Happy Not So Many People In Traverse City........I Think

Well after a very busy, warm, crazy, hectic summer, all of us locals can finally relax and have our cities, counties, and roads back.  It is nice to have the summer fudgy business, but it also the best time of year when they depart, and we can all go out and play.  Happy Fall everyone and happy not so many people in Traverse City!!  So far, the month of September, and the first week and a half of October have been wonderful with nice fall weather and a few showers, which is always okay.  The apples are tasting better than ever and there is always a sea of orange up and down Old Mission Peninsula with Pumpkins for sale.  Who does not love Pumpkin Season?  Even as kids, we loved everything about pumpkins, from carving, to roasting the seeds, to pies, soups and everything in between.  It meant that Halloween is coming as well as the annual feast at Thanksgiving.  Even though the weather is getting colder, you have to admit, from the 1^st day of fall until New Year’ Day, it is one of the best times of the year. 

I had a little help from Hattie who is a Marketing Committee member for the YP’s tell us what one of her favorite things to do in the fall. 

Sunday Funday – The weather may be changing but outdoor activities are endless! One of my personal fall favorites is the Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail in Empire. Just a mere 25 minutes out of busy Traverse City, the Sleeping Bear Heritage trail allows you to bike through some of the most beautiful natural areas this state has to offer. The trail takes you from the quaint town of Empire, over rolling hills, through covered forests, around large dunes, as well as showing off some of the most beautiful coastal beaches on Lake Michigan’s shoreline all before coming to an end just north of Point Oneida. The Heritage trail also provides you the opportunity to step back in time by going through all of the different historical sites that Glen Haven has to offer. The trail in total is 13 miles long, but there are ample opportunities to stop and rest along the way. This trail will only get prettier as the colors start to change, so I highly suggest putting it on your fall bucket list! More info and a trail map can be found at sleepingbeartrail.org.

 

Well there you have it, a great Fall Activity that everyone should definitely go take advantage of to enjoy the wonderful color change that will be happening in the rest of October. 

One of my favorite things to do in the fall is to pick and eat apples.  In my opinion, nothing beats the taste and the sound of biting into a Michigan apple.  I am lucky enough to be married to my wife who has family farms in Northport that boast some of the greatest apples.  I also have a great friend by the name of Charlie Hathaway, who grows some mighty fine SweeTango apples as well.  Charlie and his wife Kelsey take their crunchy apples to the Sarah Hardy Farmer’s Market so be sure to visit their stand.  They are for sure Young Farming Professionals.  What a great way to help out other young professionals than by supporting the Hathaway Family.

Another great adventure that is a must do on everyone’s list is head to Gallagher’s Farm Market on M-72 for their fresh Pumpkin Donuts.  I know there are several places to get a Pumpkin donuts, and they are good, but they really do not compare to the ones they create every morning in the fall.  And while you are there, you can pick up apples, pick apples, pumpkins, squash or whatever else catches your eye.  What a great way to spend a Saturday morning on your way out to Heritage Trail or even Sleeping Bear Dunes or if you are crazy like my wife and I, donuts for the people that help renovate your porch.  If you have been to Gallagher’s in the past, then you know what is directly across the street; Jacob’s Corn Maze.  The Corn Maze is a fall tradition for several locals, so if you have not taken part in the great adventure, you should put that on your to do list this fall. 

There are so many fun adventures available to all of us this time of year that we should all get outside with friends, family, or fellow YP’s and take advantage of.  We live in one of the best places on Earth, and we should enjoy every bit of it.  I have not had anyone respond to any blog that I have published yet, but I challenge you all to do something “cool” this fall, take pictures, and email me (adamr@tcsb.com) and tell your fellow YP’s what you did so we can make sure we do it this year as well or next. 

OCTOBER MYNORTH.COM FEATURE ARTICLE:
As always, my people at MyNorth.com have some great Fall articles that relate with several topics in this month’s blog.  This article includes several pumpkin patches that are a must visit.  Take the kids, spouse, girlfriend, boyfriend, parents, fellow YP’s and whomever else you please to one or all of these great pumpkin patches.

