By Josephine Roberts
My grandson Damien was not quite 6 months old when he first visited Postle Farm Preserve. Of course he loved the barn (fresh ly painted by volunteers and staff). Imag ine if you can, a glimpse of a future where people and nature thrive together, Damien. What needs to happen to get us there?
Everyone has something to give to the future. Whether it’s volunteer hours to help monitor a preserve, time to meet and greet new neighbors and invite them to become members, citizen science hours checking for invasive species on land and in the water, participation on one of our eight commit tees, a generous contribution of time to cul tivate our junior members, or donating the land and monies that allow us to purchase properties or easements to continue conserv ing and protecting the land and water.
Our strength as a not-for-profit member ship-based organization is our members. We are 1,031 strong, and our 167 junior mem bers are the future. This edition of The Wal looner features articles on some of what the Walloon Lake Association and Conservancy has accomplished in 2022. Nothing would be possible without the work of our Board, and support from our membership, our staff and our surrounding communities.
The Board has spent a great deal of time and energy this fall crafting a new Strategic Plan for the next five years. Our last Stra tegic Plan was a transitional document that took us through the merger of the Walloon Lake Association and the Trust and Conser
vancy and beyond. The Strategic Planning process included input from our stakehold ers, Board and staff. We are centering the future on five measurable strategic goals that will focus our priorities: Community Engagement, Land Protection and Water Quality, Preserve Stewardship, Stakeholder Coordination and Fundraising.
A Letter From Our New Board President,
PAT GOLDICH
“Coco, do you think Dr. Postle knew what a wonderful gift he was giving? What kind of gift should I be thinking about?”
It is exciting that our culture of conser vation will look to a diverse community of people around the lake and in the water shed; our land protection and water quality initiatives will continue to maintain and im prove water quality and preserve prioritized lands within the watershed; our preserves and conservation lands will be managed to the highest standards; strategic work with stakeholders will focus on government policy and enforcement; and community fundraising initiatives will promote an un derstanding of and willingness to invest in our future. Progress of our efforts towards measurable outcomes of the Strategic Plan will be routinely communicated over the next five years.
Most everyone has a story about their connection to and love for Walloon Lake. My grandchildren are sixth generation on Walloon Lake, and I want to leave the lake and watershed a better place, a place where people and nature thrive together. Damien (now 9 months), and his cousins Eli (now 5 years old) and Evan (now 1 year old) no doubt have lots of contemporaries around the lake who want to live, work or play here. Together with the diversity of our ever growing community, the leadership of our Board, the actions of our staff and your tireless commitment to our mission we will leave Walloon Lake and its watershed a better place for future generations. Please consider an active role in the Walloon Lake Association and Conservancy!
Thank You,
Mary Pat WLAC BOARD PRESIDENTIam pleased to present the Walloon Lake Association and Conservan cy impact report for 2021-2022. As an organization, we are re sponsible for a complex and diverse portfolio of work that covers perma nent land protection and land stew ardship, water quality monitoring and restoration, government affairs, boater safety, community education and next generation engagement – all critical ac tivities we do year after year to ensure the vitality of Walloon Lake for the gen erations to come.
While our vision for the future is clear, an annual impact report is a ret rospective on the success, innovation and positive impacts achieved over the short span of the past year. Most of the conservation efforts featured in this is sue are not confined to a 12-month pe riod, with many projects demonstrating the latest outcomes from decades of hard work and persistence.
To the many who contributed your time, treasure and talents to the WLAC this year, simply, thank you.
BELOW:
LEFT: Ted Ringer, star football player at Northwestern University, came to Walloon after marrying college sweetheart Jean Bippus in 1958.
BELOW: Ted Ringer and son Jim, carrying on the Bippus family fishing traditions, around 1990. (Photos courtesy of the family)
Lured by the prospect of fresh north ern air and a beautiful lake, in 1906, James Frederick Bippus and wife Myrtle Bippus made the trip from Huntington, Indiana to Walloon.
They certainly weren't alone. The sparkling waters, cerulean skies and verdant forests of Walloon had already attracted a number of other Huntington residents. So many came, in fact, that the Huntington faction had estab lished its own camp on South Shore, between Fort Wayne Camp and the Thomas House. Among the Indiana natives already making the trek to the lake were such longtime Walloon families as Taylor, Beck, Purviance and Dick.
James Frederick (J. Fred) was a prominent businessman in Huntington, where he built the elegant Hotel LaFontaine, once a popular spot for the rich and famous. He followed in the footsteps of his father and grandfather, both astute businessmen. The town of Huntington owes much to the prominent and philanthropic Bippus family, whose ventures included oil and banking.
The Bippus family rented a cottage that first year at Walloon, but the following year J. Fred bought 142 feet of shoreline on South Shore for
$1,400 and then an additional 25 feet for $300 from Ben Ellis. He then built two houses with a connecting porch for his family. J. Fred's moth er Sarah Purviance Bippus, widow of George Bippus, joined them in the smaller of the two.
The cottages had no electricity so kerosene lamps and a wood stove were utilized, accord ing to George Bippus. At one time the Bippus property included a boathouse with elaborate decorative woodwork called "Arbor Court."
