2023 Annual Report

2023 ANNUAL REPORT

Connecting Northern Michigan by Trail

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Financials

Vision

People

Mission

Dear Trail Supporters

I want to start this note off with a giant THANK YOU to our members and supporters - we truly could not do our work without you. The patient, generous support you have given our work during several difficult years has kept us working to provide safe outdoor recreation opportunities at a time when they are needed more than ever. Your support enabled our success in 2023, and you’ll soon be seeing visible evidence of progress across our 325-mile trail network.

One thing I’ve learned in my four years at the Trails Council is that trail projects are a lot more complicated than they seem, and that everything takes a little bit more time than you think it will. That is why I’m so gratified to report that 2023 saw a lot of forward momentum on longstanding projects, with much more to come in 2024. Last year the Trails Council partnered with Charlevoix County and the Charlevoix

I have been associated with the Top of Michigan Trails Council since the 1990s when, as a Cheboygan resident, I began advocating for the creation of what is now the North Central State Trail. The “Rails to Trails” movement had begun under the leadership of the national Rails to Trails Conservancy. Its mission was, and is, to convert disused railroad corridors to public recreational trails. Having ridden the initial cross-state Michigander bicycle tour in 1992, I witnessed first hand southern Michigan corridors being converted to rail trails. With that experience I followed the lead of the snowmobile clubs in northern Michigan in advocating for state purchase of area rail corridors. However, to make the corridors suitable for cyclists and walkers, removal of rail ballast and laying a surface of compacted crushed stone was necessary. I sought the assistance of the Trails Council in this effort. The Council’s emphasis up to that point had been west of I-75 but its board enthusiastically endorsed my efforts. From that point it was getting buy-in from the local governments within

County Trail Team to get the Boyne City to Charlevoix Trail back on track after several years of delays.

As a result engineering was completed and funding was secured for construction of Phase 3, connecting Young State Park and Phase 1 to Horton Bay, which will begin in April 2024 - right around the time this annual report hits your mailbox. Charlevoix County decided to capitalize on this momentum and push to finish the trail by allocating FY24 funding for the engineering design of Phases 4 and 5. Stay tuned!

After years of work mostly behind the scenes, restoration of the washed out Miracle Mile on the Little Traverse Wheelway made huge progress in 2023. The City of Petoskey hired an engineering firm to study the washout area and create a plan to rebuild the slope and restore the trail. We should have a plan by the end of 2024! Meanwhile our CREW campaign (Committee to REstore the Wheelway) has started raising the private dollars that will be vital seed money for state and federal grants. These efforts were

recognized by the Michigan Trails Fund with their grant of $50,000 to support the project.

The Nakwema Trailway connecting Charlevoix and Traverse City also moved forward in 2023 when Torch Lake Township approved routing for the 3.5 mile “Torch to Bay” segment which will run from just north of Eastport through Torch Lake Village. When built this trail will be a vital new community connection for local residents and eventually a key link in the 46-mile Nakwema corridor.

All of this progress takes time and money, and the need for more of both is growing all the time because our projects in the pipeline are more complex than ever and the costs of engineering and construction continue to be dynamic in the wake of a changing economy and unprecedented infrastructure investment. That’s why the vote of confidence in our work shown by your generous giving is so important.

Thank you and see you on the trails!

Brent Bolin Executive Director

whose boundaries the trail would run from Gaylord in the south to Cheboygan to Mackinaw City. That buy-in meant resolutions of support and funding to assist the state in covering the costs of surface improvements. Financial support also meant requests to businesses throughout the area, an effort which again met with success, demonstrating further support for the trail. The endorsement of the Trails Council for these efforts was invaluable.

The efforts of the Trails Council, many businesses, and numerous individuals, along with the support of the DNR, paid off. The North Central State Trail’s 65 miles were opened to the public in 2008.

With the completion of the NCST, area residents, local governments, and businesses had a concrete example of the recreational and economic benefits of trails. This made public support much easier to get for the funding necessary to surface the 70-mile corridor from Cheboygan to Alpena. The North Eastern State Trail opened in 2012. Once again the support of the Trails Council was invaluable.

The last of the three DNR owned trails in northern Michigan, the North Western State Trail, was opened in two segments, 2012

and 2015. The 32-mile trail runs from Mackinaw City to M-119, where it joins the Wheelway. All but 7.5 miles of these three trails are maintained by the DNR’s field office in Cheboygan.

The Trails Council has actively supported the addition of amenities to the three DNR trails. Benches, historical markers, wayfinding signage, air pumps, fix-it stations, trailheads, and portable restrooms have all received financial and/or consulting support through the Trails Council. Presently we are working with individuals undertaking projects to illustrate the history of Mullett Lake Village on the NCST and Ponshewaing on the NWST. The trail experience is enhanced by these amenities. The Trails Council was also instrumental in securing the funding necessary to install bicycle racks on many of the Straits Area Regional Ride buses. The system services Cheboygan, Emmet, and Presque Isle counties.

The Top of Michigan Trails Council’s reach is truly “lake to lake.” Whether you are on the Wheelway in Petoskey, the NEST in Alpena, the NCST in Gaylord or the NWST in Alanson, the Trails Council has been involved.

Jim Conboy TOMTC Board President

Trail Programs

An uptick in trail program activities was evident during the Trails Council’s very busy 2023. Programs, partnerships and scheduled events yielded a number of great opportunities to showcase our trails and those who use them.

The eighth annual Top of Michigan Festival of Races again kicked off the season, drawing hundreds of runners and walkers from all over the Midwest. We continue to tweak our routes for a better runner experience, like utilizing the Petoskey State Park so participants can see more of what the region has to offer.

TOMTC Safety & Maintenance

Director Bill Prall continues to aggressively pursue trail improvements that enhance safety for trail users and motorists near the trails. Bill and his dedicated band of volunteers

installed new Little Traverse Wheelway signage in the Bay View area and elsewhere. Working with business owners, Bill and company installed new signage and paint markings that help define trail/road boundaries and dangerous intersections where the Wheelway skirts busy M 119. Bill has doggedly pursued safety improvements in this bustling area, and his efforts could yield profound improvements in the future. Stay tuned!

