Topinabee Happenings
A Classic Model Train At The Library
One of the many nice features of the children’s room at the Topinabee Library is the classic model train there—a Lionel train that is more than 60 years old.
The train was donated to the library by Peter and Patty Morse, whose family has owned a cottage in the area for generations, and who moved to Topinabee full-time in 2022.
To make the train even more interesting and realistic, this spring Dave Jacalone built a scale model of the Topinabee train depot, Mullett lake, and a mountain tunnel to enhance the train’s setting.
Be sure to check out this wonderful display the next time you visit the Library. Many thanks to Peter and Patty for their generous donation, and to Dave for his fine workmanship!
Post Office Gets Spruced Up For Spring
The Topinabee Post Office was recently spruced up for spring, thanks to voluntary efforts from Dave Jacalone and Jeff Hozeska. Not only did they power-wash the exterior of the building, but they also hung a new sign that Dave had made for the Post Office.
Many thanks to Dave and Jeff for helping to keep Topinabee looking good!
Library Wins Prestigious Award For Its Renovations
The Topinabee Library, which underwent significant renovations last winter, has won a prestigious award for these improvements. On September 8th, “Keep Michigan Beautiful” notified our Librarian Judy Jacalone that it would be presenting its top award (their “President’s Award”) to our wonderful library. Judy and her husband David will be traveling to Frankenmuth on October 14th to accept the award.
If you haven’t visited the library since the renovations were completed, take a few moments to stop by and see for yourself!
Topinabee SummerFair & Market – A Rousing Success!
The first annual Topinabee SummerFair & Market, held on Saturday, July 30th, proved to be a rousing success. No official attendance count is available, but the number of visitors was certainly in the hundreds. Visitors included residents of Topinabee itself, other nearby communities, and people simply driving by who stopped to enjoy the fun.
The fair featured food trucks, live music, more than a dozen vendors selling various types of merchandise, a fire truck, cornhole toss—plus the adjacent Topinabee beach and library.
Plans are already being discussed for another fair and market next summer. Thanks to everyone who joined us and helped to make this community-building event a success!
A Very Generous Donation From Aqua Irrigation!
Recently the Topinabee community received an extremely generous donation of time and materials from Aqua Irrigation, a Topinabee landscaping and irrigation company owned by Ed Shovan. Specifically, Aqua Irrigation completed the irrigation system south of the library free of charge, one of the final components needed to complete the Topinabee Beach Park Project. Earlier Aqua Irrigation also did the irrigation system north of the library at a reduced rate as well.
The TDA would like to thank Ed and his staff for their generosity and commitment to our community!
Mullett Township Group Receives $750 Grant
The Neighborhood Improvement & Community Enhancement (NICE) group has been awarded a $750 grant from the Cheboygan County Community Foundation. The grant was awarded to support the group’s efforts to bring awareness to Mullett Township residents of the economic and health impacts of blighted properties. The grant will also be used to support the costs of property improvement for residents who need assistance.
“We were impressed with the NICE’s approach to bringing awareness to Mullett Township residents that blight is a serious problem. We also like the idea of the group focusing on helping neighbors in their community who reach out for assistance,“ said Jim Conboy, a member of the Board of Directors of the Foundation. “Their approach could be a model for other townships in the area,” says Convoy.
“We are excited about the grant as NICE wants to be a catalyst for neighborhood improvement and community enhancement in Mullett Township,” says Marie Frick, the group’s representative. “We are not a blight group and while we are advocating for the Township Board to approve a blight ordinance, our goal is to see ‘neighbors helping neighbors’ in improving and enhancing properties when a resident reaches out for help,” says Frick.
“I appreciate the residents of Mullett Township organizing to form NICE to help their neighbors and support their elected leaders” said Hobart Kirsch, Supervisor of the Mullett Township Board.” “Our township is fortunate to have such strong community involvement and I’m excited about what the future will bring for our township”, said Kirsch.
Volunteers who gathered to accept their grant check from the Cheboygan County Community Foundation included Ken Hoehn, Sue Garlick, Dee Ellis, Jan Miller, Sue Chevalier, Linda Miller, Lori Hoehn, Gary Miller, Judy Jacalone, and Al Ellis. They were joined by Directors of the Foundation Chuck Baase, Dick Sanford, Tony Eustice, Noreen Keating, Mary J Hebert, Jim Conboy and Phil Welch.
