Newsletter  April 2004

I care to live only to entice people to look at nature’s loveliness.

My own special self is nothing.

I want to be like a flake of glass through which light passes.

 John Muir

HELP us save trees!!!! Receive the Chief Noonday Chapter newsletter via email.

Contact Larry: nalcoman1@aol.com.

ARE YOU LOOKING FOR FUN, ADVENTURE, KNOWLEDGE, CHALLENGE, A REASON TO CELEBRATE AND FRIENDSHIP?  IF YOUR ANSWER IS YES! COME AND JOIN US, WE HAVE IT ALL!

Chapter Meetings

Meetings are at 7:00 PM at the Barry Township Hall on Orchard Street in Delton the second Wednesday of each month, and are open to the public.

• KNOWLEDGE!  May 12, Jodie Romzek with the Michigan Dept. of Agriculture will offer an interesting presentation about spring plantings and ways to add to the beauty of the North Country Trail or your backyard.

• June 9, no planned program.

• FUN!  NOTE TIME AND LOCATION CHANGE OF THIS MEETING!  July 14th at 6:30pm at Kimball Pines.   Summer potluck get together. We are hoping to see YOU there. Don’t be shy. The more the merrier, please come and bring a friend.  Kimball Pines is located east of Battle Creek, off east Michigan Avenue. You will see an M-DOT along side of the road after you cross over the bridge announcing the “North Country Trail & Kimball Pines”. Turn right into the driveway, which is a nursing home after the sign (if you are traveling east). Follow the road back to Kimball Pines Park. For more information about meetings contact garnettt@trinity-health.org or Linda Warren at  linblessed54@aol.com

Did you know? Before the Europeans arrived in the Americas,

more than 500 tribes (22 million people) inhabited what is now the United States?

Upcoming Events

April 24~Earth Day Celebration- We will have a booth!

Kalamazoo Valley Community College. KVCC is located south of I-94 on 9th Street southwest of Kalamazoo. Exit 72 off I-94. 10am-4pm

Do you know when the first Earth Day was celebrated? (answer on last page)

****A REASON TO CELEBRATE!

May 1~ Fort Custer National Cemetery Trail Dedication and Hike

Fort Custer Cemetery located between Battle Creek and Augusta (East end of the trail, off of Armstrong Road about .8 mile from Dickman Rd.). Watch for NCTA parking signs.  10 am official opening ceremony,  10:45 am guided hike

May 8~ Wildflower Hike on Dolan Trail. Lead by Barb Vandykin

Blue Bell Preserve.  Directions: From the intersection of Sate St. and Broadway, go north 0.3 miles to State Rd. Turn left.  Go 4.5 miles. Turn right onto Wood School Road, which turns into Baker. Go north 05. miles across the river. 3 miles West of Fremont, MI. 9am

June 5~ National Trails Day

Spend some time out-of-doors enjoying your favorite trail (NCT of course). Send us an e-mail telling us about it. linblessed54@aol.com.

ADVENTURE HIKE!

August 7~Summer Hike Lead by Jerry Pattok

A section of approximately 3 miles that we haven’t had a group hike on. Meet at Chief Noonday Trailhead and hike with us to Peets Road. 9am

FRIENDSHIP!

August 5-8~ North Country Trail Association Annual Conference Marietta, Ohio.

This is not the “typical” conference,-lots of hikes, tours, food and friendship. Watch the NCTA North Star for more details.

MORE ADVENTURE!

October 9- Fall Color Hike. (Enjoy the beauty) Lead by Joe Higdon

Ott Preserve-near Kimball Pines off East Michigan Avenue; north on Arlington to parking area. 9am

CHALLENGE!

November 20- Night Hike (We are not alone). Lead by Joe Higdon

Kellogg Forest- approximately a 3 mile hike. 7pm

More information on these hikes in upcoming newsletters.

PRESENTATIONS

May 27  Lee’s Sporting Goods, on Kilgore in Portage, MI. Larry Pio presenting. 7pm

June 10  Presenter to be announced Middleville Public Library Presentation.  Middleville, MI 7:15pm

June 23d  Hastings Library “Getting Lost, Getting Found”  Larry Hawkins presenting 2pm

Contact Tom Garnett at garnettt@trinityhealth.org or Larry Pio at nalcoman1@aol.com with questions regarding hikes, events, presentations and trail care.

Praise of the sun the bringer of day, He carries the light of the Lord in his rays, The moon and the stars who light up the way Unto your throne.

Praise for the wind that blows through the trees, The seas mighty storms the gentlest breeze; they blow where they will, they blow where they please, To please the Lord.

Praise for the earth who makes life to grow, The creatures you made to let your life show, The flowers and trees that help us to know the heart of love.

            Adapted from Canticle of the Sun

Marty Haugen

Adopters Needed

If you would like to adopt a portion of the NCT please contact Dave Cornell at: onestep@mei.net  Adopters needed for Kellogg Biological Station and new section east of Middleville in Barry County.

