May 21, 2026 | Issue #85 | Past issues

Bergmann Center closes

Bergmann Center staffer Penny Hawkins, right, gives Vickie, a client at the center, a quick hug after lunch in early May. Hawkins said she's known most of the people at Bergmann for 30 years and that the closure of the facility that serves adults with physical and developmental disabilities, primarily in Charlevoix and Emmet counties, would be “devastating.” The closure is prompted by an ongoing payment dispute with North Country Community Mental Health. Read the full story from Bridge Michigan below.

Photo by Kathy Kieliszewski/Bridge Michigan

Inside this issue:

Emotional visit to Ireland by City Commissioner Foltz
Memorial Day services planned for Monday
Boyne Valley Twp. weighs EMS split from Boyne City
County hasn’t had animal control officer for 6 months
Boyne City police get a boost with two new e-bikes
BCHS athletes score in the classroom
County's only HHW event is near Charlevoix on June 5-6
Arts Center closing for a week, reopening in new location
Disabled adults lose lifeline as Bergmann Center closes
Bike to School Day has a new route on May 29
Sprucing up downtown parking lots
County Genealogical Society receives 50-year certificate
Gas prices drop 8 cents; Diesel jumps 14 cents
Patrick McCleary history: Boyne City's "Gilded Age"
News briefs, Obituaries & Municipal News
Thanks to the donors who keep the news coming!
Music and entertainment listings

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Correction

We misidentified these two students in a photo with our story on "Rambler Disconnect Day" at Boyne City High School last week. Tim Payton, at left, and Brayden Dunlop traded their phones for a game of Spoons during their lunch hour on Disconnect Day.

Sharmai Wheaton asks a question at the EMS meeting. At her left is Boyne City Manager Sam Demel.

Boyne Valley Township weighs EMS split from Boyne City as frustrations mount, but questions remain

By Annie Doyle Grove, annie@boynecitizen.com

After years of mounting frustration with billing disputes, contract uncertainty and what township leaders described as a breakdown in trust, Boyne Valley Township officials are openly considering a major shift in emergency medical services.

At a special meeting Monday, May 18, attended by roughly 25 people, township board members heard a presentation from Jordan Valley EMS about a possible partnership that could replace long-standing ambulance service currently provided through Boyne City EMS.

The discussion underscored a growing divide between Boyne Valley and Boyne City — but also revealed the difficult realities of rural emergency services, where switching providers may mean higher costs, broader geographic coverage areas and new questions about response times.

No decision was made Monday. Instead, board members unanimously voted to table the matter for future discussion.

“This has been months and months and months of discussion,” Township Supervisor Lynn Sparks told attendees, describing the township’s recent attempts to work through EMS concerns with Boyne City. “We haven’t really made a lot of progress.”

The meeting drew Boyne City Manager Sam Demel, Jordan Valley EMS officials, representatives from neighboring townships, first responders, Boyne Mountain General Manager Jason Perl and a handful of concerned residents.

For Sparks, the issue has been brewing far longer than recent negotiations.

Boyne Valley once operated its own ambulance service but discontinued it in the mid-2010s after struggling to sustain staffing levels and maintain paramedic certifications. Since then, the township has contracted with Boyne City EMS to staff the township’s ambulance station and provide emergency services.

According to Sparks, concerns first intensified in 2016 when auditors found discrepancies between township and city EMS financial records. She described years spent reconciling run reports, insurance reimbursements and billing records, saying township officials repeatedly found ambulance calls that were improperly categorized, incorrectly billed or not billed at all.

At one point, Sparks said township and city officials agreed Boyne City owed Boyne Valley nearly $298,000 in reconciled EMS funds — money the township agreed to credit toward future services.

Yet township concerns continued.

“We just can’t resolve, and we can’t trust, can’t work together,” Sparks said, explaining why township officials began seriously exploring alternatives last year.

Boyne Valley formally notified Boyne City in 2024 that it would not renew its EMS contract, though services have continued while negotiations continue.

The township is one of several communities served by Boyne City EMS, which currently provides ambulance coverage for Boyne City along with Bay, Boyne Valley, Chandler, Evangeline, Hudson and Melrose townships, plus portions of Eveline and Wilson townships.

As previously reported by the Boyne Citizen, township leaders served by Boyne City EMS have increasingly voiced concerns over billing practices and unexpected assessments tied to EMS shortfalls.

Sparks said Boyne Valley’s financial obligations have climbed sharply in recent years. Under the township’s previous agreement, annual service costs were expected to be about $67,000, but she said Boyne City later billed the township more than $70,000 for 2024, roughly $119,000 for 2025 and more than $191,000 for 2026.

Meanwhile, township leaders say they have had little say in how those costs are determined.

A key difference highlighted during Monday’s discussion was governance and local input.

Under Boyne City’s current structure, township officials said participating communities help absorb EMS shortfalls but have little influence over budgeting or operational decisions.

Deputy Supervisor Russ Koeman said Boyne Valley had repeatedly requested a formal oversight structure or board representation that would give townships more involvement in EMS decision-making.

“No, we’re not interested in that,” Koeman said, describing the response township officials said they had received from Boyne City in prior years.

By contrast, Jordan Valley EMS officials said Boyne Valley would have opportunities for participation if it chose to pursue a partnership.

Under one option, the township could eventually become a voting member of the Jordan Valley EMS Authority, giving Boyne Valley a seat at the table in operational and budget decisions. That process, however, would require approval from every existing authority member and could take months to complete.

