July 2, 2026 | Issue #93 | Past issues

Free flags at City Hall

American flags are available for pickup at City Hall, with a limit of 10 flags per family while supplies last. About 50 flags were still available on Wednesday afternoon. “We are honored to offer this limited number of American flags that have previously flown in tribute to the brave men and women who have served our country,” a city Facebook post stated. The patriotic flag bearers pictured here are city staff members Jen Eads, Becky Pennington, and Heather Peck.

Inside this issue:

Fourth of July Weekend is here!
Details on Boyne City, Horton Bay & Walloon celebrations
4th of July Committee proposes “Spray Zone” compromise
‘Water Gate’ has community divided on squirt guns
Stroll the Streets lineup for Friday night
Horton Bay Parade is “wonderfully weird”
History Open House in Horton Bay July 4 & 5
‘Big Show Over the Little Village’ in Walloon Lake
Personal fireworks are allowed through July 4
Boyne Arts Center welcomes first executive director
Former Boyne Concord teacher charged with felonies
Free Clinic gets the word out about their medical care
Boyne Thunder is just a week away
Boyne area summer festivals listed
County Board acts on two bike trail issues
Main Street paving completed in Boyne City
Boyne City approves backcountry skiing at Avalanche
Charlevoix County power outages restored quickly
Wyatt and Shari Knapp to perform for Gazebo concert
Car crashes through cedars, narrowly misses Hotel Walloon
Library topics: Huck Finn, Soo Locks, Mackinac Bridge
Boyne City gas prices drop 20 cents in a week
Night Sky column: A spectacular stellar nursery
Patrick McCleary history: More on Coach Brotherston
News briefs, Obituaries & Municipal News
Thanks to the donors who keep the news coming!
Music and entertainment listings

Welcome to more than 130 new subscribers who received our postcard mailing and signed up for the Boyne Citizen in the past week! You helped us pass the 2,400 mark in total subscribers.

> Like this newsletter? Forward to a friend and help us grow. If they like it, they can subscribe here.

> The Boyne Citizen is committed to being a free resource for in-depth local news you can trust. If you support that goal, you can join 500 donors who believe the Boyne area needs a high-quality news source. Donate here or send a check to Boyne Citizen, P.O. Box 83, Boyne City MI 49712.

www.charlevoixstatebank.com | 231-582-1144

Sponsored post

4th of July Committee proposes fire station “Spray Zone” compromise

Reprinted from the Boyne City 4th of July Facebook page:

This year the Boyne City Fourth of July Committee made the decision to ban spraying of water by float participants. This decision has elicited an overwhelming response. As a result, a compromise has been reached. Listening to recommendations from many of you, discussions have been taking place to find a happy medium.

The Boyne City Fire Department has offered the area in front of the fire station to be designated as "The Splash Zone." This area will be identified with signage and anyone wishing to spray water from the floats are welcome to participate.

That being said, spectators not wishing to be sprayed should avoid this area, while those who enjoy being sprayed are encouraged to set up in that zone.

With this compromise, the spraying of water from floats into the spectators along the parade route will not be permitted.

Hopefully this will appease both sides of the water issue.

Finally, the controversy over spraying water into the crowd has been ongoing for years. Last year, an infant was struck directly in the face by one of the powerful water guns. As a result the family left the parade. Additionally, an elderly man was also struck in the face with the same kind of water gun knocking out his hearing aid and ruining it.

Expensive DJ equipment, sound speakers and people's personal property including cell phones have been damaged.

These are some of the circumstances, along with many complaints the committee heard about the water being sprayed.

The 12 volunteers who comprise this committee are not elected, we have no political agenda. We come from all aspects of life. Most of us are olde, but we do have a few younger members. We love our city, we love our community and everything in it. The planning of this festival is an overwhelming task. It takes many more than the 12 of us who contribute behind the scenes to pull it off.

The bottom line is we want everyone to come together in celebration of the birth of this magnificent country. And we want every one of you to be 'safe' in doing so.

‘Water Gate’ has community divided after incident leaves parade-goers temporarily damp

Written by Artie Fishell Intelligents

Breaking news out of Boyne City, where America's 250th birthday has officially been overshadowed by... water. A decision to prohibit water guns during the Boyne City 4th of July Parade has ignited one of the largest online debates in recent community history after residents spent hundreds of social media comments arguing over what investigators have described as "varying levels of moisture."

The controversy stems from incidents during the 2025 4th of July Parade, where participants armed with super soakers and squirt guns allegedly sprayed along the parade route without regard for the moisture preference of nearby parade-goers.

One year later, the wounds, are still drying.

> Read the full story.

Here is a printable PDF of the lineup of all performers for the full season.

Don’t miss the “world-famous, wonderfully weird” Horton Bay 4th of July Parade

Grab your lawn chairs and sense of humor. The world-famous, wonderfully weird Horton Bay 4th of July Parade is celebrating Horton Bay's 150th Anniversary this Independence Day. This milestone sesquicentennial promises a full day of small-town patriotism and big laughs:

11 a.m. – Hot dogs, brats, and cold drinks flow at the Horton Bay General Store.

12 p.m. – Live music starts with the Horton Creek Bluegrass Band on the store porch to distract you from the July heat.

1 p.m. – The parade begins. Expect homemade floats, the Dancing American Flag, and yes, the fat lady will sing at the end.

Pre- and Post-Parade – Sneak some education into your holiday at the Bay Township Hall History Open House. There will be some cool Horton Bay artifacts, as well as some fun memorabilia from past parades.

While Horton Bay is celebrating 150 years of history, organizers warn this could be the final curtain call for the iconic event unless the community steps up.

"We want this 150th anniversary to be huge, but we need you to help us pull it off," said Parade Committee spokesperson Sue Cooper. "If you’ve ever wanted to build a ridiculous float, do it now. Don't make us wait another 150 years."

History Open House in Horton Bay July 4 & 5

The Bay Township Cemetery Committee is celebrating Horton Bay “Milestones” as well as our country’s 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence with a History Open House at the Bay Township Hall this Saturday and Sunday.

This free exhibit, “Celebrating Milestones” and a “Kids Corner” with “hands on history” is being held in conjunction with the internationally famous Horton Bay 4th of July Parade. The parade theme this year celebrates the 150th birthday of Horton Bay.

The displays are a walk through Horton Bay’s history, featuring the many early pioneers who made Horton Bay and the surrounding area the historical place it is today and giving a glimpse of what life was like in those early years.

Also on display will be the hot off the press publication compiled by local historian Kim N. Baker, “Horton Bay: Celebrating 150 Years.” Attendees can browse through the book, which shares a comprehensive glimpse into Horton Bay and its rich history. This 36-page booklet is now available at the Horton Bay General Store for $12.

