Wednesday, September 28, 2011

What do you think about the Keewatin's future?

Driving down Blue Star Highway this morning, I passed the Keewatin just like I do almost every morning. I've come to take it for granted and really don't think twice when I pass it by.

My kids reminded me, though, when they asked me if I'd heard what was happening with  the ship (My kids obviously don't read my stories!).

I told them I knew that the owner, R.J. Peterson, is donating the ship to a group of people in Canada who plan to tow it up to Port McNicholl, Ontario —its real home. The ship docked there when it sailed for the Canadian Pacific Railway from 1907 to 1965. How did that make my kids feel?

Disappointed. Unhappy.

It's understandable. They both toured the ship when they were in elementary school. We've stood next to it during the Fourth of July fireworks, gazed at it from atop Mount Baldhead and admired it covered in snow and ice. In sixth grade, my oldest daughter joined a group of friends and made a model of the ship, complete with port holes and smoke coming out of the stack, for a school project. That 3-foot long model still sits in the living room, a little worse for wear, a few more tatters in the paper and dust on the deck. Kind of like the real thing.

I'll have to spend a few days thinking about how that space will look with the Keewatin gone. It's been in that spot since I moved down here more than 20 years ago. I'll imagine the new docks and modern ships that might be docking there.

What do you think? Will you miss the Kee? Will the community be better off without it? Will the ship be better off in its new home?

Let me know. Shoot me an e-mail at jim.hayden@hollandsentinel.com.

More information

Eric Conroy aboard the Keewatin.
Don't forget that the Keewatin is the subject of a free talk at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 6, at the Saugatuck Center for the Arts, 400 Culver St. Eric Conroy, author of "A Steak in the Drawer," a book of his experiences on the vessel, will talk about his time on the ship.

Conroy is also the executive director of the foundation that's going to oversee the move and preservation of the ship.



For more information, visit www.sc4a.org.

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Sailng into the sunset

The 350-foot long Great Lakes steamship dominates the harbor in Saugatuck-Douglas. Once you enter Kalamazoo Lake, you can't help but see the vessel that's longer than a football field. Even from atop Mount Baldhead, the green-and-white-hull of Keewatin with the yellow smokestack stands out against the blue water.

The Keewatin
I bet it's one of the most photographed attractions in town.

Look a little closer, though, and the 104-year-old ship with wooden decks and a grand dining room is showing its age. The carpet is a little thin. The 10 metal lifeboats — already removed for restoration in Canada — were rusted through with gaping holes.

On the move

Owner R.J. Peterson and his son, Matt, sat in the aft section of the vessel Monday morning for a press conference announcing the next stage of the ship's life. The room was once open and it was used for dancing — an out-of-tune piano sits in the corner — but it's now enclosed and showing its age.  A heavy rain had just fallen and several buckets dotted the room, keeping water from pooling on the wooden floor. The upper deck has leaks.

A telling scene about the realities of maintaining a piece of history that once carried almost 300 passengers and 86 officers and crew.

The elder Peterson purchased the ship from the Canadian Pacific Railway after the vessel, built in 1907 in Scotland, was retired in 1965. They had the ship brought to the area in 1967.

Peterson and his wife, Diane, have a passion for preserving maritime history.

“It’s always been my idea to preserve things, but I ain’t getting any younger," said Peterson, 85, who owns Tower Marine, the area's largest marina.

Matt openly admits he doesn't have the same spark his parents do.

"I don't have that passion," he said.

The ship gets about 10,000 visitors a year. A lot, but not enough to cover renovation costs.

So finding a new home for the Keewatin seemed the right thing to do, they said.

"It's been in the works and always was an option for R.J." said Eric Conroy, executive director of the new  R.J. and Diane Peterson Great Lakes and S.S. Keewatin Foundation.

Peterson is donating the ship to the foundation that will then take the Keewatin to Port McNicoll in Ontario. The ship made port there when it was in operation. The Keewatin never came to Saugatuck-Douglas when it was part of the Canadian Pacific Railway.