A second, more immediate option would allow Boyne Valley to contract for service while still attending authority board meetings, receiving monthly operational and financial reports and participating in discussions — even without voting authority.

“You’re going to get the same paperwork that the board gets every month,” Jordan Valley officials told attendees.

For township leaders, the prospect of having more transparency and a voice in operations appeared to be a major selling point.

“At least here we have a board we can go to,” Koeman said.

Jordan Valley EMS Director Joel Yonkman presented township officials with what he described as a systems-based approach to emergency coverage.

Jordan Valley EMS currently serves East Jordan along with South Arm, Jordan, Echo and Banks townships, plus portions of Wilson and Eveline townships.

“You’re not buying into an ambulance,” Yonkman said. “You’re buying into a system.”

That system includes 24/7 advanced life support ambulances, internal billing operations, fleet maintenance, administrative staff who can step into ambulance roles and a mutual aid agreement with Lake Charlevoix EMS. Jordan Valley’s mutual aid agreement with Boyne City was dissolved earlier this year.

A major factor for Boyne Valley is the township’s existing ambulance station and equipment, which Yonkman said Jordan Valley would continue staffing around the clock. Officials also said the township’s ability to provide an existing station and equipment could help reduce the cost of any future agreement.

“We would not go with somebody else that didn’t have staff 24/7,” Sparks said, emphasizing the importance of maintaining the township’s current level of emergency coverage.

Still, the proposal raised concerns.

Jordan Valley officials estimated a contract equivalent to roughly 1.75 mills could cost Boyne Valley about $353,000 annually — approximately $41,000 more than projected costs under Boyne City, though officials stressed negotiations would determine any final figure.

Questions also surfaced about staffing shortages and geography.

Jordan Valley currently covers a large rural service area — with Banks Township extending into Antrim County — and relies on ambulances shifting between communities based on demand, similar to Boyne City EMS and Lake Charlevoix EMS.

Residents questioned what would happen if units were tied up on patient transfers or emergencies elsewhere.

Yonkman acknowledged that, in some circumstances, long waits for aid could occur.

“If all four are tied up,” he said, mutual aid could come from Lake Charlevoix EMS depending on location and availability.

While no formal response-time estimate was presented, one public commenter suggested certain worst-case scenarios could approach 45 minutes if ambulances were tied up elsewhere.

Perl, who said he has nearly 20 years of experience as a paramedic, urged township officials to carefully consider the implications of changing a system that currently performs well.

“Level of service and response time has been fantastic,” Perl said of Boyne City EMS. “That’s important to us.”

Demel, who has served as Boyne City manager for about six months, acknowledged long-standing problems but urged township officials to continue working through reforms already underway.

“I recognize that things have not always been handled correctly in the past,” Demel said. “I’ve been committed to honesty and transparency.”

Demel said Boyne City has hired an outside firm to review township EMS agreements and billing records and has begun monthly meetings with township officials while transitioning EMS into an enterprise fund model intended to become financially self-supporting.

“It was a mess,” Demel said of the prior system. “There were multiple agreements across multiple townships with multiple formulas.” At the last interlocal meeting, the city proposed a 1.5-mill across the board contribution from each of the townships.

Still, Sparks said township officials feel pressure to find a more sustainable long-term model.

For Sparks, the issue has become personal after years spent trying to untangle EMS finances and agreements.

“The only reason I ran for township supervisor was to see this ambulance reconciliation completed,” Sparks told attendees. She said she had already spent “hours and hours and days and days” working through EMS records before taking office because “nobody else had the background of the ambulance to know what was really going on.”

For now, Boyne Valley officials appear caught between competing realities: dissatisfaction with a long-troubled relationship with Boyne City and uncertainty over whether a new provider can deliver the same level of service residents have come to expect.

“This is not something we’re taking lightly,” Sparks said. “We all want an ambulance when we need one.”

The board did not indicate when the issue would return for further discussion.

A Facebook post about these two lost dogs drew attention to the county's lack of an animal control officer.

Charlevoix County hasn’t had an active animal control officer for 6 months

By Annie Doyle Grove, annie@boynecitizen.com

and Jim Baumann, jim@boynecitizen.com

When two wandering dogs turned up in a Charlevoix neighborhood last week, residents searching for help discovered a larger issue: Charlevoix County has been without an active animal control officer for months.

After neighbors secured the pair of dogs - both resembling huskies - in a resident’s yard, questions quickly turned to who was responsible for responding.

A May 12 social media post from resident Sally Campi gained attention after describing how a resident reportedly called 911 and was told Charlevoix County no longer had a dedicated animal control officer to respond.

“I am hoping someone will see this and 1) recognize these dogs and come get them and 2) voice concern that Charlevoix County has no animal control officer to the county commissioners,” Campi wrote in the post. “Seems stupid and dangerous.”

The situation has renewed attention to a broader issue in Charlevoix County. According to Sheriff Chuck Vondra, the county has been without an active animal control officer since late November.

That officer is former Charlevoix Police Chief Gerard Doan, who was hired by Vondra in early 2025.

Vondra said Doan has been off work since the end of November due to a job-related knee injury, leaving local law enforcement and the Charlevoix Area Humane Society to navigate the gap in services.

“We’ve been terribly frustrated,” said Scott MacKenzie, executive director of the Charlevoix Area Humane Society. “It seems like about six months that there’s been no active on-duty animal control officer. We understand that the current animal control officer has been on medical leave, and so we have been left in a very precarious situation.”