The exhibit will be open to the public from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. and closed only during the parade, which begins at 1 p.m. Girl Scout Troop 8689 will be giving free America250 flags to the first 150 attendees. The history exhibit at the township hall will also be open on Sunday, July 5, from 12-4 p.m for those who can’t attend on July 4.

July 4th brings 'The Big Show Over the Little Village' in Walloon Lake

Celebrate Independence Day in Walloon Lake at the “Big Show Over the Little Village.” The festive Fourth of July celebration is held in the heart of Walloon Lake Village as they honor America’s 250th anniversary with an evening of live music, community, and fireworks over the lake.

The celebration begins with live music from Jedi Mind Trip at 6:30 p.m., bringing high-energy favorites to the Village Green Park before the big show begins. Tommy’s Walloon will host face painting and kids’ activities, and Barrel Back restaurant will offer food and drink specials. Then, at 10:30 p.m., look to the sky for a spectacular fireworks display over Walloon Lake.

For those of you who will be watching the fireworks from your boat, the DNR and Charlevoix County Sheriff remind you to please stay clear of the barge location. For the best viewing and safety for all, ensure your docking lights are turned off while cruising on Walloon Lake at night.

Personal fireworks are allowed through July 4

The City of Boyne City has issued a reminder on fireworks use in the city. For the upcoming Fourth of July holiday, fireworks may be used on private property within city limits from Monday, June 29 through Saturday, July 4 during the hours of 11 a.m. until 11:45 p.m.

Fireworks are also restricted to these days and hours for other areas of Charlevoix County and the State of Michigan, by state law.

Note that fireworks may not be used:

On any public property (roads, sidewalks, parks)
On private property without the owner’s permission

You must be at least 18 years old to purchase or ignite consumer fireworks.

Sara Hartley: “I am honored to step into this role and become part of an organization that celebrates the arts while reflecting the character, creativity, and spirit of our remarkable region."

Boyne Arts Center welcomes Sara Hartley as first executive director

Boyne Arts Center has announced the appointment of Sara Hartley as its first executive director, marking a significant milestone in the organization's 16-year history.

The appointment reflects Boyne Arts Center's continued growth and follows the opening of its new downtown home at 211 Water Street, Boyne City.

Hartley brings experience in arts administration, community programming, volunteer management, partnership development, fundraising, and nonprofit operations. Prior to joining Boyne Arts Center, she served as program director for the Old Art Building in Leland, where she managed year-round arts programming, coordinated artists and volunteers, developed community partnerships, and supported organizational growth and engagement.

As executive director, Hartley will oversee the organization's operations, while working alongside the board, volunteers, instructors, artists, and community partners to advance Boyne Arts Center's mission.

BAC Board President Nancy Blandford said, "Boyne Arts Center has accomplished so much through the dedication of our volunteers. We're excited for Sara to build on that strong foundation as we begin this next chapter.

"We are thrilled to welcome Sara to Boyne Arts Center. As we begin this exciting new chapter, Sara's experience, talent for building partnerships, and passion for community arts make her the ideal person to lead the organization. "

New executive director Hartley commented, "One of my favorite things to do when I visit a new community is stop by its arts center. Each one reflects the people it serves and offers new ideas and inspiration. I look forward to building on Boyne Arts Center's strong foundation while creating meaningful experiences for artists, students, and visitors.

“I am honored to step into this role and become part of an organization that celebrates the arts while reflecting the character, creativity, and spirit of our remarkable region. The arts have a unique ability to bring people together, inspire new perspectives, and strengthen communities, and I look forward to building on that tradition.

“What makes this organization especially meaningful is the extraordinary dedication of the volunteers whose vision, passion, and countless hours of service have shaped its success over the years. I have tremendous respect and admiration for all they have accomplished, and I am excited to work alongside them.”

Founded in 2009, Boyne Arts Center is a nonprofit organization dedicated to serving and strengthening community through the arts. The organization's new downtown facility provides dedicated space for exhibitions, classes, workshops, and community events, creating a year-round destination for creativity and lifelong learning.

For more information about Boyne Arts Center, visit boynearts.org, stop by 211 Water Street, or call 231-582-2441.

Former Boyne Concord teacher charged with 10 felonies in child sexual abuse investigation

By Annie Doyle Grove, annie@boynecitizen.com

A former Boyne Concord School teacher has been charged with 10 felony offenses following a child sexual abuse investigation.

According to Charlevoix County Prosecuting Attorney Christopher "Kit" Tholen, 31-year-old Trenton Cole Sulak is charged with first- and second-degree criminal sexual conduct, aggravated distribution of child sexually abusive material, and aggravated possession of child sexually abusive material.

During his arraignment June 26 in Charlevoix County District Court, Sulak pleaded not guilty to the charges. His bond was set at $1 million.

Sulak is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.

Tholen said the investigation began after a child came forward.

"The child came forward last week," Tholen told the Boyne Citizen. "It was investigated starting last week, but then picking up to be a significant amount of time, and there's a few officers that have spent the majority of their week working on it."

Tholen said officers from the East Jordan Police Department and the Charlevoix County Sheriff's Office spent much of the past week investigating the allegations.

Because Sulak had worked as a teacher at Boyne Concord School, Tholen said he hopes public awareness of the charges will encourage anyone with additional information to contact law enforcement.

"It was a concerning enough situation that I felt like there needed to be some awareness at this stage," Tholen said. "That's out of a desire that if somebody is carrying something and not talking about it, it's my desire that they would choose to talk to somebody about it because they would know that they're not the only one."

Anyone with information related to the investigation or an inappropriate relationship involving Sulak and any child is asked to contact the East Jordan Police Department at 231-536-2273 or the Charlevoix County Sheriff's Office at 231-547-4461.

Tholen encouraged children who may have experienced abuse to tell someone they trust.

"It needs to start with a safe and trusted adult," he said. "Whether that's a counselor, a parent, a coach or somebody else. From there they can take it from there."

In a written statement, the prosecutor's office noted that child sexual abuse often goes unreported for many understandable reasons, but emphasized that victims are not alone and that support is available while offenders are held accountable.

Court records show Sulak faces 10 felony charges. Additional details about the allegations have not been released in order to protect the identity of the alleged victim and the integrity of the ongoing investigation.

You may donate online or mail a check to

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

Thank you!

The Free Clinic staff on a recent Friday included, from left, nurse Cheryl Mehl, Dr. Michael James, Executive Director Patsy Grubaugh-Clink, Dr. James Applegate (medical director), Dr. Andrew Alshab, Richard Mansfield and Julie Worden.

