A
Word from the Editor:
Welcome to the
September edition of the Lake St. Clair Network
Newsletter. The Metro Beach Boat Show is only
a few days away! Are you ready to buy a new
boat? The fall show will consist of local boat
dealers introducing the latest 2002 models.
We want to take a moment to welcome our new
sponsors, Amazon.com and Boat Show USA to the
Network. We encourage you to support our sponsors
and visit their web sites to find out more information
about them.
During
this time of national emergency, we would also
like to offer some support to the American
Red Cross. We have included a link
on the home page, where you can donate to the
National Disaster Relief Fund. For those that
want to help, but aren't sure where to start,
this is a great way to help without leaving
your seat. All you need is a credit card and
denominations from $10 to $5000 can be processed
in minutes. All transactions are secure and
donations are tax deductible. http://www.redcross.org
The Lake St. Clair Book Store is now open! In
conjunction with Amazon we feature books related
to Lake St. Clair, the Detroit River, St. Clair
River and books related to boating. Please support
The Lake St. Clair Network and purchase a book
through the provided links.
Paul
Raska
Our Lake St. Clair Network Feature writer Paul
Raska gives us the inside scoop on Sailboat
racing on Lake St. Clair. Paul has added many
photographs we think you'll enjoy. Read his
featured article by clicking
here.
John
Maniaci
Additional features this month include Pro's
pointers by John Maniaci. John's Pointers
section will be dedicated to the proper way
to release fish back into the water to maximize
their ability to survive. Read John's
Pro's Pointers by clicking
here.
We
are always looking for content. Content provided can
result in free advertising for your company or
organization. Please E-mail me with suggestions or
proposals. If you are interested in becoming a
Bulletin Board moderator, contact webmaster@lakestclair.net
for more details.
Wishing
you calm waters
and sunny skies.... Captain
Rob ___________________________________________________________________________
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1995
- 33' Donzi
Power - Twin 502 Mercs.
Price - 94,995,000
Bob
Halverson
- More
info select here
Options:
Galley, hot water, bimini top. Must see, Depth
Sounder,
SS props.
Harrison
Township
Harrison
Township officials are upping the ante in their
bid to purchase a major parcel of undeveloped
land at a bargain price for a nature park and
hiking trail.
At
issue is 165 acres along Jefferson Avenue across
from Gino's Surf that the owner has offered for
$800,000 - far below its assessed value.
Harrison Township has applied for a state
Department of Natural Resources grant to help
buy the land.
"It's a beautiful piece of property,"
said Marge Gatliff, the parks director in
Harrison Township.
"We'd like to keep it natural and give
people a place to go to hike or just enjoy the
tranquility. I think it's well worth the
money."
The property owner - who wants to remain
anonymous - will sell the land to Harrison
Township providing it remains pristine, said
township officials.
Harrison Township has applied for a $592,000
grant from the Natural Resources Trust Fund. The
grant would require a 25 percent match from the
township.
The board of trustees has increased its
contribution for the DNR grant by $8,000, making
the community's match $208,000, or 26 percent of
the grant amount.
Township officials believe they have a better
chance of securing the grant by committing 26
percent of the cost.
"It would be a crying shame to lose this
over $8,000," said Trustee Michelle
Ballard.
Linda Hegstrom, the DNR's grant coordinator,
said the results of the $30 million grant
program will be announced around Oct. 3.
If approved, the land - referred to as the
Parkway Parcel Project - would become a
recreational jewel for the lakeside community.
It is home to wildlife, plants, trees and fish,
as well as a champion Bur Oak tree estimated to
be 310 years old - the state's largest Bur Oak
tree.
The move by Harrison Township to snatch
undeveloped land comes at a time when the
14-square-mile community is booming with
residential construction that is eating away at
its woodsy setting.
Population in Harrison Township has increased
modestly in the past decade and stands at 25,000
today. That number will increase to about 27,000
by 2010, according to projections.
According to the township's master recreation
plan, the property is Harrison Township's top
priority to improve parks over the next decade.
Harrison Township operates three other parks and
a full recreation program on a $200,000 budget.
The master plan calls for further enhancements
to existing parks, such as adding soccer goals
and basketball courts, as well as an outdoor ice
skating rink
The
Steamer Columbia making one of her runs
from Detroit to Boblo Island in years
gone by. Her sister ship, the S.S. Ste.
Claire will be leaving Detroit for the
Cleveland Harbor on Lake Erie soon.
Many
of us recall the those wonderful old
Boblo boats with the polished brass
pieces of the triple expansion steam
engines whirling and pumping, and you
could watch them turn the propeller
shaft from a special observation deck.
Very nostalgic, with the shoreline
sights along the Detroit River, they
provided us with precious memories,
where the ride to Boblo was as much fun
as the day at the park. The moonlight
cruises were another special treat.
The Steamer Columbia Foundation was
formed to save at least one of these
historic boats. To restore the oldest
steamship Columbia, built in 1902 by the
Detroit Ship Building Co., the S.S. Ste.
Claire was sold to an interest on Lake
Erie, but will enhance the effort in
saving the Columbia here in Detroit. The
Ste. Claire will soon be towed to
Cleveland Harbor for an undisclosed
refitting.
Their maritime memory cruise and a last
chance to see both of these boats
side-by-side is this Saturday. A special
excursion will depart from the Dossin
Great Lakes Museum on Belle Isle and
will proceed to the mooring of both
boats.
The Diamond Jack Harbor Cruise boat will
leave the dock from the museum at 12:30
p.m. sharp. The 3-hour riverfront tour
will allow a limited number of
passengers the opportunity of saying
farewell to a piece of Detroit waterway
history.
