Celebrate the UP! 2017 is underway in Marquette through March 25

Wetland of the Chocolay Bayou Preserve Project (Photo © and courtesy Christopher Burnett of the Upper Peninsula Land Conservancy)

MARQUETTE -- The Upper Peninsula Environmental Coalition (UPEC) presents Celebrate the UP! 2017 in Marquette this week with evening events and -- on Saturday, March 25 -- an all-day series of presentations, followed by a panel discussion and public reception. All events are free and open to the public.

This year's keynote speaker, writer and naturalist John Bates, will talk about "A Spirit of Place and Learning to Be at Home" at 9 a.m. on Saturday, March 25, in the Federation of Women's Clubhouse. Saturday's events will take place in the Federation of Women's Clubhouse (FWC), the Landmark Inn (LI) and the Peter White Public Library (PWPL). Click here for the schedule of presentations on Saturday.

Other highlights for Saturday include the following:

Afternoon Children’s Program, 1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. (FWC)

Book Discussion: Half-Earth by E.O. Wilson, 11:30 a.m. Join Jon Saari, Dave Allen and Mary Martin in discussion. (PWPL)

Panel Discussion at 4 p.m.: "Making Conservation Work in Communities: Recent Success Stories" (FWC) featuring Pointe Abbaye (Keweenaw Land Trust), Pilgrim River Watershed project (Copper Country Chapter Trout Unlimiited), Chocolay Bayou Preserve (Upper Peninsula Land Conservancy), and the Yellow Dog Community Forest (Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve). A reception will follow the Panel Discussion (FWC). All are welcome for refreshments and hors d’oeuvres.

Evening Events:

Wednesday, March 22:

Putting Wetlands into Words, 6 p.m.- 8 p.m. at FWC: Invitational poetry reading inspired by paintings and photographs of the Wildcat Canyon Creek and Mulligan Creek wetlands. Poets include Esther Ayers, Milton Bates, Rochelle Dale, Lynn Domina, Amber Edmondson, Kathleen Heideman, Janeen Pergrin Rastall, Christine Saari and Russell Thorburn.

Friday, March 24:

UPEC Annual Membership Meeting, 5 p.m.: This public meeting will be held in the Wave Room of the Marquette Arts and Culture Center. (PWPL - lower level)

Sing the Wild UP! Songwriting Competition, 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. Winners of the competition will perform their compositions live at the Ore Dock Brewing Company.

For more information and maps for locations visit http://upenvironment.org/celebrate-upper-michigan/.

 Click here for the info flyer.

Michigan LCV: Natural Resources Trust Fund to hold U.P. Town Halls

From: Michigan League of Conservation Voters
Posted Aug. 19, 2013

This week, Town Halls for Michigan's Natural Resources Trust Fund (NRTF) cross the Mackinac Bridge and begin their Upper Peninsula tour. Show up to support quality state parks and public land!

Join Michigan LCV members at these meetings to show your support for an NRTF that stays true to its promise of protecting Michigan's state parks and natural resources for future generations. Here is this week's meeting information, and specific examples of how the NRTF benefits Upper Peninsula communities:

State Representative Ed McBroom (R-Vulcan) will host three meetings in his district on Tuesday and Wednesday, Aug. 20, 21:

• Iron Mountain: Tuesday, Aug. 20, at 7 p.m. (Central Time). Fornetti Hall at Bay College West, Room 104, 2801 North US 2. Recent NRTF projects in Dickinson County: Iron Mountain City Park improvements, Millie Mine Bat Viewing Trail development.


• Menominee, Wednesday, Aug. 21, from 8 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. (Central Time). Schloegel’s Restaurant, 2720 10th St. Recent NRTF projects in Menominee: Quiver Falls and Piers Gorge land acquisition.


• Escanaba, Wednesday, Aug. 21, at 2:30 p.m. Bay de Noc Community College, Joseph Heirmann Building, 2001 N. Lincoln Road. Recent NRTF projects in Delta County: Van Cleve Park Harbor Point revitalization, Sac Bay land acquisition.

State Representative John Kivela (D - Marquette) will host a meeting in his district on Wednesday, Aug. 21, from 7 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Marquette City Commission Hall. Recent NRTF projects in Marquette County: Thomas Rock Scenic Overlook development, Perkins Park improvements, Iron Ore Trail development.

Click here for Michigan LCV's full article with links to info on these projects and more about the NRTF.