Tidbits From Around The Near North: Of Dragons, Bears, & A Trip to the Market

Listen up!
Heard about The Dragon yet? This is the non motorized pathway that will circumnavigate Hardy Pond creating a mountain biking Nirvana. It is a joint effort between Newaygo and Mecosta counties awaiting approval from the feds to begin with construction crews at the ready should the anticipated approval arrive in a timely fashion.
Well, this Saturday at Brower Park (9am) and Sandy Beach Park (1pm) you can hear all about it as representatives from Newaygo County Parks & Recreation, Mecosta County Park Commission and Consumers Energy will be onsite to answer questions and explain the project more thoroughly to residents, business owners and visitors.
You’ve heard the rumors...now hear the facts.

Speaking of bears…
Well we weren’t exactly referencing our ursine brethren but since our bear story we’ve been getting  a few notes about sightings in the county now known (according to no less than Forest Service folks) as ‘Bear Country”.
N3 Reader Ron Raedeke sent us this note and a couple of photos about some recent ‘visitors’ to their place on Sylvan Lake.

The photos were taken last Monday, June 17 about 4:00 PM. They was taken by Steve Wever, a contractor who is working next door. The two bears were here the preceding Saturday and again Tuesday night. My days of feeding the Orioles are done for now. 
Sad to say. 

An addendum from Mr. R. :  The red dot in the second pic is my wife’s red shirt. She was not aware of the bears presence. 
Also, I did venture back to setting out two cups of grape jelly this morning. Within two minutes the orange friends were back and thankful. I do intend to take in the jelly when I’m not actually on the screen porch. 

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​The opening of the Farm Market season has arrived however thus far given the so called spring we just endured wasn’t particularly conducive to a flourish of early season delectables hitting the market stands the pickings are a bit slim
A little lettuce and some asparagus made cameo appearances this past week but the colorful cornucopia of crops often making their way around the tables this time of year has been stalled a bit.
Everyone loves having the farm markets available but in order to get vendors to set up shop  business needs to be a bit brisk so get yourself down to one of the markets (Friday afternoon  at Brooks Park and Tuesday afternoon and Saturday morning at Fremont Market Pavilion) and for pity’s sake make a purchase or two. Indulge in a delicious cookie or two from the Koster family booth, perhaps score a little addition to the look of your yard from the always interesting to chat with John Mellema and check out what’s being offered by Cameron and Ronda from Country Roots. 
Support these local vendors and help grow our local farm markets.
And never fear the fruits and veggies are coming. 
A bit late like our summer... but arriving just the same.