REAL ESTATE CLASSIFIEDS: 3D
House Marijuana
GARDENING 2D
In the Garden
Fall’s a season for planting and eating berries
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THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 28, 2017
1D
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MORTGAGE RATES 2D
Spooky or sweet?
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oes a fresh-picked raspberry taste better early in the morning, when it's still cool from the night air, or at noon, after it's been warmed by the sun? That's debatable. But there's no argument that few foods are as delectable as raspberries picked at their peak of ripeness, when they're so fragile that they can't be shipped in good condition further than arm's length. Blackberries, currants and gooseberries are equally delectable, and they're all borne on plants compact enough to grow and look at home in the vegetable or flower garden. Blueberries are handsome landscape plants — the highbush varieties as stand-alone shrubs, the lowbush as creeping groundcover plants. A GOOD CASE FOR GROWING BERRIES In addition to having delicious and diverse flavors, berries are remarkably easy to grow. Pest probLEE REICH lems are rare if the plants have a good site and regular pruning. Blackberries and raspberries, collectively called bramble fruits, grow best bathing in full sunlight. The same goes for blueberries. Currants and gooseberries are among the few fruits that bear well even in some shade. All these berries are comfortable in a variety of soils, but they do like their roots kept cool and moist beneath a permanent mulch of wood chips, leaves, straw or other organic material. PRUNING IS IMPORTANT Pruning berries is straightforward. Bramble roots are perennial, but individual canes live for only two years, so an obvious first step in pruning is to cut away, in late winter, any 2-year-old canes. Because brambles grow so exuberantly, they could quickly create a dank jungle, so winter pruning also entails removing enough young canes that the plants grow in a swathe no wider than a foot, with about 6 inches between canes. Some people keep their brambles in clumps rather than rows, in which case you reduce each clump to the best half-dozen young canes. Blackberries and black raspberries bear fruit on side branches, so they need two further pruning steps. Increase side-branching in summer by pinching out the tip of any young cane when it is 3 feet high. In winter, shorten each of those side branches to about 18 inches long. Gooseberries and currants bear fruits mostly on 2-yearold and 3-year-old stems, so grow them as bushes with young stems constantly replacing older stems that you eventually prune away. All that's needed each winter is to cut to the ground any stem older than 3 years old, and to cut away all but a half-dozen or so of the sturdiest, youngest (1-year-old) stems. See Garden p. 2D
This undated photo shows a bowl of berries grown and harvested in New Paltz, N.Y. Berries are the quintessential summer fruit but, with choice of appropriate varieties, raspberries, blackberries, and blueberries can go on to yield their delectable bounty into fall. (AP photo)
These undated photos, above and below, provided by Party City shows Halloween themed displays in front yards. Halloween offers the first big chance of fall to decorate your home, and there are lots of ways — from spooky to sweet — to get into the holiday spirit. (AP photo)
Choosing a theme for Halloween decorations By LISA A. FLAM Associated Press Before they even know whether the candy will be top-notch or king-size, trick or treaters are drawn to houses decked out for Halloween. “When kids are trick-or-treating, that's the first thing they see,” says Tanya Graff, style director at Martha Stewart Living magazine. “It's fun when they see these amazing, decorated houses. It really makes it feel like Halloween. It makes your house look more inviting.” Halloween offers the first big chance of fall to decorate — “the first big opportunity for people to really
go for it,” says Graff. (http://www.marthastewart.com/ ) And you can go for it in different ways, from sophisticated to playful, subtle or over the top. Halloween decorations range from traditional harvest to family-friendly to maximum spookiness, with ghosts, ghouls, skeletons and more. Any way you do it can make a big impact, and it doesn't have to cost a chocolate-covered mint. When you're creating a spooky scene, be sure to keep your theme consistent. “You want it to be unified,” says Barbara DeVos, category manager
for Halloween decorations at the retailer Party City. “Whatever kind of theme you're going for, you want all the lighting and all of the props to have the same kind of feeling.” And have a focal point that draws in passersby — “some kind of wow factor,” DeVos says. (http://www.partycity.com/ ) TRADITIONAL HARVEST For a simple and subtle look, try a wreath on your front door. Take a dried grapevine wreath, add moss, and give it a creepy-crawly twist by adding black plastic bugs and snakes. See Halloween p. 2D
2D The Mining Journal
Thursday, September 28, 2017
House to Home Mortgage Index 30-YEAR Rate-Fee/Pts.
