IN THIS ISSUE: Out and About A

Editor's note:

Out and About is a calendar feature for community events and activites across the region. Please do not include any paid advertising. To submit an item for publication visit upnorthvoice.com/eventsubmission, or email mconstance@ upnorthvoice.com. Please contact event coordinators to ensure events are ongoing. Please follow Covid regulations and wear a mask to all events.

ROSCOMMON COUNTY

1- Spring community cleanup in Roscommon from 9 a.m. To noon at the AuSable River Center. Lunch provided by Roscommon Rotary. 1- Gahaghan Nature preserve is hosting its annual Spring Cleanup from 9 a.m. To Noon. Lunch at the AuSable River Center to follow. 5 – Gypsy Moth Zoom meeting hosting by Michigan State University from 4-5 p.m. For info visit canr.msu. edu/events. 22 – St. Helen Summer Kickoff at Richfield Township Park at 9 a.m. Corn-hole, BBQ Rib Cook off, Disk Golf, Pie Eating Contest and much more. For info contact the chamber at 989-387-3725. 24 – Houghton Lake Business Expo at Northern Event Center from 4-7 p.m. For info contact the chamber at 989-366-5644.

Regularly scheduled events:

The "Community Farm and

Out & About - May 2021

Artisan Market" is opening for outdoor sales May 7-Oct. 16. Outdoor vendors are open on Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. To 4 p.m. The indoor market is open the same hours as the outdoor market as well, but also Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Located at Skip's Lounge on the corner of Old 27 and M-55, 8895 W. Houghton Lake Drive.

Roscommon Train Museum

is open Wednesday and Saturday from 10 a.m. To 2 p.m. The museum is located at 815 Lake Street in Roscommon. Thursdays: • RADL Story time for the little ones – Story time with Miss Julie is fun! We have a story, crafts, and a healthy snack. Every Thursday at 10:30 am

Fridays: • RADL Open tech hour – if you have questions regarding your computer, tablet, phone, or library services come to the library at 2pm and we will sit down with you one on one to answer any questions. 1st Thursday of each month: • Veterans Coffee Hour: Beginning January 4, 9 a.m. - 10 a.m. Honoring the service of our military veterans. We invite you to enjoy coffee and donuts with us. The Roscommon County Airport. 5218 E. Houghton Lake Drive. Details Here. 2nd Sunday of each month: • VFW Country Breakfast 8 a.m. - 12 noon. VFW Post 4159, located across from the Roscommon Post Office.

OGEMAW COUNTY

14 – Second Annual Ogemaw Kids Golf Tournament at the Nightmare Golf Course. For information contact Denny Shumway at 989-701-2507. 15 – Corn Hole Tournament from 11 a.m. To 6 p.m. at the Ogemaw County Fairgrounds on Rifle River Trail. For information call 989-312-2331. 20 – Ogemaw Area Swim Boosters meeting at 6 p.m. at Ogemaw Height High School, Room 210. for Info call Pat at 989-3120864.

OSCODA COUNTY

The AuSable Valley Engine &

Tractor Club is holding its show

on June 25 and 26, 2021 (Friday & Saturday) at the lovely, wooded Oscoda County Fairgrounds on Caldwell Road off of M33 between Mio and Fairview. Hours - 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Featuring antique tractor & machine exhibits, gas engines & related machinery, tractor & kid’s games with prizes, flea market, swap meet, craft vendors, tractor pulling, and a tractor parade. All farm equipment exhibitors, flea market, craft and swap meet vendors are welcome and it is N/C to set up or exhibit even for non-members. Rustic camping is available for a small fee. Some sites with electric. Food is available on site. Gate fee is $3.00 per person. Children under 12 years are FREE!! For more information call 989 370-5471or 989 387-4332 or like us on Facebook.

Looking for CRAFTERS, VENDORS, SWAP MEET, FLEA

MARKET, YARD SALERS, or you just want to get rid of your stuff. It is FREE to set up at theAuSable Valley Engine & Tractor Show on June 25 & 26, 2021 at the Oscoda County Fairgrounds. Spots available both indoors & out. Camping is allowed for a small fee. To reserve your spot call Cathy 248 821-4665.

CRAWFORD COUNTY

5 - Open skeet and trap at the Grayling Sportsman's Club at 11 a.m. 8 – Project graduation pig roast at Hanson Hills from 4-7 p.m. 15 – Grayling Vikings Football Golf Outing at Grayling Country Club. For info contact Coach Eric Tunney at 989-787-0348.