Cindy Okerlund and her Kids Pedaling with a Purpose program continued on full-steam ahead in 2023, serving hundreds of Emmet County fourth graders while engaging over 100 enthusiastic volunteers.

Strategic planning represents a big step forward for this organization, its future, and future of our trail network. We developed a basic strategic plan in 2023, and we will continue advancing our vision. Put simply, our vision is “people engaging in a world-class trail system that connects northern Michigan’s thriving communities.” We think that’s a great place to plant the Trails Council flag as a starting point for our evolving strategic plan.

Presentation of the annual Max Putters Trail Champion Award took place at our annual meeting in June. Trail Ambassador Patrick Affholter (shown receiving the award from Putters himself) was the recipient. Affholter’s years of service as a Trail Ambassador and his dedication to the Kids Pedaling with a Purpose program earned him the award. Past recipients include Putters (2017), Dennis Schanski, Paul Moultrup and Rob Monroe (2018), Michael Sheean (2019), City of Petoskey (2020), Bob Boch (2021), and Lisa Loyd (2022).

Leadership Charlevoix County partnered with the Trails Council on a project to steer foot and bike traffic through Boyne City. New municipal signage safely directs Boyne City-Charlevoix Trail users through Boyne CIty to the nearby Boyne Valley Trailway. Such community partnerships draw more people to Trails Council projects while creating safer trail systems for everyone.

We published two new trail maps in 2023. A colorful map for the Burt Lake Trail and another for the Boyne City area highlight the trails, trail amenities, and nearby attractions for trail users. Consistent with the design of our other maps, these new guides help complete the Trails Council’s stable of print media helpful to those who use our network. These maps were made possible by Cheboygan County Community Foundation and Charlevoix County Community Foundation. Their support continues to enhance what we do to make our region thrive.

Kids on bikes always bring lots of smiles. That’s why in June we were happy to co-sponsor the inaugural Lynn Duse Memorial Kids’ Bike Fest in Petoskey’s Bayfront Park. Over 100 kids participated in this bike decorating and riding contest, which occurred at the Petoskey History Museum and on the Little Traverse Wheelway.

Little Traverse Wheelway Trail Ambassadors and Trail Center Ambassadors are invaluable volunteers who assist trail users throughout peak trail season. From providing directions and recommending restaurants to sharing local history and handing out maps, our ambassadors provide a critical public outreach service. Each spring, ambassadors receive training so they can better inform visitors about the trails, our area, and Northern Michigan points of interest. In this photo, Trails Council Associate Director Becca Nelson (standing) helps volunteers understand the history of the Little Traverse Wheelway.

Trail Updates

BOYNE CITY TO CHARLEVOIX TRAIL

STATUS: Halfway done

COMPLETE: Phase 1 (3 miles at south/Boyne City end) and Phase 2 (3 miles at north/Charlevoix end)

CURRENT: Phase 3 (2.4 miles from Phase 1 to Horton Bay) is being built summer 2024.

FUTURE: Phases 4 & 5 (6 miles) will complete the trail and go into design engineering in 2024.

After a long COVID delay held up completion of Phase 3, advocacy by the Trails Council and the local trail team paid off in 2023 when funding was secured and construction scheduled for Summer 2024. Charlevoix County is hoping to speed up completion of the trail and allocated money in FY24 to begin engineering Phases 4 & 5 at the same time.

CENTRAL LAKE TO BELLAIRE TRAIL

STATUS: Early development

COMPLETE: Feasibility study

CURRENT: Fundraising for engineering work

FUTURE: Engineering design development

In 2023 the Trails Council and the local trail team successfully engaged MDOT as a partner in the next phase of engineering and began fundraising for that work. When complete this trail will connect the villages of Central Lake and Bellaire with a 6.2 mile non-motorized, separated trail that will not just be an alternate means of travel but will also serve as a linear park offering unique amenities and programs for residents and tourists.

CHARLEVOIX TRAILWAY

STATUS: Almost ready to bid for construction

COMPLETE: Engineering design

CURRENT: Pending MDOT approval of design changes

FUTURE: Construction anticipated in 2025

Almost shovel ready, in 2023 a final tweak to the engineering design was proposed to MDOT and the project will move forward in 2024 upon their approval. About 1.5 miles long, this trail is a critical connection in the Top of Michigan Trail Network that extends the Little Traverse Wheelway from its current terminus at Waller Road into the City of Charlevoix. Closing the gap is also vital to achieving the Nakwema Trailway’s vision of connecting our trail network to the TART Trails network around the Traverse City area.

LITTLE TRAVERSE WHEELWAY: HARBOR WAY

STATUS: Shovel ready

COMPLETE: Engineering and construction documents

CURRENT: Fundraising for construction costs

FUTURE: Construction within the next five years, dependent on fundraising

Last year saw the completion of engineering for the longdesired extension of the Little Traverse Wheelway from its current terminus on top of the bluff into downtown Harbor Springs. MDOT approved use of an existing stormwater spillway as an underpass to get the trail safely under M-119 and down the bluff before making a shared roadway connection to the harbor.

LITTLE TRAVERSE WHEELWAY: MIRACLE MILE RESTORATION

STATUS: Feasibility evaluation

COMPLETE: Alternate trail routing was studied and rejected

CURRENT: Engineering team collecting field data to design solution

FUTURE: Concept plan for repair of the trail expected late 2024

The best, most scenic section of the most popular trail in Northern Michigan was lost in April 2020 when the Miracle Mile experienced a catastrophic washout. Since that time the trail has been closed while the Trails Council, City of Petoskey, and other partners have explored the feasibility of rebuilding the trail. Perched up a bluff along Lake Michigan, a changing water table and fluctuating lake levels create a complicated engineering project. In Fall 2023 the City of Petoskey entered into a million-dollar engineering contract that will cover 12 months of data collection and the design of an appropriate solution for rebuilding the trail.