Volunteer Appreciation

Without volunteers where would we be today? The time, hard work and dedication of the North Country Trail volunteers is being rewarded. Want to find out how? Come and spend some time with us and leave in the latest trail attire. Yep a North Country Trail T-shirt of your very own. Give us an hour, get a shirt.

Volunteer Opportunities

April 24~Public Education

Earth Day Celebration. `Spend time with other chapter members sharing information about the NCT with the general public. Kalamazoo Valley Community College. 10am-4pm.

May 22~Trail Care

Meet at 8 am for breakfast at the Thornapple Kitchen in Middleville . We will be continuing work on the new section of trail in Middleville.

August 27-29tth- Hastings Summerfest

Sharing of information, festivities, fun and a fair to boot. Who could ask for more? Please join us.

2-3 hour shifts

Friday 11am –8pm

Saturday 10am-6pm

Sunday 10am-4pm

Contact Larry Hawkins to volunteer at hawkeyemd@cablespeed.com

All things are connected.

Whatever befalls the earth befalls the children of the earth.

Chief Seattle

URGENT REQUEST:

We need your help. You can help and never leave home.  “National Trails System Willing Seller Bill”. This bill will make it possible for the Federal Government to acquire land and easements from WILLING sellers, for trail development.  If you see your Representative on the list of Co-Sponsors below Please write a note thanking him or her for supporting Bill Number HR 3860.  If you don’t see your Representative on the list of Co-Sponsors Please write and ask him or her to cosponsor HR 3680.  To send e-mail to your representative, please follow  www.northcoutrytrail.org/willsell/ws_michigan.htm and follow the instructions you find there: E-mail My Representative. Once you locate the website follow the directions to your representative’s e-mail. It takes less than 5 minutes. Thank you!

Co-Sponsors District Representative Web-Sites:

3rd Vern Ehlers     www.house.gov/ehlers/

5th Dale Kildee     www.house.gov/kilbee/

6th Fred Upton      www.house.gov/upton/

7th Nick Smith       www.house.gov/nicksmith/

12th Sander Levin www.house.gov/levin/

Jerry Pattock, Marcia Mellen, John Rudnicki Charles Krammin and Larry Pio for your extra work painting blazes in Middleville!! (The map at the end of the newsletter depicts new trail in Middleville.)

What’s been happening?

Thank you to Steve Drenth, Sheryl Drenth, Larry Hawkins and Larry Pio for the hard work you provided for trail maintenance on March 20.

I did not choose an April birth but I am ever

grateful that the month chose me. Not

because the earth has taken for itself that

same coincidental time to start rebuilding but

because by all accounts April is the only time

a man need not ask even God for miracles or

transformations they come unsolicited and

everywhere.

Tulips and the birth or grass morning- glories

in the morning and lilacs all day long. April

holds a man so firm that he could swear the

screech of owl’s singing was a choir of blue

jays paid to serenade the neighborhood like a

touring medicine band.

April is the tuning fork for the summer

months ahead.

Rod McKuen

Support our Supporters

• See Mid-Lakes Mini Storage southwest of Delton for your storage needs. Mid-Lakes provides us with storage for our Chief Noonday Tool Trailer.

• Katies & Christy’s.  Midlakes Screen-Printing, Monogramming Active Wear and Tanning Salon Delton, MI.

Interested in supporting the Chief Noonday Chapter?  Let us help you advertise.

Contact Tom Garnettt at 269-382-2561, or GarnettT@trinity-health.org

Share and Tell

Do you have a trail story, a section of trail that is your favorite, a bit of trail wisdom? Share your knowledge, and wit with our readers. Send your thoughts, short stories, or pearls to linda warren at: linblessed54@aol.com.

A Pearl from Larry Hawkins:

“3 Leaflets...Let it Be!”

Be watchful for poison ivy.  The new section of trail in Middleville:

We are always looking for new members, share your newsletter with a friend, and tell someone about Chief Noonday.

W.K. Kellogg Biological Station is hosting teas:

May 11:The Girlfriend’s at W.K. Kellogg Manor House. 3pm

June 22: Mad Hatter’s Tea

Sept. 28: Feng Shui Tea

Oct. 26: Harvest Tea

Dec. 7: Dickens Tea

            Dec. 14: Holly and Ivy Tea

The cost for tea and a tour of the Manor House is $18 for adults and $12 for children 2-12 years. Prepaid reservations are requested. Please call 269-671-2416 or e-mail manorhouse@msu.kbs.edu for reservations or more information.

Newsletter Editor: Linda Warren  linblessed54@aol.com

Answer First Earth Day, April 22, 1970.

Those who contemplate the beauty of the Earth

find reserves of strength that will endure long as life lasts.

Rachel Carson.

Trecs Inc.

Lee’s Sporting Goods

Prairieville Family Inn

Sharp Park Campground

Sandhill Marketing

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Last modified: Monday, February 06, 2006
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