When asked about Doan’s return, Sheriff Vondra said there is no clear timeline.

“He has a knee injury and it all depends on the doctors,” Vondra said. “I have to be careful what I say because this is an H.R. issue.”

The sheriff acknowledged the absence has created challenges for law enforcement as well. “It’s not convenient for us either,” Vondra said.

In the meantime, calls involving stray or dangerous animals have continued — though who responds can vary.

When residents call 911, dispatch determines whether the complaint goes to a city police department or the sheriff’s office based on the location and nature of the issue, Vondra said. But not all officers are willing to take on animal-related enforcement duties.

“A lot of officers refuse to do animal control enforcement,” Vondra said, specifically referencing the Charlevoix Police Department.

Vondra said he has stepped in personally to handle some animal-related calls. In the case of the two loose dogs in Charlevoix, he ended up transporting the animals to the Charlevoix Area Humane Society himself.

For the humane society, the lack of an active officer has disrupted what MacKenzie described as a critical link between the public, law enforcement and the shelter.

“People all over the county have been calling us about lost and found animals,” MacKenzie said. “We immediately report them or tell them to report it to 911, but there hasn’t been an officer to address those needs and issues.”

The humane society contracts with Charlevoix County to shelter stray and found animals. Staff maintain quarantine and holding rooms for animals brought in by law enforcement and work to identify owners through microchips and other means.

If owners cannot be located after a legally required holding period, animals are vaccinated, spayed or neutered and placed for adoption.

But MacKenzie said the shelter depends on an animal control officer to investigate complaints, transport animals and help connect residents with services.

“There’s a missing piece in the puzzle,” he said.

The issue extends beyond stray pets. MacKenzie said animal control officers also play an important role in abuse and neglect investigations and in overseeing animals tied to legal proceedings.

“We have two court cases, two dogs in there right now — they’re just sitting,” he said, referring to animals being housed while cases move through the legal system. “We’ve had animals there for over a year.”

Vondra did not outline any interim staffing plan or timeline for restoring full animal control services beyond the current arrangement in which law enforcement and dispatch continue responding to complaints as they arise.

Michigan law generally requires counties to provide animal control and shelter services, though how those responsibilities are carried out can vary from county to county.

For now, both MacKenzie and Vondra said residents dealing with stray, dangerous or neglected animals should continue calling 911.

“This is an important issue. Residents care about what happens to these animals,” MacKenzie said.

You may donate online or mail a check to

Boyne Citizen, P.O. Box 83, Boyne City MI 49712

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Boyne City police get a boost with new e-bikes donated by Classic Instruments

By Annie Doyle Grove, annie@boynecitizen.com

Boyne City police officers will have a little extra boost while patrolling this summer, thanks to two new electric bicycles donated to the department. The bikes - funded through a donation from Boyne City-based business Classic Instruments - will help officers maneuver through crowded events, parks and trails while giving them more opportunities to connect with residents.

Police Chief Kevin Spate said the e-bikes will allow officers to access areas where patrol cars cannot easily go while creating a more approachable presence in the community.

“When an officer comes up on a bike, it’s a friendlier atmosphere than when he is in that cocoon of the car,” Spate said. “People talk to us more. Kids are more approachable.”

The bikes are expected to be especially useful during busy summer events, including Boyne City’s Fourth of July celebration and Stroll the Streets, when vehicle traffic and crowds can make navigating downtown difficult.

“There’s no physical way we can get from point A to point B with a car at times,” said John McLeod, president of Classic Instruments and a longtime Boyne City police officer. “Bikes can.”

McLeod, a former full-time police officer who still works part-time with the department, said officers certified for bike patrol can make traffic stops, respond to complaints and patrol areas inaccessible to traditional vehicles.

“Parks, Avalanche trails — the cars can’t go, these can,” he said.

The department previously used standard mountain bikes, but officials said the move to electric bikes makes practical sense for officers carrying heavy equipment.

Each officer on patrol carries roughly 35 pounds of gear, including body armor and duty equipment, McLeod said. The added power from the e-bikes allows officers to travel farther and respond more quickly without becoming exhausted.

“We can get somewhere without being out of breath,” McLeod said. “A lot of times faster than a patrol car.”

The bikes also play a role in community policing efforts, according to the department.

McLeod said officers regularly attend school sporting events and community gatherings, where informal conversations can make residents — especially children — more comfortable approaching police.

“We found that since we’ve been in the school system and working in the public more often, it’s easier for kids to approach us when there is a problem,” McLeod said. “They feel more comfortable.”

The two new bikes were purchased entirely through donations from Classic Instruments, a Boyne City manufacturer of aftermarket performance gauges for cars, trucks and boats.

McLeod said supporting the police department has become a long-running effort for him and his wife, driven in part by his three decades in law enforcement and firsthand understanding of the department’s needs.

“To date, we’re at about $80,000 over the last 15 years,” McLeod said of donations made through the company. “Most of that’s been in the police department.”

Past donations have helped fund tasers, body cameras, firearms, sights and patrol bicycles, equipment officials say would have otherwise been difficult for a small department to purchase outright.

“All of those bikes were bought through this program,” Spate said, noting the department now has four e-bikes and one traditional mountain bike for certified bike officers. “There’s no public money in it.”

