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News
 Grass River Natural Area Names New Executive Director Bellaire, Mich. -- The Grass River Natural Area, Inc. announces the appointment of Debra Hershey as GRNA Executive Director, effective February 15. Interim director Melynda Bagley will resume her role as education director for the natural area. “The board is thrilled to welcome Debbie to the Grass River team and looks forward to a very exciting future under her leadership,” said GRNA Inc. board president, Zach Liggett. “The board also gives a hearty thanks to Melynda for her contributions during this transition.” Hershey and husband Bill moved to Antrim County in 2009 from Dayton, Ohio. She holds two degrees, in communications and in law. Hershey said, “I am honored that the GRNA board has given me this incredible opportunity. I look forward to working with all of the dedicated people who are helping to preserve and share the Grass River Natural Area, a jewel of Antrim County.” A search committee comprised of former and current GRNA board members, an Antrim County commissioner and a community-at-large representative, said a total of 26 individuals applied for the full time position with the non-profit organization. Hershey succeeds Mark Randolph who served as Executive Director for 16 years. Grass River Natural Area, one of Michigan’s oldest and largest nature areas, protects 1,441 acres in the heart of Antrim County’s Chain of Lakes between Alden and Bellaire. Celebrating 40 years, GRNA welcomes 30,000 visitors a year to the site and offers 60 environmental education classes year round, while protecting the fragile eco-system. For more information about the Grass River Natural Area and how to take a class, become a member, volunteer and donate, visit www.grassriver.org or contact the GRNA office at 231.533.8314. A New Years Message from Board President Zach Liggett Dear Friends of Grass River, What are your favorite memories of Grass River Natural Area? Discovering wildflowers along the boardwalk trails? Watching the eagle soar over the river? Catching a glimpse of that spring warbler caroling in the marsh? Seeing the joyful faces of children as they make the nature connection? Grass River Natural Area is all about making memories - 40 years of them in fact. 2009 marks our 40th year of environmental preservation and education. Such an anniversary inevitably evokes memories and pride in our accomplishments:
Any anniversary also evokes wishes for the future - for many more wonderful years to come. And here's where we need your support, especially in this sagging economy. GRNA, Inc. depends on the generosity of donors like you, and with your generous year-end gift, we will be able to sustain and expand our diverse educational programming, proceed with needed repairs to boardwalks and continue protecting the sanctuary of pristine wilderness that so many plants and animals call home. We hope the momories you have will bring you back again and again. We know that your donation will help to keep Grass River Natural Area a memorable place into the future. Sincerely,
Zach Liggett, President P.S. To commemorate this 40th anniversary, my family has decided to increase our annual contribution by $40. Won't you do the same? Jim Olson to Speak at Grass River Natural Area's 40th Celebration, Annual Meeting Bellair, MI - Jim Olson, noted environmental attornery and Great Lakes advocate, will be the guest presenter at the 40th anniversary celebration and annual meeting of the Grass River Natural Area. Olson will speak on "Preserving the Future Integrity of Water: Reclaiming the Public Trust." The event will be held in the Bellaire Room at Shanty Creek Resort, Tuesday, October 13th. It begins with a social hour and cash bar from 5:30 p.m. to 6:15 p.m., followed by dinner and program. The public is cordially invited to attend. "It's fitting on our 40th anniversary that such a well known environmental advocate as Jim Olson is our speaker," noted Melynda Bagley, interim GRNA executive director. "His involvement with citizens seeking to protect the environment parallels the very origins of our organization and the many volunteers, county residents and commissioners who collaborated to protect the Grass River watershed." Speaker Olson has practiced and written about environmental, water, and public trust law for over 30 years. A principal in the Traverse City-based firm of Olson, Bdzok & Howard, P.C., he earned an undergraduate degree from Michigan State University; juris doctorate from the Detroit College of Law (now Michigan State University College of law); and a master of laws (LLM) degree in natural resources and environmental law from the University of Michigan. Olson and his firm have been involved in a variety of state and federal court decisions affecting land and water. Over 30 appellate court decisions have protected land, water, public access, parklands, wetlands, wilderness, rivers, lakes, the Great Lakes and public trust - preventing or remedying sprawl and toxic pollution. Olson has pioneered numerous citizen suits under Michigan's environmental protection laws. Some of these cases have resulted in landmark decisions. The most recent was the heavily publicized 9-year water case by Michigan Citizens for Water Conservation against Nestle' to protect the state and Great Lakes' streams and tributary groundwater from harm, private control and export. He also co-founded and chairs the Flow for Water Coalition (www.flowforwater.org), formed to correct the export loophole in the Great Lakes Compact. Cost to attend the event, including dinner, is $35 per person. All proceeds will directly benefit Grass River Natural Area. RSVP by October 2, by calling 231.533.8314. Grass River Stages Successful Trail Run Bellaire, Mich - Nearly 60 runners turned out for the first annual Grass River Trail Run on Labor Day Weekend. Organized as a tribute to the Antrim County natural area's 40th anniversary, the Saturday morning race attracted 5k walkers and runners from around the region with visitors from as far away as California participating.
