Historic Pathwalkers

HP News Dec. 2011

2011-12-06T13:53:00.001-08:00

HISTORIC PATHWALKERS FALL/WINTER NEWSLETTER Dec 2011

Thanksgiving has come andgone and the new year will be here before we know it. In the meantime there will be lots of fun and busyness to enjoy.

Ourwalk boxes have been pulled for another year with the exception of Lansing,Coldwater and Howell which are year round walks. Please be sure to send your stamps to AVA, 1001 Pat Booker Rd.,Suite 101, Universal City TX 78148 ASAPand money should be sent to Alma Lucas, 5261 Southbrook Ct. #51, HudsonvilleMI.

Thefinal statistics report must be submitted to the AVA by the end of the year soif those numbers could be sent to me I would appreciate it. Even if you had no walkers the last quarter,be sure to let me know.

Participationwas down this year but the Tator Tours bus group led by Mary Ptacek addedconsiderable numbers to several of our walks so overall we did rather well.

Ourgroup walks too were sparsely attended but enjoyed by those who did come. We had a few new faces as well so that wasencouraging.

Thanksto all who make our club what it is. Weappreciate all your efforts!

Pres: JeanWoltjer jean.woltjer@att.net 616-392-2844

VP: Pat Korloch pk55@juno.com 517-882-1495

Sec: John Pierce jwpierce53@gmail.com 616-527-2413

Treas: Alma Lucas ajlucas@charter.net 616-669-2359

HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL

2011-10-18T08:09:00.000-07:00

Join the Historic Pathwalkers this Saturday, October 22, for our last group walk of the season. The starting point is Biggby Coffee, 4480 Hagadorn, Okemos MI at 10:00 a.m. All are welcome!

Walk Grand Rapids during Artprize 2011

2011-09-19T05:26:00.000-07:00

The Historic Pathwalkers encourage all to come and do the seasonal walk in Grand Rapids during the next few weeks. The walk starts at the Big Boy Restaurant on Pearl St. and most of the route is in the "high venue" area for Artprize 2011.
This is a great opportunity to check out the hundreds of Artprize exhibits while enjoying the walk. Artprize runs from Sept 21 through Oct 9.

http://www.artprize.org/

2011-08-23T10:39:00.001-07:00

Third Maple City Walk will showcase Pumpkinvine fall colors

The third Maple City Walk will be held Saturday, October 15, 2011. Again this year, the route will feature the Pumpkinvine Nature Trail as the core of its 13.1 mile course, which is equivalent to a half-marathon.

Registration begins at 7:15 at the powerhouse on the Millrace Trail by the Farmers Market, 212 W. Washington Street, Goshen, IN and the walk starts at 8 am. Parking is available in the city lots on 3rd Street. Cost is $15 for preregistration and $20 the day of the walk. Register on-line after August 15 at www.cityonthego.org.

Fall is a magical time on the Pumpkinvine,” said Julia Gautsche, chair of the planning committee. “Walkers have a great time walking and enjoy wonderful fall colors at the same time.”

Every participant who completes the walk will receive a Maple City Walk medal and be entered into a drawing for a free pair of walking shoes.

For more information and a map of the course:
• Visit the Maple City Walk web site: www.cityonthego.org
• E-mail jgautsche@hotmail.com
• Call Julia Gautsche: 574-596-1632

2011-08-16T06:34:00.000-07:00

Historic Pathwalkers Summer Newsletter August 2011

This newsletter is well overdue but the summer heat and humidity took their toll, hence the delay. After a slow start to summer it turned into a warm one. It seems to have curtailed walkers in our state since the cards are coming in rather slowly for most of our year rounds and seasonals.
Thanks to everyone for reporting their 2nd quarter numbers in a timely manner. We made the deadline and did not incur any late fees.

Club News
Our annual business meeting was held on June 25 after a group walk in Grand Rapids. Attendance was low but we all had a good time and enjoyed the walk. The usual business was conducted. Our treasurer reported that we are solvent. It was decided to keep our current walks going into 2012. This information has to be into the AVA by July/August of the current year so it is difficult to determine which walks we want to keep based on participation. We’ll look at end of year numbers for 2011 to help us make that decision again for the following year. If any of you have questions or concerns regarding the hosting and/or maintenance of our walk boxes please contact the board. It was decided to keep the same slate of officers for another year. We are also asking anyone for ideas as to where we might hold a scheduled event. Dues remain at $5.00 per year.
Thanks to Pat Korloch for again resanctioning our walks and gathering the required info for our yearly club brochure which will be printed early next year.
Group Walks
Lansing Sept 24 start at 10:00 a.m. from the MI Historical Museum, 702 W. Kalamazoo St. , Lansing MI
East Lansing Oct 22 start at 10:00 a.m. from Biggby Coffee, 4480 Hagadorn Rd. Okemos MI
Start Point Change
The start point for our South Haven walk has moved to a new location after some difficulties with the previous one. The box is now at Kilwin’s Ice Cream, 415 Phoenix Rd. After posting this on walklist someone emailed me and said “you can’t go wrong with an ice cream shop as a starting point”. Thanks to Sandra Tyrrell for arranging this on very short notice.

Bus Tour
In early September, Tator Tours is bringing a busload of walkers to Michigan. They will be stopping at three of our walks; Ludington State Park on Sept 6 at 1:30 p.m., Grand Rapids on Sept 7 at 8:15 a.m. and South Haven the same day at 1:00 p.m. They welcome club members to walk with them so if you’re interested let me know and I will try to confirm the times.
Convention News
The AVA Convention was held again in June in Des Moines Iowa. One of the decisions made there is a major change to the event stamp. To help boost participation, one can now get an event stamp and a distance stamp each day an event is walked. Keep this in mind as you decide which walks to do.
Condolences
Our sincere sympathy goes out to Sandra Tyrrell, our South Haven contact, in the sudden death of her husband Cole in May.