Spate said the donations have allowed the department to implement programs and equipment upgrades that may have otherwise taken years to fund through the city budget.

“A lot of those things we wouldn’t have been able to purchase without that donated money,” Spate said. “Everything he has put his money into has been a huge success.”

Classic Instruments employees also helped assemble and customize the bikes with department graphics, while local business North Country Cycle assists with fitting and maintenance.

And yes — the bikes include a touch of humor.

Mounted on the handlebars is a donut-shaped bicycle bell, which McLeod said has become a favorite among the younger set.

“Kids love it,” he said.

“This recognition reflects the collective effort of so many people who care deeply about providing meaningful opportunities for our student-athletes.”

> Athletic Director Matt Windle

BCHS athletes score in the classroom — and earn statewide recognition

By Annie Doyle Grove, annie@boynecitizen.com

Nearly two-thirds of Boyne City High School students participate in athletics — and, according to district data, those student athletes are outperforming their non-athlete peers in the classroom.

That combination of high participation and strong academics has helped earn Boyne City Public Schools’ athletic program rare statewide recognition.

At the May 11 Boyne City School Board meeting, Athletic Director Matt Windle was recognized after Boyne City Public Schools received the 2026 Michigan Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (MIAAA) Exemplary Athletic Program Award — a prestigious statewide recognition for high school athletic programs.

Data from Boyne City’s 2025-26 athletic department report helps explain why the district stood out.

During the school year, 395 middle and high school students participated in athletics — about 67% of eligible students. At the high school level alone, 243 students, or roughly 63% of the student body, competed in sports.

The district offered 26 high school sports and 12 middle school sports, fielding 47 teams supported by 78 coaches. Fifty-one high school students participated in three or more sports.

The district’s student-athletes also posted stronger academic performance than non-athletes.

According to Athletic Department data, high school athletes earned an overall 3.46 GPA compared with a 3.09 GPA among non-athletes. Female athletes averaged a 3.66 GPA, while male athletes averaged 3.25.

The award, established in 1998, recognizes athletic departments that demonstrate excellence, equity and educationally sound practices. Boyne City is only the 24th athletic program recognized in the award’s 25-year history and just the 14th honored in the past two decades, according to the MIAAA.

To earn the recognition, Boyne City underwent a three-day site visit last fall, during which an MIAAA committee met with administrators, coaches, student-athletes, parents and support staff while reviewing the district’s athletic culture, leadership, equity efforts and overall programming.

In a statement released through the MIAAA, Windle credited the recognition to the broader school community.

“This recognition reflects the collective effort of so many people who care deeply about providing meaningful opportunities for our student-athletes,” Windle said. “Our coaches, staff, administrators, families, and community consistently put students first and work together to create an environment rooted in growth, accountability, and support.”

County's only HHW event this year is near Charlevoix on June 5-6

Charlevoix County will be holding only one Household Hazardous Waste collection event this year, and it will be held June 5 and 6, south of Charlevoix at the Road Commission garage, 11705 Shaw Road, just west of M-66.

In the past, the county has held an HHW event in June in Charlevoix and also in September in Boyne City, but the change to one event was made by the County Board of Commissioners for budget reasons due to rising costs.

Josh Cline, materials management coordinator for the county, explained the reason for rising costs. “After the 2022 Season for HHW, we were informed by the vendor that takes chemicals, bulbs, and the non-electronic material, that they would no longer come this far north for events,” Cline said. “We were left with a singular alternative for a vendor” that would serve this area.

Cline said the cost for HHW events rose 78% from 2022 to 2023. “In late 2023 a new contract with GFL as the hauler for recycling was signed, and this increased the cost by 57%,” he said.

“We have not increased the millage of recycling since its inception in 2000 because it has never needed it. The one-two punch in both areas, which hit us out of the blue, pushed us past the ability for this rate to cover the cost. We either operate a single event or increase the millage,” which is up for renewal or possibly an increase in 2028.

How to register for HHW event

Appointments are available Friday, June 5 from 4-8 p.m. and Saturday, June 6 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

If you would like to be notified via email about upcoming HHW and recycling events, click on the following link: please join our notification list and submit an application. Those on the notification list will receive an email approximately two weeks in advance of each event with a link to reserve your appointment online.

Those who do not make an online appointment may make phone reservations beginning Monday, June 2 through Friday, June 5 between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. Call 231-547-0080. You are asked to only call once and leave a message. Calls will be returned in the order received.

What's accepted and what is not

Common hazardous items accepted at this event include fluorescent bulbs, motor oil, batteries (car, boat, motorcycle, and household), pesticides, cleaners & polishes, aerosols, automotive fluids, oil paints, stains, finishes and thinners, solvents, mercury and items containing mercury, medicines free.

Latex Paint is not hazardous. You can pour the paint out onto cardboard, let dry, and then dispose of it in the trash. The county will be charging $3 per gallon for disposal.

Other accepted items include:

Electronics: computers, TV’s, cameras, telephones, microwave ovens, game systems, printers, VCR’s, radios (items that contain hazardous materials).
Appliances: refrigerators, humidifiers, dehumidifiers, air conditioners, freezers, stoves, disposals, lawnmowers, electric or gas motors, anything steel is free. No dishwashers, water softeners, or fiberglas tanks.
Mattresses: When scheduling your reservation, state the number of mattresses and box springs being dropped off. Fee: $20 per mattress; $20 per box spring.

For details about items that will and will not be accepted, see this 2026 HHW Event Brochure.