Dredge

The investors plan to dredge Kalamazoo Lake to get the ship out. Total cost of the move, including the dredging, is about $1 million.

The dredging will be no easy task. The ship can be lightened to draw about 12 feet (how much of the hull is below the waterline), but the lake is only 2 feet deep in spots. The lake is part of an EPA Superfund site, contaminated by chemicals from upstream paper companies, so the spoils (material pulled off the bottom) can't just be put anywhere.

The Petersons are proposing pumping the spoils through a 16-inch pipe to a Saugatuck Township park. The township board has not yet discussed this at a public meeting and the Petersons expect there to be some resistance to this idea from some residents.

All this will require permits. Peterson estimates organizers will need to deal with eight to 10 agencies, including the department of natural resources, Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Coast Guard to dredge the harbor.

Peterson said the ship can be moved out in the spring.

A representative of one of the agencies that would be involved with the dredging isn't so sanguine. He estimated it could be at least 2 years.

Friday, September 23, 2011

Make Fennville part of your weekend plans

This is going to be a great weekend to get out — and not just to ArtPrize.

Stop in Fennville tomorrow for a couple of cool events:

• Fennville is celebrating the area's agricultural history from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. The farmers market at Maple and Main streets starts it all off. At 10 a.m., more than 2 dozen tractors will chug down Main Street for a parade before the new streetscape is dedicated.

A sturgeon at the hatchery.
If you haven't been to Fennville in a while, stop down. You might not recognize the downtown with the new sidewalks, lighting, benches, bike racks and the redone parking area.

• After picking up those vegetables at the farmers market, head north a few miles to New Richmond Bridge Park off Old Allegan Road. Several groups will be releasing sturgeon into the Kalamazoo River at noon, though festivities kick off at 10 a.m.

The hatchery is in a trailer at the park. The eggs were gathered from the Allegan Dam area of the river. Kalamazoo River water is pumped through a tube into the tanks so the fish will retain their unique genetic traits and return to the river to spawn.

I've had the privilege to watch this project grow, from a trip down to the Allegan Dam to get a lesson in gathering sturgeon eggs to watching the fish grow in the hatchery. I can't wait to see more than 80 prehistoric fish let into the wild.

From the celebration last year.
Bridge fun

Then, at 1 p.m., one of the coolest things about this park will happen: The 1879 swing bridge at the park will be turned. You've got to get on the center span and swing it out over the river!

I remember when it was OK to drive over that one-lane bridge. I had to line up the tires on the wooden slats and slowly rattle up the span and hope that nothing was coming the other way on that one-lane bridge. Several times I had to back down to let another car get over.

A storm did some nasty damage to the bridge, forcing it to close. Allegan County rehabilitated it into a pedestrian crossing and expanded the park around it with boardwalks, paths, fishing stations and interpretive signs.

If all goes well, a train will chug across the rail bridge near the pedestrian crossing!

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Good as gold

The end of summer means the city of Saugatuck stops charging people to park at Oval Beach. That means I can spend more time at that fantastic beach -- I do go in the summer, especially with the kids for an afternoon of swimming and sunshine. But after Labor Day, I visit the beach several times a week to just watch the waves or walk the dunes to escape the stress of work.

The passing of Labor Day also means that the people who were re-selling Oval Beach stickers are out of work.

An Oval Beach pass on my car on July 13.
Back in July, City Manager Kirk Harrier said that people leaving the beach were selling their day passes to incoming tourists. The passes are stuck on the windshield when a motorist enters the park. That pass is good all day, so if you leave the park to get lunch in Douglas or Saugatuck, you can get back in to the beach at no extra charge.

The stickers are marked "non transferable" and "non refundable," but that didn't stop many folks from selling them to unsuspecting visitors. The ticket booth operator has no way of knowing if the sticker is unique to a vehicle.

"It's happening more frequently," Harrier told the council in July.