Boyne Area Free Clinic works to get the word out about their medical care

By Eric Cox, ericmcox329@gmail.com

A public awareness campaign is raising the Boyne Area Free Clinic’s profile as a charitable organization that offers free medical care to the community’s uninsured and under-insured residents.

Located at 624 State St., on Boyne City’s northeast side, the Free Clinic was established by Richard “Doc” Mansfield in 2007. At that time, Mansfield was retiring from his private practice, but he recognized the community’s need for free primary care. So he launched the Free Clinic in his old practice, and remnants of his paid staff became volunteers, giving their time to support the community.

Now, nearly 20 years later, the clinic, which offers a range of 100 percent free medical services, is still functioning. And new leadership is blowing fresh wind into its sails.

According to the clinic’s lone paid employee, Director Patsy Grubaugh-Clink, the awareness campaign is really working.

“It’s going pretty well,” she said. “The number of patients we saw last year increased by 40 percent from 2024. That’s a huge jump.”

The Free Clinic saw about 1,200 patients in 2025 - a good number for a small town office only open 10 hours a week.

Grubaugh-Clink credited the clinic’s new leadership and board of directors for bringing a more proactive approach, not the least of which is the burgeoning public outreach effort. Community involvement efforts have included an information table at Stroll the Streets and similar public appearances in neighboring communities. Also, clinic doctors are personally distributing flyers at area food pantries, resale shops, and laundromats.

Though this year’s patient count has flattened a bit, she said evidence of the campaign’s success is everywhere, including in the number of volunteer medical service providers the clinic can field on a given day.

According to Grubaugh-Clink, Free Clinic Medical Director Dr. James Applegate, a retired family practitioner, has done a good job helping fill volunteer slots.

“We have about 18 volunteers in all – a lot of nurses to support our doctors,” she said. “The new leadership has really stepped up to fill these positions.

“Our doctors and nurses don’t want to sit around while they’re here. They want to see patients,” Grubaugh-Clink explained. “That means we need to get more patients into the clinic, and that’s why we’re doing this public outreach.”

She said over the years the clinic has lost a lot of potential patients because they were unaware of the clinic and its services, or their condition progressed beyond the clinic’s level of care, which is substantial, but limited.

Beating the stigma

The Boyne Area Free Clinic is a member of the Michigan chapter of the National Association of Free and Charitable Clinics (NAFCC). The organization defines free clinics this way: “The nonprofit clinic provides all goods and services at no charge directly to uninsured and/or under-served patients. ‘Services’ include medical, dental, mental health/behavioral health, and/or medications. Clinic may request or suggest donations. Clinic does not bill any third-party payers, including Medicaid, Medicare, or commercial insurers. Clinic may be bricks-and-mortar clinic or mobile unit.”

No matter which form it takes, Boyne Area Free Clinic Board Member Julie Schmittdiel believes the clinic is 100 percent good for the community.

“I wish every community had a free clinic,” she said, enthusiasm rising through her voice. “It’s so beneficial. It offers a choice to people who really have very few or no medical options for care.”

Yet, Schmittdiel, a retired nurse with a background in academic medicine, said a certain stigma lingers about free clinics.

“There’s a mystique behind that (Free Clinic) sign on State Street,” she concluded. “People say, ‘Wait, what’s going on in there? Is that a methadone clinic?’

“Our answer is, ‘No, it’s not a methadone clinic, and yes, there are actual doctors in there. Our medical director, like all of our volunteers, is a highly respected physician, and we have a cardiologist, a pediatrician, and a vascular surgeon on staff. Nurse practitioners support these doctors,” Schmittdiel said, her laughter trailing off. “And some people think we should change the name to something other than free clinic!”

But the clinic’s recent uptick in patient visits may signal a change in attitudes. Schmittdiel certainly hopes that is true.

“We have so much good to offer,” she said. “There are so many great stories, so many great outcomes.

“The clinic’s care level is very good. Patients are so relieved when they discover this place. They can get their problems attended to. Often, they’re sitting at home or at jobs, suffering. And it’s not necessary! They can get genuinely free care here, and at a very high level.”

Schmittdiel stressed that the clinic is not an urgent care or emergency room facility. “But people in desperation will come to us, because they don’t know where else to go,” she noted.

The Boyne Area Free Clinic follows NAFCC guidelines and is an established nonprofit. Grubaugh-Clink said about 80 percent of patients are Charlevoix County residents, while 20 percent are from outside the area.

“There has been a lot of change since the Mansfield days,” said Schmittdiel. “But he’s still active at the clinic, though he no longer sees patients.”

As the Free Clinic approaches its 20th anniversary, more changes may be on the horizon. Schmittdiel hinted at future projects like a new website, and important meetings with potential donors. She said it’s been exciting to be involved in all the new developments.

However, her heart is clearly in the Free Clinic’s core mission, which is simply helping people in need.

“We’re well supported by grants and private donors,” she said. “Our medical evaluations, care plans, and medications are all offered at no cost to patients. We don’t even ask people if they have insurance. Whoever shows up, we just try to take care of their needs. It’s pretty amazing and special. Everyone here is just so genuinely interested in helping. I’ve been amazed at the levels of care our volunteers have achieved, and that a small community like this can serve its citizens like it does.”

The Boyne Area Free Clinic, open Tuesdays 10 a.m.-12 p.m. and Fridays 8 a.m.-4 p.m., is a fully equipped primary care medical facility. The clinic, which has its own x-ray and ultrasound equipment, provides primary care for patients and says it can diagnose and treat most non-emergent cases.

> Visit www.boyneareafreeclinic.com for more information.

Board members and volunteers are spreading the word about the Free Clinic with an information table at Stroll the Streets.

Boyne Thunder is just a week away

It's 4th of July Weekend, but another major event, Boyne Thunder, is coming to Boyne City next weekend, July 10 and 11. Boyne Thunder is a power boat event that began in 2004 to raise funds for three beneficiaries: Camp Quality, Challenge Mountain and Boyne City Main Street. Since the event began, more than $2 million has been raised.

The 120 participating boats range in size from 22 to 55 feet in length with horsepower ranging from 425 to 3,600. Some boats are capable of speeds over 150 mph.

The best way to see the Boyne Thunder boats up close is during the “not to be missed” Street Show from 6 to 9:30 p.m. Friday on Lake and Water Streets in downtown Boyne City. The streets are closed to traffic and filled with some of the Thunder boats, classic wooden boats from Van Dam Boats, and all kinds of classic cars and hot rods.

