Since those magnificent towers first appeared over the sapphire blue waters of the Straits of Mackinac fifty-five years ago, the emotional impact on those approaching the bridge has been undeniable; the “Mighty Mac” leaves a breathtaking impression no matter how many times someone sees it.  

It is Michigan’s foremost landmark, having been selected by the Michigan Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) as “Michigan’s #1 Civil Engineering Project of the 20th Century” in 2000.   It is also a national landmark, being named a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark by the ASCE in August of this year.  It is a testament of faith, ingenuity, bravery and perseverance; representing decades of dreams, determination and diligence as the concept of uniting Michigan’s two peninsulas evolved from a notion in the late 1800’s to the first vehicle crossing on November 1st, 1957.

This coming Labor Day morning, following a tradition that began in 1958, thousands will gather on the lawn of the Mackinac Bridge Authority, located on the north side of the bridge, to stroll some 26,372 feet (about five miles) across the bridge to Mackinaw City.  Having made this journey several times, I can attest that it is an exhilarating opportunity to see this majestic structure up close, marvel at the incredible engineering involved, extraordinary workmanship, and an indescribable beauty which merge into the half-century old masterpiece known as the Mackinac Bridge.

Connecting Michigan’s peninsulas took quite a while.  After many decades of debate regarding the financial and physical feasibility of bridging the turbulent nearly three-hundred foot waters and unpredictable four-season weather patterns of the Straits area, the Mackinac Bridge Authority received the green light on financing and construction from the state legislature on April 30th, 1952.  Utilizing a design conceived by internationally renowned bridge engineer, Dr. David B. Steinman, and funding in the amount of $96,400,033.33 construction began on May 7th, 1954.

Steinman’s vision was not only of a bridge that incorporated engineering and construction for the ages (the design is purported to last for at least 1,000 years), but also become a beautiful creation that would be a marvel to all who would see it for generations to come.  At a center span of 8,614 feet, is was originally the longest suspension bridge in the world, and continues to hold the title of the third longest in the world today…over a half a century since it was built.

Those gleaming white, 6,500-ton towers stand 552 feet above the water, and were actually built 500 miles away in the town of Ambridge, Pennsylvania, where they were assembled and disassembled before being transported to the Straits area.  The unique grid system in the roadway across the center span is an innovation devised by engineer D. B. Steinman; designed to relieve wind pressure from beneath the bridge thus stabilizing the structure even under the extreme gales of the north.

Approximately 350 engineers focused on the design, 3,500 workers were on the bridge site, and another 7,500 at quarries, machine shops, mills and other support services during the three and a half year project.  Their efforts included the installation of nearly 5 million rivets and over 1 million bolts in the structure, 42,000 miles of cabling in the suspension system, and 931,000 tons of concrete in piers reaching as far as 295 feet below the water surface.  

It is amazing that the task was completed in such a relatively short time span, and those who worked on bridge construction have commented that is was the most efficiently organized project they have ever been associated with.

These are among the many “fascinating facts” available to ponder during a Labor Day stroll across the bridge.  It is the allure, however, of the stunningly beautiful 360 degree grand vistas of the Straits area; with Lake Michigan to the west, Lake Huron, Mackinac and Bois Blanc islands to the east, Mackinaw City and the lower peninsula to the south, and historic St. Ignace and the upper peninsula to the north, that will fill the heart and soul with memories certain to last a lifetime.

The magnificence of the Mackinac Bridge is a treasured source of pride for all Michiganders.  The Mackinac Bridge Authority takes the responsibility of preserving this legacy very seriously, and a dedicated crew of men and women work continually on the maintenance of the massive structure.  An enormous upcoming project will be aimed at replacing the road deck system for the first time since the bridge was built.  It is scheduled to commence within the next five years or so, and at an estimated cost of around $200 million…will be nearly twice the original construction amount of the entire bridge.

Bob Sweeney, Mackinac Bridge Authority Executive Secretary, states, "Over the next decade, the bridge will undergo some unprecedented preservation and rehabilitation projects. These major projects will ensure that the Mackinac Bridge continues to maintain high marks, remain structurally sound, and provide pleasurable and expedient passages over the Straits of Mackinac."

Don’t miss the opportunity to make a most pleasurable passage across the Mackinac Bridge this Labor Day morning.  The walk, lead by Governor Granholm, begins at 7 am and no one will be allowed to depart after 11 am.  Keep in mind that baby strollers and wheelchairs are allowed, but wagons, skateboards, bicycles, pets, smoking, signs and banners are not.  It takes about two hours, and half the trek is downhill, but remember; there are no restrooms on the bridge so you may want to reconsider having that morning cup of coffee.  
And get ready for a Labor Day journey of a lifetime.

A restaurant that uses several local food sources with scrumptious breakfast and lunch fare that allows diners to pay according to their ability?  Can such an idea work?

According to Michelle Fox, Board Secretary for the Ellsworth Front Porch eatery, it is a concept that has taken hold of the hearts, spirits and especially the appetites of local residents and visitors.  It has been so popular that as of August 29th, the Front Porch will launch into its third year of operation.

“We began with just the vision of a small group of people,” Fox recalls. “We wanted to find a way to operate a restaurant that was different than anything that had been tried before.”

Building on a concept originating from Bob Felton, Outreach Facilitator at Ellsworth Christian Reform Church, and suggestions from Mary Peterson (Food Pantry/Resale Shop director for Good Samaritan), the group pursued the idea of starting a non-profit restaurant in a downtown Ellsworth location that had been vacated by the Ellsworth Diner.  The groups objectives were to offer low prices, delicious home-cooked meals, use local suppliers for those food items whenever possible, and provide a non-denominational place where the community could gather for food, beverage and fellowship.  