Boyne Arts Center closing May 25 for a week, then opening in new location

The Boyne Arts Center (BAC) will close during the week of Memorial Day to complete their move to a new downtown Boyne City home and plans to reopen in the new location on Monday, June 1.

Community members are invited to attend a ribbon-cutting with the Boyne Area Chamber of Commerce at 5 p.m. Friday, June 5, with an open house immediately following. Attendees will have an opportunity to tour the new building and meet several of the artists displaying work in the gallery.

The new location is in the building that housed Country Now & Then and Up The Lazy River for many years at 211 Water Street.

"This is an exciting milestone for the arts center,” said BAC Board President Nancy Blandford. “We are grateful to everyone who has helped us reach this point and look forward to completing the project in the year ahead.”

The arts center will have expanded summer hours of 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday and Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Fridays.

Initial renovations completed this spring will allow the organization to begin operating in the space this summer, with additional improvements and equipment installations planned for later this year.

This initial phase of renovation work was supported in part by the Michigan Arts and Culture Council and the National Endowment for the Arts.

The new street-level location will provide increased visibility, accessibility, and space for exhibitions, classes, and community programming. While the building will be open and active this summer, additional improvements and equipment installations are planned for later this year as funds are raised.

The Boyne Arts Center is a nonprofit arts organization serving Northwest Michigan through exhibitions, arts education, and community programming that supports artists and expands access to the arts. For more information and class schedules, visit their website at www.boynearts.org.

Bergmann Center staff member Penny Hawkins, left, talks with Julie, a client at the center, during an afternoon of socializing, puzzles and arts and crafts. (Kathy Kieliszewski/Bridge Michigan)

Some fear ‘domino effect’ as disabled adults lose lifeline at Bergmann Center

By Eli Newman

For Bridge Michigan

Madison Priest found her voice at the Bergmann Center.

The Charlevoix-based day program has operated for more than a half-century and serves about 70 adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. For Priest, a 24-year-old wheelchair user from East Jordan, the impact has been clear to her and her family.

“I’m verbal, but struggle with being social,” she told Bridge Michigan. “I’m talking a lot more confidently than I was when I first started.”

The Bergmann Center has given Priest a strong sense of community and structure. The facility gives her a place to work, packaging parts for a local magnetics company. She lunches with her friends around town and does art projects. She even attended a special prom night party put on by the program.

But those opportunities are soon expected to end — the Bergmann Center is slated to close on Saturday. “I’m really sad,” Priest said. “It’s hard to lose that.”

The center’s closure reflects a deepening rift running through Michigan’s $4.9 billion Medicaid-supported behavioral health system.

Community Mental Health agencies — the public bodies responsible for funding service providers like the Bergmann Center — have increasingly “shifted from being a system manager” to competing for the same resources they allocate towards network providers, according to Heather Rae, president and CEO of Common Ground.

Out of funds, out of time

At the heart of the Bergmann Center’s closure is a dispute over direct care worker wages and whether they include a Medicaid-funded bonus provided by the state to reimburse certain frontline public health workers.

Bergmann says the wages are not being properly refunded. But North Country CMH, the agency that maintains the Bergmann’s payments, says those dollars have been appropriately dispersed and assumes the center’s closure stems from the center’s own operational decisions.

“When I look at the (reimbursement) rates, they’re quite sufficient,” North Country CMH CEO Brian Babbitt told Bridge. “I do believe that they are … likely paying their staff well above what we are funding at.”

> Full story from Bridge Michigan

Bike To School Day started at Avalanche Preserve in past years, as seen here, but this year's route will start at Classic Instruments and then will follow the Boyne Valley Trail.

Bike to School Day takes a new route on May 29

Boyne City Public School students are invited to join officers from the Boyne City Police Department and ride their bikes to school starting at 7:30 a.m. Friday, May 29.

In the interest of safety for all involved, the route has been changed to allow cyclists to use the Boyne Valley Trailway paved bike path, rather than city streets, to ride to school.

The new starting location is at Classic Instruments, 826 Moll Drive, which is adjacent to the bike path.

Helmets are required for all riders, and parents are welcome to ride along with their students. This ride is 2.2 miles long, and all participants must be able to complete the ride in 30 minutes.

Sprucing up downtown parking lots

Boyne City Main Street is wrapping up two infrastructure projects this month, as the Boardwalk along the river has been rebuilt, and, shown here, beautification projects at two parking lots have been completed just in time for Memorial Day. ABOVE is the parking lot at the corner of Ray and South Lake Street, and BELOW is what is known as the Fochtman lot at the corner of River and Park Streets. The main improvements involve tree planting and landscaping, which were done at a cost of $82,596 by low bidder Robinson’s Landscaping and Nursery. The landscape design work was done by Sara Kirk of SRP Design Studio, working with local landscape expert Gow Litzenburger. Main Street Executive Director Ingrid Day said similar designs may be used to beautify other downtown parking lots in future years.

Charlevoix County Genealogical Society members pictured are, from left, Gerald Weaver, Ron Olund, Christine Brown, Yvonne Pentecost, Judy Muhn, Beverly Neville, John McMahon and Sue McMahon.

County Genealogical Society receives 50-year certificate

Charlevoix County Genealogical Society (CCGS) members gathered Sunday, May 17 to accept a 50-year certificate of recognition from the president of the Michigan Genealogical Council, Judy Nimer Muhn. Muhn made her annual trip to Boyne City for the Mushroom Festival and coordinated the presentation with that event.