▪ See OUT & ABOUT on page 7

Up North Voice

A Division of AuSable Media Group, LLC A veteran-owned business located at 709 Lake Street, PO Box 113, Roscommon MI 48653

“Friend, guide and companion of all good people” Up North Voice is published monthly and distributed in Roscommon, St. Helen, Houghton Lake, Higgins Lake, Grayling, Lovells, Waters, Gaylord, Johannesburg, Lewiston, Comins, Atlanta, Mio, Fairview, McKinley, Rose City, Luzerne, Lupton, West Branch, Skidway Lake, Hale, Glennie, Curran, Tawas City, East Tawas, National City, Whittemore, Prescott, AuSable and Oscoda. It is available at newsstands or annually for $40. Stories, advertisements and photos are copyrighted and may not be reproduced without the express written permission of the publisher. UpNorthVoice.com is updated daily with breaking news and photos. 989-275-1170

Vets partner with Gahagan

ROSCOMMON - Throughout the summer of 2019, Lori Darga, Roscommon County Veteran’s Affairs, hosted nature walks at the Gahagan Nature Preserve on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings. The walks, which were dubbed, “Walk to Win,” provided Veterans of all abilities the opportunity to find a place of healing within nature.

“Gahagan was the perfect place for this event because of the wheelchair accessible paved loop trail that winds through cedar swamp and large white pines,” Lori said. Darga attended the Gahagan Board of Directors meeting April 12 to honor the preserve for the partnership that helped Roscommon Veterans find a place of peace under the old growth whispering pines at the preserve.

Darga presented the board with a plaque that reads: “Roscommon County Veterans Affairs would like to thank Marguerite Gahagan Nature Preserve for their help in providing recreational programs for the Veterans of Roscommon County. We appreciate your partnership and look forward to working with you in the future.”

“Some people dream the dream. Some people live the dream. Some people defend the dream. God bless the defenders.” - Anonymous

Darga went on to inform the board of how nature can help ease the suffering some Veterans experience when they are released from the Military. Many were not prepared for what they saw during their service, or how they would feel after being released from a system that shaped their identify for many years. Once they are home, natural settings can help Veterans find solace, and a sense of honoring as well as being a part of the higher, creative power that exists all around us.

Join Roscommon County Veteran’s Affairs “Walk to Win” in 2021

Plans to continue to “Walk to Win” this summer at the Gahagan Nature Preserve are underway. Please plan to join Lori on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from Memorial to Labor Day at 5 p.m. to unwind and begin to bring the day to a peaceful close under the trees at the preserve. In support of the program, the Gahagan Education Team plans to join the walks twice a month to answer any questions about the preserve, tell stories about the surrounding habitat and to just have a little forest fun.

Contact Darga at 989-275-6047 or dargal@ roscommoncounty.net to learn more about the Roscommon County Veteran’s Affairs office. Visit the Gahagan Nature Preserve anytime from dawn until dusk at 209 Maplehurst Rd. Roscommon, MI 48653 or go to gahagannature.org.

Pictured are Roscommon County Veteran’s Affairs Liaison Lori Darga (left), presenting the plaque to Gahagan Nature Preserve Board Secretary Julie Crick.

Mark Constance Publisher

mconstance@ UpNorthVoice.com

Tracy Constance Marketing

tracy@UpNorthVoice.com

Lindy Peterson Reporter

lindythemermaid@yahoo. com

Warren Stutesman Reporter

warren@upnorthvoice.com

Rachel Johnson Digital Content Producer

Raychill.n.boys@gmail. com

William Broadnax Distribution Manager

williambroadnax2015@ gmail.com

Axel Jacobs Roscommon Distribution

Letter to the editor policy:

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Please limit letters to 300 words. Author must include a daytime contact number.

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Rosco race

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The C2 Race is Saturday May 8 at 10 a.m. with registration at 8:30 a.m. Heats will be determined following preregistration and day of registration. Heats of 5-C2s will start straight line style in the water in front of Wallace Park (no run start). Heats will start every 5 minutes with amateur class (E2) going in the last heat.

Paddlers will race down to Deerheart Valley Road and perform a clockwise buoy turn and paddle back up river to Wallace Park.

Amateur Class (E2) will paddle to Steckert Bridge, perform a clockwise buoy turn and paddle back up river to Wallace Park.