NAKWEMA TRAILWAY

STATUS: Active development

COMPLETE: Acme Connector, first 2 miles

CURRENT: Four sections in active development

Future: Build trail one segment at a time!

Our most ambitious project to date, Nakwema spans over 45 miles and will connect Charlevoix to Traverse City - linking our Top of Michigan Trails Network to the TART Trails system and making it possible to travel from Alpena to Suttons Bay on dedicated trails. In 2023 we completed schematic design on the “Torch to Bay” segment, covering 3.5 miles from just north of Eastport to Torch Lake Village. Also in 2023 we continued to engage DNR on routing of the trail through Fisherman’s Island Park, conducting an extensive site walk in preparation for active development of the trail.

2023 Donors

FOUNDATIONS

Charlevoix County

Community Foundation

Cheboygan County Community Foundation

The Peco Foundation

The Melvin Family Fund

Louis and Nellie Sieg Fund

Network for Good

Petoskey Harbor Springs Area

Community Foundation

Rob and Janet Carr Family Foundation

The Offield Family Foundation

The WMR Family Foundation

William A Fisher II Family Foundation

CORPORATE AND ORGANIZATIONAL MEMBERS

4Front Credit Union

Animal Medical Clinic

Awakon Federal Credit Union

B.C. Lanes & Venue Grill

Back Lot

Back to Black

Bay Pines Veterinary Clinic

Bearcub Outfitters

Beards Brewery

Big Canoe

Brummeler & Associates

Burt Lake Preservation Association

Center City Gym

Charlevoix Lion’s Club

Citizens National Bank of Cheboygan

Crooked Tree Breadworks

Cross Country Ski Headquarters, LLC

East Jordan Family Health Center

EJ USA, Inc.

Evening Star Joinery, Inc.

Forbush Corner Nordic

Gurney’s Bottle Shop

Harbor/Brenn Insurance Agencies

High Gear Sports

Indian River Family Dentistry

Indian River Golf Club

Inspired Living

League of Michigan Bicyclists

Lions of Michigan

Long Point Property

Owners Association

McLane Blatchford CPA Firm

Meijer

Michigan Mountain Mayhem

Mount Bohemia

Northbound Outfitters

Northern Michigan Sports Medicine

Nub’s Nob Ski Area

Oleson’s Food Store

OrthoSport

Paint the World

Petoskey Area Visitors Bureau

Petoskey Harbor Wear

Presque Isle Electric & Gas

Rotary Club of Charlevoix

Rotary Club of East Jordan

Rotary Club of Petoskey

South Arm LLC

Stafford’s Hospitality

Stephanie Jones Real Estate

Sturgeon River Paddlesports

The Grain Train

The Outfitter

Ture Balance Life

W.W. Fairbairn & Sons

Wheeler Motors, Inc

SUSTAINER

(Gifts of $1,000 or more)

Anthony and Elizabeth Abbattista

John and Nancy Anderson

Brian Nicholas Bachynski and Elizabeth Angus Bachynski

Ron and Sandy Baldwin

Steve and Kathy Biggs

Paul and Lisa Blanchard

Wayne and Cheryl Blomberg

Randall and Carol Crow

Allen and Jane Damschroder

Barbara Darnell

James and Linda Demmer from The Canton Community Foundation

Mark and Margaret Eustis

Jerry and Eileen Fhaner

Jeff and Karen Ford

Brenda Frey

Patrick and Joyce Garrett

Ruth Gee

Susan and Brian Griffith

Margo Hodder

Bill and Wendy Holmes

Ann Irish

Sarah Kallman

Luther and Mary Kurtz

Mary Jane Kuschinski

Phyllis Ledyard

Daniel Linnenberg and Ginny

Skinner-Linnenberg

John and Linda Linnenberg

Paul and Barb Malloure

Frederick and Barbara Malpass

Paul Abbott McCartney

Harriet and Vaughn McGraw

Donor Advised Fund

Charles and Norma McKinley

David and Amanda Meyers

John and Tamara Miller

David and Suzu Neithercut

Mark and Helen Neithercut Fund

from the Grand Traverse Regional

Community Foundation

John and Susan Paul

James and Kathy Schroeder

Oliver Schwab

Steve and Jean Van Dam

Steve and Connie Vorenkamp

Clayton and Mary Jo Warner

Trail User Spotlight

Celebrating their annual “girls’ weekend”, this grinning gang of intrepid cyclists, braved the rain and cooler temperatures. Rhonella, Elaine, Peggy, and Jeanne lodged in Petoskey, rented bikes locally, and spent a few days exploring our trails. They said that while the entire area is beautiful, they particularly enjoyed riding through the Bay View area.

Don and Jan Weir

Nick and Betsy White

Vincent and Antoinette WinklerPrins

Pamela and William Yates

PATRON

(Gifts from $550 to $999)

Annie Bobilya

Barbara Brett

William and Shannon Brower

Bonnie and Michael Brunett

Douglas and Linda Busk

Reed Crow

David and Libby Domann

Michael and Rhea Dow

David and Linda Elmer

Jim and Laurie Ford

Reed and Janet Freidinger

John Fuelling and Andrea

Brault Fuelling

Herbert B. Gedge

Arnold and Dawn Geldermans

George and Phyllis Googasian

Mark and Patricia Grace

Patti and Balky Grannis

Mike and Chris Grant

John and Tracy Gravlin

Paul Hagan

Ada Hall

Terry and Michelle Harmala

Andy and Cindy Hayes

Kristin and Bob Hinshaw

Kathleen Horrocks

John and Robyn Iacoangeli

John Jordan

Victor and Caroline Knowlton

Mike and Nancy Kota

Kathleen Kurtz

Daniel and Mary Ledingham

Myron and Lisa Lewis

Eric and Lisa Loyd

John Marohn

August Matuzak

Karen McCue

David and Julia McIntosh

Bradley and Susan Moffatt

David and Ginny Monroe

Rob and Debra Monroe

Bob and Betsy Monroe

Beth and Joe Moran

John and Sharon Myers

Bradford and Lisa Nelson

Dennis and Margaret Paull

Mary and Tom Peterson

Holly and Jim Rader

Margery and Steve Reh

Linda and William Rehor

Mary Anne Reilly

Bryan Rellinger

Jim and Linda Ries and Family

Sally and Jim Rogers

John and Deborah Rohe

Skip and Ann Simms

Stafford and Janice Smith

B. R. and Judy Smith

Erik and Carmany Thorp

Rick and Michelle Tromble

Todd Twichel

Ed Usewick

Joyce and John Williams

Gary and Ann Young

Gregory and Diana Young

TRAILBLAZER

(Gifts from $250 to $499)

