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

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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/

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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

Jimmy Sherman, an autistic entrepreneur, shares his journey of overcoming challenges from childhood to establish 'Jimmy Frank's Hot Dogs,' a food truck business specializing in hot dogs and Michigan-based products. Despite his struggles with autism and dyslexia, Jimmy's drive led him to create a venture that not only aims to succeed but also plans to provide employment opportunities for others on the autism spectrum. Supported by his mother Jeanine and the community, Jimmy's business celebrates inclusion, purpose, and achieving dreams.

Links:

Jimmy Frank's Hot Dogs Facebook (Click here)

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

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

Show Notes:

00:36 Introduction to Total Michigan and Jimmy Sherman

01:15 Meet Jimmy and Jeanine Sherman

01:27 The Origin of Jimmy Frank's Hot Dogs

02:15 Jimmy's Childhood and Overcoming Challenges

07:15 Educational Journey and Specialized Programs

09:50 Jimmy's Entrepreneurial Spirit and Hot Dog Cart Dream

13:45 First Hot Dog Sale and Marketing Strategies

15:53 Jimmy's Role in the Business and Future Plans

16:32 Sponsor Break and Upcoming Content

17:08 Welcome Back and Recap

17:32 The Hot Dog Business Idea

18:23 Choosing Michigan Products

18:55 Challenges in Starting the Business

20:51 Getting the Food Trailer

23:49 Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

25:33 Future Plans and Inclusion

29:19 Grand Opening Event

31:12 Conclusion and Contact Information

Lawry's Pasties has been a family-run business since 1946, specializing in traditional Cornish pasties and maintaining the original recipe through four generations. Located in Marquette, Michigan, Pete and Addie Lawry share their journey of rebuilding the business after a devastating fire in the strip mall where their shop was located. They used resourcefulness and determination to start over, which included using equipment from Pete's mother's shop.

With winter months being slow for tourism, Pete and Addie came up with a clever way to keep their business going while reaching UP transplants from around the nation year-round.

Links:

http://lawryspasties.com/

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

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

Show Notes:

00:00 Welcome to Total Michigan

01:24 The History of Lawry's Pasties

02:26 What is a Pasty?

03:38 Generational Business Challenges

07:55 Rebuilding After the Fire

15:15 Shipping Pasties Nationwide

20:09 Local Favorites and Unique Offerings

24:33 How to Connect with Lawry's Pasties

Ready to explore Marquette's trails? Lori Hauswirth and Jeni Kilpela from NTN Trails located in Marquette, Michigan discuss the organization's history, volunteer efforts, and extensive trail system.

In this episode, we cover:

• The importance of community support for trail maintenance
• The diverse year-round activities available on the trails
• The various events that draw people to the area.

Links:

NTN Trails Website: https://noquetrails.org/

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 to NTN Trails

00:29 Welcome to Total Michigan

01:08 Meet Lori and Jeni

01:40 What is NTN Trails?

02:34 Lori's Journey with NTN Trails

03:58 Jeni's Involvement with NTN Trails

05:05 The Origins of NTN Trails

06:07 Funding and Membership

07:45 Trail Maintenance Challenges

08:18 Land Ownership and Partnerships

10:27 Year-Round Trail Use

16:26 Volunteer Contributions

19:14 Key Events and Festivals

23:36 Membership Benefits

25:19 Visitor Information and Support

26:53 Conclusion and Contact Information

What better way to appreciate Marquette than through its history? Hilary Billman, the Executive Director of the Marquette Maritime Museum discusses the museum's efforts to restore trust with the community after financial mismanagement, Hilary's journey from St. Louis to Marquette, and the challenges and successes of reviving the museum, including updates to exhibits and new additions like the opening of the second floor of the lighthouse for artifacts.

Links:

Marquette Maritime Museum Website: https://mqtmaritimemuseum.com

Marquette Maritime Museum Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mqtmaritime.museum

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

01:03 Exploring Marquette Maritime Museum

02:00 Hilary Billman's Journey to Marquette

06:30 Challenges and Rebuilding the Museum

12:05 Coming Back Stronger

13:33 Exhibits and Artifacts at the Museum

15:58 The Marquette Lighthouse

18:28 Special Exhibits and Events

24:09 Visiting the Museum and Final Thoughts

Want to go sailing around Lake Michigan? Then meet Patrick McKee, President of Aquastar Cruises.

Patrick shares his family's generations-old connection to the maritime industry, the process of acquiring and renaming the Aquastar, and the exciting range of themed and public cruises they offer on Muskegon Lake and Lake Michigan.

The discussion highlights Aquastar Cruises' contributions to the community, their dedication to safety, and their commitment to creating memorable experiences for passengers.

Links:

Aquastar Website: https://aquastarcruises.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 The McKee Brothers' Dilemma

00:23 Welcome to Total Michigan

00:51 Introducing Patrick McKee and Aquastar Cruises

01:47 Patrick McKee's Background and Family Business

05:00 The History of Aquastar and Its Predecessors

07:47 The Rebirth of Aquastar

12:49 Aquastar's Themed Cruises and Community Engagement

14:36 How to Experience Aquastar Cruises

21:25 Seasonal Highlights and Special Events

24:15 Conclusion and Contact Information