The group enjoyed lunch at Café Sante with interesting conversation on genealogy successes and hurdles in their families.

Muhn will return for the Charlevoix County Genealogical Society’s August 6 meeting, which will be a birthday party open to the public, with snacks, cake, punch, genealogy games and puzzles for all ages. Details on that event will be announced.

The next meeting of the Charlevoix County Genealogical Society will be at 7 p.m. Thursday, June 4 at the Boyne District Library Community Room. The group encourages interested persons to come and learn more about the organization and perhaps become a member.

The program for this meeting will be “The Proper Way to Clean a Gravestone,” with presenters Yvonne Pentecost and Christine Brown. They will also be discussing their 50th birthday event. For questions or more information, contact Christine Brown, 231-582-9337 or 231-838-3449.

Boyne City regular gas prices drop 8 cents, diesel jumps 14 cents

Prices for regular unleaded gas dropped 8 cents to $4.91 per gallon in the past week at the Marathon station at 470 N. Lake Street. Diesel jumped from $6.15 to $6.29. Other stations in town are priced the same. Here are recent prices spot checked by the Boyne Citizen since the Iran war started on Feb. 28:

March 3 - $3.099
March 6 - $3.409
March 12 - $3.669
March 21 - $3.999
March 26 - $4.199
March 27 - $3.999
April 6 - $3.899
April 7 - $4.199
April 13 - $4.159
April 15 - $4.099
April 22 - $3.799
April 24 -$3.999
April 29 - $4.299
May 6 - $4.799
May 13 - $4.999
May 20 - $4.919

> Michigan gas prices (AAA)

> High gas prices? Some say that's good for local tourism - Story from Interlochen Public Radio

News Briefs

SHORT-TERM RENTALS - The Boyne City Commission will host a community engagement work session on Thursday, May 21, focused on the city’s short-term rental ordinance. The meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. at St. Matthew’s Church Parish Hall, 1303 Boyne Ave. City officials are inviting the public to take part in the discussion on short-term rentals as the community continues to weigh the impact of tourism against limited housing options for year-round residents. Feedback gathered during the session is expected to inform potential future changes to the city’s short-term rental ordinance, though no decisions are expected at that meeting.

PARK AND PACK DAY - Evangeline Township is holding its annual Park and Pack Clean Up trash collection day on Saturday, June 6 from 7:30 a.m. to 12 noon at the Town Hall. This popular annual event provides township residents with a way to dispose of household items. There are a few restrictions: no paint, batteries, anti-freeze, freon, tires or yard waste. Construction material should not exceed 6 feet. Loose items must be put in garbage bags. Township residents have received the Park and Pack postcard in the mail, which is required for admission at the Town Hall, located on the corner of Wildwood Harbor and Clute Roads.

NATIVE PLANT SALE - The Charlevoix County Conservation District is moving its Native Plant Sale from fall to spring this year, when it will be held from 12-2 p.m. Saturday, June 6. The Plant Sale Species List is available now on their website. The plant sale is a browse and buy style sale at the district office, 303 North St., Boyne City. For questions or to find out more information, call Executive Director Alison Adams at 231-582-6193.

BOYNE AREA SWIM SCHOOL registration is open. Stop by the MSU Extension office at Boyne City Hall to get signed up from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

BLOOD DRIVES - Several local organizations are sponsoring blood drives in the coming weeks. Versiti Blood Center says, “The need for blood is urgent and constant. One in seven patients entering a hospital requires the availability of blood for various medical reasons.” Here are the upcoming blood drives in Boyne City and Boyne Falls:

Boyne City EMS Department - 11 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Friday, May 22
Boyne Mountain Resort - 12:30-5 p.m. Wednesday, May 27.
BC Beauty Lounge, 115 S. Lake St. #B - 1:30-6 p.m. Monday, June 8.
Boyne District Library - 1-5:30 p.m. Monday, June 22.

> To register, click here and enter your zip code for nearby locations.

BOYNE AREA SENIOR CENTER is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays and serves daily lunches from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. For seniors ages 60+, the lunch donation is $3, for ages 59 and under, $10; and for children 12 and under, $8. Here is the May lunch menu and the May activity calendar.

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Regional News

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> Michigan plans to reissue Line 5 permit amid federal review, court fight - Story

City of Boyne City Municipal News

LEADERSHIP GRADUATE - Please join us in congratulating Becky Pennington, Deputy Clerk for the City of Boyne City, on her recent graduation from the Leadership Charlevoix County (LCC) program. We are grateful for Becky’s continued dedication to serving our community and are excited to see the leadership and experience she brings back from this program. Congratulations, Becky! We’re all so proud of you!

Pictured with Becky is her mentor through the program, John Hunter.

Learn more about LCC: www.leadershipcharlevoixcounty.com.

Spring rubbish pickup set for Saturday, June 6

The City of Boyne City rubbish collection pickup has been set for Saturday, June 6. This service is available to residential properties within City limits (3 units or fewer).

Limit: Up to 2 cubic yards per household
Set items out after 5 p.m. the day before
Have items out by 7 a.m. on pickup day

Commercial properties are not eligible. View full details, including acceptable & non-acceptable items.

JOB OPPORTUNITY - Looking for a summer job that’s outdoors, fast-paced, and right on the water? The Boyne City Marina is hiring Dock Hands to help boaters, make reservations, keep the marina looking great, and be part of a fun team! Spend your summer lakeside. Apply & find the full job description and details here.