Patrick and Susan Affholter

Michael and Holly Angileri

Douglas and Linda Bacon

Steven Barney and Gretchen Olsen

Lenny and Rose Mary Barrette

Peter and Diane Basso

David and Cathy Beier

Joe and Lyn Bianco

Neil and Marsha Bidwell

Dick and Verne Binder

Richard Bollinger

Martha Bowman

Bradford Brett

Buzz Burrell

Mary Campbell

Russell and Christine

Carpenter Polly Cheney

James and Susan Conboy

Gary and Deborah Cooper

Jeff and Peggy Cyphert

Deborah and David Deal

Giving level reflects total amount given in 2023.

2023 Donors

... Continued from previous page

Trail User Spotlight

Standing with TOMTC Trail Ambassador Susan Affholter (left) are Bill and Liz from Caledon, Ontario, Canada, who visited us while they were camping at Petoskey State Park. This friendly couple, who appreciate and use the trails near their home, used the park as a starting point for their Northern Michigan adventure. They said their favorite part of the Little Traverse Wheelway is the area between Petoskey and Harbor Springs.

Cliff and Jane Denay

Michael and Debbie Esposito

John and Sue Esser

David and Heidi Finley

George and Gail Foster

Elizabeth and Lee Gahagan

Wick and Gardiner Garrard

Luci Gernot

Jeffrey and Ann Gerow

Fred and Kay Geuder

Alan and Leanne Gillespie

Robert C. Grove

Tina Harlan

James and Jesseca Haslock

Thomas Hickner

Eugene and Carolyn Hodulik

Timothy Inglis

Henry and Karen Jallos

Carl and Vicki Janssens

John and Elaine Kurtz

Hal and Betsy Lawrence

John Lehman and Maureen

Delaney-Lehman

Ron and Tricia Leng

Thomas and Mary Ling

Patrick and Martha Maloney

Robert and Barbara McCue

Tracy and Jeff McMath

Dr. William Meengs

Mark and Michelle Melvin

Katy and Hal Messacar

Dale and Betsy Meyer

Emily Meyerson and Harry Kitchen

Peggy and Phil Millard

Gregory and Marion Milward

Charitable Gift Fund at Blue

Grass Community Foundation

Al and Jean Moberly

Jim and Susan Monton

Tim and Katie Moskalik

Peter and Cammie Moss

Alice Nasif

James Neff

Dennis Oneil

Constance Osters

Peter Patrick

Kay and David Powell

Roy Pulaski

James and Patricia Radlick

Marilyn Randall

Kay Rankin

William and Nancy Rybolt

Elizabeth and Frank Sapio

Daniel Scherman

Gary and Colleen Shaw

Jim and Laura Shirilla

Nikki Skrocki

Brian Slater

John Smith

Scott and Dibby Smith

Malissa Sparks

David Spitzli and Maureen Engle

Carolyn and William Stark

Gary and Mary Street

Chris and Susan Stroud

Matthew and Alexandra Trecha

Nancy and Bruce Turner

Michael Vacketta

James and Rachel Votruba

Brian and Dawn Wagner

Jon Walker

Mary and Thomas Weinland

Karen and Steve Weiss

Laurie and Kevin Welsh

Tim and Peg Wilcox

Jeff and Julie Winegard

Jack Woudenberg

Brian Wright

PATHFINDER

(Gifts from $100 to $249)

