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THURSDAY DECEMBER 27, 2018
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SPIN A YARN
US home price growth slowed in October
This Oct. 16 photo shows the outside of the Stonehedge Fiber Mill in East Jordan, Mich., where a team of nine employees process more than 700 pounds of yarn monthly for customers in 38 states and Canada, plus an additional 15,000 pounds of yarn monthly for the company's personal lines of yarn. (AP photo)
‘Shop local’ movement drives sales of American-made yarn
By SHIREEN KORKZAN Associated Press It began when Debbie McDermott allowed her daughter Jamie to raise two sheep for a 4H project. Eventually, her 165year-old farm was transformed into a successful, family-run, custom fiber processing mill. McDermott’s Stonehedge Fiber Mill, which opened in 1999 in East Jordan, Michigan, now produces more than 700 pounds of yarn monthly for customers in 38 states and Canada. It produces an additional 15,000 pounds monthly for its personal lines of yarn, including Shepherd’s Wool, which is milled and dyed in-house before it’s shipped and sold in about 300 shops. “I really think the appeal is our yarn’s made in the U.S., and people are more and more going toward U.S.-made products as a support for U.S. companies,” McDermott said. Most garments worn in the United States in the first half of the 20th century were American-made, but the decline of the American textile industry began after World War II, according to knitting and wool industries expert Clara Parkes. She’s a mem-
ber of the American Sheep Industry — an industry trade group — and author of several books on knitting. In recent years, however, there’s been a slow-growing demand for wool yarn that’s completely produced in the United States, from sheep to skein, Parkes said. One reason, she thinks, could be that consumers are turning back to wool because of the environmental risks of microplastics in garments made from synthetics like acrylic, nylon and polyester. The microplastics are released into waterways when the synthetic garments are washed. Locally sourced yarn helps not only the environment but local businesses too, Parkes said. “There’s the environmental impact of shipping goods all the way across the world and bringing it back, but now people are asking themselves, ‘What if I can get the wool here and just keep it here?’” McDermott echoed that sentiment: “Shopping local is allowing farmers to raise and keep their animals on the farm.” Consumer interest in locally sourced yarn inspired the
This November photo shows Director Mario Arturo Hernández Peña showing endangered cacti grown in El Charco's greenhouse at El Charco del Ingenio in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. (AP photo)
By JOSH BOAK AP Economics Writer WASHINGTON — U.S. home price growth slowed in October, a likely consequence of higher mortgage rates having worsened affordability and causing sales to fall. The S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller 20-city home price index rose 5 percent from a year earlier, down from an annual gain of 5.2 percent in September, according to a Wednesday report. Home prices have dropped as would-be buyers are struggling to afford homes. Prices have consistently climbed faster than wa0ges, a challenge that was overcome until last year by historically low mortgage rates. But borrowing costs began to rise last year after President Donald Trump cut taxes by increasing the budget deficit and the Federal Reserve hiked interest rates. “Prospective home buyers can no longer sustain the demand that propped up aggressively rising home prices,” said Cheryl Young, a senior economist with the real estate firm Trulia. “With little sign that home buyers’ purchasing power will strengthen into 2019, expect the housing market to stagnate well into next year.” The Las Vegas metro area reported the strongest price growth of 12.8 percent. San Francisco saw a 7.9 percent price increase, while home prices rose 7.7 percent in Phoenix. The report reveals a stunning comeback for Las Vegas, which was one of the epicenters of the See Homes p. 2D