Pres: Jean Woltjer jean.woltjer@att.net 616-392-2844
VP: Pat Korloch pk55@juno.com 517-882-1495
Sec: John Pierce jwpierce53@gmail.com 616-527-2413
Treas: Alma Lucas ajlucas@charter.net 616-669-2359

2011-06-15T09:29:00.001-07:00

The walk box in South Haven MI has been relocated to Kilwin's at 415 Phoenix Rd.
This is a cute ice cream shop right downtown and a perfect spot for the box. The manager was happy to take it and we sure appreciate that. Be sure to check it out soon.

2011-06-06T16:34:00.001-07:00

Join us on Saturday, June 11 for a group walk in Zeeland MI. We'll be starting at 9:30 a.m. from Zeeland Hospital, 8333 Felch St. This is a great walk so let's hope for nice walking weather... All are welcome to join us!

2011-06-04T03:27:00.000-07:00

The walkbox at the Café Julia in South Haven has been pulled per request of the owner. We hope to have a new start point soon and will keep you posted on our progress.

In the meantime you may want to walk in St Joseph. They are featuring sidewalk sculptures of 43 artfully painted farm animals in the downtown area. The exhibit runs until October 1, 2011 and is called Barnyard at the Beach. Check it out!

2011-05-21T16:17:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Linda Theil for hosting the group walk in Howell today. The weather was perfect and the revised trail took us through some neighborhoods that we hadn't seen before. The abundance of colorful spring flowers and trees made it even more enjoyable.
Our next walk is scheduled for June 25 in Grand Rapids. We'll start at 9:30 a.m. from the Big Boy Restaurant on Pearl St. and have our annual business meeting afterwards. All are welcome to join us!

Walk Howell History Days Celebration, May 21, 2011

2011-05-10T04:20:00.000-07:00

The Historic Pathwalkers will host a 10K/5K AVA sanctioned group walk departing at 10 a.m. on Saturday May 21, 2011 from the Uptown Coffeehouse startpoint at 102 E. Grand River Avenue in Howell, Michigan. May 21 is the Howell History Days Celebration and State Street will be closed to traffic and parking that day. There are several municipal parking lots on Sibley and Clinton streets, immediately north and south of Grand River Avenue in Howell. DDA Director Nathan Voght says on the Downtown Howell weblog:

Join the Howell Area Historical Society for the 9th Annual Howell History Days Celebration. A community event celebrating the History of Howell, May 15th - 21st, will feature window displays in the downtown keeping with this year's theme, "celebrating the past, preserving it for the future". Historic photographs from the Howell Meijer will be on display at the Howell library during the celebration week. . . . Join in the festivities on Saturday, May 21st with historic building tours, vintage quilt display, and Living Historians. Tractor Alley returns for the fourth year and award winning chain saw carver, John Kornowski will demonstrate his skills. There will be local genealogical research assistance, live music, sheep shearing, model train exhibit, an ice cream social and Buddy Moorehouse will perform his magic show to entertain young and old.

Free walking seminar in Howell May 7

2011-04-27T10:17:00.000-07:00

The Walk Howell Michigan walking club and the Howell Area Parks & Recreation Authority will sponsor a

FREE walking seminar at 10 a.m. Saturday May 7, 2011 in the Barnard Community Center, 415 N. Barnard St., Howell, MI 48843 with:

Brad Hagen (NASM-PES & ACE-CPT) -- owner of Sports Lab Consulting -- and Cally Bukovina -- creator of Adventure Quest Bootcamp – will discuss the benefits of walking, how to get started, and how to achieve top results.
Learn about walking programs and events for every walker.
An optional group walk will be lead at 11:15 after the program presentation.

Spring 2011 Newsletter

2011-03-26T06:44:00.000-07:00

Historic Pathwalkers Spring Newsletter March 2011
According to the calendar spring has arrived but the warm temperatures have not. At least the snow has melted and we can again walk on clear sidewalks.
Our walk boxes will soon be in place for another season. The total for 2011 is an even dozen, three of which are year round walks. Six of our walks start on April 1 and the other 3 on May 1. We will not have a box in Douglas/Saugatuck or in Manistee this year but if anyone would like to volunteer to adopt a box for next year please let me know.
A new walk this year is the one in East Lansing which begins at Biggby Coffee, 4480 Hagadorn Rd. Okemos MI. The walk is mostly on the campus of Michigan State University with its historic buildings and sculptures. Be sure to visit the Dairy Store which is part of the Agricultural Dept and has delicious ice cream for sale. Our YRE and seasonal walk locations are as follows:
Coldwater Ludington State Park
East Lansing Lansing
Grand Haven South Haven
Grand Rapids St. Joseph
Holland Traverse City
Howell Zeeland
Once these walks begin again we are required to submit quarterly statistics to the AVA so please send those numbers to jean.woltjer@att.net so that I can send them in. This should be done at the end of each quarter and I will send a reminder when the time comes. Please continue to send any money received to our treasurer, Alma Lucas, 5261 Southbrook Ct. #51, Hudsonville MI 49426.
More information about these walks is available at www.ava.org and on our blog at http://historicpathwalkers.blogspot.com/ You can also find us on Facebook.

Historic Pathwalkers Group Walk Schedule

April 16 Coldwater
We will start from the Holiday Inn Express, 630 E. Chicago St. at 10:00 a.m.
NOTICE! The group walk in Coldwater scheduled for this Saturday, April 16 has been postponed due to adverse weather conditions. It has been rescheduled for Saturday, April 30 at 10:00 a.m. The start point is the Holiday Inn Express, 630 E Chicago St.
May 21 Howell
Starting from Uptown Coffeehouse, 102 E. Grand River at 10:00 a.m.
June 25 Grand Rapids
We will start from Big Boy, 407 Pearl St. at 9:30 a.m. so that we can meet for our annual business meeting afterwards.
Suggestions are welcome for July and August!

The 17th Biennial AVA Convention will be held this year from June 18 – 26 in Des Moines, Iowa. I have registration forms if anyone is interested in attending. You can also go online at www.ava.org/clubs/ava2011convention/index.asp

SEE YOU ON THE TRAIL!!

