Press Coverage

January 12, 2005, Harbor Light
Work Session for Community Leaders on
Purchase of Development Rights

How to Develop and Implement a PDR Program in Your Community is being held on January 26, 2005 from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm at the Victories Hotel in Petoskey. This program is being presented by the Michigan Society of Planning, Michigan Department of Agriculture and Michigan Farmland and Community Alliance. The cost of the program is $55.00 ($75 after January 20th). HARBOR, Inc. will sponsor community leaders interested in developing PDR programs. The Petoskey Harbor Springs Area Community Foundation generously provided funding to HARBOR, Inc. to further this effort to educate the community on the available means of implementing Recreation and Open Space Facilities into the Greater Harbor Springs Community. This is the first program being offered through this grant.

HARBOR, Inc. serves and will sponsor representatives from the City of Harbor Springs and the Townships of Cross Village, Friendship, Little Traverse, Pleasantview, Readmond and West Traverse. HARBOR, Inc. will also sponsor community leaders in the City of Petoskey, Bear Creek Township, Resort Township and the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians in an effort to further the work of the Petoskey Area Open Space Task Force. Please contact Danna Widmar at ed@harborinc.org or (231) 526-5060 if you are interested in applying for one the available spaces.

December 11, 2004, Harbor Light
M-119 Trail Easements Prepared for Owner Review

The easements desired to construct a trail along the north side of M-119 separate from the paved shoulder are being pursued. Easement papers and title work were initiated for distribution and review by property owners after the new year. In November, Little Traverse Township received a revenue sharing grant in the amount of $11,600 for the purpose of paying for title work and services to obtain the easements on M-119. Top of Michigan Trails Council and HARBOR, Inc. have assisted in the effort to complete the Little Traverse Wheelway into Harbor Springs.

Property owners are being asked to donate easements and will receive a letter of contribution for the fair market value for income tax purposes. “There are eighteen confirmed property owners participating in the effort,” said Danna Widmar, Executive Director of HARBOR, Inc., the local non-profit organization assisting with the effort. “Some ownership changes have occurred in the past year and some property owners were unavailable previously to discuss the effort, so the total number of participating property owners will likely go up,” said Widmar.

For more information, you can contact Danna Widmar, Executive Director of HARBOR, Inc. at (231) 526-5060 or info@harborinc.org or Bill Dohm, Little Traverse Township Supervisor at (231) 526-0351.

November 10, 2004, Harbor Light
HARBOR, Inc. pursues Open Space and Recreation Program;
Receives Community Support

HARBOR, Inc. will pursue a grant for an Open Space and Recreation Program in the greater Harbor Springs Area. In October, HARBOR, Inc. successfully completed a three year challenge grant with the Frey Foundation. “Successful completion of one program with Frey allows us to pursue additional grant programs,” said Danna Widmar, HARBOR, Inc. Executive Director. The previous challenge grant provided $10,000 to HARBOR, Inc. for each year from 2002-4 once certain goals were completed.

One of the Special Initiatives of HARBOR, Inc. relates to the preservation of valuable open space and recreation land. “Frey Foundation is very interested in the environment. We’re hopeful to work with them on this important subject,” said Widmar.

Recently, the Petoskey Area Open Space Task Force worked on this very issue for Resort Township, Bear Creek Township, City of Petoskey and the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians. “We will be able to capitalize on the information and conclusions of the Petoskey Area Open Space Task Force,” said Widmar. HARBOR, Inc. will be meeting with each of the jurisdictions within the Harbor Springs School District to discuss working together to achieve common goals. The City of Harbor Springs and Friendship Township have each formally indicated an interest in the effort.

HARBOR, Inc. coordinates the efforts of multiple units of government and serves the greater Harbor Springs area including residents and property owners of the City of Harbor Springs and the Townships of Cross Village, Friendship, Little Traverse, Pleasantview, Readmond, and West Traverse.

HARBOR, Inc. is a citizen based, non-profit, Michigan Corporation formed as a result of a grass-roots effort by concerned local citizens. The purpose of HARBOR, Inc. is to pursue the community vision and to act as a resource for local units of government, property owners associations, residents and others, when decisions are made that affect the greater community. For more information about HARBOR, Inc, you can contact the organization at (231) 526-5060 or info@harborinc.org.