Remember Joe Vitale's orchestra playing
anchors aweigh? The steam whistle
sounding a deep blast that made children
of all ages cover their ears but smiled
a smile that told you they loved it?
Memories will flood back when you see
these ships from afar again, but will
also make you sad when you see their
condition close-up. The Ste. Claire will
get help elsewhere, but the Columbia
needs a lot of help here.
Cruise tickets are available for $25
each and can ordered from the Dossin
Museum today and tomorrow from 10 a.m.
to 5 p.m. Call (313) 852-4051 to order.
There is no guarantee that tickets will
be available at the dock.
The excursion will be narrated by
William Warden, president of the Steamer
Columbia Foundation. "The objective
of preserving the Columbia required the
sale of the Ste. Claire, and it is hoped
that forward motion will now be possible
in the restoration of the oldest Boblo
boat," Worden said.
This farewell cruise will hopefully hold
a brighter future for our remaining
boat.
If you are one of the thousands who had
a favorite Boblo boat, now is the time
for a last look at the Ste. Claire and
to help the Columbia survive here in
Detroit.
Their Web site is dedicated to Linwood
(Red) Beattie, who served aboard the
Columbia as its captain from 1946 to
1986. Most of the men and women who
served aboard both of these ships are
listed also with their position and
years served.
Captain, purser, wheelsman to lookouts
and deckhands give the reader an insight
into the ships operation with a personal
touch.
The foundation still needs membership
and you can help by contacting Worden at
(313) 224-3487 or checking the Web site
at www.steamercolumbia.org.
A few last-minute tickets are still
available for another cruise to the St.
Clair Flats aboard the Clinton River
Cruises Friendship boat on Friday, put
on by the Association for Great Lakes
Maritime History.
The four-hour sunset cruise, dinner
included, will leave the dock at 6 p.m.
Tickets are $48 and you must call John
Polacsek at the Dossin Museum (313)
852-4051 by today for reservations and
planning.
Michael M. Dixon, author of, "Life
at the Flats" and his latest
effort, "When Detroit Rode the
Waves," is scheduled to be on board
and can provide excellent narration.
This is another fascinating outing for
those who like to learn a little local
history while enjoying a pleasant cruise
around Lake St. Clair's Flats area and
the Clinton River.
The boat is either open air or can be
enclosed in case of inclement weather.
1
tablespoon vegetable oil
2 cups chopped yellow onions
1 cup chopped celery
1/2 cup diced carrot
Salt
Cayenne pepper
4 bay leaves
1 teaspoon chopped garlic
4 cups clam juice
3 cups tomatoes
1 1/2 pounds new potatoes, quartered
2 cups fresh sweet corn kernels
1/2 cup finely chopped fresh parsley
4 pounds raw assorted cleaned
shellfish, (medium shrimp, shucked
oysters, crabmeat, diced lobster meat,
whole mussels and clams, etc)
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh
parsley leaves
Clinton River Water Council
GET INVOLVED
Preparation preparation instructions
In a large saucepan, over medium heat, add the
oil. When the oil is hot, stir in the onions,
celery, and carrots. Season the vegetables with
salt, cayenne, and bay leaves. Sauté for 6
minutes, or until the vegetables are soft and
tender. Stir in the clam juice and tomatoes and
bring up to a boil. Add the potatoes and corn.
Simmer for 15 minutes, or until the potatoes are
fork tender. Season the seafood with salt and
cayenne. Add the seafood and simmer the soup for
5 minutes. Stir in the parsley and ladle the
soup into serving bowls.
Ladders:
Inspect ladders leading to the bridge to see if there
are loose or
cracked steps or
treads that need repairing or replacing. Also examine
all
boarding ladders
and swim ladders to make sure they are sound. Don't
forget
to check the
condition of the mounting brackets that hold them in
place when
in use.
Launching:
If possible, arrange to be present when your boat is
launched so
you can make
certain that the travel lift slings are properly
positioned to
avoid marring the
hull or damaging underwater parts. In general, workmen
will tend to be
more careful if they know you are watching.
Lifelines:
Wash lifelines with a mild detergent and check tension
to make
certain there is a
slight amount of slack in the lines. They should not
be
pulled tight and
should not be so loose that they droop noticeably.
Adjustments are
made with the turnbuckles at each end. It is a good
idea to
also apply a light
coat of wax or polish to each lifeline to help it shed
dirt. Finish by
inspecting all turnbuckles and other hardware for
signs of
corroble or
possible metal fatigue.
Life
Preservers: Spread all flotation devices out in
the sun for several
hours. Replace
those that are mildewed, torn, or have otherwise
deteriorated.
Lights:
Test all navigation lights to see if bulbs need
replacing or if
there are problems
with the switches or the wiring. Before installing a
new
bulb, spray the
base of the bulb and the inside of the socket with a
moisture-displacing
spray such as T-9 or WD-40. Make sure your spare parts
inventory includes
bulbs for all exterior lights, and for all interior
fixtures.
Lines:
Lay out all docking and mooring lines and examine the
full length of
each, looking for
signs of chafing or severe wear. If chafe is only
evident
near one end, you
may be able to cut that end off and still use the rest
as
a shorter line.
See: docklines, anchorlines.
Lockers:
Use a vacuum and damp cloth to clean out the inside of
each. Leave
doors open for a
day or so, then hang a bag of dehumidifier inside each
locker.
Locks:
Test each door lock, padlock and combination lock to
make sure it
works easily.
Spray with graphite, or with graphite-containing lock
lube.
Lower
Unit: Inspect outboard motor and stern drive
lower units for damage,
namely cracks or
broken anti-ventilation plates. Paint bare metal to
protect
the aluminum
housing from corrosion. First coat the surface with
primer,
then follow with a
finish coat
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