This Oct. 16 photo shows Debbie McDermott's daughter, Jamie Sparks, tying freshly-spun yarn into skeins. Sparks' raising of two sheep for a 4-H project inspired her mother to establish Stonehedge Fiber Mill in East Jordan, Mich., on the family's 165-year-old farm in 1999. (AP photo) Michigan Fiber Cooperative to produce a line, Fresh Water Fiber, which uses wool and alpaca from Michigan farms. It’s processed by Stonehedge Fiber Mill and dyed by Why Knot Fibers in Traverse City. One store that stocks Fresh Water Fiber is Wool & Honey in Cedar, Michigan. Owner
Melissa Kelenske said she buys from Michigan-based fiber artists and companies that focus on producing high-quality, ethically sourced yarn with attention to their environmental impact. “I think the farm-to-table See Yarn p. 2D
In this Oct 2 photo, a for sale sign stands outside a home on the market in the north Denver suburb of Thornton, Colo. U.S. home price growth slowed in October, a likely consequence of higher mortgage rates having worsened affordability and causing sales to fall. (AP photo)
EL CHARCO DEL INGENIO
At botanical garden in Mexico, natural species blossom By KIM CURTIS Associated Press SAN MIGUEL DE ALLENDE, Mexico— Imagine a botanical garden, and acres of carefully designed, highly manicured, delicately pruned “zoos for plants” may come to mind. But at El Charco del Ingenio, a botanical garden and natural protected area in central Mexico, the sprawling scrubland has been allowed to return to its unencumbered, wilder roots. The approximately 160acre property, acquired from several different families, had been overgrazed for hundreds of years, according to Mario Arturo Hernandez Pena, the park’s director. “Thirty years ago, people
said the only thing that grows here is stones,” Hernandez said. But by limiting access, protecting the soil from runoff, pruning trees and controlling unwanted species, the land has blossomed, he said. In 1991, when El Charco first opened, volunteers and staff had identified about 183 different species of plants and about 130 species of birds. Those numbers exploded to about 600 and 186 in 2007 and 2014, respectively. “We’re just helping nature,” he said. El Charco is easily accessible from touristy downtown See Garden p. 2D
This 2016 photo shows The Plaza of the Four Winds in El Charco del Ingenio in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. (AP photo)
2D The Mining Journal
Thursday, December 27, 2018
House to Home Mortgage Index 30-YEAR Rate-Fee/Pts.
15-YEAR Rate-Fee/Pt.
High rate
4.750
1
5.375
1
Low rate
4.500
1
4.125
1
Average rate
4.594
1
4.437
1
This graphic represents a Tuesday survey of regional lending institutions. Figures are based on rates at Range Bank, mBank, First Bank of Upper Michigan and Marquette Community Federal Credit Union.
Homes from 1D housing bust that caused the U.S. economy to collapse into a recession at the end of 2007. The Nevada tourist destination has found new ways to grow as the market began to recover. “After the last recession, Las Vegas diversified its economy by adding a medical school, becoming a regional center for health care, and attracting high technology employers” said David Blitzer, managing director and chairman of the index committee at S&P Dow Jones Indices. “Employment is increasing 3 percent annually, twice as fast as the na-
tional rate.” But nationally, sales have generally stagnated or fallen. The National Association of Realtors reported earlier this month that sales of existing homes tumbled 7 percent in November from a year ago. Consumers may get some temporary relief as mortgage rates have declined in recent weeks amid the stock market sell-off. The average rate on the benchmark 30-year, fixedrate mortgage fell to 4.62 percent last week from nearly 5 percent in early November, according to mortgage buyer Freddie Mac. Still, average rates are up from 3.94 percent a year ago.
