
Pet Costumes! 1. Moooo-ve over horses!——Anne Grant 2. Pinocchio, a hairy tale——Jane Les 3. Sir Yeti Richard in search of the pot of gold!——Amy Miller 4. Batmutt——Adam Carvey 5. I’m on in 10 minutes——Marilyn Butkovich
Most votes on Facebook!
1
3 Enter to win a
$200
energy bill credit!
2
4
Submit Your “Fire & Ice” Photos!
Submit your best photo and encourage your friends to vote! The photo receiving the most votes in our Facebook contest will be printed in an issue of Country Lines along with some of our other favorites. Our October theme is Fire & Ice! Photos can be submitted through October 20 to be featured in our January issue.
Enter Your Photos And Win A Bill Credit!
To enter the contest, visit cherrylandelectric.coop/photo-contest or visit facebook.com/ cherrylandelectriccoop and click “Photo Contest” from the menu tabs. Enter your picture, cast your vote, and encourage others to vote for you as well. If your photo is printed in Country Lines during 2022, you will be entered to win a credit of up to $200 on your December 2022 bill. 16 OCTOBER 2021
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Your Board In Action August Board Meeting • Staff provided the board with updates on how the cooperative responded to the Aug. 10, 2021, storm that knocked out power to over 15,000 members. • The cooperative’s CFO gave a special presentation on the most recent key ratios and trends analysis. The cooperative continues to outpace its peer group for reliability, equity position, and operational efficiency. • The cooperative’s general manager informed the board that due to higher than expected transmission costs, the cooperative has incurred higher than budgeted power supply costs. As a result, all members will see a power supply cost recovery (PSCR) charge on their bill starting in November. The charge will be $0.008/kWh and is expected to average $6 per month on member bills. Members have the opportunity to provide input to the board prior to any regularly scheduled board meeting. To have your comments included in a monthly board packet for review, please submit them to Board Assistant Secretary Shannon Mattson at smattson@cherrylandelectric.coop a minimum of three business days before the monthly board meeting.
Generate Safely. Never use a portable generator indoors. Do not plug generators into standard electrical outlets. Use heavy-duty extension cords to connect appliances into the generator. Start the generator before connecting appliances. MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES 17
Guest Column
Small Town Success By Toni Leaf-Odette, Cherryland Electric Cooperative member
M
y grandfather, Gerald Gaultier, was born and raised in the local town of South Boardman. He served in the United States Air Force as a B-47 jet mechanic. In the 1960s, he and his wife, Elaine, opened Boardman Valley Construction. He often worked for free (picture 50 invoices hanging by a tack on the living room wall), but he once told me, “I don’t believe we were put here to amass a fortune.” He shared his time on the school, hospital, and church boards, Kiwanis, and others, and would pull his truck over just to visit local folks. He was rooted in the business of people. I remember the phone ringing at all hours and him up with the sun until long after dark. He was a township supervisor for four decades. As a teenager, during the voting time, I would see other people’s names on signs. I asked him why he didn’t have one, and he said, “Granddaughter, if you have to campaign at this point, you’re not doing your job.” He led a family of four children, five grandchildren, and six greatgrandchildren. After 82 years of a beloved life, we were able to grant him dignity at home, surrounded by loved ones. For the funeral, the cars outside Boardman Cemetery were lined up to Supply Road. When I visit his plot, I marvel at the massive space he left behind. We still hear of kindnesses we didn’t know about … nor would he have wanted that spotlight. I sat beside him while he pondered his cancer diagnosis, and in those same hours, he shared a piece of chocolate and directed my attention to the pink and blue sky. “Look over your shoulder,” he said, watching a thunderhead. “Look at that anvil. 120-mile-an-hour winds up there. Now that is a beautiful thing.” He wanted to teach us children values, as he believed we were the future. Thanks to him, I am reminded that it’s our ability to serve that makes us powerful.
Toni works in community health care for Northern Michigan. She enjoys spending time with her family and writing.
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