Boyne Thunder is a poker run, not a race. This means the winner is decided by the best poker hand collected along a specified route, and not who is first to complete the course. Participants will pick up one sealed envelope containing a playing card at each of five different stops along the route.

The course is approximately 150 miles long, traversing both Lake Charlevoix and Lake Michigan. The fleet will leave the Boyne City Marina at approximately 10 a.m. Saturday and begin the parade laps around 10:15 a.m. The boats will form four distinct groups according to their cruising speed and boat length. Each group will pass in front of the marina following their group's pace boat before heading west to Charlevoix.

The fleet will pass through Charlevoix at approximately 10:30 a.m. before heading to the first card stop near the marina in Elk Rapids. The second card stop is near the marina in Northport and then the boats go back to Charlevoix for lunch, arriving at the marina in Round Lake around noon.

At approximately 1:35 p.m., the fleet will leave Charlevoix and head to the third card stop in Bay Harbor, and then on to the fourth card stop at the docks in Harbor Springs. The boats will pick up their fifth card in Horton Bay before turning in their cards in Boyne City.

The poker hands are revealed after a participant dinner and auction Saturday evening in the Poker Run Village located near the Boyne City Marina. The prizes for the best poker hand are: 1st place, $5,000; 2nd place, $3,000; 3rd place, $1,500. There is also a $500 prize for the last-place hand.

SPECTATOR HIGHLIGHTS

FRIDAY, JULY 11

6:00-9:30 p.m. Stroll the Streets “Street Show” on Lake and Water Streets in Downtown Boyne City

SATURDAY, JULY 12

8 a.m.- 12 p.m. Pancake Breakfast at the Boyne City Fire Department - donations accepted
10:15.-10:45 a.m. Boat Parade Laps, Boyne City (approximate times)
12-1:30 p.m. Lunch in Charlevoix at the Charlevoix City Marina
1:35 p.m. Boats depart Charlevoix
3:30-6:30 p.m. Boaters turn in cards in Boyne City

RECOMMENDED VIEWING LOCATIONS

Boyne City

Grant Moore Municipal Marina
Open Space (across from Family Fare)
Sunset Park
Peninsula Beach
Tannery Beach
Young State Park

Charlevoix

Walkways at Pine River Channel and Bridge Park
South Pier Lighthouse & Michigan Beach Park
Area around Charlevoix Marina
Mt. McSauba Beach

Boyne area summer festivals

Boyne City 4th of July Festival - July 3-4. Website.
Boyne Thunder - June 10 & 11. Website.
Blissfest Music Festival - July 10-12. Website.
Charlevoix Venetian Festival - July 18-25. Website.
Boyne City Pirate Festival - Aug. 6-9. Website.
Boyne Falls Polish Festival - July 3, Aug. 1-2. Website.
NM Antique Flywheelers Show - July 23-26. Website.
Boyne City Harvest Festival - Sept. 26. Website.

County Board acts on two bike trail issues

By Carole Shane, cjshane@charter.net

County Commissioners took two actions regarding bike trails in Charlevoix County at their June 24 meeting.

Pat Machin of Machin Engineering presented his firm’s finished design for repairs to the boardwalk section of the Little Traverse Wheelway.

The county contracted with Machin’s firm earlier this year at a cost of $30,000 to define the nature of the problem and provide a detailed plan for remediating the issues.

Wednesday, commissioners approved paying Machin Engineering an additional $8,000 to provide bidding services that were not included in the original contract.

The section in question runs parallel to US-31 in Hayes Township. The structure is approximately 20 years old and has been closed since late 2025 due to concerns about the condition of underlying support structures and safety.

Commissioners also unanimously approved a resolution formalizing their willingness to act as a pass-through agency for funds that may become available for completion of Phases 4 and 5 of the Boyne City to Charlevoix Non-Motorized Trail.

The resolution clearly states that no county funds will be used toward completion of the trail, but does express appreciation for the efforts volunteers are making to complete the last six miles of trail. Phases 4 and 5 will eventually run adjacent to but separate from Boyne City Road, connecting Horton Bay with Phase 2, which ends near Quarterline Road in Hayes Township.

Steve Van Dam of the Top of Michigan Trails Council was present and thanked the board for passing the resolution. Van Dam pointed out the strong community support for the project as evidenced by the 400 people who attended a recent dinner and auction that raised $21,000 in Boyne City.

Brian Babbitt of North Country Community Mental Health presented the Annual Report for FY2025. Babbitt’s report highlighted that 3,479 individuals received services throughout the six-county service area with 92% of services being Medicaid funded. Follow this link for the full report.

Other business addressed by the board included:

Scheduled a Committee of the Whole Budget Meeting for Wednesday, July 8
Approved a Crime Victims Grant Application for 2027 in the amount of $48,588
Appointed Boyne City High School student Sunny Sherk to the Parks Advisory Committee
Adopted four policies regarding budget process, capital asset management, financial system access and fund balance
Approved two resolutions regarding future funding for the Area Agency on Aging

> The next meeting of the Charlevoix County Board of Commissioners is scheduled for July 8 at 9:30 a.m.

Main Street paving completed

It’s been a long wait, but East Main Street was finally paved on Saturday, which is good news for residents of the neighborhood as well as cyclists riding to the beginning of the Boyne Valley Trail at the city airport.

Boyne City approves backcountry skiing at Avalanche Preserve

By Annie Doyle Grove, annie@boynecitizen.com

Avalanche Mountain Preserve will soon offer designated areas for backcountry skiing and snowboarding after the Boyne City Commission unanimously approved a proposal from the Michigan Back Country Alliance during its June 23 meeting.

The approval allows the organization to develop designated alpine touring corridors on the preserve's northeast side for the 2026-27 winter season. The project will be coordinated with the city's Parks and Marina Department, and all corridor locations and vegetation management must be approved by Parks and Marina Supervisor Joshua Bernthal. The Parks and Recreation Commission will review the program after one year.

Avalanche Mountain Preserve encompasses more than 300 wooded acres along Boyne City's southern border and is used year-round for hiking, mountain biking, snowshoeing, sledding, disc golf and other outdoor recreation.

Backcountry skiing differs from downhill skiing at a resort because participants climb the hill under their own power before skiing or snowboarding back down. Many use specialized "skins" attached to the bottom of their skis that allow them to climb uphill before removing them for the descent.

The proposal calls for creating 30- to 60-foot-wide ski corridors by clearing deadfall left by the March ice storm and selectively trimming branches and dense saplings. Mature trees will remain intact, with the existing forest canopy preserved to help retain snow and maintain the area's natural character.

Commissioner Bridget Foltz questioned how the project could affect Avalanche's wooded landscape and whether skiers could conflict with hikers using nearby trails.