Now 115 years later, the two charming cot tages built by the Bippus family still stand on Sweet Pea Lane. The smaller of them, original ly built for Sarah Purviance Bippus, has been occupied for many years by Jean Bippus Ring er, great granddaughter of Sarah and Jacob, and her family. Jean's sister Anne lives in California but still visits the lake.
Jean, whose parents were George and Hel en Rust Bippus, has filled the family cottage with vintage family photos and Walloon mem orabilia. The original front porch was screened in to provide more interior space, and two bed rooms were added to the original three, but the cottage retains its charm and sense of history. Jean's mother Helen and sister Anne were both artists and their delightful painted furniture still adorns the cottage.
A talented musician, Jean studied music at Northwestern University. There she met her future husband Ted Ringer, a football standout from South Bend, Indiana, who was Coach Ara Parseghian's first team captain at Northwestern. An ROTC student, he went on to serve two years in the Marines before taking jobs in the
communications industry. Jean intro duced Ted to Walloon and as she likes to joke "He fell in love with me and with Walloon at the same time!”
Ted enjoyed a remarkable career in business and he and Jean were ex tremely active in community and church activities. Jean and Ted had two children, Jim, a bank wealth manager and former Marine pilot, and Anne, a kindergarten teacher. Jim and Anne each have two children, who represent the Bippus-Ringer family's sixth gen eration on Walloon. The Bippus fam ily is also connected to the Sweet and Lohman families, two other longtime families with multiple generations still on the lake.
Fishing in the lake has always played a major role in the Bippus/Ring er family's Walloon traditions over the years. Judging by some of the vintage photos of their catches, the family was extremely successful in those fishing expeditions. "We've always had some secret spots," notes Anne. "And we would catch quite a few fish, mostly small mouth bass which are delicious fried in a little batter."
Sailing was also an integral part of lake life for the family as long time members of the Walloon Yacht Club. Sisters Jean and Anne raced their Snipes around the lake, and lat er Jean's children Jim and Anne were both involved in sailing. After own ing a Lightning, several years ago Jim bought a Walloon 17 sailboat that he races. Jim's 17 is easily recognizable on a windy day on the lake, his Marine Corps spinnaker flying, a testament to his days as a Marine pilot.
Sadly, Ted passed away in 2014 but Jean and their two children Jim and Anne keep the family's Walloon tradition alive. Jean herself has nev er missed a summer at Walloon in 88 years, and is already looking forward to next year. "You just get Walloon in your blood," she concludes. "I don't know what it is!" she smiles.
On a beautiful July afternoon, a group of dedicated volunteers, members, family, and neighbors gathered for a new preserve ded ication – a cherished tradition at the WLAC.
Unni’s Forest, the new 40-acre addition to the Ellis Woods Nature Area, is a beauti ful hardwood forest with maple, beech, and pine trees. With rolling hills and areas of open meadows this property is the outdoor enthusiasts dream. A neighborhood trail sys tem crisscrosses the adjacent preserves and this addition will provide a connection and lays out a perfect opportunity for four sea son recreation and potential miles of trails for neighbors and friends to enjoy through out the year.
This amazing gift from the Perkins Fam ily was dedicated in honor of their mother, Unni Hoel - a nature lover, skier, conser vationist, and mother. The notion of people cross-country skiing across the property on a brilliant winter day brought a tear to her eye, as she took a moment to walk the path leading away from the gathering. Conser vation and giving are cornerstones of the Walloon Lake Association and Conservan cy, and the dedication and generosity of the Perkins family joining friends and neighbors
to support the purchase of this property is both a happy ending and a new beginning.
Every property in the WLAC portfolio is unique, providing different opportunities and conservation values. Some properties protect fragile wetland ecosystems, some have trails and footpaths, and some even have barns and outbuildings on them. This particular property provides not only water quality buffering but it is also very well-suit ed for outdoor recreation. We hope to en courage active use by neighbors and friends, and the WLAC plans to create a trail from the main access point on Kent Road all the way to the neighborhood trails that have ex isted on the Ellis Woods Preserve for years. Unni’s Forest is a perfect location to get out and enjoy all the splendor the north has to offer!
Land protection and conservation are so important for the preservation of the Wal loon watershed. With this addition, the Ellis Woods Nature Area is now 118 acres of roll ing hills and hardwoods that provides pro tection from erosion, future development, and maintains the forest character of the Shadow Trails area. The WLAC would like to thank the Perkins Family, Tim Manches ter, Sally Swanson, and all of the supporters who made this possible.
The “Classic Cottages of Walloon” encompass a variety of styles as well as distinct variations in size. These early cottages reflect an era in which people came to the lake and enjoyed a simple lifestyle during the summer. Many vintage cottages, both large and small, have been cherished and preserved by multiple generations of the same family. This article showcases ten classic cottages of varying styles and sizes that demonstrate this commitment to preservation.
One of the most notable estates on the lake, TELJER Lodge, was the summer home of C.E. Wilson, a highly regarded president of General Motors during WWII, and later Secretary of Defense in the Eisen hower administration. Naming the lodge TELJER - an acronym of the initials of their six children - C.E. and wife Jessie created a mag nificent family estate in 1926 that reflected their love of the northern woods. After passing it to their son Erwin and his wife Joyce, today the property is owned by Erwin’s stepson Gunnar Klarr and wife Lou ise Klarr. The Klarrs have lovingly maintained the integrity of the historic property, which includes the stunning main lodge and a guest and hunting cabin called Caribou Cabin. The main lodge features a magnificent fireplace and includes much of the original furniture and lake memorabilia. Also on the beautiful grounds are Rosie’s House, a meticulously maintained 1930’s children’s playhouse, and a vintage boathouse on the lakefront. Gunnar and Louise recently completed a thoughtful renovation of the main lodge which enhanced the interior and added a working cupola and exterior balconies.
Built by the Talbotts in 1907, this lovely cottage on picturesque North Shore Drive became the home of the Zent family in 1929. The Ze nts are a Walloon centennial family, tracing their Walloon roots to ancestor Enos Taylor, who came to the lake from Huntington, Indi ana. Filled with family photos, antique maps and lake memorabilia, this comfortable cottage features a unique stone fireplace and a broad front porch that overlooks its iconic white boathouse. The memora bilia includes many trophies and awards won by the late Herb Zent, a highly regarded Walloon sailor with a beautiful 17 sailboat. Herb’s wife Eleanor Johnson Zent first visited the lake in 1945 and immedi ately fell in love with it. Today, she still enjoys the cottage along with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, who are com mitted to preserving the family’s legacy on Walloon.
It is perhaps one of the most beloved and iconic properties on the lake. Picture-perfect Randall’s Point blends a fascinating history with spectacular, panoramic views of the lake. Once known as Air Castle Point, at one time it was the property of Albert Barnum of Chicago, then C.E Schell of Cincinnati. At that time the Point was the site of a large Victorian cottage which was later destroyed in a fire. In 1915 the Point was acquired by Walter D. and Mary Bell Randall of Ham ilton, Ohio, who created an idyllic settlement of three picturesque log homes for their family. Walter, a highly successful businessman, was vice-president of Champion Paper, which was founded by Mary Bell’s father Peter G. Thomson. Later Walter and Mary Bell’s son Bo Randall began creating finely crafted knives for sporting and military uses, and eventually established Randall Knives in Orlando, Florida, still run by the family today.
The stunning property of more than 15 acres of land encompasses three charming log cabins: Spruce Cabin, North Nest and the small cabin on the Point. Well-known local craftsman Burt Burns built the original cabins with their massive log beams and handsome fireplaces in the 1920’s. The estate also includes a fourth cottage which once served as the family dining hall, plus a barn and a vintage boathouse. Incredi ble sunrises and sunsets can be viewed on this spectacular homestead, which spans more than 2,000 feet of lake frontage. The landmark flag pole and the huge boulder that mark the Point were brought in by Bo Randall, whose children Patty Randall Baker, Gary Randall and Doane Randall Broggi own the estate today. Just adjacent to the Point are love ly properties owned by other Randall family members.
Set high in the trees above Wildwood Harbor, Treetops is the long time home of members of the Wallace family, which first came to the Thomas House in 1900. The extended family of Dr. James Wallace owned a cottage on South Shore, which he visited annually, but in 1930 he and wife Fran decided to build their own cottage. Treetops was the first cottage built by Ben Ellis, who would become a wellknown Walloon builder and entrepreneur. Ben even arranged the fur niture in the house, pieces of which still remain. Built on tree trunks, the four bedroom cottage has unique, charming features. The large porch, designed for viewing spectacular Walloon sunsets, is the center of family life here. The cottage is now owned by Wezerek/McAuliffe family members, grandchildren of the Wallaces.
The long history of Wildwood Harbor has unfolded in front of Tangle wood, home of the Alexander/Barker clan, a sixth generation Walloon family. It is one of three original cottages of the Hotel Wildwood, founded by the Batcheller brothers around 1907. Elliot and Lena Alexander of Kansas City, searching for pristine air for their son’s health, arrived in 1922 and fell in love with Walloon. They rented Tan glewood, then purchased it the next year from Ruth Batcheller. They rotated the board-and-batten cottage and added a sleeping porch, built by 14-year-old Frank Kent. Vintage clocks and lamps adorn the inte rior of the cottage, as well as a family growth chart on a door frame. Jane Alexander Barker, daughter of Elliot and Lena, is the author of A Place Like No Other, a fascinating history of Wildwood Harbor.
Just south of the country club golf course lies Buzzard’s Bay, home to a cluster of cottages where some of the lake’s oldest families spent countless memorable summers. John Wilson (Wick) Barber and Mar tha Diven Barber of Anderson, Indiana built their cottage in that cove in 1939. Prior to that time, Martha Diven’s siblings and Gedge cous ins had already established a connection to Walloon. Son and daugh ter John W. Barber Jr. and Martha (Marty) Barber Lowrance and chil dren continued that tradition. Laurie Lowrance, one of the Barbers’ grandchildren, honors the family legacy by preserving the integrity of the five bedroom home with its old brick chimney, wooden interior, much of its original furniture and decor, photos, shared stories, sum mer visits by family and friends and connection to the community.