New this year, sponsored by the Roscommon Area Recreation Authority, Roscommon Canoe Classic and Alpena Beverage is a post-race event held at the AuSable River Center. Join your favorite paddler from 12-4 for live music, beer, food with awards around 1:30. The C1 Race is Sunday May 9 at 10 a.m. With registration at 8:30 a.m. Paddlers will launch from Wallace Park every 10 seconds, race to Steckert Bridge and perform a clock wise buoy turn, then continue paddling back up river to

Wallace Park.

Please note that all events are held outside. Officials encourage social distancing and masks when deemed appropriate for Covid-19 precautions.

Grayling garden space available

GRAYLING - The Grayling Community Garden plans to have plots available around Memorial Day for any interested Crawford County resident.

The community garden property, located at the corner of Madsen and Mary Ann Streets, has been made available courtesy of the Carl W. Borchers Post Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) #3736.

Plots will vary in size depending on the number of gardeners, but all are available free of charge.

The Grayling Community Garden is also seeking volunteers to help maintain plots which will grow food for the community. Food from this plot will go to individuals and families via the Crawford County Christian Help Center Food Pantry, Riverhouse Shelter, Crawford AuSable School Pantries and the Commission on Aging.

Mio office

move will take effect May 5.

The expansion has been planned by the company for almost two years. It was put on hold in 2020 due to the COVID outbreak.

Publisher Mark Constance is excited about the opportunity.

“We have always felt welcome here, and look forward to working more fully with the schools, as well as civic organizations and business community as we expand our footprint more fully into Northeast Michigan,” Constance said. “And honestly, Oscoda County has always been good to us. We feel we can do a better job for the community if we have a stronger physical presence in Oscoda County.

Other planned expansions will be announced in the near future.

Up North Voice is also seeking a part-time marketing consultant and freelance writer to cover Mio, Fairview, Lewiston, Atlanta, Luzerne and Comins. Please send a letter of interest to mconstance@ upnorthvoice.com or text 989-9809781.

AuSable Media's second office is located at 709 Lake Street in Roscommon.

For information on AuSable Media's full line of web-based and print products, as well as for quotes on commercial printing of magazines, brochures, rack cards or promotional clothing, please call Tracy Constance at 989-275-1170.

Mio’s Kittle Road Area Shopping

A Sample of Oscoda County Amish Businesses

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3 14 2

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10 6 8 4

1. Country Corners Bulk Food - Cheese, Cooking,

Food, Baking Supplies, Candy, Home Remedies. 1284 W. Kittle Rd. (989) 826-6063. 2. Natures Beauty Rustic Furniture - Handcrafted custom made home furnishings, large and small.

True beauty in wood. 860 E. Kneeland Rd. (989) 848-2806. 3. Country Feed Supply - Animal feed for large and small animals, enclosures. Pet supplies, etc. 389 W. Kittle Rd. (989) 826-2305. 4. Highland Building Center - Full-service lumber yard with your favorite tools to in stock. 693 E. Kittle Road. (989) 848-8000. 5. The Farm Kitchen - Fresh baked goods, goodies with a deli that can make your favorite sandwich.

Also, sell dairy products, grass feed meats, home décor and ice cream! 50 W. Kittle Rd. (989) 826-8666. 6. North Star Storage Barns - Custom buildings, many to choose from. 98 N. Mt. Tom Rd. (989) 826-1000. 7. Echo Ridge Fabrics - Fabrics, notions, Amish clothing (infant to adult), toys games, art/craft supplies and home décor. 1734 N. Galbraith Rd. (989) 826-1913. 8. Sensenig’s Repair - Lawn, garden equipment sales and service. 432 E. Kittle Rd. (989) 848-8346. 9 Sweet Success Sugarbush - Maple syrup goods. 1442 N. Galbraith Rd. (989) 826-3160. 10. The Pioneer Store - Not just your average hardware and home store. 432 N. Mt. Tom Rd. (989) 826-3580. 11 Blue Jay Valley Greenhouse & Nursery - Full service greenhouse and nursery with all the extras including custom planters. 1300 N. Perry Creek Rd. (989) 848-7337. 12 J & B Enterprise Leather Goods & Harness

Supplies - Custom leather goods (purses, wallets, belts and speciality items) along with pet & farrier supplies. 331 N. Mount Tom Rd. (989) 826-8024. 13 Greasy Steve's Repair & Fabrications - Metal and fabrication repairs, custom work. 203 E. Kittle Rd. (989) 848-8278. 14 Shady Lake Footwear & Oak Hill Furniture -

Footwear for the entire family and Handcrafted solid wood furniture, with full line of weather resistant wood and poly outdoor furniture. 68 E. Kneeland Rd. (989) 848-8265.