MEETING CHANGE - The City Commission’s second regular meeting in May will be held on Thursday, May 28, at 12 noon, following Memorial Day weekend. This is a change from the normal schedule of meeting on the fourth Tuesday of the month. A Facebook post from the city said, “This adjusted timing helps provide a bit of space around Memorial Day while keeping meetings accessible.” Agenda page.

NOW HIRING PARAMEDICS - The City of Boyne City is seeking applications from dedicated individuals interested in joining our EMS team as a Paramedic.

Apply today - email your resume to jpuroll@boynecity.gov. Find the full job description online at www.boynecity.gov/career.

SIGN UP FOR CITY ALERTS - The City of Boyne City has launched an Alerts feature on our website to help you stay up-to-date on projects, notices, and other important things happening around town. It’s designed to be a quick, easy way to get real-time updates, as they become available, directly to your email or phone. Sign up at: https://www.boynecity.gov/enotify/index.php.

Obituaries

James "Jim" Michael Carrow

December 27, 1946 ~ May 14, 2026 (age 79)

Arlene Rose (Tooley) Moore

July 1, 1929 ~ May 8, 2026 (age 96)

When the glorious RMS Olympic, sister ship to the Titanic, was launched on Oct. 20, 1910, it was the largest ship in the world. The Olympic was the first of three nearly identical ships built by the White Star Line in Great Britain. The company was competing with its fiercest rival, the Cunard Line, for domination of the trans-Atlantic shipping lanes between Europe and America. White Star’s answer to Cunard’s Lusitania and Mauretania was a trio of luxury ships. In order of construction, the Olympic, the Titanic, and the Britannic.

THROUGH THE HISTORIAN'S LENS

William Shaw and Boyne City’s “Gilded Age”

By Patrick McCleary

The Charlevoix County History Preservation Society

Several months ago, I wrote an article titled, “The Story of the William S. Shaw Mansion and its Gardens.” I received several emails and personal messages from readers, most surprised that Boyne City was the location of so many wealthy industrialists, along with questions about the homes they built and the lives that they led.

It is a fascinating subject, particularly to those of us whose early ancestors lived a far more meager financial existence. The Whites, Von Platens, Pratts, Foxes and Shaws (just to name a few), resided in rural Northern Michigan, yet enjoyed the access and privilege only afforded to a very small percentage of society.

There was a time in American history when the business magnates and industrial titans boasted more wealth themselves than the combined wealth of many of the communities that they resided in. Trends in rural America frequently occur a bit later than they do in mainstream society.

Thus was the case in Boyne City and Charlevoix County. While the “Gilded Age” for the United States spanned from around 1870 to the turn of the last century, the wealth of local industrialists continued to reach as far as 1930. Some even accumulated more wealth at that time than some of today’s top technology innovators and visionaries.

Sadly, for most, business later lagged and these same fortunes were often lost to themselves and their descendants. While it lasted though, European and other international tours, Ivy League colleges, music academies, haute couture shopping in New York and Chicago, and visits to milliners and furriers of the highest quality were all within their reach.

For many working-class folks, the wealth that some experienced was so vast it seemed to highlight the financial inequality of the era. Mark Twain was the one who coined the phrase “Gilded Age” in his 1873 novel “The Gilded Age: A Tale of Today.” That phrase suggested that the thin outer veneer of wealth for the elite masked broader issues for many in the lower and middle classes. Here, however, the owners of Boyne City’s industrialist operations were remembered by most as being fair-minded with wages and treatment of their workers.

Take, for example, the family of William H. and Edith (Pratt) Shaw. I have already shared the details of their glorious Boyne City mansion home, once standing on what is now the site of the Harborage tennis courts. Through savvy business dealings and fair employee treatment, Mr. Shaw maintained his fortunes throughout his lifetime, passing away in 1946 in Oregon. And oh, what a life it was!

In August of 1913, W.S. and his wife Edith boarded the RMS Olympic as first class passengers. They departed Southampton, England, located 80 miles southwest of London, destined for New York City. Based on the Olympic roster of passengers, the Shaws enjoyed a first-class suite and naturally had access to all areas of first-class dining and entertainment.

On November 29, 1919, William Chester Naylor and Miss Edith Eleanor Shaw were married at New York’s Waldorf-Astoria hotel. The happy couple and their guests spent several days at the Waldorf-Astoria, before departing on an extended honeymoon.

The Petoskey Evening News Friday, December 12, 1919, edition reported the news to the local community.

Announcements have been received of the marriage of Miss Eleanor Shaw, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W.S. Shaw, of Boyne City to William C. Naylor, of Rochester, New York. The marriage occurred in New York City.

The main foyer of the original Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, Fifth Avenue, Manhattan, New York City.

In 1937, William S. Shaw married for a second time. The wedding was announced in local newspapers under the headline: W.S. SHAW WEDS CHICAGO WOMAN. In the March 30 issue of The Petoskey Evening News, we learn that the “marriage of W.S. Shaw, prominent Boyne City resident, and Mrs. Maude Kretchmer of Chicago, was revealed today. The wedding took place last Wednesday at the Edgewater Beach Hotel in Chicago” in the presence of family members. The couple went on to spend several months in California and then returned to summer in Boyne City.