Bear River Road
This delightful cottage, built before 1929, was purchased by William and Mary Richardson of Indianapolis in 1929. The cottage passed through various generations of the Richardson-Murdoch-Rose-Bray ton families until it was sold in 1966 to E.V and Joan Bishoff of Co lumbus, Ohio. The Bishoffs, who had rented on Walloon for many years, have lovingly preserved the five bedroom cottage. Its many features include wooden floors, shiplap walls and a brick fireplace. Typical of many older cottages, it was constructed on a foundation of tree trunks, but was recently raised and a spacious guest suite con structed in the lower level. Today this charming cottage is owned by Bishoff siblings Karen, Beth and David, who still maintain ties with Roy Brayton, great grandson of the Richardsons.
If you read the delightful Walloon memoir Sparkle Island by Ellen Rosewall then you are familiar with the family’s lovely classic cottage on the West Arm. Ellen’s grandfather Kenyon Campbell first came to Walloon from Columbus, Ohio in 1929 with a group of law school friends, and liked it so much that he and wife Mary then bought a pic turesque cottage overlooking the West Arm. They named the cottage, which had been built in 1900 by the Wilhoit family, “JA-MA-CA,” af ter their three daughters Jane, Mary and Caroline. Today Mary’s three daughters Ellen, Jan and Linda own the much-loved cottage which houses an incredible collection of vintage maps, photos and antique wicker furniture, and boasts a picturesque little boathouse on the lake.
At the end of a long wooded driveway in a picturesque setting on the North Arm lies the large vintage cottage that was built in 1937 by John and Anna Richardson of Cincinnati, brother and sister-in-law of William and Mary Richardson who owned the cottage described on the left. The pine paneled cottage with its impressive stone fireplace still displays the original finely crafted Rittenhouse furniture. Behind the house is a small maid’s cottage, today used as a guest house. Inside the warm cottage Anne Boyer Shepherd, granddaughter of John Richardson, has curated a marvelous collection of vintage photographs chronicling the family’s extensive history on Walloon. The cottage, which is owned by Anne and her nephew Alan Janney, has been home to five generations of the Rich ardson family.
With the onset of winter, we often think of Walloon’s wildlife going into a slumber. While the seasonal changes appear to slow life down, there is still a lot going on outside. Winter provides an amazing oppor tunity to learn what our field and forest creatures are up to. Fortunate ly for us, snow ends up everywhere in Northern Michigan, so let's use it to our advantage and detect some wildlife!
Tracking in the snow will tell a story about what kinds of animals ex ist on a particular preserve. Tracking is not just about identifying what creature is there, but also answering questions about the creature's life. From wildlife tracks you can observe when an animal walks, runs, eats, sleeps and many more unique behaviors they exhibit every day. As a management tool, we can use observed track counts to get an estimate of how many deer there are in the nature area or what are their main reasons for residing on a certain property.
While the best trackers out there can follow tracks year-round and in all terrains, most people benefit from tracks existing in mud, sand or snow. Even though it is pretty easy to see tracks in the snow, it still takes practice to identify the ones you find. Start by getting out after every light snowfall and when the forest is safe from storms or dangerous weather-related events. The best tracks are in a thin skim of snow (5-20 mm) over a hard base. New snow on a parking lot or over previously hard packed snow is ideal. Figuring out tracks in deep fluffy snow is a lot trickier and not recommended for the beginner tracker. Prints are distorted and often snow collapses on top. With less snow, you can see every detail and the tracks will look just like the ones in the books.
Look at the basic shape of the print and ask:
1 Does the track form a distinct pattern?
2 How many toes do you see?
3 Can you see evidence of claws?
4 What is the length and width of a single track?
These basic questions can help you to begin to identify what type of track you are looking at. Identifying a deer track is easy to pick up, but identifying between different types of squirrel tracks will take practice. Included are several of the most common tracks that exist within our preserves around Walloon Lake. The next time there is an opportunity to snowshoe, it is our hope that this article inspires you to look down and see what life you can find!
Michigan has a notorious ly short summer season – a small window to grow our gardens, plant our flower boxes and take care of our lawns. With only three brief months (a little more if we’re lucky), we do all we can to make sure our lawns are as green and lush as possible. Some of these endeavors can include a fer tilization regimen which can have unintend ed consequences when done by a lake, river or stream.
According to the Environmental Protec tion Agency, 40-60% of fertilizer used on lawns makes its way into lakes. Additional nutrients from these fertilizers contribute di rectly to algal growth as well as increased growth of other unwanted aquatic plants. This can lead to the occurrences of harm ful algal blooms (HABs) which can become toxic and detrimental to aquatic life and can even be harmful to people and pets. A sim ple way of thinking about it is, if fertilizers help your lawn and plants to grow then it will encourage aquatic plants (good or bad) to grow as well. This additional plant growth may be of native species, but it can also be aquatic invasive species, and there is no way of controlling which develops.
Other harmful consequences include de clining water clarity and decreased oxygen levels deeper in the water column that can be deadly for aquatic life. Bottom sediments can become more mucky and the food chain becomes less stable for microorganisms and other aquatic species like fish, frogs and tur tles. This biodiversity is key to maintaining the highest water quality possible.
For the best health of Walloon, at a mini mum we are asking you to not use fertilizers containing nitrogen or phosphorus on your lakefront lawns, and ideally don’t use any fertilizers at all.
Yard and pet waste can also cause wa ter quality issues. Yard waste can add sig nificant amounts of phosphorus to lakes and streams. Keeping leaves and grass clippings out of the lake is an important practice to avoid the addition of excess nutrients. Pet waste contains phosphorus and harmful bac teria, so it is best removed from shoreline areas and disposed of properly upland.