Tater Tours 2011

2010-12-19T04:15:00.001-08:00

The Mackinaw Bridge Walk, the Washtenaw Wanderers year 'round Ann Arbor walk, and the Historic Pathwalkers Capitol City Lansing walk are features of Head Tater Mary Ptacek's 2011 Tater Tours "Mackinak Bridge Walk and More" tour originating in Baltimore and running Sept. 1-9, 2011

Tater Tours 2011 schedule includes six reasonably priced, bus-trip, walking tours of the US featuring American Volkssport Association sanctioned walks on the following dates:
Feb 15 - 27: Florida, Alabama and More
May 14 - 18: New York City and More
June 14 - June 30: AVA Convention and More
Sept 1 - 9: Mackinaw Bridge Walk and More
Sept 17 - 28: Colorado and Utah
Oct 7 - 10: Finger Lakes Region

For more information, contact:
Mary Ptacek (Head Tater)
Tater Tours
2748 Canarsy Ct.
Henderson, Nevada 89052
(702) 260-7333
mtptacek@msn.com

Resources:
Tater Tours: http://lizrose.biz/tatertours/
Mackinak Bridge Walk & More: http://lizrose.biz/tatertours/walkingtrip4.htm

South Haven, MI walk closed early

2010-11-11T06:51:00.000-08:00

Historic Pathwalkers President Jean Woltjer reported this morning:

The walk box at Café Julia in South Haven Michigan has been pulled unexpectedly as of yesterday. This walk, which was supposed to run through the end of November, has therefore closed for the season. We will be working on finding a new spot for the box for next year. Please accept our apologies for any inconvenience but some of these things are beyond our control.

NOTE: Nov. 12, 2010 -- Jean Woltjer reported today that the South Haven start point will return to Cafe Julia when the seasonal walk re-opens next spring.

Historic Pathwalkers Newsletter, October 2010

2010-10-28T15:17:00.000-07:00

From Historic Pathwalkers President Jean Woltjer:

Fall has arrived and with it we are nearing the end of our walking season. We have enjoyed a wonderful fall season so far this year so let’s hope it lasts for a while longer.

We had good participation at our scheduled group walks this year and were able to get those in before the summer heat. Now it’s time to start closing down the walks for another season. The third-quarter participation reports have been filed with the AVA and after a very slow start the numbers were up significantly for some of the walks. Thanks to our walkbox hosts who submitted those numbers to me in such a timely manner and for maintaining the boxes throughout the year.

By the end of November most of these boxes will be pulled for another season. At that time the stamp(s) should be sent to AVA , 1001 Pat Booker Rd., Suite 101, Universal City, TX 78148 within 10 days to avoid a penalty. Please send the final walk numbers to jean.woltjer@att.net for our last report of the year.

Money should be sent to Alma Lucas, 5261 Southbrook Ct. #51, Hudsonville MI 49426.

At our annual meeting this summer the current officers were re-elected for another year. We also decided to take over the East Lansing walk from the Great Lakes Amblers, a club that is disbanding at the end of this year. John Pierce will be the POC for this walk. It will be a seasonal walk with the walk box being hosted by Biggby Coffee, 4480 Hagadorn Rd, Suite 108, East Lansing MI.

We’ve also sanctioned most of our current walks for 2011 with the following exceptions: Douglas, Ludington city walk and Manistee.

Each month the AVA sends out its bulletin with current news. The last issue noted that the AVA has a new logo tag line that reads: "AVA Moving together toward a healthier America." In addition they have a new national sponsor, Brazos Walking Sticks.

The AVA Biennial Convention will be held next summer in Des Moines Iowa for those who might be interested in attending. More information will be available early next year.

Thanks to all who have helped to make this another good year for our club. Your work is appreciated since we couldn’t function without you. This is the last newsletter for 2010 and as the holiday season is not far off I’d like to wish everyone a happy holiday season.

President:          Jean Woltjer, 616-392-2844 , jean.woltjer@att.net
Vice Pres:          Pat Korloch, 517-882-1495, pk55@juno.com
Secretary: John Pierce, 616-527-2413, jwpierce53@gmail.com
Treasurer:          Alma Lucas, 616-662-2359, ajlucas@charter.net

Stefan Szumko announces two AVA special events

2010-09-14T06:25:00.000-07:00

Washtenaw Wanderers President Stefan Szumko says:

Greetings Walking Fans! Now that walking season is here, we'd like to invite you to two delightful walks:

On Saturday, September 25, we'll be joining the Oktoberfest Celebration at the Saline Harvest of the Arts Festival in downtown Saline. Walk either a 5K or 10K route and work up an appetite for authentic German food and a thirst for authentic German bier.   Enjoy music, arts, children's activities and more. Start your walk between 9am-noon and finish by 3pm. Meet at the Saline Farmer's Market on S. Ann Arbor St. which is a half block south of Michigan Ave. You can walk for free or for AVA Credit only ($3). We'll also have B-Awards from previous events on sale for various prices ($5 or less - we still have some Fairydoor Fridge Magnets, while supplies last). For more information - http://www.ava.org/gen3/data/event_details.asp?eventid=87163.

On Sunday, October 17, join us for our annual Colorwalk starting at the Leslie Science and Nature Center in Ann Arbor. The 10K route follows scenic nature trails for approximately 7K and is rated a 3 on a scale of 1-5 (1 being easiest)! The 5K route is also quite scenic. Jogging strollers are perfect for the youngsters. Wheelchairs will have difficulty on both routes. Park on the lawn in the lower field and start your walk on the front porch of the "Leslie House" between the hours of 10am-1pm. Walk for free, for AVA Credit Only ($3) or for this year's National Volkssport Month Patch ($7).  http://www.ava.org/gen3/data/event_details.asp?eventid=86672.

Two of our Year-Round Events (YREs) will not be renewed for 2011 - Oakwoods Metropark and Dundee. So head on out and walk those for AVA Credit by the end of the year. We are, however, picking up five new YREs in 2011 - Brighton, Northville, Plymouth, Adrian, and Tecumseh. Visit the AVA website and click on the "Find Walking Events" in the left-side navigation bar to find out details for all these events.