Karrie Abbitt

Bruce Alexander

Jorja Allen

Dr. Kit Anderson and Mrs. Janel Anderson

Robert and Cherri Anthony

Mark and Denise Antonishen

Mike and Catherine Atchison

Dick and Annette Babcock

Lois Bahle

Craig Bailey

Richard Baldwin, MD

Michael and Sally Bales

Dann and Jeanne Balesky

Nancy and Paul Barker

Devra and Mark Barrett

Dave and Robyn Barrie

Earl and Sherry Bash

Robert Bauman and Lucie Audette

Mary Baxter

Robert and Sharon Bence

Norman and Kathryn Bennett

Dr. Jeffrey A. and Mrs. Laura L. Bennett

Laurence and Linda Bernhardt

Jeffrey and Katherine Bischoff

John Blair

Matthew and Nancy Blandford

Scott and Cathy Blumenstein

David Blumenthal

Barbara Bohls-Graham and James Graham

Curt and Diane Bolin

Douglas and Sue Bouwense

Daniel Branson

Janet Brautigam

Steven and Holly Brown

Ernest Brumbaugh and Carole Mueller Brumbaugh

Noel Bufe and Mary Tyson

Walter and Nancy Byers

Don Caird

Vincent Call

Greg and Becky Carpenter

Steven and Marilyn Carpenter

Bruce and Kay Cartford

Daniel and Linda CasaSanta

Kathleen Charboneau

Peggy Child Smith and David Smith

Jon and Janet Child Chism

Charles Clark

Susan Clarke

Richard and Margaret Clary

John Clifford

Sylvia Cofer

Marc and Jayme Collier

Brendan and Leah Conboy

Maureen Conklin

Ann Couture

Micheal and Joanne Cromley

Lanny and Bobie Crongeyer

Chad Crow

Kelly Crow

James and Marilyn Cusenza

Doug and Luann Damm

Evan Daywell

Adriane De Windt

Lynne Demoor

Linda Denton

Alan Dika and Cynthia Rutherford

Thomas and Trisha Dobias

Josie and Bill Doherty

Karen and Michael Donnelly

James and Susan Douglas

James and Maureen Doull

George and Kathleen Dubro

Yvon Dufour

Bruce and Nancy Dunn

Michael and Elizabeth Durbin

Bill Kunst

Carson Hilbert Ederle

Gerald Ellman

Michael Emmerd

James and Kathleen Erbeck

Steve and Kathy Erber

Michael and Marcia Etienne

Michael and Kathryn Farrimond

Lloyd Fell

Kurt and Kate Feller

Barbara Fisher

Michael and Rose Fitzgerald

Peter and Sarah Ford

Mary and Bill Foster

Mark and Patricia Fralick

Michael and Geri Frederixon

Richard Frutiger and Sara Wassenaar

Victoria and David Fuger

Doug Fuller and Martha Lancaster

Karen Gaides

Charles and Fran Gano

Julia Gerlach

Seth Gernot

Nichole Gernot

Nanci Gernot

Patrick and Georgianna Gibbons

Dr. and Mrs. Thomas H. Gietzen

John Heiam and Lois Goldstein

Owen Goslin

Rosemary Grable

William and Louise Graham

Eric Grandstaff and Alexis Kaczynski

Lawrence B. and Sue A. Graves Junior

Emma Green

Robert and Candace J. Greene

Jerome Gregory

Tim Gulden

Sue Haadsma-Svensson and Kjell Svensson

Robert Hameister

Joseph W. Hance

James R. Hanchett, D.D.S, PC

Jacquelyn Hanna

George Harbison

Jeff and Deb Hardcastle

Jenny and Todd Hayden

Dale Hecksel

Gretchen Herold

Frances B. Higley

Gus Hillenbrand

Max and Diane Hinkley

Richard and Perry Hodgson

Doug and Shari Hoek

David and Ellen Hofacker

William and Marla Hofmann

John Holder and Julie Fasone Holder

Christine Hollister

Leslie and Chris Homan

Josephine and Russell Hopkins

Jane Horal

Scott and Jill Hotchkiss

Robert Howse

David and Patricia Hubbard

Barbara and Jerry Huey

Ruth Hurvitz

Janet Ivory and Frank May

Tim and Carol Jarvi

Katy Johnson

Catherine and Gordon Johnston

Johnston’s Marine

Dr. Martin Jones and Mrs. Ellen Jones

John and Kathleen Jorgensen

Robert and Mary Keedy

Kimberlee Kelley

Audrey Kelly and Dave Posthumus

Barry Kempa

John Keyser

Kim Kihnke and Dan Laninga

William and Maryanna Klatt

Josephine Klingler

Alicia and Steve Knudson

Jane Korthase

Charlotte Kosanke

Kenneth and Elizabeth Koss

Al and Evelyn Kozleski

Debra Soverinsky and David Kraus

Roger and Barbara Kromm

Jason and Margaret M. Kromm

Larry and Marlene Kuzdal

Thomas Lagerstrom and Mary Anne Griffin

Bill Laitner

Karen Langs

Craig and Susanne Larrabee

Lynn Laughlin

Jack Laurent

James and KC Leh

Jessica Leonard

Deborah Lewis

Frederick and Kathy Liederbach

Wayne and Georgia Lindstrom

Robert Linnenberg

James Little

Dianne Litzenburger

Leonard and Carrie Lohman

Kristin and Kirk Lufkin

Lorraine Lund

Charles and Kathleen MacInnis

Robert and Miranda MacLean

David and Juanita Mallmann

Mary Masson

Lisa Maxson

Richard and Janet May

Mac McClelland and Mac

Consulting Service, LLC

Tamara McGovern

Phil and Karen McKinley

Maureen and James McLeod

Jim and Diane McMahon

Mark and Laurie McMurray

Tina and Greg McPherson

John and Denise M. McQuillan

Connie Mendyk

William and Jane Millar

Robert and Carol Miller

Thomas and Deborah Miller

Linda and James Miller

David and Deborah Miller

Lee and Carma Milner

Jeffrey Minkwic and

Cynthia Johnson-Minkwic

Jeffrey Moore

Susan Moore

Diane Morand

Fred Mulhauser and Paula Welmers

Marcia Mumbrue

Sheila Murphy

Michael and Karen Neill

Kevin Neill

Troy Neill

Howard Newkirk

Bruce Nichols

Maureen Nicholson

David and Joan Niewiadomski

Julie Norcross

Bruce Nyberg

Tom and Linda Oelke

Sally Olds

Kerry and Ann O’Tool

Ted and Lori Pall

John and Mary Jo Parker

Liz Patterson

Butch and Shelley Paulsen

Barry Petersen

William and Jane Petzold

Jeffery and Denise Phillips

Mary Pickett and Rich Teets

Eric and Julie Pierpont

Kristin Plumb

Scott Pulaski

Mark and Catherine Pumford

Max and Mary Putters

David Rabahy

Steve Radecki and Lauren Walsh

Douglas Radtke

David and Mary Randall

Thomas and Nancy Rea

Craig and Deborah Redder

Judy Revallo

Paul Revard

Jennifer and David Rice

Mary Riegle

Ted Robinson

Larry and Elaine Rochon

Michael Rodenberg

Gerald and Joan Rogers

Reed and Georjeanne