Race director and GRNA board member, Rachell Pomerville was delighted with the turnout for the inaugural event. "We were delighted with the level of participation for this first ever fundraising event for Grass River," said Pomerville. "Running the trails at the natural area is very different from traditional road races. It's a beautiful winding, upland trail to run through a hardwood forest and we had perfect weather. For some of the runners, it was the first time they had ever been to GRNA - and that's an extra bonus to introduce the natural area to newcomers." Pomerville, who was assisted by GRNA volunteers in staging the race, is looking forward to an even larger number of runners next year as the event grows in popularity. About GRNA
GRNA Announces One-Day Workshop for Teens: Nature Meets Technology Area teens, grades 6-12, are invited to connect nature with technology at a daylong program on Sunday, September 20 at Grass River Natural Area (GRNA). This hands-on session introduces participants to high-end digital recording equipment and key watershed science concepts. Participants will use Global Positioning Units (GPS), audio recording decks and digital cameras to document watershed elements along GRNA's trails. They can then try out editing software to produce short multi-media stories for a nature journal. After participating in this introductory session, participants can elect to register for following workshops later in the fall to produce stories for publication on the web and/or public broadcast. The introductory workshop runs from 10:00 - 3:00. All classes start and end at the Grass River Natural Area interpretive cabin located at 6500 Alden Highway, Bellaire. Lunch will be provided. Program costs are partially underwritten by a National Science Foundation project, Listening to the River, but there is a small fee of $10.00 for the program. Space is limited to the first eight registrants. Slots will be filled on a rolling basis until full. Register or get more information by calling 231-533-8314. Grass River Natural Area Names Interim Director Bellaire, Mich. -- The Grass River Natural Area, Inc. is pleased to announce tha appointment of Melynda Bagley as GRNA Interim Director, effective August 1. Melynda replaces departing executive director Mark Randolph, and she will concurrently continue her role as education director for the natural area. "The board of directors welcomes Melynda to her new role and looks forward to working with her through this transition period," said GRNA Inc. board president, Zach Ligget. "We thank Mark for more than 16 years of service to Grass River and wish him all the best in his future endeavors." Melynda moved to Antrim County in 2002 from central Ohio where she was employed as the executive director of a community foundation. She joined the Grass River staff in April 2004 as the education coordinator. "I am honored that the GRNA board has given me this opportunity; and along with the administrative staff and naturalists, I will do my utmost to keep our education programs and operations running smoothly during this transition, " she told the board. Grass River Natural Area, one of Michigan's oldest and largest nature areas, protects 1,337 acres in the heart of Antrim County's Chain of Lakes between Alden and Bellaire. Celebrating its 40th year, GRNA welcomes 30,000 visitors a year to the site and offers 60 environmental education classes year round, while protecting the fragile eco-system. For more information about the Grass River Natural Area and how to take a class, become a member, volunteer and donate, visit www.grassriver.org or contact the GRNA office at 231.533.8314. Dockside Event Raises Funds for GRNA The Dockside Spring Fling officially kicked off the summer season on May 5 and, once again, Grass River Natural Area (GRNA) was the beneficiary. A total of $1,100 was donated to the nonprofit in support of GRNA's mission of environmental education, water and land protection. Scholarships Available For Kids Classes At Grass River Natural Area Grass River Natural Area is pleased to announce the availability of scholarships for the Wednesday Nature Nuts & Explorers classes. The scholarships are for children aged 4 to 10 who wish to attend the entire five week series. Classes are held weekly from 10 a.m. to noon and begin on Wednesday, July 8 and run through August 5.