This Oct. 16 photo shows Debbie McDermott holding up the back side of a Ralph Lauren sweater in East Jordan, Mich., that athletes wore for the 2014 Winter Olympics closing ceremony. The sweater was made using Shepherd's Wool, one of Stonehedge Fiber Mill's yarn lines. (AP photo)
Yarn from 1D
Above, this 2007 photo shows The Conservatory of Plants in El Charco del Ingenio in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. Below, this November photo shows Director Mario Arturo Hernández Peña leading a tour at El Charco del Ingenio in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. (AP photo)
Garden from 1D San Miguel de Allende. It’s a few minutes by car or a longer, uphill jaunt by foot. The park hosts about 50,000 visitors each year. About 70 percent are Mexicans and, of those, about 35 percent are students, which is exactly how Hern ndez and the board of directors like it. “It’s an educational environment, not a park where you can have a picnic,” explained Naomi Zerriffi, the only non-Mexican on the seven-member board of directors. Even so, the high tourist season of November through February is the park’s busiest time of year, Hernandez said. “We’re working with the University of Guanajuato on a study of the capacity of intake. We’re discussing how much is too much,” he said. “We can pack this place with people . but then its natural structure, which we guard as a treasure, would be highly affected.” In addition to its biodiversity, El Charco is culturally and historically significant. Its name combines two Spanish words, “el charco” or “puddle,” and “ingenio” or “mill.” They refer to the ancient flow of
water in the canyon, which originated in a natural spring, long since dried up, and the remains of an ancient mill or waterwheel, likely used to grind grain, which shows up on a map of San Miguel from 1580. Today’s visitors also can see the remains of an 18th century bridge, the ruins of a 19th century hacienda and a still-intact dam built in 1902. There are work-
shops and classes, guided tours in Spanish and English, bird-watching excursions, sweat lodge and full moon ceremonies, as well as an annual spring equinox concert and summer festival in July. El Charco, a nonprofit organization, receives no government funding, and the bulk of its annual budget is drawn from memberships and fees, Hernandez
BIG C REALTY (906) 387-3074 321 E. Munising Ave., Munising www.bigcrealty.com office@bigcrealty.com
1082905 1.4-acre wooded corner lot with several building sites located in Whispering Pines Subdivision. Lot 15 is one of six lots having exclusive access to Lost Lake through a 20’ wide platted private park. Phone and power available with road being privately maintained but used on a year-round basis. Also listed as MLS #1082906 and #1082908 $19,900 1099987 One of eight parcels available featuring beauty and privacy. Sister Lake is a 25-acre spring fed lake, 26’ deep, sandy shores and well stocked with Largemouth bass for catch and release and surrounded by large private lakefront wooded parcels and borders Hiawatha National Forest Year-round access on well-maintained private roads. All utilities are underground to the parcels. $34,900 1107767 Looking for a cozy cottage away from civilization, yet close to town, look no further. This 1920’s cottage is nestled on 15+ acres and abuts hundreds of acres of CFR land. This land is great for the hunter looking to tag his or her trophy buck. This cottage has been well maintained inside and out. Some of the appliances included are; wood cook stove, propane fridge and propane gas lights. Located between Munising and Au Train. $47,000 1107429 This little camp sits on 4 acres with 420’ lake frontage on Peacock/Paquette Lake. This rustic cottage would make a great hunting camp or family getaway. Open floor plan with a pull-down staircase to access loft with skylight. Includes 2500-watt generator, wood stove for heat, sauna, located at the end of a 2 track. Plenty of woods, no neighbors. $59,900 1105578 Beautiful Nevins Lake - a 275+ acres all sports lake - offers TWO PLATTED LAKE FRONT LOTS plus nicely wooded corner lot across the street. This is a great opportunity to build your home or cabin on any of the three lots - take your pick!!! There is a driveway in and a small 12x14 building on Lot 18. $78,000 1110895 A wonderful place to raise your family and have your own business. Munising is located on the South shore of Lake Superior and this property is one of the best commercial sites in town - corner lot overlooking Lake Superior’s Munising Bay just one block South of Bayshore Park!!! Family owned business for 50+ years - gas station, automobile repair shop - this is a great opportunity!! $395,000
said. About 20 percent comes from private donations. In addition to Hernandez and the board of directors, the park is run by a team of 24 full-time staff, including an environmental engineer and two biologists, and 10 volunteer tour guides. Andrew Goodell, a volunteer and engineering geologist, said groups of students, ranging from prekindergarten to post-doctoral, have toured the park. “I want to give them an appreciation for nature and their heritage,” he said. “I want to show them what the land has looked like in the past, what the names of things are and what they’ve been used for.” Hernandez’s intentions are even broader. “We can have a much larger impact if we focus not just on environmental education, but on cultural change,” he said. “We can just have tourists running through here and taking off, but if people leave here thinking about their actions and their impacts, that’s real.”