10 Northern Michigan Pumpkin Patches (& Corn Mazes, too!)

 

October Updates

TCAPS Update 

Teams Compete in VEX Robotics Competition

On Saturday, October 1, 2016, Traverse City West Senior High School’s Titan Robotics program hosted an early season VEX robotics competition at Aero Park Labs in Traverse City. Thirty-seven teams traveling from as far away as Illinois, Grand Rapids and Alpena, came to compete for one of four state qualifying championship spots. The Titan Robotics Design Group 3767X won the tournament with alliance partners from Petoskey and Grandville. Additionally, Team 3767X won the Design Award and was ranked first in the Robot Skills Challenge. With the tournament win, Titan Robotics Team 3767X secured their spot at the February 2017 VEX State Championship. The Traverse City Central High School VEX program is new this year. TC Central and TC West each had three teams participating in the competition over the weekend and will continue competing in tournaments across the state throughout the fall and winter.  

 TC Central High School Presents Beauty and the Beast

Beginning on November 11, 2016, and running through November 20, 2016, Traverse City Central High School presents Beauty and the Beast. Based on the Academy-Award winning animated Disney feature, the stage version includes all of the memorable songs from the animated film plus a few new songs written especially for the Broadway musical. You are invited to “Be Our Guest” at the Central High School auditorium as this classic French fairy tale is brought to life. To purchase tickets, visit: https://mynorthtickets.com/.

TCAPS Teaching Assistant’s Artwork on Display at ArtPrize

Janelle Dahlberg, an artist and an employee at TCAPS’ Old Mission Peninsula School, is participating in her 6th year at ArtPrize. Her work is currently on display in the Gerald Ford Museum and is a recycled painting titled, Water Phenomena. Everything in the piece is recycled, even incorporating discarded laminate strips from years of cutting out art projects for students. Dahlberg’s piece is #63134.

TCAPS Music Teacher Shares Teaching Strategies with University Students

 

Emerick Dee, a music teacher at TCAPS, was invited to visit Texas State University as a guest of Dr. Lynn Brinckmeyer who is Professor of Music, Associate Director for the School of Music and Director of Choral Music Education. Dee’s work in the middle school choral classroom is included in the research work Dr. Brinckmeyer is doing about effective teaching strategies. Dee talked with the university’s music education classes and shared what he does in his choral classroom to help these future music teachers grow their instructional practice.

Traverse City Area Public Schools and the Traverse City Education Association Ratify Three Year Contract Agreement

Traverse City Area Public Schools (TCAPS) and the Traverse City Education Association (TCEA), which represents the district’s approximately 540 professional teaching staff, have ratified a three year contract agreement that will begin September 1, 2017, and run through August 31, 2020. A contract extension for the 2016-17 school year was previously agreed to last December. The agreement includes a 1.5 percent increase in pay each year, as well as step increases. It also includes moving to new insurance plans that are expected to create a cost savings for the employee and cost containment for the district. TCEA membership ratified the agreement on Monday, October 3, 2016. The TCAPS Board of Education ratified the contract agreement at a special meeting held at 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday, October 5, 2016

 

 

City of Traverse City Update

 

November, 8, 2016 General Election – the close of registration for the November 8^th election is October 11^th; contact your local clerk for details. To view your ballot or to check your registration status, visit www.michigan.gov/vote. For an information video regarding the voting process, visit http://www.traversecitymi.gov/news.asp?aid=418.

 

Fall Leaf Collection - The City of Traverse City will begin picking up leaves on Monday, October 24^th on the west side of town, moving east. Please take note that this free service is offered by the City to City residents and includes leaves only. For details, visit our website at http://www.traversecitymi.gov/news.asp?aid=413.

 

Seeking Volunteers! The City is currently looking for volunteers to serve on various boards and committees. If you are interested in becoming involved with your local government, visit http://www.traversecitymi.gov/news.asp?aid=406.

 

Traverse City Community Giving Catalog – For those looking to sponsor a park bench, flowers in a park or even a biker rack, check out the City’s giving catalog! http://www.traversecitymi.gov/downloads/gift_catalog_2016.pdf

 

Grand Traverse County

 

Deer Bow Hunting Permitted on Power Island  Grand Traverse County Parks and Recreation has opened Power Island for bow hunting this fall.  Details on hunting regulations and obtaining a permit are available online at www.grandtraverse.org or by calling 231-922-4818.

Civic Center Playground Named  The new playground at the Civic Center will be called the Campbell Community Playground in memory of Bruce Campbell Falconer, a Traverse City community leader who passed away in 2015.

Clean Up Green Up, a free community-wide recycle, re-purpose and reuse event put on by Michigan Green Consortium in Traverse City will be Sunday, November 6 from 9:00 until 3:00 at American Waste, 280 Hughes Drive, Traverse City.  Details