The series of new signs read “Your Wake is a Wave”, “Waves Make the River Wider…”, “…and SHALLOWER!”, “Thank you for protecting the Grass River” (in photo). This is the first of several steps on the drawing board to be taken through this collaborative effort to help protect Grass River.Summer Internship Available at Grass River Natural Area Grass River Natural Area invites graduating high school seniors and college students interested in the natural sciences to apply for the Rotary Environmental Education Internship. The Rotary Environmental Education Internship is funded by a $1,000 grant from the Bellaire Rotary Club. A goal of the program is to encourage local students to consider careers in environmental science. The intern will work with Grass River naturalists to develop and teach nature classes, lead hikes, create educational displays and orient visitors. He or she will also participate in research for an ecological inventory of the natural area. The internship runs mid-June through August. Minimum hourly commitment is 10 hours per week scheduled to accommodate both the student’s and GRNA’s needs. Applications for the Rotary Environmental Education Internship are available at the Grass River office at 205 E. Cayuga,Suite 205 or call 231-533-8314.
Grass River Natural Area president, Chris Nightingale, receives a $1,500 check from the wait staff of the Dockside - Torch Lake. The Dockside hosts GRNA's annual Spring Fling fundraiser the first Tuesday in May each year. Summer Internship Available at Grass River Natural Area Grass River Natural Area invites graduating high school seniors and college students interested in the natural sciences to apply for the Rotary Environmental Education Internship. The Rotary Environmental Education Internship is funded in part by a $500 grant from the Bellaire Rotary Club. A goal of the program is to encourage local students to consider careers in environmental science. The intern will work with Grass River naturalists to develop and teach nature classes, lead hikes, create educational displays and orient visitors. He or she will also participate in research for an ecological inventory of the natural area. The eight week internship begins June 19. Minimum hourly commitment is 20 hours per week scheduled to accommodate both the student's and GRNA's needs. Applications for the Rotary Environmental Education Internship are availabe at the Grass River office at 203 E. Cayuga, Suite 202-C, or contact Melynda Bagley, Education Director, at 231.533.8314. Alden State Bank Sponsors Environmental Events
Help Grass River Natural Area Count The Birds
Where are the birds hanging out this winter? Grass River Natural Area and the National Audubon Society want to know and you can help. GRNA naturalists will be joining the Great Backyard Bird Count February 15 through 18 and they hope families in northern Michigan will too.
Grass River Fundraiser emphasizes support of local foods and environmental issues Lulu's Bistro in Bellaire hosted a gourmet event to benefit Grass River Natural Area on May 7. The evening featured internationally renowned chef Michel Nishan, who partners with Paul Newman in a new restaurant called the Dressing Room in Connecticut, presenting his message of eating locally produced food. Chef Nishan emphasized the improved nutritional value of fresh food, the better taste, and the positive influence for the local economy that results when people choose locally produced food for their meals. Chef Nishan also took time to autograph his two cookbooks for Grass River supporters.
State awards Grass River Natural Area $2.1 million for land acquisition
Dockside Event Raises Funds for GRNA  The Dockside Spring Fling officially kicked off the summer season on May 1 and, once again, Grass River Natural Area (GRNA) was the beneficiary. A total of $1,250 was donated to the nonprofit in support of GRNA's mission of environmental education, water and land protection.
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Top place finisher in the 5k men's division was Trevor Darnell of Rapid City while the first place women's winner was Sharon Whitcher of Grayling. Complete race results are posted 
Scholarships will be awarded on a first-come-first served basis. If you know a child between the ages of 4 and 10 that would like to attend all five classes but the $25.00 cost is prohibitive, please contact the GRNA office at 231-533-8314. 
A new series of signs encouraging boaters to navigate Grass River at slow speeds were installed on October 23, 2008, by volunteers from Grass River Natural Area (GRNA), Three Lakes Association (TLA), and Friends of Clam Lake (FOCL), (left to right) Bob Bagley and Gary Knapp (TLA), Butch Bartz, Jr. (GRNA-Stewardship Committee Chair), and Jeff Dalton (GRNA), Steve Hoadley (FOCL), and Art Hoadley (TLA and FOCL).
Tom Lane, Alden State Bank President, presented the Grass River Natural Area a $5,000 check to sponsor classes and events for the 2008 season, including the GRNA/Three Lakes Association Golf Tournament on June 22. GRNA and the Three Lakes Association Jointly hold a golf tournament fundraiser to support each organization's water quatlity efforts.
Lulu's chef, Michael Peterson, reinforced Chef Nishan's message by creating an outstanding gourmet meal using local foods. Peterson used local fruits, vegetables, and meets, including
Lansing, Mich. (12.06.06) -- Antrim County's Grass River Natural Area has been awarded its largest gift ever -- $2.1 million for the purchase of additional property on the Grass River and Lake Bellaire. The state award was announced today by the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund (MNRTF) and will protect another 1.6 miles of shoreline from development. The county-owned preserve will add 177 acres, bringing the total land protected for the 37-year old nature preserve to 1,325 acres with over six miles of river shoreline. |
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