Messages

This page is available for current announcements such as road closures, events, and also displays  requested postings from residents.  Please request a message posting by clicking here 

Announcements

Click HERE to read the minutes of the 7-6-24 Annual Meeting 

Click HERE to read the minutes of the latest Wilderness Association Board meeting minutes.

Help is available for neighbors unable to tend garlic mustard infestation on their property. Joey Gannon and Colby Brown are experienced garlic mustard pullers who have worked in the Wilderness in the past. They are also available for general yard work. They work individually and the rate for service is $15.00 per hour. Each may be reached by cell phone.


Joey Gannon  616-499-1648

Colby Brown  616-402-6273


Messages from residents

KEEPERS OF THE PATH

In the spring of 2015 Jane and I hired Grand Haven contractor Todd Bosgraf to design, construct, and lay the wooden path to the Wilderness Beach. It is made of ipe, a durable wood that grows in the rain forests of Brazil. The many six-foot sections make a flexible but stable walkway. In the first few years, there was no need to protect the path from winter storms. However, in 2022 persistent winds blew across the dunes and buried the path under more than three feet of sand and covered most of the two memorial benches. This called for action to prevent a recurrence. Since then, attending to the wooden path to the Wilderness Beach has become an annual fall and spring event. On a Sunday morning this November, Wilderness neighbors Larry Burns, his son-in-law Jackson from Chicago, and Mark Hauser joined Jane and me at the Wilderness Beach to roll up western portions of the wooden path and carry the two benches to high ground to protect them from powerful fall and winter winds. In previous years, a shovel brigade included Larry Burns who brought several family members with shovels over their shoulders, Mark Hauser and his nephew Hanes from Royal Oak who offered the largest number of shovels per household, Laird Schafer with his pole digger, Tat Noll who came with another shovel and joy, John Job and Mary Ellen Mika who added a broom and yet more shovels, and two watchful dogs. I am grateful for their generous help.

The walkway has endured well. It is sturdy and shows no signs of weathering, except for the mellow driftwood color of the ipe. The path makes it easier for people to trek over the dune destined for the beach, especially those with wagons, strollers, walkers, canes, infants, umbrellas, foldable chairs, and all manner of beach gear in bags.  That is just about everyone.

Wally Ewing

You cannot be neurotic on the beach.


2022 Path excavation