15-YEAR Rate-Fee/Pt.
High rate
3.875
1
3.250
1
Low rate
3.625
1
2.875
1
Average rate
3.781
1
3.093
1
This graphic represents a Tuesday survey of regional lending institutions. Figures are based on rates at Range Bank, Northern Michigan Bank, mBank, Marquette Community Federal Credit Union and TruNorth Credit Union.
NAR releases 2017 Profile of Real Estate Firms
In August, the National Association of Realtors released the 2017 Profile of Real Estate Firms, which provides insight into the business characteristics and activity of real estate firms, the benefits and education provided to agents and an outlook for the future. The report’s findings, which are based on a survey of firm executives who are members of NAR, found that keeping up with technology, maintaining sufficient inventory, competition from nontraditional market participants and profitability are among the biggest challenges for real estate firms, according to a news release from the organization. “Real estate firms are sensing strengthened competition this year, as 50 percent of firms expect competition to increase in the next year from non-traditional market participants, up from 43 percent a year ago,” Pam Caron, president of the Upper Peninsula Realtors, said in a press release. Half of firms expect competition during the same pe-
riod to increase from virtual firms, an increase of 3 percent since 2016. Only 15 percent expect competition will increase from traditional brick-and-mortar firms. According to the survey, 60 percent of commercial firms expect profitability from all real estate activities to increase in the next year, compared to 64 percent in 2016. Residential real estate firms are more optimistic compared to commercial firms — 62 percent of firms expect profitability to improve, compared to 65 percent in 2016. “For a third year in a row, the vast majority of firms have an optimistic outlook for the future of the industry’s growth. Although expectations have slightly decreased from last year’s survey, firms remain confident and expect profitability from all real estate activities to increase or stay the same over the next year,” Caron said. The typical residential real estate firm’s brokerage sales volume was $6.2 million in 2016, down from $6.3 in 2015, while the typical
commercial real estate firm’s brokerage sales volume was $4.0 million in 2016. The survey found that the size of the firm has an impact on sales volume. Firms with only one office, typically with two full-time licensed agents, had a median brokerage sales volume of $4.3 million in 2016, compared to $4.5 million in 2015. Large firms, those with four or more offices and typically with 81 fulltime licensed agents, had a median brokerage sales volume of $235.0 million in 2016, compared to $203.8 million in 2015. The report also predicts the effect different generations of homebuyers will have on the industry. Fiftytwo percent of firms are concerned with Gen Y/millennials’ ability to buy a home, 34 percent of firms are concerned with millennials’ view of homeownership, and 32 percent of firms are concerned about the recruitment of millennial and Gen X real estate professionals.
Hallowe e n
treating signs. Add some drama with paper-bag lanterns: Cut Halloween shapes or words like “Boo!” into black paper bags and put electric lights inside, Graff says. SPOOKY AND SCARY There are so many decorations to choose from, including skeletons, skulls, reapers, ghosts, witches, bats, crows and other critters, not to mention semblances of blood and gore. For maximum impact, accessorize with spider webbing, lights and a fog machine, DeVos says. You can hang spider webbing from your roof to the ground and fill it with giant spiders crawling down,
she said. Add to the scene by creating a crow-filled graveyard in your front yard with tombstones. “You can stick bones into the dirt so it looks like someone might be coming out,” DeVos said. Bats, snakes and giant spiders can greet trick-ortreaters from a tree in your front yard. “You can put them onto the tree and have them hanging down, and have webbing and cloth coming down and drape it all over the tree,” she said. Skeletons can greet trickor-treaters from rocking chairs or stools on the front porch; decorate around them with bones, skulls or cauldrons.