We are looking forward to meeting you on the trail. Please let me know if you have any questions, comments, concerns, queries, or confessions!

Stefan Szumko
   Master Educator, Leslie Science & Nature Center
   (www.lesliesnc.org)
   President, Washtenaw Wanderers Volkssporting Club
   (www.washtenaw-wanderers.blogspot.com)
   MAEOEgram Editor, Michigan Alliance for Environmental and Outdoor Education
   (www.michiganenvironmentaled.org/)

"Go to nature; take the facts into your own hands; look, and see for yourself." -- Louis Agassiz
"Everywhere is walking distance if you have the time." -- Steven Wright

Group Walk in Manistee MI

2010-07-26T10:16:00.000-07:00

We are planning a group walk in Manistee MI this Saturday, July 31 at 10:00 a.m. The start point is Wahr Hardware Store, 87 Division, one block west of US 31 behind the Christmas Store. The weather looks promising so come join us.

2010 HP annual meeting

2010-06-16T05:02:00.000-07:00

Grand Rapids streetscape

The Historic Pathwalkers held our annual meeting in Grand Rapids on June 12, 2010. Members reelected our current slate of officers: President Jean Woltjer, Vice President Pat Korloch, Secretary John Pierce, Treasurer Alma Lucas. Members confirmed the club's sanctioning of our current list of 15 year 'round and seasonal events for 2011. The next meeting of the Historic Pathwalkers will be a group walk at 10:00 a.m. July 31 at Wahr’s Hardware Store, 87 Division Street, located behind the Christmas Store on US 31 or Cypress Street in Manistee, Michigan. All who attend are invited to join the group for lunch after the walk.

Grand Rapids walk

2010-06-15T11:26:00.000-07:00

The Grand Rapids, Michigan YRE has got to be one of the best walks in the country. You see the magnificent Caulder stabile, the glorious gardens of the Gerald Ford Library in a vibrant cityscape, view the Frank Lloyd Wright Meyer-May house in nineteenth century neighborhoods, and stroll the riverwalk where we saw this heron fishing in the Grand River spillway.

Waterfront Film Festival and Grand Rapids on Michigan's west coast

2010-06-10T06:16:00.000-07:00

Historic Pathwalkers President Jean Woltjer invites you to walk Douglas/Saugatuck and Grand Rapids this weekend:

Plan now to come and walk in Douglas - Saugatuck MI this weekend.    Our AVA sanctioned seasonal walk goes through the historic villages of Douglas and Saugatuck where the 12th Annual Waterfront Film festival is being held this weekend. Saugatuck is known for its art colony dating back to 1910 and the Film Festival has been named one of the top 5 film festivals.

For more info on the festival go to  http://www.waterfrontfilm.org/ and for more info on the walk go to
http://www.ava.org/gen3/data/event_details.asp?eventid=85283

The Historic Pathwalkers invite you to a group walk of our Grand Rapids seasonal walk on Saturday, June 12. We plan to start walking at 9:30 a.m. The trail takes you along the Grand River, Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum and burial site, historic Heritage Hill with it's magnificent architecture as well the downtown area.   There is something for everyone! The start point is the Big Boy Restaurant, 407 Pearl St.   More information can be found at http://www.ava.org/gen3/data/event_details.asp?eventid=85281
Come and join us for a great walk.

P.S. While you're in Grand Rapids, take a walk around the Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park to enjoy the Dale Chihuly outdoor glass installation.
Jean Woltjer, Pres
Historic Pathwalkers

Summer Newsletter 2010

2010-06-03T10:37:00.000-07:00

Summer has arrived! We’re enjoying the great weather and all the activities that come along with it. Our group walks got off to a great start this season with the last one held in South Haven. After the walk we enjoyed lunch at Clementine’s and then some of us wandered over to Sherman’s for dessert!

The next walk will be held on Saturday, June 12 at 9:30 a.m. Note the earlier time. After the walk we plan on conducting our annual business meeting at the Big Boy Restaurant which is the start point for our walk. The address is 407 Pearl Street. The Grand Rapids walk is one of our most popular so if you haven’t walked it yet, be sure to join us and feel free to bring a friend or friends. The meeting will start at approximately 12:30.

Among the agenda items to be considered are:

Election of officers
Treasurer’s report
Scheduled walk for Sept/Oct
Renewal of YRE and Seasonal walks for next year

Our July walk will be in Manistee on Saturday, July 31. The start point there is Wahr’s Hardware Store, 87 Division St. It’s located right behind the Christmas Store which is on US 31 or Cypress Street. The start time there will be 10:00 a.m.

We send our condolences to Mr. Gerard Perry on the death of his wife Rita recently. Rita was a long time member of the club and an active participant who did much to promote club activities. Even in later years both she and Gerard were always there to help in one way or another. She will be missed.

2010-05-22T13:18:00.001-07:00

The Historic Pathwalkers held a group walk today in South Haven. We had a good turnout with several new walkers joining us. The weather was perfect. We all went to Clementine's for lunch afterwards and that was followed by ice cream at Sherman's. A great day all around!!

2010-05-21T15:01:00.000-07:00

Saturday, May 22 the Historic Pathwalkers are planning a group walk in South Haven.
We plan to start at 10:00 a.m. from the Café Julia at 561 Huron St. Take exit 20 (Phoenix Rd) off I-196 to Broadway and turn left. Go to Huron and Café Julia is on the right. The rain should be done by then so come join us!

Michigan lakeshore walks

2010-04-26T10:43:00.000-07:00

Historic Pathwalkers hosts seasonal or year 'round events in each of the festival hosts cities highlighted by HP President Jean Woltjer below. Get information about each walk in the Historic Pathwalkers 2010 Year 'round and Seasonal Walking Events brochure.

The tulips are blooming in Holland, Michigan just in time for the Tulip Time festival that runs from May 1 - 8. Come and do our seasonal walk and enjoy the sounds and smells along with the beauty of thousands of tulips and spring flowers. The walk has been revised to include the Heinz Waterfront Walkway as well as the historic district, Hope College campus and downtown business area.