City staff said the ski corridors will end before reaching hiking trails, where barriers and signage will direct users to remove their skis or snowboards and return to the trail system on foot. Officials also said only about 10% of the proposed project area would be developed initially, allowing the city to evaluate the program before considering any expansion.

Commissioner Beano Hampton said the activity already takes place informally at Avalanche Preserve and that designated corridors would help organize it while minimizing impacts on the environment and other park users.

Great Lakes Energy works on restoring power outages

Great Lakes Energy (GLE) crews, along with mutual aid and contract partners, were continuing their efforts Wednesday evening as they restore power throughout the cooperative’s service territory.

A line of strong thunderstorms that moved across Michigan starting shortly before noon on Wednesday contained strong winds and lightning that caused widespread damage to GLE’s electrical infrastructure. At about 1:30 p.m., more than 13,000 members were without power. Since then, crews have been making progress in their restoration efforts, despite challenging conditions.

The hardest hit areas included Antrim, Crawford, Charlevoix, Kalkaska, and Otsego counties. As of 6 p.m. Wednesday, Antrim County had about 1,460 outages, Kalkaska County had about 1,020, Crawford County had 506, and Otsego County had 418, and Charlevoix County had 226.

All available line crews and contractors are working to restore power as safely and efficiently as possible. Because of the widespread nature of the outages, some restoration efforts are expected to continue into Thursday.

For the latest updates, visit gtlakes.com/power-outages. GLE members can also get outage updates, including estimated restoration times, through their online accounts.

Wyatt and Shari Knapp to perform for Evenings at the Gazebo concert on Wednesday

The Boyne Area Chamber Evenings at the Gazebo concert series continues at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 8, in Old City Park. This year’s concerts also include Maker’s Row featuring local artisans and creators, B.C. Pizza of Boyne on site, beverage trucks, and family-friendly activities.

Here is the entertainment schedule for the remainder of the summer:

July 8 - Wyatt and Shari Knapp
July 15 - Dags Und Timmah!
July 22 - Billy McAllister
July 29 - Laura Crowe
August 5 - Melissa and Jake
August 12 - Hazel James Band
August 19 - David Lawston
August 26 - Nick Veine

The chamber has reserved the Veterans Park Pavilion in case of rain, so the concerts can continue as scheduled.

Car crashes through cedar trees, narrowly misses Hotel Walloon

By Karen Colburn, karencolburn@loveupnorth.com

A car pulling a boat narrowly missed crashing into Hotel Walloon Wednesday afternoon.

Robert Oberndorf, commodore of the Omena-Traverse Yacht Club, was sitting in the lounge of the hotel when he saw a large vehicle come through some cedar trees toward the window where he was sitting.

Oberndorf said the hotel manager and bar manager quickly went to assist the driver and assess the situation. It appeared that the driver suffered a medical emergency. Minutes later the driver's wife showed up, and an ambulance took the driver to a hospital.

There was no damage to the hotel, although some trees had to be taken down, leaving a large gap where the vehicle had driven through. Workers quickly took a chainsaw to the cedars and carted the debris away.

Library topics: Huck Finn, Soo Locks, Mackinac Bridge

The Boyne District Library is offering a variety of activities for all ages in July. Here are the highlights from their latest newsletter:

News Briefs

NATURE IN THE PARK Charlevoix Conservation District will continue its Nature in the Park youth environmental education program series on July 8 and three more Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. at Old City Park in Boyne City. Here is the schedule:

July 8 - Bugs in Your Backyard
July 15 - Fairy Houses and Gnome Homes
July 22 - Journey Stick Crafting
July 29 - Nature Scavenger Hunt

All programs are free, and materials are provided but may be limited. These prgrams are geared towards ages 3+. Parents and caregivers are required to stay for the duration of the program. Call 231-582-6193 for more information. Print a flyer for this event.

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:

Bulmann Dock & Lift, 175 Magnet Dr., Boyne City - 10 a.m.- 2:30 p.m. Monday, July 27.
Boyne Mountain Resort - 1-5 p.m. Tuesday, July 28.
Walloon Lake Community Church - 1:30-6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 13.

> 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. at 411 E Division St, Boyne City. 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 July lunch menu, July activity calendar, and July Senior Hi-Lites newsletter.

Local news is made possible by you!

The Boyne Citizen is committed to being a free resource for in-depth local news and information you can trust. Will you join more than 500 donating members who believe the Boyne area needs high-quality news and information?

Support us today

Regional News

From Bridge Michigan

> Ever tried Claude.AI? Meet the Gaylord native who inspired its name - Story

> Medicare rolls out $50 GLP-1 drugs. ‘Pandemonium’ ahead for Michigan doctors? - Story

> Michigan preps for an American birthday party muted by political divides - Story

> Rural Michigan ‘overlooked’ in Michigan’s $6B subsidy spending spree - Story

City of Boyne City Municipal News

PENINSULA BEACH RESTROOMS - The newly renovated restrooms at Peninsula Beach are now officially open to the public as of July 1, just in time for the busy Fourth of July weekend. The facilities were due for renovation, and we're pleased to share that Kroondyk Construction completed the project on time and on budget. Their work has helped provide an improved, welcoming facility for residents and visitors.

CITY HALL HOLIDAY - City Hall offices will be closed on Friday, July 3, in observance of Independence Day.

ONLINE PAYMENTS - As of July 1, payments can now be accepted for Summer Property taxes in person or online here. If you have not yet received your bill in the mail, you can access the information early by going online, or by calling City Hall at (231) 582-6597. Taxes are due September 14, 2026 by 4:30 p.m. If you need assistance creating an account to make a payment online, here are detailed instructions.

NO OVERNIGHT PARKING - Reminder: Parking is prohibited on City streets 2AM-6AM. The Department of Public Works routinely handles ongoing maintenance during those hours and vehicles parked in the street impede their progress. Vehicles found in violation are subject to a citation.

BALLOTS IN THE MAIL - All 846 absentee ballots for voters on the permanent absentee voter ballot list have been mailed out as of June 22, for the upcoming August 4 Primary Election. Did you know? Five members of the City of Boyne City administration team are qualified election officials. Together, they are committed to ensuring elections are conducted accurately, securely, transparently, and in full compliance with Michigan election law. Find more Election info at: www.boynecity.gov/vote.

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.

LAKE CHARLEVOIX TEMPERATURE was unchanged at 68°F as of Wednesday, July 1 at the Boyne City Marina.

CITY MEETINGS – Click here for board information, agendas, and minutes.

> City Commission's next regular meeting is at 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 14. Agenda page.

