Vince Hoehn of CENTURY 21 Pierce Realty LLC, Manitowish Waters, WI

I previously wrote about the change in the Fouth of July fireworks show location - be here before you know it! - and the town taking over management of the Little Star Lake Park.  http://www.vincehoehn.com/blogs/vince_hoehn/archive/2009/05/11/community-information-new-this-year-in-manitowish-waters.aspx   What else will be new or different this year?

• This year may see a change in the Rest Lake dam operating rules.  The question of possible changes in the operating rules has been been a source of great concern of the whole community for years, but the matter may finally be coming to a head.  The DNR has indicated that they should have the Environmental Assessment done by early summer.  This assessment must be completed before the DNR can propose any changes to how dam operation is managed.  Before any proposed changes are implemented, public hearings will be held.  A number of organizations are closely monitoring the process, and any DNR proposals that dramatically change the operating rules to the detriment of waterfront owners and recreational users of our 10 lake chain will most certainly be contested in court.  Stick around, it might get very interesting, but truth be told, I really hope that it doesn't - meaning that that any changes proposed (preferred scenario: none) will be minor and ones that the community can live with.

• For the first two years of its existence, the Northern Highlands Music Festival has been held in Manitowish Waters.  Attendance for the first two festivals never met even the modest goals set for this start-up venture.  Sometimes one must choose between adapt or die, so the festival sponsors, the Manitowish Waters Community Foundation, made the business decision to combine their efforts with those of the Lake of the Torches Casino and Convention Center.  This year the music fest will be held at the outdoor amphitheater in Lac du Flambeau on July 25^th and feature the music of Sugar Ray, Smash Mouth, The Spin Doctors, and The Vic Ferrari Band.  The Festival is not geared to any one type of music -- last year's performers were Country; this year's, as you can see, are anything but.  It's too bad that the festival had to leave town, but who knows, if the festival survives and grows, maybe it could come back home someday.

• While we are on music, this is not really new, but the Music in the Park free concert series hosted by the Pea Patch last year is coming back for another run.  Last year it was held in Koller Park (downtown, by the dam) on Sunday afternoons through most of July and August and featured such local favorites as Bret and Fisk.  What is different (I believe) is that the series is to be expanded somewhat this year, possibly starting in late June.  I attended several of these last year and it was a great way to spend a late Sunday afternoon.  Many people came by boat, and when tied up to the pier, were only several yards from the musicians.   If you find yourself in town on a Sunday afternoon this summer, I recommend that you check this out.

Here is a photo from the Festival last year.  That is Rest Lake at the top of the photo, and the concert stage is sitting on top of the grass runway, 04/22.