Romain Aaron Rustad

Philip and Patrice Ryan

Paulina Ryan

Molly and Tom Saeli

Jane and Ed Sandri

Tom and Nancy Sarowski

Timothy Scherman

Jane E. Schneider

Steve and Elizabeth Schnell

David and Jo Ann Schopp

Catherine Courtney Scollin

Alan Scott

Christina Shanti

Bud and Nancy Shear

Michael Sheean

David Shepard

Allison K. Short

Carol Short

Michael and Charr Skirvin

Linda and Mark Slater

Craig and Sue Smigiel

Solomon and Deborah Smith

Jacob Snider

Ronald and Donna Snyder

Marianne and Larry Sorensen

Allen Sorgenfrei

Pam Stahl

Tom Stanley

Jason Stephens

Mr. and Mrs. Sterling

Gwenn Stevenson

Gary and Susan Stewart

Ken Stewart

Mark and Kristi Stormzand

Thomas Striggow

Skip and Paul Summers

Michael and Peggy Supernault

Robert Swanson

Jeffrey Tapick

The Ryan Knight Family

Tony Torti

Larry and Susan Turnage

Mary Ann Uznis

Kent and Kay Van Allen

Michael and Mary Ann Van Lokeren

Dave and Penny VanDam

Paula Vaughan

Bill and Marty Walker

Sara Ward

Paul and Melanie Weaver

Donna Weber

Gary Kaleita and Linda Weeks-Kaleita

Marcus and Sharon Wegmeyer

Jeff Wellington

James and Marjorie Wessinger

Greg and Donna Wheeler

Robert and Rosita White

Rob and Michael Whittaker

Dee and Dan Wickham

Floyd and Anne Wilkinson

Jennifer Wilson

Dr. Brian Wittenberg

and Mrs. Gina Wittenberg

Helen Wolfgang

David and Mary Wood

John and Anna Young

Dan and Cathy Zaenglein

Joseph and Kendra Zielinski

Tom and Cindy Zipp

FRIEND

(Gifts up to $99)

Dwain Abramowski

Daniel and Carol Adams

Gail Aho

William and Bonnie Ahrenberg

William Albert

Gregory Allan

Renee Allen

Sarah Amling

Susan Aspinall

Claude and Barbara Avery

Charles and Jennifer Badgero

Jim Bartlett

Sally and Steve Bataran

Ken Bates

David and Karen Beauchemin

Marshall and Raey Beck

Doug Bedell

Harry and Roberta Begley

Carolyn Belknap

Walter Beusse

Mary Biagini

David and Martha Birkhold

Sally and David Birkmeier

Sanford and Susan Birnholtz

Michelle Bison

Robert Bitterman, MD

Judith Blackburn

Ellis Boal and Luanne Kozma

Herm and Darlene Boatin

Kay Bohls

Kerry Bogataj

Brent Bolin and Danielle Schopp

Sherry and David Bondy

Donna and Craig Bonk

Trail User

Spotlight

The smiles always tell the story! The Lowe family, from Ohio, stopped in the Packy Offield Trail Center. “The trails bring us so much joy,” said Mr. Lowe. “We ride these trails every day that we’re up here. We enjoy the isolation from the road and the greenery is very beautiful. Really, the trails make our vacation. If there’s one distinguishing feature about this area that keeps us coming back, it’s these trails.”

2023 Donors

... Continued from previous page

Connie Booth

Ed and Michelle Boyer

Richard and Christine Brodhead

Jennifer Brown

Christine Brown

Cameron Brunet-Koch and Bruce Koch

Maureen Burke

Tim and Lonnie Calloway

Donald Camp

Nicholle Cardinal

Pam and Rusty Carpenter

Elizabeth M. Carr

Brian and Laura Champion

Pete and Judi Chimner

Budd and Sandra Cicciarelli

Kevin and Janet Clarke

Marilyn Cobb

Karma Common

Hugh and Susan Conklin

Diane Cookinham

Trish Corliss

Bill Courtney

John Cowan

Eric and Stacy Cox

Robin Crahan

George Cripps

Stephen and Mary Crusoe

Rick Cunningham

John Darnbrook

Cynthia Davis

Ryan Deery

Dan and Robbe DiPietro

William and Janice Dodge

Cynthia Donahey and Art Schoolmaster

Tammy Dumez

Lynne Duncan

Thomas and Denise Erhart

Tracy Farris

Dr. and Mrs. Charles Farrugia

Dr. and Mrs. Robert Fawcett

Julie Feldpausch and Henry Ryan

Linda and Mark Ferguson

James and Raeanne Fielder

Gabriella Fine

SJ Flann

Elizabeth and Paul Foley

Chip and Jean Frentz

Sonja Fritzsche

John and Christine Fulford

Ronald and Denise Fusina

Josh Galle

Rafael Garcia

Byron and Sheila Gay

Bruce Geffen

Marlene George

Mary and Jack Gergel

Thomas Gideon

Judith A. Gillow

Ira and Deborah Ginsburg

Michael Glusac

Kathy Godfrey

James Gracy

Dean and Nancy Graham

Deb Greene

Matt Greer

David Guanci

Peter and Sarah Gurney

William and Kathy Haefner

Liane Hagerman

Gary and Laurianne Hannan

Betsy Loyd Harvey

Dan Heckman

Albert and Myra Heffley

James and Carol Helmer

Hashem Hilal

David and Karen Hill

Sharon Hofbauer

John and Judy Hoffman

Thomas Hopp

Mark and Katherine N. Hramiec

Jennifer Huder

Jack and Sue Hufford

Bruce and Jan Hunting

Bret Huntman and Katherine Melby

Sue Hutchinson

Robert and Sharlene Ingmand

Paul and Denise Janness

Mary Johnson and Kenneth Allen

Charles Johnson

John and Dorothy Johnson

Mark and Rebecca Jones

Loyce Jones

Kathy Karenko

Tim and Lynn Keck

Deborah Keller

William Kelly

Robert and Sheryl Kendrick

K. E. Kenyon

Norm and Bonnie Kern

Matthew and Rosemary Kevnick

Chelsey Kimball

Carol and Dave Klun

James and Judith Kohl

Mary Kohl

Harold Koviak

Kathryn Krecke

Victor and Toni Krisko

Paul Kuehl

Robert and Suann Kughn

Mary Kunst

Mark Kurz

Anne and Don La Barre

William and Cynthia Labadie

Kendra and Ryan Lake

Harold Lassers

Neil O. Leighton

Jerry and Pamela Lesperance

Nancy and Stephen Lindsay

Vickie and Jack Lyon

Genevieve Lyon

The Water Street Condos Group

A group of full and part-time Petoskey residents illustrated their love for the Little Traverse Wheelway by pooling donations aimed at boosting the Little Traverse Wheelway repair effort. All residents of Water Street Condominiums in Petoskey passed the hat and collected $4,000. The group’s generous donation was given in support of the Trails Council’s CREW (Committee to REstore the Wheelway), where it will be used to supplement soft costs associated with the Wheelway repair project.