Instead of chemical applications try the following options:
• If you are a lakefront owner just use lake water to irrigate your lawn and plants. Lake water contains a plethora of ben eficial nutrients as well as nitrogen and phosphates for your lawn. The remaining water and nutrients will seep into your soil and make it back into the lake via groundwater. The best part is it is free, renewable and sustainable.
• Mulch your grass clippings instead of bagging and removing them. The de caying grass blades leave nutrients and organic matter that help promote future growth. There are also many organic and chemical free options available at most hardware stores and garden centers.
Thank you for considering these differ ent approaches to lawn care. The health and care of Walloon Lake is in our hands, and every person doing their part will go a long way to ensure Walloon stays crystal blue for generations to come.
Look for lawn fertilizers with ZERO phosphorus. On the bag or box of fertilizer there is typically a row of three num bers. These numbers indicate the amount of total nitrogen (N), available phosphate (P2 O5) and soluble potash (K2 O) in the particular product. The middle number is available phosphate and should read “0.”
Phosphorus is a naturally occurring essential nutrient for plant and animal growth. It is also a primary water quality concern in Michigan. When excess phosphorus is applied on land, it runs into nearby lakes, rivers and streams. This run off can lead to increased algae and aquatic plant growth which have negative effects on water quality, fisheries, recreation and ultimately property values.
• Fertilizer should not be applied to frozen soil or soil saturated with water.
• Any fertilizer released onto a hard surface, such as a sidewalk or driveway, must be cleaned up promptly.
• Maintain at least a 15’ application buffer from surface water (i.e. lakes, rivers, streams).
• If a spreader guard, deflector shield or drop spreader is used, then maintain at least a 3’ buffer.
• If you have a continuous greenbelt at your lakefront, then you need to maintain a 10’ buffer.
EMILY: Dog Day of Summer. It was new, fun and super cute. I also got to be around a bunch of dogs all day for work…so that was pretty awesome.
EMILY: Norcross Family Preserve - it’s small, but I love the dock and being able to be on the water. It’s just my favorite spot to be on the lake.
TEGAN: Cedar Valley Preserve – it has a good variety of ecosystem types and a nice trail overall.
MAGGIE: Norcross Family Preserve – my memories on the dock are super special.
This year, the WLAC was incredibly lucky to have three interns on the team: Emily McAteer, our Market ing and Communications Intern, and Maggie Bailey and Tegan Swanson, our Stewardship Interns. We are so grateful for all of their hard work and know that their impact on Walloon will last for years to come. Below are some highlights from an interview with these three amazing young professionals:
EMILY: I started three years ago, in 2019, doing junior membership and volunteering. Last year, I started volunteering a lot more and helped create the wakesurf event that is now Ski, Surf, Sail Walloon. Then I ap plied for the internship in the fall [2021] and worked here after I moved from San Francis co to Walloon Lake.
TEGAN: I heard about it last year, and again this year through a professor of mine.
MAGGIE: I had seen the posting on social media, and I knew that I would be home for the summer and I wanted to do some sort of internship, so this opportunity seemed like one I wanted to pursue.
EMILY: Probably the preserve sign project as I got to go on hikes and be outside. Fun to be out of the office and work on the signage. I also liked making the new signs and help ing create the preserve trail maps.
TEGAN: I really enjoyed doing our Cap stone Project on the dog waste compost stations at Postle Farm Preserve. Taking it from the research stage, getting it approved through committees, and finally taking it to the board to get the overall go ahead.
MAGGIE: I also really enjoyed the Cap stone Project, but I think the project that stuck with me the most was the How ell-Zimmerman Trail because it was the first big project that we completed. That one was really cool.
TEGAN: Willy the Weed Whacker
MAGGIE: Bertha the Brush Hog
TEGAN: Garlic Mustard – because I really like garlic and you have the potential to cook with it.
MAGGIE: Japanese Barberry - because I’m stubborn and I poke back.
EMILY: There are so many of them, but a big one would be that I kind of know now what I might want to go into after school. I got a lot of experience with conservation work and nonprof its, which kind of guided me into other interests too. They all helped me grow and will help me declare my major in environmental protection or policy. This was all reassuring that this is some thing I want to go into. Also, the reason I was so passionate going into this internship was because I care so much about the lake. It’s a small part of the earth I can help. As I get older, I can help more and on a bigger scope, but as an 18-yearold, it’s so nice to have a small place to help with.
TEGAN: Reassurance that I’m heading in the right direction with what I want to do with my career and life.
MAGGIE: The importance of nonprofit work and the challenges that comes with it, but also I think the reward is much greater. It’s something I might see in my future and I’m excited about that as a result of this position.
As we enter this year’s giving season, consider giving in ways that are beneficial for both you and Walloon Lake. While the WLAC can use your generous donation to further our mission, you can potentially save yourself tax dollars as well. A couple of ways you can do this are by:
• Making a qualified charitable distribution (QCD) from your IRA and/or
• Donating appreciated stock to a donoradvised fund or qualified charity (us!)
To make a qualified charitable distribution, you must meet the following:
• Be 70 ½ years old or older and
• Make a direct transfer from your IRA custodian to a qualified charity.