October 27, 2004, Harbor Light
HARBOR, Inc. HOSTS APA AUDIO/WEB CONFERENCES

HARBOR, Inc. will host a series of audio/web conferences over the next year, with the first one on New Technologies for Planning and Public Participation. Next Wednesday, November 3rd at 4:00 – 5:30 pm will be the first in a series of conferences available through the American Planning Association. “We’ve decided to offer these sessions to the community so that national land use and planning education courses can be made available locally,” said HARBOR, Inc. Executive Director, Danna Widmar. These sessions are prepared and conducted by the American Planning Association annually.

The first session, New Technologies for Planning and Public Participation, will discuss the latest and most effective tools and technology available for increasing civic engagement. “It will be interesting to see the tools used in other areas of the county since we are just now forging into the use of a community website to disburse information,” said Widmar.

Future sessions include Planning and Public Health on December 1, 2004, a Zoning Clinic on February 16, 2005, Development Finance and Pro Formas on May 25, 2005, and Planning, Environmental and Land Use Law on June 29, 2005. The sessions will be held at 4:00 pm at the Harbor Springs Middle School Large Group Meeting Room. Cost per session is $10. For more information contact Executive Director Danna Widmar at (231) 526-5060 or info@harborinc.org.

October 6, 2004, Harbor Light
HARBOR, Inc. ELECTS NEW OFFICERS

HARBOR, Inc. is a local grass roots organization devoted to fulfilling the collective vision for the greater Harbor Springs area. Recently, new officers were elected to the organization including Tom Gallagher, Chairman; Denise Simon, Vice-Chairman; Kathy Erber, Treasurer; and Kathie Breighner, Secretary. Dan Branson, Al Dika and Mary Ellen Hughes were also appointed to serve on the Executive Committee.

HARBOR, Inc. serves the greater Harbor Springs area including residents and property owners of the City of Harbor Springs and the Townships of Cross Village, Friendship, Little Traverse, Pleasantview, Readmond and West Traverse. HARBOR, Inc. has the same boundaries as the Harbor Springs School District.

Currently, the organization is working to fulfill four Specials Initiatives including Open Space and Recreation Planning, Development of a Community Website, Implementation of Non-Motorized Trails, and Assisting Local Governments. For more information about HARBOR, Inc, you can contact Executive Director Danna Widmar at (231) 526-5060 or info@harborinc.org.

September 8, 2004, Harbor Light
HARBOR, Inc. HOLDS EVENT AT
ODAWA TRIBAL GOVERNMENT COMPLEX

This week, the HARBOR, Inc. Official’s Gathering is being held at the Little Traverse Bay Bands Tribal Government Complex. Elected and appointed county-wide officials are invited to this semi-annual event. The Official’s Gathering offers local officials the opportunity to network outside their normal boundaries, to exchange common ideas and concerns and to share information that assists in improved delivery of government practices and services.

“We are honored to hold this event at the Tribal Government Complex,” said Danna Widmar, HARBOR, Inc. Executive Director. “The structure of the Odawa Government is somewhat unclear to a lot of people. This is such a great opportunity to broaden our perspective of doing business.”

Frank Ettawageshik, Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians Tribal Chairman, will introduce Odawa officials and their form of government. A video of the organization will also be presented. The Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians is one of HARBOR, Inc.’s member organizations.

HARBOR, Inc. coordinates the efforts of multiple units of government and serves the greater Harbor Springs area including residents and property owners of the City of Harbor Springs and the Townships of Cross Village, Friendship, Little Traverse, Pleasantview, Readmond, and West Traverse. HARBOR, Inc. has the same boundaries as the Harbor Springs School District and works to coordinate planning in the region.

HARBOR, Inc. is a citizen based, non-profit, Michigan Corporation formed as a result of a grass-roots effort by concerned local citizens. The purpose of HARBOR, Inc. is to pursue the community vision and to act as a resource for local units of government, property owners associations, residents and others, when decisions are made that affect the greater community. Elected and appointed county-wide officials will be gathering at the Little Traverse Bay Bands Tribal Government Complex on Wednesday, September 8, 2004 at 5:30 pm. For more information about the event or HARBOR, Inc, you can contact the organization at (231) 526-5060 or info@harborinc.org.