On May 22 and 23 Grand Haven is hosting the Great Lakes Kite Festival. The sky over Lake Michigan will be aflutter with kites of every size, shape and color. Plan to make this a part of your walk experience this spring.

Come and enjoy the Venetian Festival in St Joseph that runs from July 15 - 18. Much of the walk here also includes the shoreline of Lake Michigan where you will find many of the festival activities including arts and crafts.

In August come to South Haven during the 47th National Blueberry Festival that takes place August 12 - 15. A variety of blueberry related activities and products can be found at the Huron Street Pavilion and Riverfront Park, both of which are on the walk route. Other festival activities include concerts and a parade.

Midwest Living magazine has named Ludington State Park the top state park in Michigan. The HP volksmarch route there begins with a two-mile walk along the beach to the lighthouse at Big Sable Point.

Manistee is known as the Victorian Port City. It features a river walk and many of the downtown buildings are on the National Register of Historic Places. The walk includes the Ramsdell Theater where actor James Earl Jones got his professional acting start and historic neighborhoods and churches.

All of these walks qualify for many of the AVA Special Programs. For more information check www.ava.org/clubs/pathwalkers/ or check our 2010 walk brochure.

Come enjoy Michigan this year!
Jean Woltjer, President Historic Pathwalkers, MI AVA affiliate

2010-04-13T15:24:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to remind everyone of the Historic Pathwalkers group walk planned for Saturday, April 17 in Lansing MI. We plan on meeting at the Michigan Historical Musuem at 10:00 a.m. and hope to see you there. The address is 702 W Kalamazoo St.
The weather forecast sounds promising at this point so hopefully there will be no need for an umbrella!

HP Spring News March 2010

2010-03-12T13:59:00.000-08:00

From HP President Jean Woltjer:
Spring is here! It won’t be long before the flowers are blooming and the snow will be a distant memory. It’s time to get those walking shoes out and start breathing in that fresh spring air. I’m looking forward to getting out on the trail again without having to think about ice underfoot.

We have sanctioned 14 walks again this year including 3 Year 'Round Events. About half of the events open on April 1 and by May 1 they will all be open. Check our website for specifics on each location http://www.ava.org/clubs/pathwalkers/ or contact the local Point of Contact for details on each walk. You can also get information on our blog at http://historicpathwalkers.blogspot.com/ or look for Historic Pathwalkers on Facebook.

Our thanks go out to the volunteers who are willing to host the walk boxes each year. We continue to receive favorable comments from walkers who really appreciate the opportunity to walk in our communities.

The American Volkssport Association has made a major change in the quarterly participation reporting procedure. They are no longer using the five-part paper report but want the statistics reported electronically. This should simplify matters for all of us. Each club has been given a username and password. An officer of the club will now be responsible for sending in the information. To help facilitate that process we ask each of the Points Of Contact (person responsible for the box) to please send just the total number of walkers in each category, award, credit and free to Jean. All money and coupons should be sent to our treasurer, Alma Lucas.

Thanks to Pat Korloch our club has new 2010 club brochures available listing all our walks and starting locations. They will be put in the walk boxes and are available by contacting Jean.

The club did not order any 2010 Starting Points from the AVA this year. Their popularity has dwindled with the use of the internet and we usually end up with some left over. For anyone who wants one, they are available from AVA headquarters.

We have scheduled some group walks again this year and hope you can join us for these walks. They will all begin at the official starting point for each location. Please note that our Howell starting Point has changed to the Uptown Coffeehouse at 102 E Grand River Ave. Our June walk will be followed by our annual business meeting so the time for that walk has been set for 9:30 a.m.

March 20, Howell, 10:00 a.m. -- Uptown Coffeehouse

April 17, Lansing, 10:00 a.m. -- MI Historical Museum

May 22, South Haven, 10:00 a.m. -- Café Julia

June 12, Grand Rapids, 9:30 a.m. -- Big Boy

July (open for suggestions)

On May 1 the MOVES club in Middleville will host a walk on the Paul Henry Thornapple River trail. Here is a link for more details. This is a beautiful walk in the spring and a great birding opportunity as well.

http://www.ava.org/gen3/data/event_details.asp?eventid=86331

We were saddened to hear of the passing of Judy Bowne on Feb 10. She along with her husband Bill were long time members of the Historic Pathwalkers and active participants in our activities until they retired and took to the road in their RV. Our sympathies go out to Bill and his family. We will miss Judy but are grateful for the opportunity to have known her.

New start point for Howell MI YRE

2010-01-14T10:52:00.000-08:00

Uptown Coffeehouse, Howell MI

Beginning in 2010 participants in the American Volkssport Association’s (AVA) year-‘round walk in Howell, Michigan may start their walk at the popular Uptown Coffeehouse on the corner of Grand River Avenue and Michigan Avenue. The new start point for the 10-kilometer (6.3 mile) non-competitive walk kicks-off a new route that takes walkers:

past the renovated nineteenth century Livingston County Courthouse
through wooded Lakeview Cemetery along the shore of Thompson Lake
on a loop through Howell City Park
along a section of the new Howell crosstown trail built with a Walkable Communities grant
through historic residential neighborhoods
past the century-old Howell Carnegie District Library
past the Howell Depot Museum, formerly a depot for the Ann Arbor Railroad
through a magnificent historic downtown featuring the Howell Opera House, home of the Livingston Arts Council

A five-kilometer (3 mile) option is also available for walkers who prefer a shorter route. A map of the walk is available at the Map My Run website at:

http://www.mapmyrun.com/walk/united-states/mi/howell/364126160864629257

The new start point at 102 E. Grand River Avenue in Howell will give walkers greater access to the walk because the coffee shop is open Monday through Thursday from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday from 6 a.m. –10 p.m., Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Walkers may begin any day and time by picking up a map and directions at the start point.

Walkers will find a new style walk box conveniently located in an end-table near the cozy Uptown fireplace. To save space, Howell Trailmaster Linda Theil replaced the cumbersome file box with a sleek zippered container that contains a three-ring binder for walk instructions; built-in file folders for maps, directions, and envelopes; and pockets for the AVA Howell stamp, stamp pad, and pens; and plenty of room for other walk materials, including fliers about the area. Walkers may walk free, or pay $3 for AVA stamp and walking credit.