from 1D
Or spray-paint the wreath black and add faux black roses, Graff says. A seasonal harvest look is easy to get with pumpkins. Besides the traditional jack-o'-lanterns, you can add pumpkins to urns for a fall display, or turn carved pumpkins into outdoor vases for fall mums. The easiest idea, Graff says, is to place pumpkins up your front steps. “You could do different shapes, different colors, or ombre, starting in one color and graduating down to another,” she adds. With pumpkins now available in many different hues, you can create an ombre look with pumpkins ranging from gray to green to white, or peach to brown to orange. FAMILY FRIENDLY For a fun and family-oriented look, think about adding color and smiling faces, says DeVos. “It's having more color, like purple and orange and black tied in together, and having friendly witches,” she says. “There is no blood or death. It's all about friendly pumpkins and friendly ghosts and scarecrows.” You can share a happy Halloween vibe using garlands or gel clings for the windows, DeVos says, or cute yard stakes or trick-or-
Gardening book series looks at marijuana By KATHERINE ROTH Associated Press They've written guides about growing fruit, vegetables, houseplants and more. Now, the authors of a popular gardening series have set their sights on something a little different. “What's Wrong with My Marijuana Plant? A Cannabis Grower's Visual Guide to Easy Diagnosis and Organic Remedies” (Ten Speed Press, 2017), by David Deardorff and Kathryn Wadsworth, is the fifth in their “What's Wrong With...” series, and is one of the first mainstream gardening books to offer practical advice on a topic some still consider taboo. “I've been interested in medicinal plants for some time,” explains Deardorff. “So it seemed perfectly natural to me to extend our series to ‘What's Wrong With My Marijuana Plant?’” In the book's introduction, the authors remind readers that the federal government still considers marijuana an illegal crop. They warn prospective growers to check the laws of their state before planting it. But, Deardorff says, “Medical marijuana is now legal in 26 states. In some of those states you need a medical recommendation to grow it, but in others even recreation growers can now grow it, so it seemed like the timing was right.” The publisher of the series' earlier books, Timber Press, declined to publish this one. Just when the authors thought they might have to self-publish, Ten Speed Press agreed to step in.
Garde n
from 1D
If you grow so-called everbearing varieties of red, yellow or black raspberries or blackberries, you could forgo all the previous pruning steps and just cut the whole planting to the ground each winter. This limits the crop to late summer and fall only, but does bypass possible threats from deer or cold — and it's easy! Highbush blueberries bear well on stems up to 6 years old. Once plants reach that age, every year cut a few of the oldest, thickest stems to the ground, and reduce the number of new shoots coming from ground level to
This undated photo provided by Ten Speed Press shows the cover of the book “What's Wrong With My Marijuana Plant?” by David Deardorff and Kathryn Wadsworth. (AP photo)
“Another side to this is that we feel it's crucially important that any plant to be used medicinally be grown organically, and our book helps people address any problems they encounter during the growing process using organic solutions,” says Wadsworth. “Our audience is not stoners,” Deardorff adds. “Ninety percent of them are probably older women who are growing marijuana for medicinal uses.”
three or four of the healthiest looking ones. Prune lowbush blueberries to the ground every two or three years. CHOOSE THE BEST Growing your own brambles, gooseberries, currants and blueberries lets you choose the tastiest varieties. Fallgold, for example, is an everbearing, yellow raspberry that's too soft for market, but a delectable sweetener for your morning cereal. Achilles is a “dessert” variety of gooseberry that you'll never find in the market, but whose fruits are the size of a quarter, with a sweet flavor akin to grapes. Chester is a thornless blackberry variety whose fruits are utterly delicious if picked when they're so soft that merely touching them
stains your fingers. Everbearing red, yellow and black raspberries are still yielding fruit and will do so until stopped by hard frost. All the other brambles, though, as well as gooseberries and currants, are mere memories of summer. Do keep them in mind though, because autumn is an ideal time to plant any of these berries, especially currants and gooseberries, which leaf out very early in spring.