"It's probably been going on for a long time," added Councilman Bill Hess.

And you know how the city found out about the switching?

Someone tried to sell one back to an off-duty beach patrol member!

Saturday, September 17, 2011

Keeping secrets

After more than 20 years in professional journalism, I've learned to keep secrets. Details from sexual assault cases, abuse testimony, off-the-record tips and background will go to the grave with me. One of the toughest secrets to keep, though, was passed to me this morning by Dave Kempkers, owner of Hamilton Marathon, 3416 Lincoln Road (M-40) — I knew when he was going to drop gas prices from $3.69 to $2.99.

Man, what a secret! I could have told all my family and friends about this, but I told Dave I wouldn't. And just as important as that promise to a source is the basic journalistic rule of not using a situation to benefit yourself (or family and friends).

I was not going to use special knowledge to save myself cash. I did not fuel up. I sat quietly away from the pumps so I wouldn't tip off any passers-by. When the cashiers flipped that roadside sign to $2.99, I hopped out of the Kia and started snapping photos of those lucky enough to catch the deal.

Here are some pictures of the crowd: http://www.hollandsentinel.com/photo/x1804872661/Low-gas-prices-a-home-run-with-drivers

All the drivers were polite and nice to each other, even when they came bumper-to-bumper. After 30 minutes, the cashiers flipped the signs back to $3.69 to let folks know the sale was over. All the drivers lined up at the pumps still got the discounted gas.


Anyway, I'm not sharing this to pat myself on the back. I'm just letting you know we journalists are really honest people and work hard daily to adhere to some pretty tight ethical rules. There's a fine line that sometimes is shrouded in haze and every day can offer a new challenge to honesty and objectivity. In fact, someone who offered to buy me a drink at an assignment the other day looked a bit offended when I didn't accept. I couldn't accept. I can't take favors from sources.

Friday, September 16, 2011

Don't be chicken: Go to the fair

Yes, that's a giant chicken at the entrance to the Allegan County Fair. The chicken has been there for years and is one heck of a landmark. I remember laughing the first time I heard the announcer call over the public address: "Meet your party under the giant chicken. ..."

The fair wraps up its 159th year on Saturday.

Events include:

• 8:30 a.m.: Youth Western Horse Show (at the Flats arena)

• Noon: Midway rides open

• 4 p.m.: All Around Showmanship Contest (at the Weldon Rumery Arena)

• 6 p.m.: Allegan County Fair Idol Winners on the grandstand main stage

• 6:30 p.m.: State Championship  Demolition Derby


Admission is $5 for adults; $2 for children first through 12th grade. Parking is $5.

No exit

On Tuesday, I spent the morning at the fair talking with 4-H students and photographing their animals, then headed down to the Flats to watch some Cart Class events. The morning wrapped with some pictures at the petting zoo. A great day, but I was tired after more than 3 hours of hoofing it around the fairgrounds.

I pulled out of the parking lot and took the well-worn dirt road along the Kalamazoo River, passed the kids having sandwiches outside a their camper and headed to the gates on the hill. But the gates were locked!

I turned the Kia around and asked for the best way out: Down the hill, the same way I just came, and ask the attendants there, I was told. So I rattled back down the trail, along the Kalamazoo River and passed the kids having sandwiches outside their camper. They waved at me and I waved back. I ended up back where I started.

How do I get out? The attendant pointed back up the hill. No, I insisted: just came that way and the gates were locked.

She paused a moment then told me to go back across the field and take the dirt road to the left. That will take me to an attendant who will let me out.

I turned the Kia around, bounced across the field and turned left through a pile of soft sand that briefly stranded the car. A little gas, a spinning wheel, a tailwind and I was off to the attendant.

That attendant shot up out of her chair and frantically waved her red baton. You can't get out this way!!

But, but, but, I was told this was the way. I'm tired and hungry ... and I can see the booth and the giant chicken right there! Please, please, please let me out.

