Have you ever wondered about being a lighthouse keeper? Let's find out! Today we talk with Larry Becker and Mimi Herrington from the Pointe aux Barques Maritime Museum.

They discuss the history, restoration efforts, and community involvement in maintaining the lighthouse and the life-saving station in Port Hope, Michigan. The episode also highlights the challenges and triumphs related to preserving the lighthouse and the establishment of the Life Saving Station, emphasizing their roles in maritime history.

Links:

Website: https://pointeauxbarqueslighthouse.org/

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/pointeauxbarques

Subscribe to our Email Newsletter: https://totalmichigan.com/join/

Find us on Facebook: https://facebook.com/totalmichigan

Watch on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@totalmichigan

Show Notes:

00:00 The Great Fire Near the Life Saving Station

01:04 Meet the Pointe Aux Barques Maritime Museum Team

01:27 History of the Pointe Aux Barques Lighthouse

02:23 Life Saving Station and Its Restoration

02:41 Mimi's Journey Back to Michigan

03:37 Larry's Involvement with the Lighthouse

04:43 The Early Days of the Lighthouse

10:16 The U.S. Life Saving Service

14:08 Restoration Efforts and Historical Insights

15:35 A Glimpse into the Past

16:29 Sponsor Break and What's Next

17:02 Welcome Back to Total Michigan

17:08 The Pointe Aux Barques Maritime Museum

17:25 Maintaining the Lighthouse

17:46 The Keepers Program

18:37 Collaborative Efforts with the County

20:04 The Assistant Keeper Program

22:13 Membership and Volunteer Programs

25:53 The Annual Festival

27:21 Restoration Efforts

29:57 Connecting with the Museum

31:55 Conclusion and Farewell

Have you ever kayaked Pictured Rocks? Meet one of the owners who can make this experience happen for you! Bill Duckwall, the owner of Paddling Michigan, recounts his journey from being a commercial pilot to establishing a thriving adventure company offering kayaking tours, lodging, and more in Munising, Michigan. He discusses the challenges of staffing in a small town, the expansion of his business to include various adventurous packages, and how listening to customers' needs has driven his business growth.

Links:

Paddling Michigan Website: https://www.paddlingmichigan.com/

Subscribe to our Email Newsletter: https://totalmichigan.com/join/

Find us on Facebook: https://facebook.com/totalmichigan

Watch on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@totalmichigan

Show Notes:

00:00 Introduction and Initial Challenges

00:26 Welcome to Total Michigan

01:02 Meet Bill Duckwall of Paddling Michigan

01:15 What is Paddling Michigan?

02:02 The Beauty of Pictured Rocks

02:46 Bill's Background and Journey to Michigan

04:42 The Birth of Paddling Michigan

08:13 Expanding the Business

09:15 Challenges in Staffing

12:55 Uncle Ducky and Business Diversification

14:51 Vacation Packages and Offerings

22:09 Seasonal Operations and Charter Fishing

23:31 Listening to Customers and Final Thoughts

24:46 How to Find Paddling Michigan

25:42 Conclusion and Farewell

The world of long boards is about to change. Ryan Pelletier, the founder of Morphite Boards. Ryan is a student at Scott L. Carmona College of Business at Saginaw Valley State University. He shares his journey of developing a collapsible skateboard that fits into a backpack. He discusses how SVSU supported his project through access to resources and grants, the initial skepticism and eventual interest in his product online, and his plans for the future, including potential production and investor involvement.

Links:

Morphite Board Website: http://morphiteboards.com/

Moprhite Boards on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morphiteboards/

Subscribe to our Email Newsletter: https://totalmichigan.com/join/

Find us on Facebook: https://facebook.com/totalmichigan

Watch on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@totalmichigan

Show Notes:

00:00 Introduction

01:57 The Concept and Development of Morphite Boards

03:13 Ryan's Background and Entrepreneurial Journey

05:44 Interest in Skateboarding and Longboarding

08:22 Challenges and Doubts in Development

11:11 Support from SVSU and Moving Forward

13:41 Online Reactions and Negative Feedback

19:02 Business Setup and Future Plans

28:49 Conclusion and Contact Information