Online: http://www.elcharco.org. mx/
1900 Presque Isle Ave.
228-7255
FEATURED PROPERTY
120 S Marigold St, Ish Spacious 3 bedroom home has a screened in sun room, two car garage and basement with plenty of storage! The bathroom and kitchen are both large, ton of potential! (1110703) $129,500 743 N Koski Ln, Gwinn Year round 3 bedroom 2 bathroom home on Horseshoe lake! Oversized two car garage, vaulted ceiling in the living room and kitchen along with a walk out basement to the large yard! (1111891) $195,000 84 S Shag Lake, Gwinn Beautiful 3 bedroom 3 bathroom home on Shag Lake! Dream kitchen with cherry cabinets and granite counters. Enjoy the vaulted ceilings, pine floors, gas fireplace and views of the lake! New 40’ patio and stone work on the entire back of the house! Even has an additional guest cottage. (1110724) $449,900 TBD Shot Point, Mqt The perfect place to build your home or luxury camp! With over 1000 feet of Lake Superior frontage on nearly 20 acres! (1108976) Reduced! $164,900 500 S Lakeshore Blvd 11, Mqt With this new first-floor condo you can enjoy the Lake Superior views with 2 bedrooms and 2 baths, open concept kitchen, living room and dining area, a covered 83 Sq. Ft. porch and a private 18x13 garage along with underground parking. (1094930) $459,000
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movement of eating local, shopping local — basically the major slow food movement — laid the ground work for the knitting industry,” Kelenske said. Another yarn company that supplies Wool & Honey is Brooklyn Tweed, of Portland, Oregon. Knitwear designer Jared Flood founded the company in 2010 to “preserve, support and sustain” American textile production by doing business with sheep farmers, fiber mills and dyers across the United States. The business concept “was not so much about patriotism as supporting local economies,” said Christina Rondepierre, Brooklyn Tweed’s marketing manager. “It was also the revitalization of East Coast mills and dyeing houses and the whole U.S. textile industry so they could sustain income and make sure towns and business were able to stay afoot,” Rondepierre said. For example, the Harrisville, New Hampshire, Historic District mill village spins some of Brooklyn Tweed’s yarns. The village was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1977. But patriotism, too, is helping to revive the American wool industry. After Ralph Lauren drew flak for making its Team USA apparel for the 2012 Summer Olympics in China, the fashion company had all Team USA apparel for the 2014 Winter Olympics made in the United States. The yarn used for the closing ceremony sweaters was 4,000 pounds of Shepherd’s Wool from Stonehedge Fiber Mill. McDermott was shocked when a Ralph Lauren representative asked her to supply the yarn. “It was a mouth-dropped-open moment when I realized who I was talking to on the phone,” she said. “It was a neat experience.”
