The City of Manitowoc is applying for a grant to help a local boat manufacturer.
   The Harbor Assistance Program Grant would go toward dredging 11,500 cubic yards of sediment from Burger Boat’s launch well and dock wall area to be able to launch a 180-foot yacht under construction.
   The total cost for the dredging will be approximately $1.6 million, with the grant covering around $1.3 million and Burger Boat contributing approximately $326,000.
   Over the years, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has maintained the 12-foot-deep federal navigation channel to allow for lake trials and the delivery of yachts to Burger Boat customers.   
   But it’s the Manitowoc boat company’s responsibility to maintain adequate depths from their dock wall in the channel.
   In a cover letter, Mayor Justin Nickels states that Burger Boat has been constructing high-end luxury yachts for over 60 years, and the dredging would enable the efficient construction and launch of current and future boats.

Marine Historical Society of Detroit
Now Accepting New Members, Renewals

DETROIT, MI – You don’t have to live in the Motor City to join the Marine Historical Society of Detroit. Its focus includes all the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway as well as the ships and sailors keeping the economies of two countries moving.
    The 81-year-old non-profit group is now accepting new memberships and membership renewals. 
    “The MHSD has plenty to offer anyone interested in and concerned with the history of the Great Lakes and its vibrant maritime heritage,” says long-time group President Roger LeLievre. “We have members across the U.S. and Canada and even overseas.”
    Membership includes the monthly publication The Detroit Marine Historian, which offers a variety of articles exploring Great Lakes shipping past and present. It also includes an annual, full-color calendar featuring superb, often rare, photos of Great Lakes ships of the past.
    Last year the group published the 300-page, hardcover book Ahoy & Farewell III, documenting the vessels built and those that left the lakes during the past 30 years. The book recently won an award for excellence from the Historical Society of Michigan.
    In keeping with society’s goal of preserving historical images, the MHSD’s image portal, featuring photos and details of many historic vessels, is now online at www.marinehistorydetroit.historyit.com

    The Society has named an annual Historian of the Year since 1969. The award is voted on by past winners and honors those who have contributed significantly to the research, presentation or publication of Great Lakes ships and the shipping history.
    Membership is $40 (U.S. and Canada). Join online at www.mhsd.org. To join or renew by mail, please print out the form in the gallery below.
MHSD

Donations sought to restore historic Muskegon lighthouse

BY Brian Farber Michigan
PUBLISHED 10:52 AM ET Aug. 18, 2025

MUSKEGON, Mich. — The Muskegon South Breakwater Lighthouse, a maritime landmark that has guided ships into Muskegon’s harbor for nearly a century, is in desperate need of community support to fund critical restoration work.
    “Muskegon South Breakwater Light has been subjected to the storms and brutality of the winters of the Midwest. It was built in 1930 and has had these damages ever since. Not fully restored ever before,” said Kim Lange, volunteer manager for Muskegon Lights.
    The damage is extensive and affects both the exterior and internal structure of the lighthouse.
    “The entire light has been subject to rust and erosion of the structural pieces. The exterior sheets are very bad condition, you can see. But internally, the inner structure, kind of like an erector set, needs to be gone over with a fine-tooth comb, pieces replaced, pieces fixed,” Lange explained.
    The state has provided $800,000 in initial funding for the restoration project, but Muskegon Lights has to raise the rest of the money.
    “We need to raise an additional $800,000 through the community donations,” Lange said.
    According to Michigan Lights, The Michigan Lighthouse Conservancy has owned both Muskegon lighthouses since 2010, when they were donated by the United States government for historic preservation, education and public use through the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act, administered by the National Park Service.
    Lange says for many residents, the lighthouse represents more than just a navigational aid.
    “The light is an iconic treasure of the city of Muskegon. For most people, it has been in their sight here at the beach all of their lives. It has great importance for maritime safety, and it has historic presence,” Lange noted. “The community loves our lights. They’re very important to us both emotionally and physically. To save these lights is vital for the continuation of their historical presence for generations to come,” she added.
     Beyond financial support, the conservancy is also looking for volunteers to help with preservation efforts, give tours and perform routine maintenance on the lighthouses.
    According to Michigan Lights, both lighthouses are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and while the structures are owned by the conservancy, the US Coast Guard continues to maintain the blinking lights and fog signals that serve as aids to navigation for Lake Michigan boaters.

Click on link for complete story and photos:  https://spectrumnews1.com/wi/milwaukee/news/2025/08/18/donations-sought-to-restore-historic-muskegon-lighthouse-?fbclid=IwY2xjawMRaTZleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHnmH4EgNqCKySLtbCMFoKT3OoHuN2sKE4TV-ySFhuGREKeZQplKy5FIrAfTw_aem_bWGSBbETnjs8fYeZlWWu6A

For more information on how to donate to the restoration project, visit the Muskegon Lights website.  https://muskegonlights.org/