Stephen and Carolyn Madden

Janet Mancinelli

Robert and Joan Mandell

Martin and Julie Manker

Max and Jeanette Marker

Carol Marston-Foucher

James Martin

Mary and Donald Trout

Patrick and Norma May

John McCahan

Leonard and Martha McCallep

Peggy McCormick

Katherine Melby

Connie Messner

Kevin and Marcia Meyer

Valerie Meyerson

Mary Michno

Jess and Pam Miller

Phil Miller

George and Carol Miller

Johnetta and James Miller

Scott Miller

Joey Moppert

John and Connie Morgan

Rochelle Morrish

Blair and Yvonne Moulthrop

Dave and Pamela Moyer

Arthur Mullen

Linda Mullens

Mark and Rose Muniak

Jennifer Murphy

Melanie Myers

Samir Nazir

Thomas and Deborah Neidhamer

Trevor and Becca Nelson

Thomas Newberry

Edward and Pamela M. Newcomb

Patricia Nolan

Molly Noland

Mike and Susie Nuorala

Patrick O’Connor

Thomas and Mary O’Hare

Chuck and Cristina Omahen

James and Beverly Osetek

Janet Pankey

Lawrence and Marnie Parrott

Jordan Peck

Samantha Persons

Lyn Petty

Stephanie Pierce

Sandy Planisek

Phillip Possanza and Mary O’Halloran

Amy Powell

Jeffrey and Carol E. Powers

Greg, Annie, James and Grant Rankin

Dr. John Rasmussen and Mrs. Barbara Rasmussen

Dan and Lisa Rasmussen

Grahm Reinhard

Casey Ressl

Howard Richards

Robin Riseng

Gary Ritz

Sarah Roche

Gary Roe

Holly and Edward Russell

Patricia Ryde

Jean Scates

Kerry and Maura Schoo

John Schulz

Jamie Schwartzfisher

Beth Senecal

Andy Shane

Jeff and Elsa Shrader

James Shrader

Susan and Steven Sikkema

Henry and Naomi Singer

Doug Sink

Mark and Christine Smith

Stanley and Marilynn Smith

Valerie Snyder

Mary and Al Southwood

Dawn Staley

Gary Stauffer

Dan and Patricia Steffes

Josephine Step

Midge Stewart

Geoff Surkamer

Shirlee Suter

Marti Swiger

Bill and Kooch Takalo

Brent Taylor

Ken and Brenda Tewel

Michael and Nancy Thibideau

Karen Thomson

Kris and Mike Timko

Miles Trumble

James and Barbara Van Dam

A. Van De Car

Willem and Kristin Van Reesema

Nikki Vanden Heuvel

Nicole Vanklompenberg

Paul and Joanna VanRaaphorst

Dean Vanston

Carole Vial

Rick and Therese Vorraber

Linda Wacyk

Jennifer Walker

Martha Walker

Luanne Watt

Jim White

Bob and Sue Whittaker

Kim and Brian Wills

Roger and Katherine Winslow

Ken Winter

Barbara A. Wiseman

Ken and Carol Woodhurst

Joel and Dorothy Wurster

Deborah and Jeffrey Young

Mallory Zink

HONORARIUMS

In Honor of Birkmeier-Dushane Families

Given by Sally and David Birkmeier

In Honor of Gary and Darla Rellinger

Given by Bryan Rellinger

In Honor of Jim Conboy

Given by Brendan and Leah Conboy

In Honor of Great Lakes

Capital - Maple Block Flats

Given by Mac McClelland and Mac Consulting Service, LLC

In Honor of John Stephens

Given by Jason Stephens

In Honor of Karen Langs

Given by Frances B. Higley

In Honor of Mark and Patty Grace

Given by Christine Hollister In Honor of Matt Greer and LCC

Class Project Given by Sara Ward

In Honor of Michael Sheean

Given by Joe and Lyn Bianco

and Shirlee Suter In Honor of My neighbors at Water Street Condos. We hope other associations and neighbors will join us! Given by Brian and Dawn Wagner

In Honor of Nancy Hoefer

Given by Gary and Mary Street

In Honor of Our Water Street

Condo friends Given by Alicia and Steve Knudson

In Honor of Pedaling With A Purpose

Given by Catherine Courtney Scollin

In Honor of Ric and Lisa Loyd

Given by Robert Hameister

In Honor of Seth Gernot’s 300 mile bike ride

Given by Doug Bedell, Rosemary Grable, Luci

Gernot and Timothy Inglis

In Honor of Seth Gernot and Rebecca Rankin

Given by Doug Bedell, Luanne Watt

In Honor of Steve Biggs

Given by Ron and Sandy Baldwin

In Honor of Steve Trecha

Given by Matthew and Alexandra Trecha

In Honor of the Affholters

Given by Karma Common

In Honor of Wayne and Cheryl Blomberg Given by Patricia Ryde

In Honor of Wildwood Volunteers

Given by Katherine Melby

In Honor of our son, Dr. Connor Welsh, avid runner

Given by Laurie and Kevin Welsh

In Honor of LCC Class of 2015!

Given By Jack Laurent

In Honor of Mullett Village

Given by Holly and Jim Rader, Ethan and Hillary Rader Feuer, Derek and Mackenzie Rader Fuhrmann, Nate and Chelsea Rader Amendola

In Honor of Rebecca Rankin

Given by Mary Kohl

In Honor of Water Street

In Honor of Rebecca Rankin

Given by Mary Kohl

In Honor of Water Street

In Honor of Ms. Jessica Moore, Mr. & Mrs. Craig Sincock, Mr. & Mrs. Doug Gettel, Mr. Nick Liebler, Mr. Ben Doornbos, Mr. Fred Ball, Mr. Kevin Serba, Ms. Michelle Kruzel,

Mr. & Mrs. Chase Offield,

Mr. & Mrs. Bill Crawford

Given by Evening Star Joinery, Inc.