The Uptown Coffeehouse is an independent, specialty-coffee retailer owned by Lorna Brennan and Nathan Voght. Voght is head of the Howell Downtown Development Authority and Main Street Director for this beautiful community that was designated a Michigan Cool Cities Main Street in 2005.

"Howell is a treasure-trove of 19th century architecture, and Uptown Coffeehouse, located in the heart of historic Downtown Howell, is happy to be a starting point for this fabulous walking tour program. Come and discover Downtown Howell, surrounding historic neighborhoods, and a great espresso-based drink, frozen drink, or smoothie at Uptown Coffeehouse."

Keep up to date on the Historic Pathwalker’s walking events at: http://historicpathwalkers.blogspot.com/ and http://www.ava.org/clubs/pathwalkers and join the club’s Facebook page at Historic Pathwalkers Volkssporting Walking Club http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=120661354904&ref=nf.

For more information about the AVA non-competitive walking program, check the AVA website at: http://www.ava.org/What%20We%20Are%20About/what_we_are_about.htm

New Howell start site January 2, 2010

2009-12-17T22:50:00.000-08:00

The Howell Recreation Office start site for AVA sanctioned Howell, MI year 'round event will be closed for the holidays, December 24-31. The new Howell start site at the UPTOWN COFFEEHOUSE at 102 E. Grand River Avenue on the NE corner of Grand River and Michigan at in Howell will open with a new walk route Jan. 2, 2010.

Uptown Coffeehouse

102 E. Grand River,
Howell, MI 48843

517-546-1124

Hours of Operation:

Monday-Thursday 6:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Friday 6:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Saturday 7:30 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Sunday 7:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

2009-11-02T15:16:00.000-08:00

Historic Pathwalkers Fall Newsletter November 2009

The weather is telling me that our walking season is coming to an end. The temperatures continue to drop and October has seen more than its share of rain. November is also starting out rather wet but at least it’s not snow yet!
We have closed four of our walks for the season. These are the two in Ludington, Manistee and Traverse City. Scheduled to close at the end of November are Douglas, Holland, South Haven, St Joseph and Zeeland. That leaves Grand Haven and Grand Rapids which will end on December 6. The final numbers are not yet in but all indications so far show that we had a very successful season. The number of walkers was definitely up from last year. We have three walks that are open year round and they are Lansing, Howell and Coldwater.
All of these walks have been sanctioned for next year and will open again in the spring. This is a good time to thank all of our POCs. These are the people who are instrumental in keeping the boxes stocked and available to the walkers giving them a chance to enjoy their community and contribute to the local economy. They send quarterly reports to the AVA and help keep our treasurer supplied with funds to operate the club. A big THANK YOU to all of you! We appreciate all you do. Please remember that our officers are available for help with any issues you might have.
As walks close for the season please send the stamp to AVA, 1001 Pat Booker Rd., Suite 101, Universal City TX 78148 within 10 days. You may enclose the last participation report with it but you have 30 days in which to send that in. If these deadlines are not met we as a club are fined $10.00 for each late stamp or report so your prompt attention to this is much appreciated! As usual, any expenses that you incur may be reimbursed by sending receipts to our treasurer.
All money should be sent to our treasurer, Alma Lucas, 5261 Southbrook Ct. #51, Hudsonville, MI 49426 and all quarterly reports sent to me, Jean Woltjer, 211 Cambridge Ave. Holland MI 49423 or email to jean.woltjer@att.net.
This year it seems we had an unusually high number of comments on the start cards that were returned. It’s always nice to get some feedback on our walks and ALL of it was positive! That is very encouraging and we want to continue to keep our walks interesting and enjoyable for our visitors. The AVA continues to bring out new special programs and we want to contribute as much as possible in order to attract walkers to our state and to our clubs walks.
There are a few changes in our starting points for next year. Our Howell box has been moved to the Uptown Coffeehouse at 102 E. Grand River Ave. and our alternate start point in St. Joseph has changed its name to Stevensville Inn and is scheduled to change to a Super 8 in February. The Landis Clothing store will continue as the other starting point in St Joseph.
We hope to have a scheduled event or two next year and will continue to work on that. If you have any ideas along that line please communicate them to one of the officers for consideration.
We always enjoy seeing and hearing from members and this summer heard from the Perrys again. They are 95 and 91 respectively and are charter members of the club. In years past they contributed much to the success of our events (I know Rita was secretary at one time too) and it’s nice to know that they continue to have an interest in our activities even though they can no longer participate in the walks.
Another couple that comes to mind is Daryle and Joan Fountain. Joan has had some health issues but is coming along nicely and we wish both of them the best and hope to see you again next year.
We missed seeing Bill and Judy Bowne this year and hope all is well with them.
Our club is now also on Facebook so look for us there. We also have a blog now where you can find information on our activities. The blog address is http://historicpathwalkers.blogspot.com . This was set up by Linda Theil. All of our members can become correspondents and be able to put photos or comments on our blog. Please contact Linda at linda.theil@gmail.com if you would like access.
She has to send you an invitation which if you accept you may go on the site and post. We would like to see this grow and build a community where we can all share. Additional walk information can also be obtained http://ava.org
This newsletter will be the last one for 2009. As always the summer has flown by and the holidays are not that far away. Thanks to all who’ve contributed to another successful walking season and may you all have Happy Holidays.

President Jean Woltjer 616-392-2844 jean.woltjer@att.net
Vice Pres Pat Korloch 517-882-1495 pk55@juno.com
Secretary John Pierce 616-527-2413 hpvolks@iserv.net
Treasurer Alma Lucas 616-662-2359 ajlucas@charter.net

ArtPrize - Grand Rapids MI Sept 2009

2009-09-24T17:03:00.000-07:00

2009-09-24T16:54:00.000-07:00

Today I walked most of the Grand Rapids volksmarch and found that many, many of the ArtPrize entries are indeed on the walk route. Starting at the Big Boy Restaurant there are two billboard entries in front of the building that you can't miss. Continuing through Ah-Nab-Awen Park and past the Gerald R. Ford Museum there are several as well. As you follow the river and cross the 6th St Bridge you'll see more. In the downtown area they are everywhere including some in the Grand River, the most popular being "Nessie" near the Van Andel Musuem.
Don't miss the table and chairs above the Blue Bridge. There are 1262 entries in 159 venues. Many are outside but there are also many displayed in various buildings with free admission to all entries. This is an event not to be missed!