Obituaries

Mark Richard Guitar

June 29, 1952 ~ June 5, 2026 (age 73)

Jeffrey D. Belford

Aug 29, 1952 ~ Jun 22, 2026 (age 73)

The Rho Ophiuchi Cloud Complex was photographed by the author on the evening of June 11, 2026 at the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, Montrose, Colorado.

OUR NIGHT SKY

Look at this spectacular stellar nursery

By Rod Cortright, cortrigh@msu.edu

Pointing a telescope or camera toward what appears to be an ordinary patch in the southern part of the sky shows one of the most spectacular stellar nurseries in our cosmic neighborhood. The Rho Ophiuchi Cloud Complex, located just 460 light-years away in the constellation Ophiuchus, isn’t simply a beautiful collection of colorful clouds – it’s a factory where the universe manufactures stars.

Every swirl of blue, every ribbon of crimson, and every dark lane of dust tells a story written in the language of physics. The blue glow comes from tiny dust particles scattering starlight, the red-light shines from energized hydrogen gas, and the dark patches are so thick with dust they hide entire regions from view. What you’re seeing in the photograph aboe isn’t an artist’s imagination. It’s what the laws of nature look like when they have millions of years to work.

The brilliant star Rho Ophiuchi acts like a giant celestial blue spotlight, illuminating the surrounding dust, while nearby the glowing red supergiant Antares adds its warm color to the scene. Together they create one of the most recognizable deep-sky landscapes.

Astrophotographers spend hours collecting faint light from this region, revealing details invisible to the human eye. Here’s the fascinating part: those colors aren’t enhancements designed to make space look prettier. They’re evidence. Every shade tells astronomers something about temperature, chemistry, density, or the way light interacts with matter. Beauty, in this case, is simply science made visible.

When you look at Rho Ophiuchi, you’re witnessing a chapter in a story that eventually leads to us. Our Sun almost certainly formed inside a cloud much like this one about 4.6 billion years ago. The atoms that make up your bones, your blood, and every breath you take were assembled through generations of stars that were born, lived, and died long before Earth came to exist. Rho Ophiuchi isn’t just a beautiful object hanging in the night sky. It’s a glimpse into our own origin story. Every photon arriving on your telescope has traveled for centuries to remind you of a profound truth: the universe isn’t something that exists around us, we are one of the things the universe has become.

“Our Night Sky” is a monthly column by Rod Cortright, an amateur astronomer and astrophotographer who lives north of Boyne City. He is also a NASA/JPL Solar System Ambassador who does educational outreach for the agency. In the summer, Rod is a presenter at the Headlands International Dark Sky Park.

A lifetime sports enthusiast, a young J. Earl Brotherston dressed in his Hillsdale baseball uniform (left); Brotherston garbed in his Hillsdale High School football uniform (center); and Coach J. Earl Brotherston, leader of championship teams at Boyne City High School (right). Photographs courtesy of the Brotherston Family Collection.

THROUGH THE HISTORIAN'S LENS

Brotherston article prompts community inquiries

By Patrick McCleary

Last week’s article paid tribute to an icon in the history of Boyne City sports. What followed were a number of inquiries asking about championship years, game scores, and team photographs. Now, I have never pretended to be a sports writer. As the old adage goes, “stick to what you know,” and I certainly do not know enough about sports to give accurate accounts of sporting events or statistics, much less the details of one man’s entire sports career.

Instead, I am going to rely on a written account compiled by the late Jim Doherty (1922-1982), who many of our readers may recall as a sports writer and sports editor for the Petoskey News-Review and its various precursor publications. It was written in 1967 as Coach J. Earl Brotherston was one of 10 finalists for inclusion in the Michigan High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame.

Over the years, Jim Doherty provided a written history of Petoskey that few will ever be able to match. Writing from his memories as a boy, a young man and an Emmet County newspaper man, he often included stories about various parts of town and county, of his relatives and of other residents' relatives. He was a keeper of records at the newspaper he worked for. Weather statistics, vital statistics, unemployment and banking records - if it was recordable, Doherty made a record of it. If you knew him personally, you would recall that he was known for his ability to readily pull information and statistics from memory, making him a “go-to source.”

The 1928-29 Boyne City Football Team - the first team coached by J. Earl Brotherston (#9), after his arrival in Boyne City that same year. While all have been clearly given a number for identification, I have yet to find a “key” telling what names belong with which number. Perhaps our readers will recognize these young men and help in naming them. Photograph courtesy of the Brotherston Family Collection.

The Petoskey News Review

Tuesday, February 28, 1967 - Page 4, Columns 3-4

LOOKING ‘EM OVER by Jim Doherty

Earl Brotherston, who has always been one of my favorite people, has been nominated by the Michigan High School Coaches Association to its Hall of Fame.

He was one of 140 nominees from which 10 finalists will be announced the night of March 18 at Jenison Field House.

Whether he’s one of the 10 or not, he’ll always be in my own Hall of Fame as a great coach and a gentleman. He and Ray Kipke of Charlevoix became institutions - living legends in their own time for the fabulous teams they turned out over the years. They’re both great guys, but since Coach Brotherston is the nominee this time, these words will concern him.

In football at Boyne City, he won 103, lost 53 and tied 14 over 22 years. In the early days, Boyne played such teams as Alpena, Traverse City, Cadillac, Rogers City and Cheboygan - much larger than Boyne City- and in those years he also played Petoskey.

In 22 years, his teams broke even with Petoskey, winning exactly half, with losses of 0-6 and 0-21 in the Mike Corgan era here in the last two years to gain the split.

With Charlevoix he won 18 and lost six - and he lost his last four years to unbeaten Charlevoix teams.

He was 11-6-4 with Harbor Springs, again losing the last three. His teams won 12 and lost three with Mancelona; won 15 and lost 5 and tied one with East Jordan; won 12 and lost one in Gaylord; won six, lost four and tied four with Cheboygan, and so it went.

This bunch of fellas took home a lot of basketball trophies in 1933 under the direction of Coach Brotherston (far left). The names listed are Hamilton “Ham” White; Patrick Turcott; Red Barden; Joe Moss; Lyle Green; Max Fitzpatrick; William White; B.K. Buchen; Lyle Hausler; Emmett Bradley; Art Davis and Fay Davis. Who can tell us who is who? Photograph courtesy of the Brotherston Family Collection.

He won nine football championships, finished second four times while at Boyne City. He had only four losing seasons in 22 years and his “loosingest” was 2-6-0 in 1947, his next to last. He finished 4-4 in his last year as football coach (1948.)

He had a very respectable average in basketball, too. It was .637 in league competition in his first 20 years, .703 in football.