Trail User Spotlight

The Gengler family from St. Louis, Mo, are former Michiganders from downstate. The group - all on bicycles - still visit Northern Michigan annually. According to Mr. Gengler, the family always makes a bike ride part of their holiday. This time, they chose the Little Traverse Wheelway, and they reported that their favorite part was at Bayfront Park in Petoskey.

MEMORIALS

In Memory of Bob and Char Blumenstein Given by Scott and Cathy Blumenstein, Kurt and Kate Feller, Craig and Sue Smigiel, and Pam Stahl

In Memory of Bruce Allard

Given by Bruce and Jan Hunting

In Memory of Bud Laughlin

Given by Lynn Laughlin

In Memory of Carolyn Sue Leighton

Given by Neil O. Leighton

In Memory of Charles R. Step

Given by Josephine Step

In Memory of Chris Weingartz

Given by Jeffrey Moore, Amy Powell. and Gwenn Stevenson

In Memory of Daniel J. Horal

Given by Jane Horal

In Memory of Diana Heron

Given by Loyce Jones

In Memory of Donald A. Dawkins

Given by Daniel and Carol Adams

In Memory of Donna

Given by Christine Brown

In Memory of Doug Brautigam

Given by Janet Brautigam

In Memory of Earl and Amy Oliverio, and Loretta Gernot Given by Luci Gernot

In Memory of Elaine Hameister

Given by Robert Hameister

In Memory of Howard Hanson Given by Ken Bates

In Memory of Jack and June Myers Given by John and Sharon Myers

In Memory of James and Joyce Bellmer Given by Kimberlee Kelley

In Memory of Jim Beno Given by Roger and Katherine Winslow

In Memory of Jim Soubly Given by Lanny and Bobie Crongeyer

In Memory of Jim Valrance

Given by James and Judith Kohl and David and Mary Randall

In Memory of John and Margaret Kelly

Given by Audrey Kelly and Dave Posthumus

In Memory of KayCee Shane Given by Andy Shane

In Memory of Kelsey Manker

Given by Martin and Julie Manker

In Memory of Lawrence Kestner

Given by David and Heidi Finley

In Memory of Leland J. Crow

Given by Randall and Carol Crow, Chad Crow, SJ Flann, Mark and Patricia Grace, Marianne and Larry Sorensen, and Jennifer Wilson

In Memory of Lois Fettis

Given by Claude and Barbara Avery, Steven and Marilyn Carpenter, Thomas Hickner, Mark and Katherine N. Hramiec, Tim and Lynn Keck, David and Julia McIntosh, Blair and Yvonne Moulthrop, Michael and Karen Neill, Kevin Neill, Troy Neill, Karen Thomson, Allison K. Short, Carol Short, Mary and Al Southwood, Bill and Kooch Takalo, and Kim and Brian Wills

In Memory of Margaret and John Kelly/Burt Baker Family

Given by William Kelly

In Memory of Michel S. Nasif Given by Alice Nasif

In Memory of Nancy Heyser Given by Jim and Linda Ries and Family

In Memory of Neal McCue Gary and Deborah Cooper, Karen McCue, and Robert and Barbara McCue

In Memory of Neal Pasciak

Given by Connie Booth

In Memory of Nicholas Klingler

Given by Josephine Klingler

In Memory of Patty Forster

Given by Beth and Joe Moran

In Memory of Regina McGovern

Given by Tamara McGovern

In Memory of Robert B. Foster

Given by George and Carol Miller

In Memory of Robert Brower

Given by Gabriella Fine

In Memory of Robert Meyers

Given by David and Amanda Meyers

In Memory of Ross E. Roeder

Given by Mary Anne Reilly

In Memory of Russ Langs

Given by Ronald and Donna Snyder

In Memory of Sharon J. Waterman Given by Sherry and David Bondy, Donna and Craig Bonk, Thomas Gideon, Judith A. Gillow, Dean and Nancy Graham, Karl and Deb Lewis, Eric and Laura Lewis, and Kirsten Lewis, Max and Jeanette Marker, Cole, Jessica, Ian & the Moroch Family, Liz Patterson, Mary Pickett and Rich Teets, Jennifer and David Rice, and Molly and Tom Saeli

In Memory of Terry Wiseman Given by Barbara A. Wiseman

In Memory of Tim White Given by James and Patricia Radlick

In Memory of Tom Anderson Given by Bill Laitner

MONTHLY SUSTAINERS

Patrick and Susan Affholter

Douglas and Sue Bouwense

Buzz Burrell

Hugh and Susan Conklin

Seth Gernot

Luci Gernot

James Gracy

Loyce Jones

Kendra and Ryan Lake

Eric and Lisa Loyd

Joey Moppert

Bruce Nichols

Aaron Rustad

Brian Slater

Nancy and Bruce Turner

Barbara A. Wiseman

1687 M-119 Petoskey, MI 49770 www.trailscouncil.org | 231.348.8280

2024 Calendar of Events

SATURDAY, MAY 25

Stafford’s Hospitality Top of Michigan Festival of Races Bayfront Park, Petoskey

SATURDAY, JUNE 8

2nd Annual Lynn Duse Memorial Kids’ Bike Fest Bayfront Park, Petoskey Kids bike parade, judging, prizes, art activities, bike decorating, vintage bikes

THURSDAY, JUNE 20

Top of Michigan Trails Council Annual Meeting Packy Offield Trail Center

SUNDAY, JULY 21

Indian River Kayak/Bike Biathlon Burt Lake/DeVoe Beach, North Central State Trail

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22

Cheboygan Tap Into the Trails 5k & 10k Festival Square, Cheboygan