The attendant didn't budge and the baton twirled, pointing back to where I started.

That first attendant saw me coming again and waved me down the line -- she had had enough of me and sent me to another attendant. This time I stopped the car and got out. This attendant told me to go up the hill to the main gates. No, I said, the gates were locked.

Then take the dirt road to the left -- Been there, done that. No way.

We talked for a little while as we thought about our next moves. I showed him pictures of my wife and children, telling him I'd like to see them again.

A few minutes passed and nothing new came to mind, so I said thanks and that my oldest daughter was going to graduate in three years and I wanted to be there.

Off I went, up the dirt road along the Kalamazoo River, passing the kids having sandwiches outside a their camper. This time they pointed and laughed. I kept a firm grip on the wheel.

I stopped at a crossroads to let some horses and riders pass and decided to follow the road less traveled, weaving through the crowd to a row of barns. I shot through an alley and saw the light -- another attendant with an orange vest.

Sweet freedom!

I eased up to him and calmly whispered, "Help me!"

He smiled and waved me through the exit.

As I pulled away, I looked in my rear-view mirror and saw the giant chicken looking back at me. I swear he was grinning.

More ArtPrize

Emily Zigterman and Ana Capotosto talk about their art work in the Saugatuck High School art wing on  May 16.
When you're looking at the exhibits at ArtPrize starting next week, don't forget to check out the seven sculpture stacks put together by students from the Saugatuck High School Art Appreciation and Art II 3-D classes.

The ceramic pieces represent images from paintings and other works by famous artists. Look closely and you'll see some Seurat, Van Gogh, Picasso, O'Keeffe, Dali and, since this is Grand Rapids, Calder.

The ArtPrize entries are on the north side of Front Street west of the Blue Bridge east of the U.S. 131 overpass.

Thursday, September 15, 2011

Putting the Zing in ArtPrize

Get a bunch of artists and other creative people together and you're bound to have a good time.

"Ox-Bow" by Bill Olendorf.
With the piano playing, supporters of "Re-View: Saugatuck Douglas," the 2011 ArtPrize entry, rallied on Wednesday, Sept. 14, at Zing, 310 Blue Star Highway in Douglas, to get the word out about some upcoming events.

Tuesday, Sept. 20, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.: Cocktail reception at The B.O.B. in Crush at 20 Monroe Ave. NW in Grand Rapids. From 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. is a reception for the 24 artists who each painted a panel of the 150-square-foot "quilt" of the Bill Olendorf work called "Ox-Bow."

Wednesday, Sept. 21: ArtPrize opens.

Sunday, Sept. 25, from 4 to 8 p.m.: A reception at Rubinkam Studio, 20 E. Center St. in Douglas, will show off the original painting that inspired the "Re-View" ArtPrize entry. Rare, never-before-exhibited Olendorfs will be displayed through November.  Steve Rubinkam was a friend to Olendorf.

Kristin Armstrong of the SCA.
“With this exhibit we are honoring the memory of this legendary artist who had a major influence on my own painting career and who has strong ties to Michigan,” said Rubinkam.

“Bill Olendorf’s colorful impressionist art is in the private collections of  five American presidents and other world leaders.”

 • Zing is ready to take diners north to Grand Rapids to see ArtPrize. Make a reservation at Zing for dinner for parties up to 11 people on Sept. 22-23, Sept. 26-27, Sept. 29-30, Oct. 3-4 and Oct. 6-7. Dine at 5:30 then board the Zing ArtPrize Express van to GR where you can scope out all the ArtPrize entries and return to Douglas by 10:30 p.m. A $15 per person fee will be added to the dinner check for the ride.

Ryan Kilpatrick of Douglas.
One more thing: When you stop in at Zing, check out the "window lights" along the booths. The back-lit images are of different pieces of the "Re-View" entry.

For more on the event, visit http://www.hollandsentinel.com/newsnow/x1038228781/Saugatuck-Douglas-community-rallies-behind-ArtPrize-entry