Jean

Grand Rapids MI Volksmarch - ArtPrize

2009-09-24T16:45:00.000-07:00

Pictures along the Grand Haven, Michigan YRE 9/12/09

2009-09-14T09:06:00.000-07:00

Invitation to art-loving walkers

2009-09-14T04:58:00.000-07:00

The city of Grand Rapids, Michigan is turning into an art gallery for at least two weeks starting Sept 23. The event is called ArtPrize and is an art competition that is judged by the public. There will be a total of 1,262 entries during the 18 day indoor and outdoor event. Some entries are already in place, many of them outdoors and scattered throughout the downtown area. One is "Confetti Tower" a 16 foot tower which shoots biodegradable confetti when activated. The artists are competing for a top prize of $250,000.00 !!

The Historic Pathwalkers have a great seasonal walk in Grand Rapids with a downtown start point at the Big Boy Restaurant on Pearl St. By doing the walk you will see many of the art entries such as the one described above since they are in a 3 square mile area, most of which is on the walk route.

For more info on ArtPrize check out:

http://www.artprize.org/
http://www.mlive.com/artprize/

For info on the Grand Rapids volksmarch go to http://www.ava.org/clubs/pathwalkers/2009BrochureYRE.pdf
or
www.ava.org/clubs/pathwalkers

Pictures along the Manistee YRE trail 9/4/09

2009-09-10T09:12:00.000-07:00

2009-09-05T14:48:00.000-07:00

Ludington neighborhoods

2009-09-05T14:46:00.000-07:00

The pier and lighthouse in Ludington on Sat. Sept 5. Beautiful day for a walk.

2009-09-05T14:42:00.000-07:00

As an alternative to the Mackinac Bridge walk try the Middleville bridge walk sponsored by MOVES. The trail runs along the Thornapple River crossing 4 bridges with the added feature of wildlife, birds and who knows what.
Starting time is anytime after 9:00 a.m. on Labor Day and the weather forecast sounds great for walking. Let's get out and support another Michigan club!

Walk in neighboring Toledo Saturday!

2009-08-18T04:33:00.000-07:00

From Craig Gauger on Walklist@yahoogroups.com:

MVV WALK EVENT
this Saturday - August 22, 2009
West Toledo, OH
Start location: Eleanor Kahle Senior Center, 1315 Hillcrest Dr., Toledo 43612
Start times: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. finish by 4

Three 5 km trails have been set up:

- Trail 1 includes neighborhood with special stops at the Firefighter's Museum and Boyd's Retro Candy Shoppe (they also have ice cream!) and one of the most perfect examples of a Lustron house with matching garage!

- Trail 2 includes historic Woodlawn Cemetery

- Trail 3 includes neighborhood area - including the "oldest house in West Toledo"

If you are doing any of the AVA specialty books - these trails hit a lot of the special catagories!
including Firehouses, Museums, Historic Churches, Veterans Memorials and more....

Information at http://www.ava.org/gen3/data/event_details.asp?eventid=83761. Come early and beat the heat. There is a fair amount of shade available. Oh, and don't forget the Ice Cream!!!

2009-08-13T08:54:00.000-07:00

We don't have any group walks on the schedule currently but if anyone is interested I am open to suggestions.... Anyone? Where would you like to walk?
We've had some warm weather finally but Sept and Oct are always good months for walking so let's have some discussion and maybe we can get together for another walk.

Jean W

2009-08-02T13:10:00.000-07:00

Several of us did the Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti walks recently. Both are interesting and great walks. Add in beautiful weather and great company to top off the fun. I was able to complete my Historic Churches special program, pick up several stamps for others I'm working on and send in another event book. Thanks to the Washtenaw Wanderers for these walks.
Jean Woltjer, Historic Pathwalkers

South Haven was grand

2009-07-26T07:21:00.000-07:00

Nancy B. prepares to walk 10K at South Haven, Michigan while husband, Daryl, studies map.

Ten Historic Pathwalkers had a grand time in South Haven on Saturday. The South Haven farmers market was in full swing at the open-air market building next to our Cafe Julia startpoint. The weather was mild -- skies were overcast, but the rain held off and the sun came out by noon. Daryl B., Alma L. and I enjoyed a 5K meander led by Daryl.

Daryl B. discovered this interesting, naturalistic headstone, ca. 1923, in the South Haven cemetery.

He said this style was fashionable at that time.

Jean W. and Louise finished their fast 10K and joined us while we were enjoying a post-walk treat at the Cafe Julia startpoint. My espresso milkshake was delicious. Daryl and Alma had raspberry sorbet. We met the rest of the walkers for a great lunch downtown and headed home around 2:30 p.m. Wish you'd been there!

2009-07-24T16:22:00.000-07:00

It's highly unlikely that we'll see one of these on any of our walks..... I saw this up in Cochrane Ontario on a recent trip to the north country..

South Haven, MI Group Walk July 25

2009-07-21T04:57:00.000-07:00

South Haven, Michigan pier

The Historic Pathwalkers Michigan affiliate will host a group walk in South Haven, Michigan at 9:30 a.m. this Saturday, July 25 beginning at Cafe Julia, 561 Huron St, South Haven, Michigan.

Cafe Julia, South Haven, Michigan

Group Walk July 25 in South Haven, MI

2009-07-08T07:10:00.000-07:00

Summer news

After a group walk on Saturday, June 27, the Historic Pathwalkers met for their annual meeting at the Big Boy restaurant in Grand Rapids. Several motions were passed which included the renewing of all our seasonal and year -'round walks based on participation last year and a good start to this year.