His greatest era was 30 years ago when his football team was 7-0-1 in 1936 and a 13-18 loss to Cheboygan at the end of the 1937 season broke an unbeaten string of 15 games and the Ramblers ended 7-1 and Cheboygan was the only team to cross their goal in two years.

Coach Brotherston was back in the days when the coach was THE coach. He was also the head man in basketball and baseball too, so the “heat” was on all through the school year.

1935 Boyne City basketball team- Coach Brotherston (far left.) Once again, we need the community’s help in putting a name to these faces. Photograph courtesy of the Brotherston Family Collection.

More than 20 years ago I tried to pin him down in naming his greatest athletes and he was reluctant to do this. “I’ve coached many outstanding boys,” he said. But I wanted names, so he finally did but he insisted there were “many, many more.”

At that time, he named Elwood Hausler, all-state football back of his great ‘37 team who held the state class C 440 record of 50.3 seconds for many years. Another was “Ham” White, ‘33, a great athlete in all sports; Irv Kanipe, who teamed with Hausler; Jack Harper, a three-sport athlete; Bob Hosegood, a big, natural athlete who got all-state basketball mention.

“Then there’s big Ed Kujawski, center on a championship Boyne basketball team; Mike Rouse, ’31, who went on to captain Michigan State’s baseball team. Maynard Janack, Wally and Ernie Dietz, Jimmy Mellencamp, Red Barden, Lyle Green, Emmet Bradley, Kenny Van Housen.”

I can still see Earl sitting on that bench chewing on his gum, looking for all the world like a guy without a care, while the place was absolute, mad bedlam from screaming fans. He didn’t win ‘em all, and he didn’t win every big game, though Lord knows he won far more than his share, but when he lost, he was still the gentleman he was when he won. No matter how he felt inside, the fans saw him as always having his cool. He’s a man’s man and certainly deserving of the high school Hall of Fame honor.

> Patrick McCleary is a certified genealogist who has devoted years to the ongoing research and study of Boyne City and Charlevoix County history. In addition to conducting classes on genealogy and family history, he also speaks on a variety of topics. For further information, contact Patrick by email: Throughthehistorianslens@gmail.com.

Thank you to the generous donors who are supporting local journalism and the Boyne Citizen!

> We are a 501c3 nonprofit organization. You can donate online here, or mail a check to Boyne Citizen, PO Box 83, Boyne City MI 49712.

2026 Donors

This week's new donors are listed in bold.

Founding Donors

$5,000 and up

Press Forward Northern Michigan, hosted by

the Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation

The Hill Donors

$1000 - $4999

Pat and Jane O'Brien

Kirk and Lynne Jabara

The Caplener Family

Charlevoix County Community Foundation Mini Grant and Community Priorities Grant

Stowe Family Fund

Howard and Marcia Newkirk

Avalanche Donors

$500 - $999

Glen and Gwen Catt

Chip and Laura Hansen

Bud and Nancy Shear
Julie and Dan Schmittdiel

Lynne Ross

Matthew Blandford

Jane Stieber Amato and Tony Amato

Floyd and Nancy Wright

Jim and Kelly McKee

Lake Charlevoix Donors

$100 to $499

Andy Schmittdiel

Edward Jones

Kyle Roberts

Carole Shane

Debi O'Leery

Barbara Mendoza

Robert Kirk

Don and Laurie Owen

Bekah Rutz and David Osterhouse

Kathleen Warner

Mary Jane Cargill

Dave and Linda Burnham

Thomas Veryser

Steve and Susan Watson

Gow Litzenburger

Shelli Duff
Karen Colburn

Christine A. Judd

Pam Cislo and Tom Schraw

Jim and Kathe Carter

Bill and Cindy Binder

Kevin and Marci Lavin

Tad Richards

Jeff and Kari Streelman

Miriam Hollar

Lucy Hartlove

Jake Snyder

Judith White

Nancy Hannan

Ronald and Joanne Danczak

Terry and Betty Desmond

Cheri Leach

Holly and Tony Sasso

Judith Goodchild

John Hoffman

Barbara Mathes

Michele Nickel-Frasz

Mark Martin

Carl VanDomelen

Sharon Kuethe

Steve and Carole Drake

Ronald VanHorn

Liesel Litzenburger Meijer
Richard and Gayle Bouters

Gary and Sylvia Cofer

Jane Burger

Bill Aten

Barbara Bryant

Nancy Cunningham

Broc and Lynne Johnson

Paga Family Dentistry

Nancy and Jim McKinstry

Stephanie Moody

John Betts

Stephen Wickens

Gary and Nikki Blakeslee

Andrew and Jo Sahara

Judith Gardner

Dawn Ebersole

Don Ryde

Mark and CathyJay and Peggy Smith

Omer and Carole Racine

Christopher Jones Pumford

Margo Kuhns

Robert Kendell

Walter Kidd

Robin Hissong Berry

Tom and Barbara Miller

Kathy Fruge

Linda G. Knibbs

Mary-Anne Stieber

Richard and Maureen Shipley

Beverly Neville

Marvin Verwys

Caren Peltier

Diane Burke

Michael Sheean

Ward Collins

Georganna Monk and Chuck Gremel

Zachary Shaltz

Randy Hackney
Emil and Pat Nelson

Michael and Jacque Harrington

Babette Stenuis Stolz and Jack Stolz

Roger and Patricia Jacobsen

Ray and Karen Guzniczak

Deborah and John Rohe

Vasco and Joan Zucchiatti

Jeff and Beth Freeman

(Continued next column)