1900 Presque Isle Ave.
228-7255
FEATURED PROPERTY
215 S Co Rd 557, Gwinn The Up North Lodge is a wellestablished restaurant that features vaulted ceilings, 60ft bar and woodwork throughout! (1098514) $1,300,000 255 Silver St, Ish View this remodeled 3 bedroom home with beautiful wood floors, vinyl windows, includes all the appliances and sauna. Plenty of storage in the heated garage and storage building. (1103034) $114,999 103 E Johnson Rd, Skandia Country living just outside of Marquette sits this 2 bedroom, 2 bath open concept home. TLC needed. Storage space with one car detached heated garage and 25x22 workshop. (1104206) $74,900 3213 Bonnie Ln, Big Bay Enjoy the serenity on 5 acres with this 3-bedroom 3-bathroom luxury home. Beautiful floor to ceiling stone fireplace, updated kitchen, dining room, den, finished basement, master suite, heated two car garage and additional detached garage! (1102781) $329,500 2155 CO RD 565, Gwinn This beautiful custom built 4 bedroom 3 bath home has a gorgeous kitchen, tongue-ngroove ceilings, vaulted living room, fireplace, 3 car garage and a deck with a pool overlooking 3.4 acres! (1090884) $299,500
www.lookrealtyinc.com
OPEN HOUSE Saturday, September 30, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Lot #23 - Forestville Basin Trail, Marquette Directions: From Wright Street, turn north on Forestville Road. Go over bridge and turn east on Forestville Basin Trail.
Come out and preview this 3/4 bedroom, 2 full bath custom home being built on Forestville Basin Trail. This is the time to act as you can select all of your finishes and be in your custom home in time for the holidays. The waterfront location is perfect if you enjoy fishing, kayaking, swimming or paddle boarding. There are abundant trails out your doorstep if you like to hike, bike or cross-country ski. You can snowmobile up to the Keweenaw from the bridge. Sunsets, privacy and recreation all within 4 miles of US41 retail shopping….or you can shop on site as samples will be available. MLS #1100131 $499,900
Darlene Martin (906) 360-9028
1901 W. Ridge St., Marquette (906) 228-2772
Pat Olson (906) 250-2215
The Mining Journal 3D
Thursday, September 28, 2017
Real Estate Classifieds
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EMPLOYMENT Local…Regional…jobs. Check us out at: jobs.miningjournal.net
Open Houses Saturday, Sept. 30, 11:00am-2:00pm 750 W Lake Enchantment Tr. Marquette
Directions: From MQT: County Road 492 to Lake Enchantment Road, Left on Lake Enchantment Road to mailboxes at cul-de-sac, turn left past mail boxes, follow signs to property. Road will be a two track.
Quaint log cabin on Lake Enchantment, private, quiet, and close to Marquette. This turn-of-the-century cabin has been well preserved. The old wood stove in the kitchen works just fine, so does the fireplace in the living room. Every nook has some storage. Cabin sits on 3/4 of an acre with over 100’ of water frontage on a private lake with great fishing. Cabin has only been used seasonally but could be made into year round living. Cabin comes partially furnished, including a boat for water enjoyment. You must see this one! It is a gem! $149,000.00
Saturday, Sept. 30, 11:00am-1:00pm 22 E. Nicolet, Marquette
Directions: US 41 south to Nicolet (Shiras Hills), left on Nicolet, house on right 1/2 mile from US 41.
Price Reduced $5,000! Great family home in Shiras Hills. Four bedroom, 3.25 baths. Awesome yard. Totally updated. $240,000 Hosted by: Dave Mingay
Shown by: Carol Vining Moore (906) 360-2633
(906) 360-2633
(906) 361-7604 davidmingay@hotmail.com
4D The Mining Journal
Thursday, September 28, 2017
Northern
NEW LISTINGS!