William S. Shaw was only one of the many prominent citizens of early Boyne City. Like his counterparts, the stories of their lives, business dealings, family histories, as well as their successes and failures, are a fascinating aspect of local historic detail.

> Patrick McCleary is a Certified Genealogist affiliated with the Charlevoix County History Preservation Society (CCHPS), 12555 Taylor Road, Charlevoix, MI 49720. The CCHPS promotes the understanding and appreciation of the heritage of the people of Charlevoix County and its townships by seeking out, collecting, preserving, and interpreting artifacts of historical and cultural significance. For further information, contact Patrick by email: Throughthehistorianslens@gmail.com.

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(Continued next column)

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MUSIC, ARTS, AND ENTERTAINMENT

Please email your special events and music information to jim@boynecitizen.com.

AMERICAN LEGION Post 228 - 302 S Lake St., Boyne City, (231) 459-4188.

Bingo every Tuesday, open to the public, refreshments provided. Doors open at 3 p.m., play starts at 5, ending around 9. The Legion also has a breakfast on the second Saturday of every month from 8-11 a.m.

BC LANES/THE VENUE BAR & GRILL - 1199 M-75 S, Boyne City, (231) 582-6353.

> Open bowling: 3-9 p.m. Tuesdays, 3-10 p.m. Fridays, 12-10 p.m. Saturdays, 12-9 p.m. Sundays.

> Live music:

Tuesday, June 9 - Summer concert series begins and continues every Tuesday at 6 p.m.

BOYNE ARTS CENTER - 1 Water Street, Suite 203, Boyne City, (231) 622-2073.

> Upcoming classes and exhibits:

"Return to Light" Exhibit - Now through May 25
Plein Art Meet-ups - Tuesdays, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
Ribbon Cutting Celebration Public - Friday, June 5, 5 p.m.
Kids Art Camp - June 15 - August 14. Scholarships available.
Reviving Old Paintings - Demo Night with Julie Tibus - June 15
Beginning Acrylic Painting - June 23, July 7 & 21
Creating Mood Landscapes in Acrylic - July 9, 23, 30 & Aug. 6
Beginning Alcohol Ink - July 18
The Art of Image Transfer - July 20
Transform a Failed Painting Workshop - July 22
Demo Night with Carol Ross - July 23
Book a Private Art Party
BAC will be closed the week of May 25 to move into our new location at 211 Water Street.

BOYNE CITY FARMERS MARKET - Indoors at the Veterans Park Pavilion, 207 N. Lake Street, Boyne City, (231) 582-9009.

The market moves outdoors in Veterans Park starting Saturday, May 16, with expanded hours of 8 a.m.-12 noon on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

> Live music 10 a.m. to 12 noon Saturdays:

May 23 - Terry Coveyou

BOYNE CITY TAP ROOM - 220 S. Lake St., Boyne City, (231) 459-4487.

Mondays - Trivia
Thursday, May 21 - Adam and the Cabana Boys, 7 p.m.
Friday, May 22 - The Sleeping Gypsies, 7 p.m.
Saturday, May 23 - Patrick Ryan, 7 p.m.
Saturdays and Sundays - Sports on all screens.

BOYNE DISTRICT LIBRARY - 201 East Main St., Boyne City, 231-582-7861. Newsletter with June events and details.

BOYNE MOUNTAIN RESORT - 1 Boyne Mountain Rd., Boyne Falls, (855) 688-7024.

> Weekly schedule of events and entertainment at all Boyne Mountain venues.

BOYNE RIVER INN - 229 Water St., Boyne City, (231) 222-4053.

LIVE MUSIC:

Thursdays through May - Nelson Olstrom performs, 7-10 p.m.

BOYNE VALLEY VINEYARDS - 05325 US 131 S, Petoskey, (231) 373-2090.

> LIVE MUSIC:

Friday, May 22 - Chris Calleja, 4-7:30
Saturday, May 23 - Michelle Chenard, 2-6 p.m.
Monday, May 24 - Chris Calleja, 1:30-5:00
Friday, May 29 - Michelle Chenard, 2-6 p.m.
Saturday, May 30 - Chris Calleja, 2-6 p.m.

CAFE SANTE - 1 Water St., Boyne City, (231) 582-8800.

> LIVE MUSIC:

Friday, May 22: Lavender Lions Duo, 7-10 p.m.
Saturday, May 23: The Fridays, 7-10 p.m.
Friday, May 29: Chris Calleja, 7-10 p.m.
Saturday, May 30 - Sean Bielby, 7-10 p.m.

CROOKED TREE ARTS CENTER - 461 E. Mitchell Street. Petoskey, (231) 347-4337.

> See website for updated art shows, entertainment, and children's activities.

GREAT LAKES CENTER FOR THE ARTS - 800 Bay Harbor Drive, Petoskey, (231) 439 -2600.

Sunday, May 24 - The Hit Men, Classic rock supergroup. Details and tickets.
Friday, May 29 - Crooked Tree Arts Center School of Ballet presents Dance Legends: Little Traverse Bay Celebrates Graham100. Details and tickets.
See website for movies showing on the big screen.

LAKE STREET PUB - 202 S. Lake St., Boyne City, (231) 497-6031.

> TRIVIA NIGHT - Wednesdays, 7-9 p.m.

MUSKRAT DISTILLING - 121 Water St., Boyne City, (231) 268-0178.

> KARAOKE - 8 to 11 p.m. every Wednesday

> LIVE MUSIC and events: