I like the old saying...

     Never argue with an idiot because they will drag you down to their level and beat you with experience.

By Barry Schatz

     As a prior-member of the Presque Isle Township Parks & Recreation Committee, many people have approached me over the last several months to ask why so many trees were cut at the Old and New Presque Isle Lighthouses.  First I'll tell you what happened in a quick statement, then I'll fill in the blanks.

     Presque Isle Township Supervisor, Patrick Pokorski invited a contractor to come to both lighthouse parks and remove trees.  He did this without approval from the Presque Isle Board of Trustees.  There were no bids from other contractors.  There was no written contract with the company that removed the trees. 

     The trees are as Township assets just the same as any structure owned by the Presque Isle Township.  Nobody knows the value of the logs and wood chips removed from township property.  The first photo shows the trees cut as viewed from the 1905 House at the New Presque Isle Lighthouse.

    The second and third photos show how the driveway was widened on the circle loop at the Old Presque Isle Lighthouse.  What was once a charming tunnel of trees one would drive under is now open to the sky.

     Here is the rest of the story.  In September of 2009, the Presque Isle Township Parks & Recreation Committee and the Presque Isle Museum Society held a joint meeting. (I attended as a Parks committee member)  As hosts of the 4th of July picnic and the Labor Day picnic, the museum society have had concerns regarding parking.  They suggested some ideas to add additional parking spaces. 

     It was agreed upon that Supervisor Patrick Pokorski and two members from the Parks & Recreation Committee were to walk the property at the New Lighthouse and determine what areas would be cut.  That meeting didn't happen as planned.   What SHOULD have happened was the three men would have reported their thoughts back to the next Park & Rec. meeting for further discussion among the entire committee.  At that time, the Parks & Recreation committee acted an advisory committee only with no decision making authority.  Once we had reached a decision about the best way to go about the parking issue, we would have made a "recommendation" to the Presque Isle Township Board of Trustees and they would make a decision on a project of this size.  There would have been discussion on cost, contractors bids, and zoning rules.  (As it turned out at later meetings, protocol would have had Parks & Rec reporting to the Township Planning Commission who would then refer it to the Board of Trustees)

     This is what DID happen.  Pokorski and Parks committee member Clayton Peters determinted what trees should be removed.  At the October meeting of the Parks & Recreation Committee, Supervisor Patrick Pokorski advised the members of the committee that the trees at been cut, "at no cost to the township."  Supervisor Pokorski appeared quite pleased with himself that he had arranged a deal where the contractor would not charge the township for the tree removal in exchange for the material including logs and brush that had been chipped to be sold. 

     It was at this October meeting that Supervisor Pokorski also advised us there had been a large amount of trees cut at the Old Lighthouse.  The committee was shocked because there had been no discussion at our prior meeting about any tree removal at the Old Lighthouse.  The driveway coming into the park had been widened as well as the circle loop up to the lighthouse.

     Supervisor Pokorski was not in town when the trees were being cut.  He put Clayton Peters in charge of the project. Clayton thought Pokorski had board approval.  Clayton told me as he was instructing the loggers on what trees to cut at the New Lighthouse, he was not aware that a second crew was working at the Old Lighthouse.   

     In addition to the tree removal at the lighthouses, several large trees were removed from private property (Common property owned by the Presque Isle Harbor Association) near the Presque Isle Cemetery.  I was not in attendance at any P.I.H.A. meetings where there may have been discussions on the cutting of trees there so I won't comment on that. 

     NO COST TO THE TOWNSHIP - As I mentioned, Supervisor Patrick Pokorski said the work was done at no cost to the township.  I can say there has been a great amount of cost to the township.  The contractor left a huge pile of stumps on the Lake Huron shore near the Old Lighthouse.  Dumping on that wetland was a D.E.Q.violation so the township had it removed at a cost to the taxpayers of $2,000.00.  Repairs in the Spring of 2010 have already exceeded $5,000.00 in taxpayer money to make the parks safe for visitors.  A special meeting was held by the Parks & Recreation committee to walk both parks and discuss repairs and restoration.  As the Parks & Recreation Committee is now a paid committee (As of January 2010) each member in attendance was paid the traditional meeting fee of $90.00.  Further repairs and restoration is needed and the total cost to the taxpayers isn't yet known. 

     FAILURE TO ADMIT FAULT - What has angered many residents is Supervisor Patrick Pokorski blamed the Parks and Recreation Committee for the tree cutting.  In minutes from Board of Trustees meetings, he refers to "The Plan" the Parks & Recreation Committee had.  At a Spring Parks & Rec. meeting,  I asked Supervisor Pokorski what he meant by "The Plan".  Supervisor Pokorski raised his voice and in an angry tone replied that "The tree cutting is done and we're not discussing it anymore.  It's a dead issue."  I begged to differ as the township hadn't finished paying for the damages. 

     The only plan the Parks & Recreation Committee has had was to have further discussions about parking and maintenance.  It was Supervisor Pokorski who brought in the logging company.  The minutes of all the meetings of the Parks & Rec, the Planing Commission, and the Presque Isle Township Board of Trustees are all public record.  Nowhere will anybody find and comments on a plan to cut down these trees.

     Township residents and visitors have asked what's being done.  The Michigan State Police have been contacted (as of June 12, 2010) and a criminal investigation has begun.  A petition to recall Presque Isle Township Supervisor Patrick Pokorski will be be filed with the County Clerk in Rogers City.

     Patrick Pokorski is currently running for the for a the 106th district of the Michigan House of Representatives. 

     Unlike other blogs on the web that pertain to this township, I offer my name as a credible witness to all I have written.  Tell me what you think folks!  Your name will give your comments credibility as well. 

     I do want to add that this blog of which I own was not meant to be used for political reasons as I have no political agenda.  Unfortunately I have heard stories that suggest a skewed reality of the tree cutting exists in the township and I needed to set the record straight.  If any prior or current members of the Parks and Recreation Committee or the Board of Trustees finds error in my words, I will be happy to amend this posting.

     I do encourage comments and won't delete them unless they are inappropriate in taste and content.  If you have questions you would like to ask in person, The Presque Isle Township Parks & Recreation Committee meets the last Monday of each month at the Township Hall at 7:00.  The Planning Commission meets the first Monday and the Board of Trustees meets the second Monday of each month.  

Hundreds of ice fishing people showed up at the South end of the lake on February 13th for a chance to win a four wheeler or other great prizes.  I didn't see many big fish caught but it didn't matter.  The heaviest fish still won but the real winner was the charitable group raising funds to build an interpretive center on the island in the duck park in Alpena.

Art Mucciante sits and waits.  Yes that four inch perch was weighed for a chance at a prize.  I mentioned above that their weren't many big fish caught.

No, fisherman weren't dropping dead from boredom.  The water is Grand Lake is so clear, you can see the bottom of the lake and the fish swimming around if you look in the hole.

Plenty of ways to travel and plenty of prizes.

If you bundle up, you won't get cold.

By Barry Schatz

     Being one that likes to travel, David Bargeron of Herron Michigan was crossing The High Plains of Texas a few years back.  It was late at night when he heard a poem on the radio titled, The Men Who Don't Fit In.  He was so moved by the poem that when he returned home, he visited the Alpena Library and searched the internet for the poem.  To his disappointment, he didn't find it.

     On a future adventure, David visited the New Presque Isle Lighthouse in N.E. Michigan.  He was enjoying the warm summer evening on the porch swing of the 1905 house when a woman sat down beside him.  They struck up a conversation and she turned out to be a school teacher from Pennsylvania.  When she said she taught computers, David told her about his attempt at finding poem he had heard in Texas.  She asked for his address and he wrote it down on a matchbook cover.  A week later, David received a copy of the poem by Robert W. Service.  His new friend had found it on the internet and sent him a copy.  The following is the poem.

Robert sightings have been minimal lately, but he was seen congratulating Linda Doyle, the winner of the Cedar Lane Wii Bowling Tournament.  She took the trophy from last year's winner, Tom Boaks.  This fine bowling pin will be displayed in her home for the next year.

The Presque Isle Township Parks & Recreation Committee raised approximately a thousand dollars at the 2009 Lighthouse Blast and Cookie Toss on June 27th.  The rain might have kept some people from coming but didn't chase away those that did.  The simply opened their umbrellas to protect themselves from falling drops of water and falling cookies.

The cookie toss is more than what it sounds like.  For $3.00 (The normal cost to climb the lighthouse) one would receive a pre-packaged pack of Grandma's Cookies. (Choice of oatmeal raisin, chocolate chip, or peanut butter) and could throw them at the ground for a chance to win a prize.  Win or lose, each cookie-tosser received a certificate that read, "On June 27th., I (fill in your own name) tossed my cookies from the top of the New Presque Isle Lighthouse. 

Hoola-Hoops on loan from True North Radio Network in Alpena (Bay 108 and The Wave) were the targets for cookie tossing.  Peter Pettalia served as  the ringmaster in the Bay 108 drop zone. 

New this year was the AAA Insurance "Chuck-A-Duck".  All they had to do to win some animal crackers and a AAA coloring book was throw a patriotic rubber duck into a pool.  It was much easier than hitting a 2-3 foot target from the top of the tallest lighthouse on the Great Lakes.

Our 4th of July Bunny tossed his cookies from the top of the lighthouse and hit the target winning a medium Blizzard from Dairy Queen of Alpena.  The picture shows at left shows how windy it was at the top of the lighthouse with his floppy ears saluting the people on the ground.

Hot dogs were grilled and served with chips by township supervisor Patrick Pikorski and his family.   Music was provided by local D.J. Barry Schatz.  Dave Bell from First Federal Of Northern Michigan and his sons popped popcorn. 

Many thanks to the members of the Parks & Rec Committee for their help.

     How would you like to toss your cookies from the tallest lighthouse on the Great Lakes and be able to prove it to your friends?   

     This Saturday, June 27th., 2009, Presque Isle Township will host the The Lighthouse Blast.  The fun begins at 6:00 P.M. at The New Lighthouse Park.  Hot dogs and chips will be available for a donation.  Bring your own adult beverages and soft drinks for those under age 21.   

     A local D.J. will provide music and for only $3.00, you can climb the lighthouse and toss a package of cookies at a target on the ground for a chance to win a prize.  All participants will receive a certificate recognizing they "tossed their cookies" from the lighthouse.

     The township will raffle off the chance to watch the 4th of July Presque Harbor Fireworks from the top of The Old P.I. Lighthouse for you and your party of no more than 12.  Raffle tickets will be sold only at the party on the 27th. and cost $5.00 each, 5 for $20.00.  Don't have 12 friends you can bring, how about a romantic evening for you and a special someone

    DIRECTIONS: From Alpena, take U.S. 23 North and turn right at the Hide-A-Way lounge.  You will be on Grand Lake road for about 5 miles until you reach a stop sign.  Turn right on "East" Grand Lake Rd (you'll see the P.I. township hall on your right) and follow it past the harbor and Portage Restaurant to the end.  You can't miss the New Presque Isle Lighthouse.  It's the tallest on the Great Lakes.  

     From Rogers City, turn East on Hwy. 638 and follow it until it dead ends at East Grand Lake road.  Turn left and follow it past the harbor to the end.

     Many area merchants have donated prizes including,

• Diane's Cash & Carry Feeds in Alpena
• AAA Agent Barry Schatz 
• Seymour's Grocery on U.S. 23
• Labell's grocery on U.S. 23
• Burton Last Resort on Long Lake Rd. 
• The Daily Limit on U.S. 23
• The Fireside Inn on Grand Lake in Presque Isle
• The Portage Restaurant at the Presque Isle Harbor
• The Portage Store at the Presque Isle Harbor
• The Rogers City Theatre
• The Presque Isle Harbor Assoc.
• The New P.I. Lighthouse gift shop.
• Downtown 76 in Alpena
• Dairy Queen of Alpena
• True North Radio Network
• The Parker House Restaurant on U.S. 23
• The Huron Lights Gift Shop on U.S. 23 and Long Lake Rd. 
• J.J.'s Awesome Acres - U.S. 23 N. in Alpena gift certificates for mini golf
• Alpena Golf Club - 1 round of golf
• Family Video in Alpena - 2 $5.00 gift certificates
• True North Radio Network - Bay 108 and The Wave

The following business(s) have made a generous cash donation to the Fireworks Fund

• Gillard, Bauer, Mazrum law office

    For more information, call Barry Schatz at the AAA Branch in Alpena 989-358-4124,  Peter Petalia at Downtown 76 in Alpena, or the Presque Isle Twp. Hall.

The Old Presque Isle Lighthouse.

The 2008 Christmas Parade in downtown Alpena Michigan was a smash.  This is the second year I've attended and it's not just cold, but cool.  The parade starts at 5:30 P.M. when it's dark and all the floats are lit up with lights.  Snow was falling slowly from the sky as the first float came into view.  Several marching bands including Alpena High School and Hillman High School played.  Below are pictures from this year's event.

Even the horses were decorated with lights.

After consuming large quantities of turkey and stuffing all weekend, one needs to get out and stretch.  That's exactly what I did with my neighbors Tom and Sandy Boaks.  We went out to a one of Presque Isle Township's best kept secrets, the Besser Bell Nature Area located where the village of Bell once stood.

This tree looks very bored. (or would a lumberjack say, board?)  It seems to be yawning but wouldn't you if all you had done for the last fifty years was stand in the same spot?

This tree probably has a better sense of humor as it appears to be laughing. 

Besser Bell Nature Area has a one mile foot trail, part of which travels along Lake Huron.  You can see by the photos above the lake looks cold but isn't sporting any ice of it's own yet.

When you are stopping to take pictures, you always end up at the back of the line.

Trick-or-treaters that stayed in Presque Isle Township on Halloween night were treated to another festive night at various homes in the area.

Kyla Schatz (front right) and a group of friends performed the Thriller dance made popular by Michael Jackson in the garage at her home.  After visitors followed a spooky trail through the landscaped yard, they ended up in the driveway.  The garage door raised like a curtain and the dancers performed.

  Barry Schatz offered a Rockin' Halloween Night in his living room converted into a cemetery at The Cabin On The Lake. 

The East Grand Lake Fire Department hosted a party with a haunted trail.  (Picture not available)

Here Linda Doyle greets a guest at Doyle Manor.  The Doyle's have participated in the Halloween Trail for several years.

Terry McConnell also spooked visitors at his log home in the woods.  (Picture not available)

Other photos from the evening are below.

Robert (standing next to his wife) is seen here passing the ketchup at Tom and Sandy Boaks' house on Saturday.  He dined on a Tommy Burger at a special dinner.  Tom cooked his famous hamburgers for his guests while Barry Schatz filmed the event.  The video footage has been cut down to a three minute video to be submitted to The Food Network.  The popular cable TV network is sponsoring a contest to discover the next great chef.  The winner will host their own cooking show.  Hopefully Tom will host, "Cooking At The Cabin" someday soon.  In the meantime, neighbors enjoy his food.

I did a little remodel job on my house for Halloween visitors.  Below are before and after pictures.