Alma Lucas gave the treasurer’s report and the AVA financial report has been submitted as required. Several items of interest include the possible change of the Howell start point. Linda is currently looking into that possibility and we will keep you posted if it changes. We are also looking into scheduling an event in Belle Isle and Portland later this fall and/or spring of next year.

Election

Election of officers resulted in no changes to the current slate:

President Jean Woltjer

Vice President Pat Korloch

Secretary John Pierce

Treasurer Alma Lucas

Membership reminder

Thanks to all who have renewed their memberships. For those who haven’t and would like to, you may send $5.00 per household to Alma Lucas, 5261 Southbrook Ct, #51, Hudsonville, MI 49426.

Pickle Pepper Poker People Walk

Two of our members from Indiana were able to be present and reminded us of the Pickle Pepper Poker People Walk which will be held in St Joe Indiana on Saturday, August 15. This is a 6 or 12 K walk held during the St Joe Pickle Festival. If you’ve never done this walk it’s well worth the drive. For more information call Willa Thompson at 260-238-4221 or Wilma Fuelling at 260-432-4253. Day of the walk call 260-312-3312.

We would like to welcome new members, David and Sally N. from Fennville and hope to meet them sometime soon. Currently we have quite an extensive mailing list. If you are receiving this newsletter but would like your name removed from our list please notify me at jean.woltjer@att.net

This is a reminder to all POCs that it’s time for the AVA Quarterly Participation Report to be sent in. Please be sure to do that in a timely fashion so as to avoid a late fee. Thanks to all of you for your help.

Group Walk REMINDER:

9:30 a.m. Saturday, July 25.

Café Julia, 561 Huron St. South Haven MI

Enjoy your summer!

Jean Woltjer, President

Historic Pathwalkers

Historic Pathwalkers group walk and annual meeting June 27

2009-06-19T13:57:00.000-07:00

When:

Saturday, June 27, 2009

Walk starting at 9:30 a.m

Meeting starting at approx 12:00 noon

Where:

Big Boy Restaurant, 407 Pearl St. Grand Rapids.

The agenda includes election of officers, treasurers report and other routine business.

Hope to see you on June 27.

Jean Woltjer, Pres.

Historic Pathwalkers

Group walk in Howell 10 a.m. Saturday June 6

2009-06-02T12:38:00.000-07:00

Thompson Lake, Howell Michigan

Members of the Historic PathWALKERS will do a group walk of our Howell American Volkssport Association Year 'Round Event beginning at the Howell Recreation Center at 10 a.m, Saturday June 6, 2009. Come early to sign up and join us for a 10K or 5K volksmarch through historic Howell including the downtown shopping area, lakeside stroll, depot museum for the Ann Arbor railroad, the nineteenth century Livingston County Courthouse, and beautiful neighborhoods in this National Register of Historic Places town. New Walker Packets will be available.

Directions: From I-96, take exit #137 and go north on D-19/Michigan Avenue to Grand River Avenue. Turn west on Grand River Avenue, and go about a mile to the Howell Recreation Center, 925 W. Grand River Avenue.

Click on this link for volksmarching information .
Click here for information about the Historic PathWALKERS affiliate to the American Volkssport Association .

Douglas, MI group walk 9:30 a.m. May 9, 2009

2009-05-05T14:53:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone,

This is just a reminder that the Historic Pathwalkers are meeting at the Respite Cappuccino Court, 48 Center St., Douglas MI for a group walk on Saturday, May 9, at 9:30 a.m. I hope you can all join us for the walk.

The flowers are blooming and spring is definitely here.

For those who are interested, the Holland Tulip Festival is going on this week with the BIG parade scheduled for Saterday afternoon so come and make a day of it..

Jean Woltjer, President

Historic PathWALKERS

Spring Newsletter, March 2009

2009-04-15T16:13:00.000-07:00

From Historic PathWALKERS President Jean Woltjer:

It’s beginning to look and feel like spring. It’s been a long winter and if you’re like most people you’re ready to start all those springtime activities. Right at the top of that list is walking of course! Most of our walks will open up again on April 1 and stamps are being sent out to the POCs as we get our boxes ready for the new season.

The following Michigan walks have been sanctioned for 2009:

Coldwater - Pat Korloch: 1/1/09 to 12/31/09

Lansing - 1/1/09 to 12/31/09

Doug/Saugatuck - J. Woltjer 4/1/09 to 11/30/09

Grand Haven - 4/1/09 to 12/06/09

Holland - 4/1/09 to 11/30/09

Manistee - 4/14/09 to 10/18/09

Traverse City - 4/14/09 to 10/18/09

Grand Rapids - Pierce/Woltjer 4/1/09 to 12/06/09

Howell - Linda Theil: 1/1/09 to 12/31/09

Ludington - Louise Blystra: 4/14/09 to 10/18/09

Ludington - St Park: 4/14/09 to 10/18/09

South Haven - Sandra Tyrrell: 4/01/09 to 11/30/09

St Joseph - Larry Wozniak: 4/1/09 to 11/30/09

Zeeland - Sara Donkersloot: 4/1/09 to 11/30/09

AVA and Club News
The 16^th Biennial AVA Convention will be held June 22-26 in Richardson, Texas. I have extra brochures if you are interested.

We also have new 2009 Historic Pathwalker brochures which have been included in our walk boxes. Thanks to Pat Korloch who again put a lot of work into this and the finished product shows it. Let me know if you would like a copy (or more) either for yourself or to distribute as you travel to other walking destinations.

The 2009 Starting Point is also available to club members for $15.00. I have copies if anyone would like one. I’ll take them along to our group walks.

There have been several new AVA special programs announced for this year and many of our walks qualify. We’ve tried to keep the AVA website up to date with these changes but if we’ve missed any please let one of the officers know and it will be added. These special programs have really become a drawing card for many walkers as they try to fill up those books and hopefully will continue to bring walkers to Michigan.

Last year we had a total of 430 walkers participate in our walks. We got off to a slow start but things really picked up in the summer so let’s hope that we can match or exceed that number this year.