When utilizing qualified charitable distributions, you can donate a maximum of $100,000 per taxpayer annually. An other bonus is that QCDs count towards your annual required minimum distributions (RMD). So, what does all this mean? If you were to take a $150,000 distribution from your IRA and make qualified charitable distributions of $100,000 during 2022, you could potentially reduce your taxable retirement in come by 67%. If your required minimum distribution for 2022 was $100,000, you could potentially meet that entire require ment through qualified charitable distributions.
Now let’s look at the potential benefits of donating ap preciated stock. When donating appreciated stock, you are decreasing the amount of your taxable investment gains for the year thus potentially lowering the amount of capital gains tax you would pay. For example, if you had long-term capi tal gains of $50,000 during 2022 and you donated $25,000 of that appreciated stock directly to a donor advised fund or qualified charity, you could potentially decrease the amount of capital gains tax you owe by 50%.
A couple of things to note when donating appreciated stock:
• Transfer the appreciated stock directly to a donoradvised fund or qualified charity, do not sell it first. This will allow you to maximize not only your potential tax benefit but the amount the charity receives as well.
• Annual limits due apply to how much of your adjusted gross income (AGI) can be donated via appreciated stock so make sure you speak with your financial advisor and/or accountant prior.
As you can see, these are just a couple of the many ways to donate that can provide benefits to both the donor and organization. Please keep in mind that everyone’s financial and tax situation are very different so talk to your financial advisor and accountant to take the best course of action for you. Also, like anything involving the tax code, there are always restrictions and exceptions that apply, so make sure to discuss these with your advisors as well. Happy giving!
Walloon is home to over 20 years of memories for me - 20 years of summer vacations, slip ‘n slides, corn hole tournaments, tubing, swimming, Petoskey stone hunting, boat rides and most of all family. Walloon has always been the meeting point for my family. It’s where we come to laugh, eat, play and enjoy the lake. Even in the winter, it’s our home for skiing and sledding down the bluff. Walloon is truly a magical place with some magical memories.
I chose to become a Primary Guardian to preserve those memories and help conserve the very place we get to make them. It is imperative that we tend to the lake’s conservation so that my family and yours can continue building lifelong memories on Walloon! I can’t imagine a life without the pristine, clear waters of Walloon Lake.
By Jac Talcott, Watershed Stewardship Coordinator
When you think about the for ests and foliage of Northern Michigan, the Eastern Hem lock tree is one that may come to mind. This conifer serves as one of the old est native trees within the Great Lakes Region and has spent generations establishing its hab itat in our moist and cool climate. Not only do these trees serve us with their mystical beauty but they are crucial for our future by ensuring biodiversity in our forests. Today, we have an opportunity to help them thrive. Just like our beautiful ashes, beeches and chestnuts, hem locks are at risk for decline – and an invasive insect is to blame.
Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (HWA) is a very small insect originating from Japan that invaded Virginia’s hemlock tree stands in the 1920’s. Like many of our other successful in vaders and parasites, this insect gets spread by hitchhiking on migrating birds and firewood. The invasive HWA spends its life consuming the sap that flows between needles and branch es of native hemlock trees. Once the tree is unable to provide nutrition throughout its sys tem, the needles turn to a grayish color before falling off completely. It only takes a couple of years before an invaded tree starves to death from lack of nutrition.
We are lucky that Charlevoix and Emmet County do not yet have any known infesta tions of Hemlock Woolly Adelgid. For now, it seems our hemlocks are safe. But in the latest surveying efforts in 2021 led by our local and state programs, HWA has been identified as far north as Benzie County (just south of Traverse City). With an inevitable
invasion in our near future, now is the time to take action to protect our local hemlocks. Below are several ways that you can aid in preventing the spread of HWA: 1 Keep bird feeders and other animal feeders away from hemlock trees.
231-5338363 x5 to learn about how to monitor for HWA.
We are so excited to share that in 2022 we were over 1,025 members strong! Can we set a new record in 2023?
As the year is coming to an end, it’s time to renew your WLAC Membership. The dues ($95) remain unchanged and provide the following benefits:
• The 2023 WLAC Directory: our annual directory includes a list of members, important organizational info, community resources, and more.
• Issues of The Wallooner: this time-honored publication is a labor of love from committee, community, and WLAC staff members and is distributed three times per year to members.
• Community Connections: being a member is a great way to get to know fellow Wallooners, neighbors, and supporters through events and communications.
Dues not only directly support our operational and programming costs, but our members are truly the heart of the WLAC. Join us in helping protect the land and water of Walloon, now and forever.
To renew, return the enclosed envelope or visit walloon.org/ membership. Your continued support is greatly appreciated!
Looking for the perfect gift for that friend or family member that loves Walloon? Gift them a WLAC membership this holiday season!
Memberships are not only for lakefront owners - they are for visitors, local residents, business owners, and anyone who enjoys this special place. Plus this year, we have special Vineyard Vines merch and membership bundles available!
Contact the WLAC Office at wlac@walloon.org to arrange your gift.
Support the WLAC this #GivingTuesday with some Walloon Forever gear!