The owner of the vacant building offered the group very reasonable purchase terms, so they held a breakfast fundraiser two summers ago and raised about $2,000.  That money was used to place their first food order and cover payroll for the first few weeks.  By late August 2008, the Front Porch was born.

As of this summer, the Front Porch has grown to serving an average of 150 tasty breakfasts and lunches a day.  The establishment is open from 7 am until 2 pm, and has become a frequent destination for area residents and visitors in search of a wonderful home-cooked meal, and a warm, friendly atmosphere to enjoy it in.  Like its name implies, the Front Porch is a welcoming place to return to again and again, but the oddest part is what patrons do when their bill arrives.  

Rather than step up to the cash register to pay their bill, an unassuming wood “donation” box sits upon the counter with a glass tip jar beside it.  Customers are free to put the “suggested donation” amount from their bill into the box, maybe a little more if they are able…or a little less if they are not.

Fox admits that it is an unusual system, though it has been working very well.

“Our customers have been very generous,” she states, “and we have received an amazing amount of support from the community in terms of patronage, donations and assistance.  When a person wants to find someone in this town, this is the place to check first!”

The Front Porch certain lured me in.  I spent an hour or so there on a recent Saturday, watching as the bustling lunch crowd filtered in, gazing at the simple yet intriguing décor (check out the vintage toaster collection around the perimeter), chatting with Fox, and savoring the delicious cuisine served by the courteous, friendly staff.  I wanted to come back for dinner…but that’s not an option right now.

“We have made a decision to let this evolve at a pace we can manage,” observes Fox.  “While we have a few employees, we rely heavily on volunteers to make this happen, so we don’t want to overextend ourselves.”

The upcoming Front Porch Second Birthday party on September 4th is also a fundraising kick-off as the first of two balloon loan payments on the establishment will be due next spring.  And while funding any enterprise in the current economy can be a trying task, the folks running the Front Porch seem to thrive on challenge.

“The Front Porch is about the synergy of more and more people coming together where the whole is definitely greater than the sum of the parts,” Michelle Fox relates.  “People come to the front porch with different needs, spiritually, emotionally…and some are just hungry.  What ever the need, that’s what we are here for.”

Join the birthday celebration at the Front Porch on Saturday, September 4th, from 10 am until 2 pm, and enjoy complimentary cake (they also have a bakery on site!) and ice cream.  For more information visit www.frontporchellsworth.org or call (231) 588-2000.

Mark your calendar for Saturday, September 11th, as that is the date of the first Annual Ellsworth Archery Contest and Outdoor Expo.  The event, which will kick off at 10 am, is in honor of the Grand Opening of the new Ellsworth Community Park and Archery Range and is design to wholeheartedly celebrate the beauty and adventure of the great outdoors.

The archery tournament is open to bow handlers of all ages and skill levels, and registration fees are:

- Kids 9 & Under and Ages 10-16 -  $10.00   This includes a meal ticket worth $5 and a $5.00 certificate to spend in the village, plus entry into the shooting contests.

- Adult Novice - $15.00  This includes a meal ticket worth $5 and a $5 certificate to spend in the village, six drawing tickets for  door prizes (another $5 value) and entry into the shooting contests.     

- Competitive- $20.00  This includes a meal ticket worth $5 and a $5 certificate to spend in the village, six drawing tickets for door prizes (another $5 value) and entry into the shooting contests for cash and other prizes (yet another $5 value).    

Not an archer?  There will still be plenty of fun in store at the outdoor expo including a farmers market, kid's activities, door prizes and concessions. This is a great way for the whole family to celebrate the great outdoors.

Visit www.ellswortharchery.com for additional information.  Vendor's booths are still available for both the Farmers Market and Outdoor Expo FREE OF CHARGE.

By B. J. Conley 

CHARLEVOIX — A disc golf course at Mt. McSauba is redesigned for safety and will be considered by city council following review of public comments. The deadline for submitting comments is Friday, Sept. 3.   Comments may be e-mailed to Mike Spencer at: mspencer@cityofcharlevoix.org or by delivery to him at Charlevoix City Hall. A map of the new course accompanies this story.  The popular sport has a redesigned course to protect hikers after a woman was injured by an errant disc earlier this year.   “The course is redesigned to avoid conflict between hikers and disc golf players,” Mike Spencer said. Spencer is the city planning and zoning administrator. Rules will be in effect, such as disc golf players must give right of way to hikers, he said.  Disc golf is a game in which individual players throw a flying disc into a basket or at a target. The object of the game is to traverse a course from beginning to end in the fewest number of throws of the disc, according to the Professional Disc Golf Association. Disc golf is inexpensive and is physically accessible for all ages and athletic ranges. It attracts a diverse range of players. Of the more than 3,000 established disc golf courses, approximately 87 percent are free. The game is played in the United States and more than 20 other countries.  Spencer said approximately seven comments have been received as of Monday, Aug. 30, six of them were supportive of the course.  In the creation of the map, one of the main points of discussion was whether to create a 9- or 18-hole course. City staff opinion is that because the area has so many other uses, a disc golf course would have to be limited to nine holes in order to decrease conflicts with those uses. Further, staff recognized the importance of ensuring that the course be created in a way that makes it compatible with the natural environment, which creates limitations for use in and of itself. The topography and dense forests create issues with hole placement and movement of players from one hole to another. In addition, the City wanted to minimize the likelihood that the course would negatively impact natural vegetation, sensitive hillsides and wildlife habitats.  The costs of the project are yet to be determined, Spencer said.
“We do not have a definite number but most likely there will be a community fundraiser to pay for set up of the course. The City may contribute toward the project if funding is available and it is approved by City Council.”

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