FLAG POLE MEMORIAL
A MEMORIAL HONORING DAVE OGG WAS PLACED AT THE BASE OF THE NEW FLAG POLE AT TOPINABEE BEACH PARK. DAVE WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN SECURING THE GRANTS THROUGH THE DNR TO FUND THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PARK. HE ALSO SUPERVISED THE CONSTRUCTION OF THIS BEAUTIFUL FACILITY THAT ALL TOPINABEE RESIDENTS AND VISTORS CAN ENJOY.
Tom O’Hare, Hobie Kirsch ,Township Supervisor and Ken Hoehn prepare the area around the new flag for the memorial.
NEW SIGNAGE NOW INSTALLED
As planned, the new 3D signage that was created this past winter has now been installed at the Library, Depot, and Beach. The handsome signs look great, especially amid the summer flowers in front of the Library.
TOPINABEE LIBRARY
The library now provides e-books. Stop in and pick up a library card and you will have access to thousands of books online.
Best of all there is no charge!
Learn more about the Library at:
BREAKERS FEATURED ON TV
Clink on the link below to see a TV feature on the Breakers-click on the connect button in the article to hear the report.
SEE STURGEON IN MULLETT LAKE
STURGEON PLANTED IN MULLETT LAKE
Sturgeon for Tomorrow in cooperation with the Mullett Preservation Society planted fish in Mullett Lake on August 23rd. This is part of the program to preserve, protect and expand sturgeon in Northern Michigan Lakes. Sturgeon raises the fish at their hatchery near Black Lake for planting. Tours are available at the hatchery and are a very educational experience. Over 8000 sturgeon have been planted in Mullett Lake since 2003 through the Sturgeons for Tomorrow program with support from MAPS. Walleye plantings since 1999 have totaled more than 1,000,000,000. The Walleye program is supported by the DNR, tribes and MAPS.
THANKS TO PHIL WELCH
Phil Welch, a Topinabee resident and owner of Michigan Lakes Products, solved a long-time problem at the Topinabee Park. Seagulls and ducks love to use the swim dock as their restroom! Walking on the dock can be a hazard for your feet!. Phil worked with his company to come up with a solution to the problem. Finding a solution, Michigan Lake Products donated the material to make the swim dock doo doo free! Thanks to Mr. Welch and Michigan Lake Products.
FISH PLANTING IN MULLETT LAKE
The Mullett Lake Area Preservation Society has worked with the DNR, Sault Tribe and area business to try to improve fishing in Mullett Lake. MAPS has contributed $30,000 to drive the planting of fish in the lake. Over the past three years, over 650,000 walleye fingerlings, and 1500 6-8 inch walleyes have been planted in the lake. This summer over 7000 sturgeon fingerlings were planted in the Pigeon River, a tributary of Mullett Lake. More sturgeon will be planted in Mullett Lake this fall. Michigan State University and the DNR have been engaged in a study of success of these plantings. Fishermen are asked to return the “guts” of walleye catches to the DNR to assist with this study. Better fishing should be in the future for Mullett Lake.
TOPINABEE CHURCH
The Topinabee Community Church was originally built in 1917. The “little white church on the hill” was organized as a Methodist Church and at its’ beginning was the only church located on the west side of Mullett Lake. Eventually, Topinabee began to lose some of its’ early tourist population and fewer and fewer members were true Methodists. So in 1947, the church was reorganized as an Independent inter-denominational organization of Christians. Methodist Church officials actually allowed the church to be sold, and the faithful church body purchased the building for $1800. The sanctuary was expanded and classrooms added. The church continues today as a result of a caring congregation of fewer than 100 regular members. One of my favorite things about the church is the church bell. Listen for it on Sunday mornings.
TOPINABEE AUTHORS
Topinabee is the home of two authors who have published many books Chris Wright, alias Johnathan Rand, has over 80 books to his credit and Debra Chapoton has also published several books. Check out their websites listed below.
Debra Chapoton is a former high school teacher who fell in love with a hundred different teenagers every year. She writes children’s and young adult novels relying on her teaching experiences for inspiration and authenticity. Her YA novel, EDGE OF ESCAPE, was first self-published and then bought by a major international publisher. It is a story of physical and psychological survival in which stalking and obsession get a sympathetic twist. In her most recent novel, SHELTERED, five troubled teens confront demonic forces and must deal with their problems in distinctly different ways.
She currently lives with her husband in a log home set in the middle of a climax forest. Like many of the teens she taught, her neighbors are all wild.
MICHIGAN MUSIC VIDEOS
Click on the following to hear Michigan’s songs
Tribute to the State of Michigan
PURE MICHIGAN-CHEBOYGAN COUNTY
View the beautiful video of Cheboygan County