Oscoda County senior happenings

Oscoda Senior News By Suzanne Barker

MIO - Welcome May!

So nice to see things start to bloom and become green again.

We are truly appreciate of the ongoing community support for the Oscoda County Senior Center through this roller coaster of a year. Whether it was in the donation of some sort (loan, closet supplies, offers of volunteer help if needed, food, Christmas box supplies, etc), we are grateful to know so many care about our seniors as much as we do.

We're very happy about finally being open for congregate meals again. We want to thank the community members who continue to order meals to go as well.

Just a few dates to note this month: • June 4 – National Teachers Day • May 6 – National Nurses Day • May 15 - Armed Forces Day • May 31 – Memorial Day

These are 3 service professions that always deserve praise, but with all they have helped others deal with through this past year I wish we could give each and every one of them a medal.

May is also the month that we appreciate our Mothers. Happy Mother’s Day May 9 to all the moms out there and the dads who have had to be both.

We would also like to congratulate our Fairview and Mio High School graduates.

Food drops this month include the CSFP (senior cheese box) on

May 18 from 10-11 a.m.; and Together We Can Food Pantry drops May 6 and 20 from 12:30 p.m. till the food runs out. Both are at the Oscoda County Fairgrounds. TEFAP (every three month box) is slated for May 12 at the Senior Center.

The council’s monthly board meeting is scheduled for May 10 at 1 p.m. All are welcome to attend.

We are still working people get registered for the vaccine appointments at Rite Aid. There has been more availability than in the prior weeks. Give us a call if you need to get an appointment set up. - Suzanne Barker is the Director of the Oscoda County Council on Aging.

To contact her please call 989 826-3025

Send your photos, announcements and club events to: info@UpNorthVoice.com

River projects

♦ Continued from page 7

Northern Michigan that are home to some of the rarest plants and animals of the Midwest. Among these places are the 147,000-acre Camp Grayling National Guard training facility that spans Crawford and Kalkaska counties. and the 4,118-acre Negwegon State Park on the border of Alcona and Alpena counties.

These efforts will help protect and restore native habitats for Voss’ goldenrod, a rare Michigan endemic plant found at Camp Grayling; and Pitcher’s thistle, a federally threatened dune plant growing on the Negwegon coast and almost nowhere else on Lake Huron.

We’ll also be teaming up with local groups to treat invasive species along the entire North Branch of the Au Sable River, having spent long days surveying some of Northern Michigan’s most scenic stretches of river to find the places where we’ll need to focus our efforts in order to keep them scenic.

By boat, kayak and canoe, our

A Michigan rattlesnake at Camp Grayling

river and lake inventories will take us along 22 miles of the Thunder Bay River and 60 miles of shoreline at Hubbard Lake, Lake Winyah and Fletcher Pond in 2021 as we survey and monitor for invasive plants.

If you see us out this season, feel free to give us a wave and a smile. If you’d like to get involved, learn how to identify and report invasive species in your area via the Midwest Invasive Species Information Network by visiting our website, huronpines.org/invasives. — Chris Engle is Communications Associate for Huron Pines. Huron Pines strives to improve economic, environmental, educational and recreational opportunities throughout Northern Michigan.

Out & About

▪ Continued from page 2

15 – Free food distribution at Mt. Hope Lutheran Church at 11 a.m. Co-Sponsored by Crawford-AuSable Day Care. 21-23 - The 3rd Battery, 1st Michigan Light Artillery, and the Michigan Living History Association are participating in a Civil War

Encampment and Living History

Timeline at Wellington Farms. Due to ongoing COVID uncertainty, we as yet are uncertain of the participant count, but 3rd Battery and Battery D are planning civil war artillery demonstrations on Saturday and early afternoon on Sunday, demonstrate period camp life, and the Living History Association is considering demonstrations of camp life, uniforms, equipment, and weaponry for civil war infantry, World War II, and Vietnam, pending participation. 29 – Spring “Junque in the Trunk” 9 a.m. To 2 p.m. at the Grayling Mini Mall.

IOSCO COUNTY

8 – Northeast Michigan Regional Farmer's Market at Gateway Park in East Tawas from 8 a.m. To 1 p.m. 8- Antiques on Tawas Bay at the Brugger Plaza (Beneath the big flag) from 9 a.m. To 2 p.m. Part of proceeds benefit the Battered Women's Shelter. 29-30 – Memorial Day Arts and Crafts Show from 10 a.m. To 4 p.m. at Shoreline Park in Tawas City, across from the Iosco County Building.