Head to bonfire.com/ wlac2022givingtuesday
Holly spent her first 18 years in Northern Michigan. She relocated downstate for school, stayed for work and marriage. She returned to the North in 1993, moving to Walloon with her darling husband and three delightful children. Living on the lake year-round, the family set tled into their new community. When her won derful children set out on their own adventures, Holly joined the WLAC Government Affairs Committee, representing Resort Township. Skip ahead to 2022, and she joined the WLAC Board of Trustees. Protecting the water of Wal loon Lake is exceptionally important to her, this includes protecting the entire watershed.
Holly enjoys biking, hiking, boating, read ing and eating. But her #1 favorite activity is enjoying Walloon with her husband, their chil dren, grandchildren, and granddog.
If you are interested in making a difference, contact Josephine Roberts, Executive Director: 231.535.6112 or josephine@walloon.org
Mary Ellen Geist has spent every summer of her life on the water or in the woods at her family’s Wildwood Harbor cottage on Walloon Lake where she learned the names of the birds, trees, plants and mushrooms, and continues to waterski, kayak, sail, and paddleboard.
After graduating from Kalamazoo College, she moved to the cottage full-time and got her first radio jobs at WPZ/ WMBN and WJML in Petoskey and sang with various bands. Even tually, she moved to Los Angeles where she became the morning reporter at the ABC News Station, KFWB. She was then offered a job at the flagship ABC News Station in San Francis co, KGO Radio, where she spent 13 years as a reporter and anchor, and won many awards for her environmental reporting, including the Edward R. Murrow Award and the Associated Press Reporter of the Year Award.
When she moved to New York to become an afternoon anchor at WCBS Radio, her fa ther began to rapidly decline from the effects of Alzheimer’s disease. She quit her job and came home to Michigan to help her mother care for her father on Walloon Lake and at her parents’ home in the Detroit area. She wound up writing a memoir of her time as a caregiv er called Measure of the Heart which won the Michigan Notable Book Award.
In 2016, she became Great Lakes Bureau Chief at Detroit Public Television where she reported on and made documentaries about the Great Lakes and water issues and won two re gional Emmy Awards. Mary Ellen and her hus band, Tim van Laar, an artist and writer, split their time between Grosse Pointe Farms and Walloon Lake. This is her first year with the WLAC, and Mary Ellen is looking forward to using her reporting and communication skills to help protect the lake she loves.
Tom, his wife Molly and their four chil dren have been Wallooners on the West Arm for over 30 years. While summer is a spe cial time at Walloon, the whole family also spent many winter weekends skiing together in Northern Michigan. Tom and Molly have been married for 41 years, and together with their children; Tyler, Brent, Sarah and Con nor have built memories at Walloon that will endure the test of time. The family has hap pily expanded to include; a daughter-in-law Kate, a son-in-law Dixon, and granddaugh ters Izzy and Olive! Tom and Molly’s love for Northern Michigan in general and Wal loon in particular is what motivated Tom to become involved in the WLAC.
Tom is the CEO of a privately held in dustrial products manufacturer based in Michigan, and has significant experience at the board level in the public, private and notfor-profit sectors. Aside from a few for-profit boards, Tom is currently a board member of Corewell Health, which is the largest non profit health care system in Michigan cre ated through the combination of Spectrum Health and Beaumont Health.
Tom’s interests include; boating, biking, hiking, travel, snow skiing, golf, reading, beekeeping, petting his dog Oliver, spending time with his family and friends and playing with his granddaughters!
INGREDIENTS
» 1.25 oz. Third Wind Bourbon Whiskey
» 1 oz. Campari
» 1 oz. Carpano Antica Vermouth
» 1 oz. Maple Syrup
» Orange Bitters
» Bruleed Orange Peel
Stir the whiskey, Campari, vermouth, maple syrup and bitters in a mixing glass with ice. Strain into rocks glass with a large ice cube. Garnish with the orange peel.
» 8 oz. sliced bacon, crosswise
» 3 medium onions
» 10 chicken thighs
» 8 oz. button mushrooms, halved
» 2 garlic cloves, peeled and minced
» ¼ cup chopped Italian parsley
» 3 tbsp. chopped tarragon
» 1 bottle dry riesling wine
STEP 1
Place large, heavy-bottomed pan over medium heat. Add bacon, and cook until most of the fat has been rendered. Add onions and sauté until softened, about 10 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer mixture to plate and leave the fat in the pan.
STEP 2
Place pan over medium-high heat. Working in batches, brown chicken pieces on both sides. Transfer them to a plate after they are browned.
STEP 3
Reduce heat to medium-low. Add mushrooms, garlic, 3 tablespoons of parsley and 2 tablespoons of tarragon. Sauté until mushrooms are coated in fat, about 1 minute. Return chicken pieces, onions and bacon to the pan. Add wine, and raise heat to bring to a boil. Partially cover, turn heat to low, and simmer for 1 hour.
STEP 4 Sprinkle with parsley and tarragon, and serve.
FRIDAY, JANUARY
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY
John (Jack) Rob erts, died peacefully on June 14th at his home on Walloon Lake in Northern Michigan.
Jack Roberts grew up in Detroit and attended Red ford High School where as quarterback he led the Huskies to the City Championship in 1959. Jack at tended the University of Michigan where he was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fra ternity. Following graduation in 1963, Jack had a successful career in marketing and ad
vertising related to the automotive industry in the greater Detroit area.
