Douglas Lake eNews 3/13/2019

Mackinaw Raptor Fest April 5-7, 2019
Mackinaw Straits Raptor Watch conducts scientific studies of hawks and owls migrating through the lower northern region of Michigan and educates the public about the birds and their migration. The Watch also has organized the Mackinaw Raptor Fest, Friday, April 5, 2019-4:00PM – Sunday, April 7, 2019, 4:00 PM. This three day event provides great views of migrating raptors, interesting sessions and educational workshops, including field trips.
Registration and sales For Raptor Fest end March 23. For further information, check out the Raptor Fest website: www.mackinawraptorfest.org. The Raptor Watch website is http://www.mackinawraptorwatch.org/

Emmet Conservation District Spring Tree Sale
    Douglas Lake is still snowed over and frozen, some roads are snowed covered with impressive drifts, but it is March and even the most committed winter lovers are having daydreams of warmer temperatures and the return of colors especially green. Just in time, the Emmet Conservation District (ECD) announces its 2019 Emmet CD Spring Tree Sale. The District has a diverse selection of conifer seedlings and transplants, hardwoods, fruit trees, shrubs, and seedling packages for sale. Most of the species offered are native to our area and should grow well.
     ECD advises, when deciding what to plant, keep in mind the phrase “right plant, right place.” Native trees planted in an appropriate site are usually the best option. To help ensure a successful planting, consider and evaluate the soil composition before trees are purchased and planted. Tree growth is most rapid where soil drainage is good and competing grasses, shrubs, and weeds are controlled. Also, look and see what is already successfully growing at the proposed planting site. Most conifers, which include pines and spruces, are more commonly planted on drier, coarser-textured and less fertile soils. However, white spruce, and the deciduous conifer known as American larch/tamarack, will also do well in moist soils. Hardwoods, or deciduous trees are usually better suited to loamy and clay/loam soil types where soil moisture and fertility are generally higher.

     The ECD offers a very helpful booklet describing the types of trees (conifers and deciduous), small trees and shrubs, and fruit trees and helpful suggestions for selection and planting. The Information Brochure is available at https://www.emmetcounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/SCD_2018-Tree-Sale-GUIDE.pdf.
The Tree Sale order form is available at: https://www.emmetcounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/SCD_2018-SPRING-TREE-SALE-ORDER-FORM.pdf.
Pre-orders are due by Friday, March 29^th.
Pick-up dates are Friday April 19, 10AM-2PM, or Saturday, April 20 8AM-12PM.
Pick-up location: Emmet County Fairgrounds, Petoskey.

Petoskey Northbound US-31 Detour Begins Soon
The next phase of Petoskey’s US-31 reconstruction and realignment project begins on March 18^th. As crews begin reconstruction work along the bluff, northbound US-31 traffic will detour on Mitchell Street, Division Street, Arlington Avenue, and MacDonald Drive. Southbound US-31 traffic remains on US-31.
The detour is expected to remain in place until late June. Bayfront Drive should be reopened to traffic by May 1. The entire project should be completed by late September.

Call for 2020 DLIA Calendar Photos
    The deadline for submission for photos for the DLIA 2020 Calendar is April 15. Please submit your favorite seasonal pictures of Douglas Lake scenes, activities, wildlife, fishing exploits, and other recreational events to info@douglaslake.org.
   Calendars are available for purchase at the DLIA Merchandise Sales. Sale dates are announced in the May Newsletter and on the Event Calendar on the DLIA website www.douglaslake.org

Douglas Lake Improvement Association ─ Dues are $25 a year
Mailing address: DLIA, PO Box 472, Pellston, MI 49769

President - Mary Ellen Sheridan
Vice President - Marilyn Kelemen
Secretary - Barb Huey
Treasurer - Sue Klaas

Do we have your current address? A dues reminder and financial statement were mailed last month. We need your updated contact information by April 1 for inclusion in the 2019 DLIA Directory.

See the Membership tab on our website for more info
To update your information click -> New Member/Update Member Form
or send membership updates to membership@douglaslake.org

Send News Articles and Obituaries to news@douglaslake.org
The eNews is published twice a month on-season and
as needed (about once a month) off-season.
The DLIA Newsletter is published twice a year - Fall and Spring.
Deadline for news and obituaries is 4/1/2019 for our May Newsletter.
Note: We appreciate the obituaries being brief (300 words or less)
and relevant to Douglas Lake. News articles should not exceed 700
words unless approved by the editor. Please be aware
that any article or obituary may be edited to fit into the layout.

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