April 14, 2004, Harbor Light
HARBOR, Inc. Organizes Joint Municipal Planning Education Program

Local officials and citizens will have the opportunity to learn about the recently approved state Joint Municipal Planning Act and how it can benefit local communities. The educational program is being hosted by HARBOR, Inc. and is scheduled for Wednesday, April 14, 2004 at 5:30 pm at the Harbor Springs Middle School Cafeteria. Cost is $15.00 per person.

This year’s Planning Education Series organized by HARBOR, Inc. will focus on the means of implementing the various responsibilities of local Planning Commissions and Elected Officials. This first program will evaluate the Joint Municipal Planning Act and how it relates to the other planning and zoning acts established in Michigan.

Rod Cortright of MSU Extension and Danna Widmar will be discussing the planning aspects of considering the law. Brian Graham will discuss another tool, the joint legal services agreement that 13 of 15 Townships participated in Charlevoix County.

HARBOR, Inc. is a citizen based, non-profit, Michigan Corporation formed as a result of a grass-roots effort by concerned local citizens. The purpose of HARBOR, Inc. is to pursue the community vision and to act as a resource for local units of government, property owners associations, residents and others, when decisions are made that affect the greater community. For more information about the program or HARBOR, Inc, you can contact the organization at (231) 526-5060 or info@harborinc.org.

August 11, 2004, Harbor Light
H.A.R.B.O.R., Inc. Presents Website Mapping and Recreational Projects

The Harbor Area Regional Board of Resources, Inc. (HARBOR, Inc.) will host its Annual Meeting for Members on Wednesday, August 11, 2004 at 7:00 PM at the Harbor Springs Middle School Large Group Meeting Room. HARBOR, Inc. serves the same area as the Harbor Springs School District including the City of Harbor Springs and the Townships of Little Traverse, West Traverse, Pleasantview, Friendship, Readmond and Cross Village. Membership is extended to all residents and property owners of that area.

The meeting will give members the opportunity to understand the capabilities of the HARBOR, Inc. Community Website and how to use mapping when evaluating land related issues in the area. “I’m very excited about having maps with Emmet County parcel data on the website. It will help residents and public officials understand the way development occurs in the area,” said Danna Widmar, Executive Director of HARBOR, Inc.

At the meeting, HARBOR, Inc. will also provide information on an upcoming Recreation and Open Space Project and the highly publicized M-119 Non-motorized Trail Project. “HARBOR, Inc. is working with the individual communities in the area to cooperatively plan and execute important projects for the community. There are a lot of consistent and coordinated discussions about ways of improving and preserving our beautiful land,” said Widmar.

HARBOR, Inc. is a citizen based, non-profit, Michigan Corporation formed as a result of a grass-roots effort by concerned local citizens. The purpose of HARBOR, Inc. is to pursue the community vision and to act as a resource for local units of government, property owners associations, residents and others, when decisions are made that affect the greater community. For additional information, contact Danna Widmar, Executive Director, at (231) 526-5060 or P.O. Box 112, Harbor Springs, MI 49740.

March 24, 2004, Harbor Light
Officials to Gather at H.A.R.B.O.R., Inc. Event

Elected and appointed county-wide officials will be gathering at an informal get together on Tuesday, March 30, 2004 at 8:30 am at Nub’s Nob. Officials from the county and all of the townships and cities within the county are invited to the event which is organized and sponsored by the Harbor Area Regional Board of Resources, Inc. (HARBOR, Inc.).

The gathering provides local officials the opportunity to network outside their normal boundaries, to exchange common ideas and concerns, and to share information that assists in the improved delivery of government practices and services.