Lake Charlevoix Donors

$100 to $499 continued

Mary and Dave Anderson

John and Monica Ross

Gregory Damman

James Graves

Nancy DeMeuse

Ronald Lewis

Carol Ross

Gayle Harbaugh

Wirt-Rivette Group & Moxie Development

Yvonne Schmidt

Catherine Bowers

Jim Nielsen

Randy and Cathy Parker

Candy and Bob Greene

Jeff and Carolee MacFarlane

Jock and Marilyn Rader

Rachel and Louis Swiss

Peter Linetzky & Susan Willoughby Linetzky

Theresa Vondra

Mike and Diane Bajko

Barbara and George Ellwanger

The Frykberg Family

Peter Moss

Jeanine Larsen

John and Jan Bennish

Cynthia Tonkavich

Mike and Lisa Sullivan

Mike and Cheryl Delahanty

Patricia Bierlein

Matthew Janer

Mark Pumford

Cindy Allen

Joel & Karen Cohn

Lisa & Ian Whitelaw

Ken Schrader

John and Carol Stimpson

Ralph Gillett

Vicki Otten

Susan Coyle

Charlotte Battjes

Perry Irish Hodgson

Molly Tripp

Kathleen Hoffman

Cheryl and Joe Wald

Sunset Beach Donors

$60- $99

Jack Laurent

Monica Peck

William Cousineau

Jay E. Vanderwall

Mitchell and Carly Klooster

Joel and Nancy Epstein

Don Stolt

Elizabeth Swift

Steve and Karen Jarema

Bob and Bedonna Perish

Eleanor West

Patricia and Nord Schroeder

Chad Henry

Brian Tappan

Whitney Schmit

The Tosch Family

Mark Christensen

LuAnne Kozma

Paul and Colleen Kuehl

Cristina Staats

Kathy Breedlove

Carolyn Sullivan

Penny Churchill

JoAnn Smith

Bill and Dee Kelly

Laurel Henkel

Douglas Melvin

Peninsula Beach Donors

Under $60

Leisa Ratu

Christy Weaver

Marc Ressler

Didi Brown

Bob Niemi

Caroline Sottrel

Larry Bernhardt

Margaret Fitzpatrick

Edward and Colette Geck

Barbara Wulff

Tom Shifrin

John George Martin

Sheldon and Karla Buckmaster

Henry and Donna Erber

Jayne Howard

Brooke Sandtveit

Margaret Beegen

Jane Prebble
Bill Nichols
Terry and Jeffrey Gaither

Joe and Lorraine Manary

Captain Bob Goodenough

Sheri Rhoads

Janice Lavanway

Bob and Lenore Beckman

Dory Ferguson

Bunny Marquardt

Theresa Whitley-Farley

Don Kaegi

William Himmelspach

James Costello

John McCahan

Christine Brown

Cheryl Alger

Marcia Vermaire

Donors from 2024 and 2025 are listed on our website.

Donate

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, 3-9 p.m. Saturdays.

> Summer car and bike concert series begins and continues every Tuesday at 6 p.m.:

July 7 - Timberline
July 14 - Peril

BOYNE ARTS CENTER - 211 Water Street, Boyne City, (231) 622-2073.

> Upcoming events, classes and exhibits:

Plein Art Meet-ups - Tuesdays, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
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

BOYNE CITY FARMERS MARKET - Outdoors at Veterans Park, 207 N. Lake Street, Boyne City, from 8 a.m.-12 noon on Wednesdays and Saturdays. (231) 582-9009.

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

Saturday, July 4 - Katherine Ryan (Moved to Old City Park)
Wednesday, July 8 - Terry Coveyou
Saturday, July 11 - Alex Teller (Moved to Old City Park)
Wednesday, July 15 - Rhett Ducouer
Saturday, July 18 - Jill Harris (Christmas In July, Kids In Biz)
Wednesday, July 22 - Terry Coveyou
Saturday, July 25 - Amanda Jane
Wednesday, July 29 - Terry Coveyou

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

Mondays - Trivia, 7 p.m.
Thursdays - Adam and The Cabana Boys, 7-10 p.m.
Fridays - Patrick Ryan and Josh Raber, 7-10 p.m.
Saturdays - Patrick Ryan, 7-10 p.m.

BOYNE DISTRICT LIBRARY - 201 East Main St., Boyne City, 231-582-7861. Newsletter with July 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 July - Nelson Olstrom performs, 7-10 p.m.

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

> LIVE MUSIC:

Friday, July 3 - Chris Calleja (4-7:30)
Saturday, July 4 - closed
Sunday, July 5 - Chris Calleja (1:30-5)
Friday, July 10 - Mike Ridley (4-7:30)
Saturday, July 11 - Chris Calleja (2-6)
Friday, July 17 - Yankee Station (4-7:30)
Saturday, July 18 - Michelle Chenard (2-6)
Friday, July 24 - Chris Calleja (4-7:30)
Saturday, July 25 - Two Track Mind (2-6)
Friday, July 31 - Jelly Roll Blues Band (4-7:30)

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

> LIVE MUSIC:

Friday, July 3 - Lavender Lions Duo
Friday, July 10 - Brett Mitchell
Saturday, July 11 - Pete Kehoe
Friday, July 17 - Sean Bielby
Saturday, July 18 - Genna & Jesse
Friday, July 24 - Michelle Chenard
Saturday, July 25 - Michelle Chenard
Friday, July 31 - Sean Bielby

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

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

EVENINGS AT THE GAZEBO - The Boyne Area Chamber concert series is held from 6:30-8 p.m. on Wednesdays in Old City Park through August 26. In addition to the music will be Maker’s Row featuring local artisans and creators, B.C. Pizza of Boyne on site, beverage trucks, and family-friendly activities each week.

> Here is the entertainment schedule:

July 8 - Wyatt and Shari Knapp
July 15 - Dags Und Timmah!
July 22 - Billy McAllister
July 29 - Laura Crowe
August 5 - Melissa and Jake
August 12 - Hazel James Band
August 19 - David Lawston
August 26 - Nick Veine

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

July 2 - Almost Heaven: Celebrating the Life and Music of John Denver. Tickets.
Sunday, July 5 - Take 6, The Gold Standard of A capella Gospel. Tickets.
Tuesday, July 7 - Westhuizen Piano Duo, Steinway Artists Pierre and Sophié van der Westhuizen. Tickets.

LAVENDER HILL FARM - 7354 Horton Bay Rd N, Boyne City. 231-582-3784.

> Young Americans Dinner Theater - 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 14. Details.

> Live music concert series held in a renovated multi-use events barn:

July 7 - 1964 The Tribute
July 8 - 1964 The Tribute
July 18 - Bobby Alu
July 24 - Unspoken Tradition
Aug. 7 - Lavender Goes Pink with Thornetta Davis
Aug. 15 - West Texas Exiles
Aug. 22 - Damn Tall Buildings
Sept. 19 - Sionainn Laoi For The Boyne Heritage Center

> Pre-show Local Ground concerts line-up.

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

> LIVE MUSIC and events:

Friday, July 3 - Live music with Timberline, 6-9 p.m.
Monday, July 6 - Lit With Literature: All The Colors Of The Dark by Chris Whitaker
Friday, July 10 - Live music with Eric Jacqua, 6-9 p.m.
Friday, July 17 - Live music with Seasonal Road, 6-9 p.m.
Friday, July 24 - Live music with SAXU4IA, 6-9 p.m.
Friday, July 31 - Live music with The Real Ingredients, 6-9 p.m.

PIED PIPER ROLLER RINK - 04454 M-75 N, Walloon Lake. Admission $8, skate rental $2. Candy, chips, soda/pop, and pizza available for purchase.