Michigan
Land Brokers NEW LISTING
NEW LISTING
906 Adams Street, Marquette
N5679 N. Sundell Road, Skandia
40 Acres, Co Road CU, Ishpeming
Welcome to HOME 906! Located at 906 Adams St. in Marquette is a beautiful home meticulously prepared for sale so the new owners could move in and enjoy without needing a thing. From top to bottom the house is so fresh and clean it still has that “Brand New Home” smell and feel. The home has a bright and cheerful feel with attractive landscaping and a variety of perennial plants and flowers. The back yard is spacious with a built in fire pit and a nice sunny area for an organic garden, kids to play and adults to relax. The dead end street is very quiet and peaceful, perfect for kids and pets. Walk right into the home from your heated garage and stay out of the weather. Should you be looking for an investment with all the possible bedrooms and the great location this would be a perfect VRBO. If you want to buy a home that you can move right into and enjoy this home is perfect for you and is a must see. $245,000 MLS#: 1104715
Perfect Hobby Farm or a great country home to enjoy open spaces and let kids be kids running and playing in the fields and trails of a friendly community. This is an outstanding property for horses, livestock and the bright sunny fertile fields will leave you overflowing with healthy organic crops. A giant (40’x80’) pole barn once held horses with tons of extra space for equipment. Wild apples and berries are scattered about the hay field which provides abundant bales or grazing areas. The home features a spacious open floor plan in the living room and kitchen. The kitchen boasts beautiful Corian counter tops on the cabinets and island. Plenty of windows brighten your rooms and let the breeze flow through. The master bedroom has a private bath. Being newer construction, the home is tight and solid with an efficient boiler having several zones for comfort. There is a separate (24’x24’) two car garage and a bonus building for storage or to be used as a potting shed. $192,000 MLS #: 1104145
40 acres of hunting and recreation land located in west central Marquette County. This acreage has solid road access on a seasonal county road that is just a short drive from the highway. The land is mostly high ground with hardwood timber. There are mature oak and maple along with many other timber types. A small stream flows through the property between two higher ridges. In the middle of the acreage, there is a small cleared area containing a steel storage building complete with a concrete slab. This shelter has been used to store a camper out of the elements and there is a woodstove to take the chill off also. If you intended to build a cabin, this would make a great garage. The land is rolling and heavily wooded making for a quiet and remote setting. On my first visit there were numerous deer tracts in the road and we flushed a covey of grouse. $45,000 MLS#: 1104692
Contact Brian Olson
Contact Brian Olson
Contact Rob Sullivan
FEATURED CAMPS
6784 32nd Road Perkins
80 Acres, Co Road GGA (aka Red Road) Ishpeming
MLS #: 1103686 $250,000 ROB SULLIVAN
3147 W Maple Ridge 37th Rd Rock
19223 Jack Spur Road Ontonagon
MLS #: 1098148 $79,900 BOB SULLIVAN
MLS #: 1103593 $165,000 NATHAN BRABON
MLS #: 1103298 $450,000 SUE FELDHAUSER
NEW PRICE!
1008 S Helen Lake Road Ishpeming MLS #: 1104023 $149,900 ROB SULLIVAN
8237 W Maple Street Manistique MLS #: 1103815 $173,500 NATHAN BRABON
160 Acres Off Keranen Road Erwin Township MLS #: 1104094 $130,000 SUE FELDHAUSER
400 Acres, N. Fence River Road Crystal Falls
1400 Setter Road Little Lake
MLS #: 1097126 $295,000 BOB SULLIVAN
MLS #: 1099824 $38,000 ROB SULLIVAN
3557 Co Road FFB Champion
120 Acres Ross Grade Northland
MLS #: 1102975 $449,000 NATHAN BRABON
MLS #: 1097654 $129,000 ROB SULLIVAN
VACANT LAND
TBD Near Grove & Vandenboom Marquette
120 Acres, Co Road AAO Champion
MLS #: 1103226 $275,000 BRIAN OLSON
Love the Land!
Bob Sullivan
Associate Broker/ Owner Cell: 906-361-4212
88 Acres, Wilson Creek Road Crystal Falls
MLS #: 1098153 $108,000 BOB SULLIVAN
Rob Sullivan
Associate Broker, Office Manager Cell: 906-362-3337
Brian Olson
Associate Broker Cell: 906-869-6446
Nathan Brabon Agent Cell: 906-869-8451
MLS #: 1102842 $99,000 BOB SULLIVAN
Sue Feldhauser Agent Cell: 906-360-2891
Charles Drury Agent Cell: 906-235-3198
Nicole Tedder Agent Cell: 906-280-1459
Toll-free • www.northernmichiganlandbrokers.com • 2552 •US Toll-free 1-866-231-LAND 1-866-231-LAND • www.northernmichiganlandbrokers.com • www.premiumupproperties.com 255241USWest, 41 West,Marquette Marquette