The Second Annual Poplar Lake Poplar Lake Annual Meeting and Potluck is scheduled for 1:00PM, Saturday, July 28 at the Poplar Creek Guesthouse Bed and Breakfast. A potluck lunch followed by a short business meeting is planned. Items on the meeting agenda are the Arrowhead Electric's power line clearing, the Gunflint Scenic Byways Ham Lake Fire reforestation's actions and Poplar -Little Ollie Lakes water flowage. County Commissionar Jim Johnson and fire chief Danny Bauman will also give a few remarks. All Poplar Lake residents are urged to attend. For more information contact Alice Weck at 218-388-388-0115
According to the Minnesota Bed and Breakfasts Association, most state's bed and breakfast are certainly bird friendly and many have gone out of their way to promote bird activities. As examples- Suzanne Tweten, from Log house and Homestead B and B has established bird feeding station and bird houses throughout the B&Bs extensive property and she actively promotes Detroit Lakes' Festival of Birds held in May. For birders going to New Ulm's Swan Lake Wildlife Area, the Auf Deutsche Strasse Bed & Breakfast serves breakfast, as early as 4 a.m. or packs-up a "breakfast box" for bird watchers off to an early start. Red Wing's Golden Lantern Inn has a special rate it offers to birdwatcher attending the area's "Eagle Spot." Bird feeding station are common at most Bed and Breakfast, and B&Bs are enthusiastic promoters of their local birding festivals and guided bird tours.
The Minnesota Bed and Breakfasts Association in collaborative with the Minnesota Office of Tourism are now developing a state wide birding program. This new program called Bed and Breakfast and Birding (B&B&B) will actively promote bird friendly B&Bs. Some of the activities participating B&Bs will be offering are guided and/or unguided birding tours, bird viewing at bird feeding stations, the promotion of local bird festivals and special birding packages. Among those assisting Association members in formulating B&B&B are noted state birders: Sharon Stiteler, the Bird Chick; Josh Brink, Minnesota Backyard Birds and Carol Hendrickson, Supervisor of Minnesota DNR's Non-game Wildlife Program. Currently twenty-two B&Bs have undergone training for the program; more B&Bs are expected to join later. According to the Association's Executive Directors and owner of Classic Rosewood B&B, Pam Thorsen, "we plan to officially launch this new birding adventure in the spring. If you are interested in birding or would like to learn more about this activity, expect to find it at Minnesota's B&Bs."
Poplar Creek Guesthouse, is one of the B&B that plans to take part in the program. Barbara Young, co-owner states, "we are very excited about this new program. We plan to offer special packages for guided and unguided bird tours with B&B stays. Presently we are working with Minnesota Backyard Birds, to develop bird feeding stations and bird housing around our property."
Cook County News-Herald: The Annual Gunflint Trail Canoe Race Event is set for Wednesday, July 18, sponsored by the Gunflint Lake Property Owners Association.
The races have become a major fund-raising event of the summer on the Gunflint Trail and helps raise money to equip and train the 25 volunteers in the Gunflint Trail Volunteer Fire Department.
“As everyone is aware, the Gunflint Trail has been experiencing major fires for the last three years,” write John and Jenny Hughes in a memo this week. “The Gunflint Trail Volunteer Fire Department has been involved in all of these fires. In the past, the moneys generated from the fund-raising events have gone to purchasing many types of equipment and provided both medical and fire training opportunities for the members of the fire department.”
This year the fire department is planning on purchasing two enclosed trailers for the portable wild fire sprinkler kits that were used this year on the Ham Lake Fire.
“Also on the wish list is a new CAFS Fire Truck,” write the Hughes. “This is a fire engine with a compressed air-foam system. This fire truck would be used in fighting wildfires that are threatening structures. The foam delivered to the structure would save it from a fire. It carries 400 gallons of water and is capable of delivering 1,600 gallons of foam.”
The association is soliciting race prizes to support the fire fighting capability along the Gunflint Trail. To make a donation, call 218-388-9935.
The St Paul Pioneer Press article, "Yippie for Yurts", by Beth Gauper, about yurts camping features Boundary Country Trekking's Yurt to Yurt Skiing Program. Gauper, first describe commercial yurt operation that have sprung-up around the country. Then she gets into Boundary Country Trekking's Yurts- how they came about in 1984 and how Ted Young, from the company has become know as Minnesota's Yurt Guy.