Community

The Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund Board recommended Wednesday to the Michigan Legislature that 53 recreation development projects and land acquisitions totaling $27,339,100 be funded in 2024. The board this year considered a total of 123 applications seeking over $51.9 million in funding.

Rekindle the Spirit, a program sponsored by the Munising Chamber of Commerce recently held its 12th annual event. The idea behind the program is to help people to shop locally for Christmas. In return, Rekindle the Spirit collected a vast array of prizes won through a drawing which took place on December 15, 2023.

Dale Hansen The annual Toog’s Toys for Kids found a new home this year at the United Methodist Church in Munising. Through the efforts of Nancy Phillipson, Toni Denman, and Kim Swanberg, children received toys and much needed warm mittens and hats.

Don’t forget to bring your Alger County receipts into the Alger County Chamber of Commerce/Greater Munising Bay Partnership @ 129 E. Munising Ave. (across from Subway) now through next Thursday, Dec. 14th. Whether it’s gas, groceries, restaurants, retail, etc., save those receipts. Prizes are awarded daily (M-F) so the more you enter, the more chances you have to win! Also, if you happen to win a daily prize, your name gets put back into the drawing for the grand prize which is the snowblower. Over $7,000 worth of prizes will be given away. Our office is open M-F from 8-4. Thank you to our sponsors and remember to shop local!

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Heating with wood is not only a passion, for some, but also environmentally smart and helps keep dollars local. Down to only a single winter’s worth of seasoned firewood, it was time to buy another truckload, which is around ten to twelve cords.

The 2024 Great Lakes Endurance trail running events in Munsing are now open for online registration (www.greatlakesendurance. com). The Rock River Canyon Trail Run will take place on Saturday, June 8. This event includes both 27K and 50K distances. The course features abundant single track on the North Country Trail in the Hiawatha National Forest south of Munising. Races start and finish at the Valley Spur Lodge. The 50K course travels westward to the Rock River Wilderness and back. The race had its inaugural in 2019 and has received top reviews from ultra runners from throughout the Midwest. “This course features highly runable single track through quiet, pristine forests - this is what runners tell us they like about the event,” noted race director Jeff Crumbaugh. The Grand Island Trail Run will take place on July 27. Now in its 24th year, the event features a 50K, a marathon and a half marathon. Every summer it attracts runners from nearly 40 states, Canada and Europe. The course treats runners to world class vistas from Grand Island’s cliffs and beaches. “The 50K has been growing and this year may become the most popular of the three distances, but what all runners enjoy is a swim in Lake Superior after finishing. Runners keep running the extra 50 yards to the beach and into the lake,” said Crumbaugh. Registration for the Grand Island Trail Run usually reaches its capacity in early May. Registration is available on the Great Lakes Endurance website: https:// greatlakesendurance.com.