Wil Cwikiel, Program Director at Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council, will be giving a brief informative and enjoyable program about the status of Michigan’s laws that regulate water withdrawal. “Northern Michigan is blessed with high quality groundwater that is important to our local wetlands, streams, and lakes,” said Wil. Currently, there is no framework to regulate water use in Michigan. The discussion will describe the issues around water withdrawal and summarize pending legislation. Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council is one of HARBOR, Inc.’s member organizations

HARBOR, Inc. coordinates the efforts of multiple units of government and serves the greater Harbor Springs area including residents and property owners of the City of Harbor Springs and the Townships of Cross Village, Friendship, Little Traverse, Pleasantview, Readmond, and West Traverse. HARBOR, Inc. has the same boundaries as the Harbor Springs School District and works to coordinate planning in the region. The official’s gathering includes county-wide officials because so many of the issues shared by HARBOR, Inc. area residents are shared throughout the county.

HARBOR, Inc. is a citizen based, non-profit, Michigan Corporation formed as a result of a grass-roots effort by concerned local citizens. The purpose of HARBOR, Inc. is to pursue the community vision and to act as a resource for local units of government, property owners associations, residents and others, when decisions are made that affect the greater community. The Official’s Gathering is a semi-annual event. For more information about the event or HARBOR, Inc, you can contact the organization at (231) 526-5060 or info@harborinc.org.

February 18, 2004, Harbor Light
HARBOR, Inc. Website

HARBOR, Inc., an organization that serves the greater Harbor Springs Area, recently launched a new website at www.liaa.org/harbor. The permanent address at www.harborinc.org also directs users to the LIAA site while under construction. The new website offers community information and links to a number of area organizations and units of government. It is a project of the Harbor Area Regional Board of Resources, Inc. (HARBOR, Inc.) of Harbor Springs in partnership with Land Information Access Association (LIAA) of Traverse City.

HARBOR,Inc. is a unique organization that coordinates the efforts of multiple units of government and serves the greater Harbor Springs area including residents and property owners of the City of Harbor Springs and the Townships of Cross Village, Friendship, Little Traverse, Pleasantview, Readmond, and West Traverse. HARBOR, Inc. has the same boundaries as the Harbor Springs School District and works to coordinate planning in the region. The new website will allow us to truly fulfill our purpose of being a community resource, said Danna Widmar, Executive Director, HARBOR, Inc. We are offering a user training session on February 24th at 5:30 pm at the Harbor Springs Middle School Computer Room that provides information to area organizations on how to link to our site.

Already, several governmental agencies are participating in the new site including Little Traverse Township, West Traverse Township, Friendship Township, and the City of Harbor Springs. The website development is a year long project of HARBOR, Inc. The project provides a simple, usable website structure that allows multiple users to input and maintain portions of the site. Community organizations can use the site to communicate and coordinate activities. The project was funded in part by a $17,500 grant from the Department of Environmental Quality’s coastal management program. The grant allowed HARBOR, Inc. to work with LIAA to implement mapping capacities on the website. The site is designed to facilitate intergovernmental cooperation, a primary objective of HARBOR, Inc., said Joe VanderMeulen, Ph.D., Executive Director, Land Information Access Association.

Each week, HARBOR, Inc. publishes The Community Conduit, an electronic newsletter that offers information on upcoming meetings in the area including agendas and meeting details. A free subscription to The Community Conduit is available on the website. HARBOR, Inc. is a citizen based, non-profit, Michigan Corporation formed as a result of a grass-roots effort by concerned local citizens. The purpose of HARBOR, Inc. is to pursue the community vision and to act as a resource for local units of government, property owners associations, residents and others, when decisions are made that affect the greater community. This website is a major step in establishing that resource base!

December 21, 2003, Harbor Light
HARBOR, Inc. RECEIVES DEQ GRANT AND CITY OF HARBOR SPRINGS FUNDS TO PROCEED WITH IMPORTANT INITIATIVES

HARBOR, Inc. received notification in November of a $17,500 grant from the Department of Environmental Quality Coastal Management Program so that mapping can be added to the new community website under construction. The website is designed to be used by and for community organizations and the local governments in a six township region which also includes the City of Harbor Springs.

Also, last Monday, the City of Harbor Springs unanimously approved a $5,000 contribution to the organization and noted the importance of the educational programs sponsored by HARBOR, Inc. Mayor Al Dika said he hoped the City would take this opportunity to be a leader in assisting the organization by providing funds.