The Mining Journal 3D
Thursday, December 27, 2018
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4D The Mining Journal
Northern
Thursday, December 27, 2018
WELCOME IN THE NEW YEAR WITH ONE OF OUR EXCEPTIONAL PROPERTIES
Michigan
Land Brokers
W504 Co Road 426, Arnold
TBD Silver Creek Road, Marquette Two contiguous building lots on Silver Creek with a nice trout stream. You can build a new home on a trout stream just minutes to Marquette. MLS#: 1106565
Custom built log home on 22 acres on the north branch of the Ford River MLS#: 1108256
$70,000 BOB SULLIVAN
$395,000 BRIAN OLSON
2011 County Road 456, Little Lake
3304 Castile Road, Wakefield
Immaculate and move-in ready home with 180 ft of frontage on Farmer’s Lake MLS#: 1107316
$339,900 BRIAN OLSON
Remodeled and renovated three bedroom home with gardens galore with new oversized garage MLS#: 1110852
$105,000 SUE FELDHAUSER
N4270 Powell Lake Road, Wetmore
W4349 Million Dollar Road, Menominee
280 acre Southern Menominee County hunting acreage with a cabin and pole building with 1/2 mile of road frontage on Million Dollar Road, a paved year round County Road, with power MLS#: 1111504
Beautiful year round 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath home on 100’ of Powell Lake sand frontage MLS#: 1111087
W9614 US-2 Highway, Naubinway
32000 County Road 476, Champion
$199,900 DON WILLSON
$449,900 ROB SULLIVAN
Unique well built “A Frame” construction year around home nestled on 20 acres located 20 minutes from Ishpeming MLS#: 1112098
Stunning turnkey home situated on the Black River just east of Naubinway on US2 MLS#: 1111006
160 Acres Hardwood Lane, Republic
160 acre rural Marquette County parcel with year round access and power. Old farm fields can be cleared for Hobby Farming or wildlife food plots. Good wildlife area for grouse, deer, bear and hare. Priced to sell! MLS#: 1098151
$120,000 BOB SULLIVAN
22 Acres, Pelissier Road, Marquette
Gorgeous parcel with an improved campsite on Pelissier Lake where you can kayak, canoe, fish and watch waterfowl by the hundreds. Good deer hunting on this parcel with a small stream, mountain top, timber and easy seasonal access just minutes from Marquette and the bike trails. This would be a wonderful getaway very close to town. MLS#: 1111184
$54,900 BOB SULLIVAN
6343 F Rd, Bark River
244 acres with a 4 bedroom/3 bathroom log home that features over 6,000 sq ft of living space beautifully landscaped with flowering trees and shrubs MLS#: 1106009
$799,000 ROB SULLIVAN
400 Acres, 12th Road, Bark River 400 acres of heavily wooded hunting property in Western Delta County with a small cabin MLS#: 1106297
$269,000 ROB SULLIVAN
$156,900 BOB ANDERSON
$199,900 SUE FELDHAUSER
DON’T WAIT UNTIL NEXT NOVEMBER TO BUY YOUR DEER CAMP. WE HAVE TWO GREAT CAMPS FOR $79,900
1168 N Winters Road, Trenary
Gorgeous working agricultural dream property with a beautiful country home and a great well built and sturdy barn surrounded by fertile fields on 30 acres. Additional acreage available at MLS#1110497. MLS#: 1110918
$289,000 BRIAN OLSON
Love the Land!
B o b S u lliv a n
A s s o c ia te B r o k e r / O w n e r C e ll: 9 0 6 - 3 6 1 - 4 2 1 2
170 Acres, Bob’s Creek Truck Trail, Gwinn
170 acres along with 3500 feet of river frontage on the main branch of the Escanaba River with a log cabin, sauna, and two garages. MLS#: 1111076
R o b S u lliv a n
A s s o c ia te B r o k e r , O ffic e M a n a g e r C e ll: 9 0 6 - 3 6 2 - 3 3 3 7
$349,000 ROB SULLIVAN
B ria n O ls o n
A s s o c ia te B r o k e r C e ll: 9 0 6 - 8 6 9 - 6 4 4 6
S u e F e ld h a u s e r A g e n t C e ll: 9 0 6 - 3 6 0 - 2 8 9 1
80 Acres Co Rd FFW, Republic MLS#: 1110965
2500 Co Rd 557, Arnold MLS#: 1111325
1110965 is an 80 parcel with a rustic cabin in great condition near Republic and 1111325 is a 30 parcel near Arnold with year round access and power. The camp on this parcel features not only power but an indoor sauna and large bunk room.
C h a rle s D ru ry A g e n t C e ll: 9 0 6 - 2 3 5 - 3 1 9 8
B o b A n d e rs o n
A g e n t C e ll: 9 0 6 - 3 6 2 - 8 3 8 8
D o n W ills o n
A g e n t C e ll: 9 0 6 - 2 0 2 - 0 4 5 7
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