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See pages 7-10 for WinterFest 2022 schedule!
Voice Vol. 13, Issue 2
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Strengthening the communities of Northeast Michigan
February 2022
Warbler art contest begins
NORTHERN MICHIGAN – The Huron-Manistee National Forests Mio Ranger District will accept contest entries until March 11, 2022 for the annual Kirtland’s warbler 18-month calendar from young artists in K-8th Grade. About 667 students ▪ See WARBLER ART CONTEST on page 14
Higgins to host WinterFest
HIGGINS LAKE - Join the Higgins Lake Roscommon Chamber and volunteers at beautiful Higgins Lake for WinterFest Feb. 18-19. For just $5, enjoy some of your favorite WinterFest activities including Cross-country skiing, pancake breakfast, fishing contest, ▪ See HIGGINS WINTERFEST on page 5
IN THIS ISSUE:
WINTER WEEKEND – The Whittemore Chamber of Commerce held its annual Antique Snowmobile Races recently. Pictured is Hayden Protasiewicz of Standish. Tip Up Town (TUT) kicked off with the annual parade, which featured horses, fire engines and community and business floats. See more photos on pages 11 and 25. - Photos courtesy of UpNorthVoice.com
Nature preserves to host snowshoe hikes NORTHERN MICHIGAN – Conservation nonprofit Huron Pines is leading a series of guided snowshoe hikes in January and February at its three nature preserves in Alcona, Iosco, and Presque Isle counties. The winter hikes are free and open to the public. Participants should bring their own snowshoes, water and snacks and be dressed for the weather. Snowshoes may not be needed depending on snow depths. Each event will last approximately 90 minutes and will begin with a brief welcome and introduction to the preserve by Land Protection Director Heather Huffstutler. “All of our preserves have trails that are pretty gentle so it’s a good opportunity for people who are new to snowshoeing,” Huffstutler said. “Exploring this time of year will give us a good chance of seeing birds and the tracks of wildlife that make use of these preserves and we’ll take our time to observe those things.” Following is the snowshoe hike schedule: Lake Huron Coastal Preserve, 1-2:30 p.m., Feb 5 Lake Huron Coastal Preserve is on Dyer Road 6 miles south of Tawas City. It is 145 acres of woodlands bisected by US-23 and features nearly a mile of undeveloped shoreline. Huron Pines will transfer
ownership of the property to Alabaster Township as a nature preserve this year. Hubbard Lake Preserve, 10:30am - 12pm Feb 12 Hubbard Lake Preserve is located at 720 Holiday Inn Rd. in the community of Hubbard Lake. Its 80-acre wooded property includes 1.5 miles of trails and gentle hills on Hubbard Lake’s Churchill Point. The Feb 5 hike at Lake Huron Coastal Preserve coincides with the 71st annual Perchville USA, a festival sponsored by Tawas Area Chamber of Commerce, and is part of the day’s family-oriented events. “We are excited to get people out there and show them this land which we’re in the process of acquiring as a township nature preserve,” said Cindy Fowler, Alabaster Township Parks & Recreation Committee co-chair. “We’ll be there to show people the beautiful trail that leads to the water and fill them in on all the progress we’re making.” To RSVP, go to huronpines.org/ events. Email heather@huronpines. org if you would like a loaner pair of snowshoes. Upper Right: Friends break for a photo during a snowshoe hike at Emily Min Hunt Preserve in February 2020. Bottom Right: A train of visitors explore the gentle hills of Hubbard Lake Preserve on snowshoes during a January 2020 hike.
Out & About – 2 Rosco Winterfest – 7-10 CHA Cheer – 11 Whittemore races – 15 Ski for Light - 16 Eagle Voice – 1B Hale Winterfest – 5B Soup’s on – 8B Toad’s Stool – 12B Skeels on court – 10B
