February 20, 2010 - Congressman John Dingell, longtime supporter of the City of Luna Pier, will be running for his 28th consecutive two-year term. From the Detroit News

"My dear friends, I am going to file again," Dingell told cheering supporters at the Arbor Brewing Company in Ann Arbor ... "We're going to work together ... to put on the best campaign ever," said Dingell, who represents the 15th Congressional District in southeast Michigan. "We have much more to do... to move this country forward."

February 11, 2010 - A letter to Luna Pier's residents from Mayor Liske:

Residents of Luna Pier:

As a community that lives, works and plays on Lake Erie, we have taken an interest in the dredging of the shipping channel into the Port of Toledo. It has come to our attention that the Army Corp of Engineers has submitted a permit application to Ohio E.P.A. for open dumping of the spoils from dredging the Maumee River and Toledo shipping channel. We have serious concerns about this creating turbidity of the water, which makes a favorable environment for increased algae growth. We have been invaded by a species of algae called Lyngbya Wollei, which is so extensive that it can be seen from satellites in space, and also mycrocystis, which is know to produce toxins. The permit will allow Toledo to dump 2 and a half times the amount of silt as in years past. If you have seen the algae over the last few years imagine that multiplied by nearly three. It is not only a nuisance, but can be a health hazard. As Luna Pier is building a future based on our Master Plan to build up our water front activities in order to reduce our dependency on Consumers Energy this dumping will adversely affect our economic situation significantly. We need as many individuals as possible to send letters of concern to the Ohio EPA which must be received by them before February 22nd. Attached is a sample letter that can be used or you may form a letter of your own, call, or e-mail. For additional information visit the following website and investigate their links concerning this issue:

http://www.westernlakeerie.org

Document Links:

• Mayor Liske's Letter to Residents (PDF)
• Attachment letter to send to Ohio EPA (PDF version)
• Attachment letter to send to Ohio EPA (MS Word 2003 version)

From an email received on January 17, 2010:

"Hi Mary, We just wanted to let you know that the car wash is open! We are running a FIRE SALE. $1.00 Self serve wash!! Thanks, Ted and Rochelle Jensen"

Luna Pier Auto Wash
10550 Evans Drive
Luna Pier, MI 48157
(517) 490-5089

January 17, 2010 - In this morning's Monroe News, Charles Slat writes about the City of Luna Pier's involvement in the Michigan Port Collaborative, which is now being formed. From the article:

[Luna Pier City Administrator Greg Stewart] said his community is hoping its involvement in the group will have multiple benefits. "What we’re looking for is, first of all, ideas," said Mr. Stewart. "I think a number of port cities in Michigan have gotten their acts together. We’re looking for best practices of what’s been done, but we’re also looking at ways to collaborate to either find grant money or influence what’s going on with the Great Lakes" ... "I think this is an excellent opportunity for Monroe County communities on Lake Erie, such as Luna Pier and Monroe," said Chris Heid, a Luna Pier city councilman. "We can learn from the western and northern Michigan port communities, find out what works, and what doesn’t. They can help us identify funding opportunities and speak as an effective voice in Lansing as well as Washington." Mr. Stewart said he and [Pam Stanley, economic development director for the Port of Monroe], along with John Kerr of the Detroit/Wayne County Port Authority, are the three Southeast Michigan representatives on the group’s steering committee. He said the Detroit officials expressed keen interest in the ideas Luna Pier is exploring.

January 14, 2009 - "It has been my honor to serve this City for the past two years and I am pleased that the citizens of Luna Pier have chosen to trust me to continue to look out for their interests. Just two years ago I had said, 'Change is both exciting and unsettling. To create change takes a lot of courage and considerable effort. We now find ourselves with an opportunity to recreate ourselves and move in a positive direction for the improvement of the community.' That statement continues to hold true with more urgency than before. As we face the likelihood of Consumer’s termination we must be of one mind more than ever in order to move forward together as a community. I am grateful for having Greg Stewart and this new Council as partners in this adventure. Each of these individuals brings a unique set of skills in developing a prosperous future for our city. I envision members serving on committees that they can put their heart and soul into. It will be imperative for all of us to make monthly progress evidenced in our Council reports, as even small steps lead to progress..."

Click here to read the full text of Mary's address.

The following is from an article by Steve Pollick in the Toledo Blade published on January 10, 2010:

When it comes to the National Audubon Society's Christmas Bird Count season, the 110th annual edition of which just ended Tuesday, the bald eagle rarely if ever makes the region's "highlights" listed by various count compilers ... "I was able to get a number of photos of the 125 bald eagles we counted [mostly at the Monroe Power Plant], but also an eagle attack on a black duck at the [Luna Pier] Whiting Plant earlier in the day," said Jerry Jourdan, Monroe count compiler for 18-plus seasons ... Cindy Bussell, who lives on Allen's Cove at Luna Pier, did not participate in the bird counts but said she certainly is an eagle fan. She recently has been counting 6 to 18 birds on the edge of the ice on the Lake Erie shoreline, but estimates as many as 50 birds on some occasions. They show up mornings and evenings ... "They're fishing the edge of the ice and open water," Bussell said. "People travel all the way to Alaska to see eagles and we have them right here. It's awesome."

Click here for the rest of the Blade article.

LUNA PIER, Mich., Dec. 29, 2009 – Luna Pier’s city administration was informed in a meeting with representatives from Consumer’s Energy this afternoon at City Hall that key air permits were approved for a clean coal plant project contingent on Consumer’s ceasing operations at a minimum of five of its less efficient coal burning units.

While the City has been preparing for a decision regarding the Consumer’s Energy J.R. Whiting plant, today’s meeting marks the first official announcement from Consumer’s that it has cleared the first hurdle of several required under the new clean air standard regulations.

Click here for a complete copy of this news release from Mayor Liske and City Adminstrator Greg Stewart.

Other Documents: DEQ Cover Letter Consumers Energy News Release DEQ 'Permit To Install', Permit 341-07 (75 pages) Please Note: You may need to download and install the free Adobe Reader to view these documents.

Mayor Liske speaks with 13abc's Christine Long on December 30, 2009 for a news story on how the decisions may affect Luna Pier. Christine's story as broadcast on 13abc at 6 pm on the 30th can be viewed by clicking here.