A note of appreciation to Stuart Case and the Boat Ramp Maintenance Crew who stepped up for the timely removal of the dock on Saturday, August 13^th in anticipation of the beginning the ramp replacement project.  They will return to put the dock back in place when the new boat launch is ready for use.
Some new sturdy volunteers who can help move these dock sections in and out would be most welcome.  Contact Stuart Case to be put on his Boat Ramp maintenance volunteers email list at stuartcarma66@gmail.com.

       It’s Wednesday, August 17^th and construction is underway for replacement of the Douglas Lake Boat Ramp.  Workers are currently installing the coffer dam that removes lake water from the immediate area of the boat ramp and prevents water from building up in the construction area while the lake-bed is prepared for new wider reinforced concrete planks that are being installed.
          Obviously, there is no access for boats or any kind of watercraft at the construction site.  Depending on weather and work conditions, the new boat ramp should be functional by September 3.  Look for eNews, the DLIA web site and I Love Douglas Lake for construction updates and the announcement of the opening of the new ramp.  Pleas to the weather gods for kind treatment are encouraged.  

       The Conservation Resource Alliance (CRA, https://www.rivercare.org), working with the Emmet County Road Commission, will be replacing the bridge on Robinson Rd over the East Branch of the Maple River with a timber bridge to allow free flowing of the Maple River instead of the current culverts.  Robinson Road will be closed to traffic for about 5-6 weeks beginning about August 15th. The posted detour from US 31 will be Woodland Road to Plains Road back to Robinson east of the bridge crossing.

In Search of Nostalgic Eating at Douglas Lake
 

What is the smell that takes you back to summers at Douglas Lake? Is it Grandma’s special birthday cake? The barbecue ribs with the sauce so secret that Dad swears he will take the recipe to the grave? Mom’s homemade cinnamon rolls fresh out of the oven? Uncle Lou’s famous fish fry? Sauteed morels?
 
Smells have the power to take us back to the past the way nothing else can, and we know that for those who have spent summers at Douglas Lake, there are special summer meals that were never quite right if we made them somewhere else. 

What is the meal that your family and friends shared that helped to make your summers special? What new recipes are you trying that invoke pure summer at the Lake? Share your recipes and stories with us! Let’s take a snapshot of the unique and wonderful experience of life at Douglas Lake in the summer! If enough people respond, we can compile the stories into book form that could be available by next summer. We need photos, recipes, and stories from this year to years ago. Contact hhapps212@yahoo.com by October 1st if you are interested in participating.
 

It is worth noting, that at this time, there are no” walk-in” urgent care options in the area other than going to the Emergency Room at the Cheboygan or Petoskey Hospital.  The Munson Health Care office in Indian River no longer takes walk-in patients.  You must call in advance to schedule a same-day appointment.
An Urgent Care facility is under construction across from McClaren Hospital in Petoskey but an opening date is not available yet.