At the University of Michigan he met his future wife, the late Stefanie (Stevie) Roberts. Stevie and Jack raised three sons and were involved in a variety of local or ganizations and sporting activities in Troy and Birmingham. In 2002 the couple, who were married 51 years, moved to their sum mer cottage on Walloon Lake, spending their winters at their home in Sanibel Island, Flor ida.
Jack was a passionate University of Michigan football and basketball fan and an avid golfer who looked forward to coordi nating and recapping his weekly golf games
with his Ballcrusher group at Walloon Lake Country Club and Teetotalers group at the Dunes Golf Club on Sanibel. Jack began or ended almost every day “going for a run” and especially loved his Sunday morning runs with his dedicated group of running friends from Troy and Birmingham. He also loved his social life and dinners with friends on Walloon and Sanibel.
Jack is preceded in death by his wife Stevie and is survived by his sons, Bradford (Misty), Mark (April) and Andrew (Andrea); sister-in-law JoAnn Kerbawy; brother-inlaw Kristofer Kerbawy; two granddaughters (Lauren and Kate); and his dear friend, Mary Ann.
May 30, 1926 - May 23, 2022
William A. “Bill” Heisel passed away on Monday, May 23, surrounded by his family, one week before his 96th birthday. He is pre ceded in death by his beloved wife Patri cia, nee O’Donnell, sisters Marjorie Poss, Rita Sloan Roy, and Dorothy Heisel. He is survived by his chil dren Heidi Heisel, William Heisel (Kellee), Julie Sullivan (Hugh), James Heisel (Diane), Jane Heisel Badalich (Paul), and grandchil dren William Crimmins, Michael Crimmins (Georgina), Ian Crimmins (Caroline), Scott Heisel, Haylee Heisel, Scott Heisel (Lisa Sullivan), Megan Sullivan, Hugh Sullivan Jr. (Sarah), Erica Brockberg (Matthew), Curtis Heisel (Taylor Erickson), Johanna Badalich, William Badalich, and great grandson, Beau Brockberg.
Bill was born in Toledo, Ohio to Willam A.and Antoinette (nee Rensch) Heisel, the youngest of 4 with three older sisters, on May 30, 1926. As a child he thought that people put flags out for his birthday, being a Memorial Day baby, and no one disavowed him of this belief, being the adored baby boy in the family.
He was educated at University of Detroit Jesuit High School and proudly became an Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts of America. After high school graduation, in 1944, he joined the US Navy. He served during WWII in the North Atlantic and later in the Pacif ic in 1945. Upon his return home, he went to University of Detroit for undergraduate, then for postgrad to the University of Detroit
School of Dentistry. He practiced dentistry for a few years, during which time he met a beautiful kindergarten teacher who became the love of his life, Patricia “Pat” O’Don nell. They married in Detroit in 1955 and started their family. Bill decided to pursue orthodontics and attended the University of Michigan, sparking a life long love of all things Wolverine! He had a very successful orthodontic practice in Wyandotte, MI and was loved by his patients, partners and em ployees. He was a founding board member of the Foundation for Orthodontic Research (FOR). While living in Detroit, Bill was a member of the Detroit Boat Club, where he rowed competitively. His lightweight eight won the 1952 National Championship with him rowing the stroke (first) position. He was later an official of the National Asso ciation of Amateur Oarsmen (NAAO) and helped organize the US Team for the 1968 Olympics.
Bill and Pat enjoyed skiing together as a young couple and were among the early skiers at Boyne Mountain in northern Mich igan and skiing became a family sport. Their house on Walloon Lake, MI was where the family spent their winter weekends skiing and all summer playing on the lake. His gar den at the Walloon house was a passion of his. He could often be seen riding around on his golf cart with a grandchild or two, tend ing to the garden or fighting the weeds. Bill became passionate about conservation of the lake and helped found the land preservation arm of the Walloon Lake Association and Conservancy. As president, he worked with the lake’s five townships to pass ordinanc es that restrict funnel development and that mission continues to this day. The pristine
beauty of the lake and its surrounding wood lands and wetlands were dear to his heart.
He was a member and past president at the Walloon Lake Country Club where he spent many happy hours on the tennis court, golf course, and in the dining room with his many friends and family. As president of WLCC, he presided over the decision to expand the golf course to 18 holes, which succeeded by one vote.
After successfully launching their chil dren into medical and legal careers, Bill and Pat began spending winters in Boca Grande, FL where they eventually designed and built a home. They enjoyed a very active social life there, hosting parties, playing bridge, golfing, and contributing to the community. While Pat volunteered to read to local chil dren, Bill got involved with the Gasparilla Island Conservation and Improvement Asso ciation, continuing his dedication to conser vation and protection of the areas he loved. Bill was a life long student of life and loved going to the educational programs offered on the island. He also started painting at age 80 and became a prolific artist. Exhibiting his work at the local Art Alliance, even sell ing a few. If you were fortunate to know him well, he may have even given you one of his works!
Bill’s friends were many, he could make a friend in a minute and hold them dear forever. He was interested in everyone and everything his entire life, and you always knew that he really cared about you. His family however, was his pride and his heart. His children and grandchildren meant ev erything to him. He touched many lives and made a difference in this world.
