September 21, 2009

Hi Everyone,

Howard's pictures of the Columbia fundraiser cruise are posted on the www.boblocrew.com site. 

It was a beautiful day on the river, and besides Brian Pattison, Lloyd Williams, Joe Banks, Mike Mouradian, Capt. Art and Woodie, who we knew were going to be there, we were also surprised to meet, Paul LeVeck, Mark Connelly, Jim Kasuba, Karen Byrd-McCord and Keith McCord at the dock as well!

We got to see the Ste. Claire and Columbia up close from the water again and than headed up the river to the Ambassador Bridge and back to Wyandotte.  The day was relaxing and very enjoyable!  I learned a couple of things on Saturday... One being, that I don't know how today's kids would handle an all day boat shift on the river-lol I took my 2 daughters, and besides being wigged out at the bees checking out their soft drinks, they were initially tortured by the thought that they would have to remain on a boat for 3 hours.  However, once the wind was whipping through their hair, and later when the Wescott delivered pizza to the boat, things got more fun for them, and for me!  Secondly, I'm not sure what was more of a deja vu moment, having Brian Pattison sit next to me during the cruise, not looking a day older than he did in 1989 or coming up to the Clark Street-Boblo Island dock area and feeling like it was only yesterday that I last had made that trip instead of 20 years ago?!  If Brian hadn't been sitting next to me, I would have expected to see him standing at the dock with his dock crew waiting to tie up the boat and bring on more concessions!  What a wonderful and missed memory!!   Although I'm also thinking that after seeing Howard's pictures, that the memory of the 80's aqua net plastered non-moveable hair was not a bad thing or memory either:)

Thanks to Richard Anderson, Lori Feret and Sam Buchanan for a great day and opportunity!

FYI, Mr Lee who operates the boblosteamer and bobloboat sites, is looking for anyone that may have pictures of the LR Beattie when she sailed from Gilbraltar.  If anyone has some former pictures of the boat, I'd appreciate it, if you could scan them and send them to Lee at mrlee@bobloboat.com.

Karen

Click here to view SS Columbia Project Website

September 6, 2009

Hi Everyone,

Here is an article written about the Columbia yesterday by Jim Kasuba at the News Hearld.
http://www.thenewsherald.com/articles/2009/09/05/news/doc4aa28bee9b41e017495734.txt

If anyone is interested in attending the Columbia fundraiser I mentioned last week (details are also given in the newspaper article), please purchase tickets asap!   Ticket sales had been been slow prior to the weekend, but will probably pick up now with the public awareness from the article and only being 2 weeks away!  Brian Pattison, Howard Wright and myself have already purchased 3 of the tickets.  I also spoke with Joe Banks and he and Lloyd Williams were planning on attending as well, but they were trying to reach Tillman, Ted and Bernadine before purchasing tickets.  So, for all you alumni and current crew that couldn't make the reunion this year due to schedule conflicts and/or passport issues, here is a 2nd chance to have some fun, enjoy a boat ride on the river, meet up with some friends and see the Ste. Claire, Columbia and Friendship!!

Karen

Click here to view SS Columbia Project Website

August 18, 2009

Hi Everyone,

It was a long and hot weekend up north,  but we left with great memories and exhausted, so the Boblo Crew can say we had another successful and entertaining gathering, and here is a glimpse for those that were not able to join us....

Our "adventure" started Fri. afternoon, as we headed up to Rogers City.  Chuck and I insured Kenny's attendance by driving him up with us, and although we had him safely seat-belted in, we didn't have to tie him down, or stop him from getting on a plane to Florida.  Taking a road trip for the first time in many years without 3 children, had me thinking it was going to be one of the quietest, easiest and fastest trips we ever took?  However, I learned we still took as many potty breaks as a 7-yr-old does, and even though I didn't have to listen to the movie Cars or Pirates of The Carribean for the 100th time, I instead got to listen to Chuck and Kenny watching and analyzing Slumdog Millionaire for 2 hours in the backseat, and of course heard lots of hysterical Horner stories!

We finally arrived about 5pm, and met up with Capt. Art and Woodie, who beat us by 3hrs, checked in, than checked out our accommodations for the next 2 days.  The motel was very clean and the owner was very nice, but none of us had stayed in a roadside motel for many years if at all-lol.  Had we had our original early week forecast of mid 70's and not the 88 degrees and humidity that followed us up that day, we may not have laughed as much as we did, when we learned that older motels, especially in northern Michigan, often don't have air conditioning.  However our laughter turned into humble smiles, when we saw our thoughtful "welcome" baskets, dropped off by Paul LeVeck!  We than headed downtown, got a glimpse of the Maritime Museum, than had a nice dinner, compliments of Kenny, down the street.  We were than off to see Lake Huron, and back to the motel to await Cindy and Dawn Sine's arrival.  The pool located right in the front of the motel was a perfect spot to sit and wait for their car to pull in, but we all gave up after the mosquitoes came out, and realized the pool was supposed to be closed and were in bed before they arrived at 11pm.  Very early the next morning we were awakened by one of the largest rainfalls Rogers City had ever seen, and thank God our windows pushed out at an angle and didn't have to be closed!  We learned that "Thelma and Louise" aka Cindy and Dawn had arrived safely, than got ready for the big day.  We were all excited to see Paul LeVeck when he arrived to escort us to the KofC Hall for the induction ceremony.  We were also excited to escape the heat and humidity that kicked up a notch after the storm ended, especially Art and Kenny who were wearing long sleeves and suit jackets, as we thought we were off to a nice cool, a/c afternoon.  However, not all halls in northern Michigan have a/c either.

At the hall we were surprised by Capt. Mike Surgalski, his wife Mary and their youngest son, who drove over from Traverse City to see his fellow captains!  Art and Kenny were so glad to see him after all these years and spent time catching up and posing for all of our cameras.  Art and Kenny were inducted with about 26 other men that sailed the Great Lakes, and they were without a doubt, the best dressed, and distinguished sailors in the room!!  We were all so proud of them without even adding in the fact that they sat there for almost 3 hours in their formal dress wear in a hot room full of 200 guests! 

After the ceremony and luncheon we headed over to the Maritime Museum, where we got to enjoy a building with a/c and most importantly got to see Art and Kenny's newly hung honorary frames!  We also learned, that they were not the only Boblo alumni honored on it's walls...Bill Browning, Capt. John Sahorski, Capt. Rod Graham and Bob Engelman were also past inductees!  If you ever get a chance to visit the museum, please do!!  Like all Maritime Museums in the country they display artifacts and share the history of the ships that have sailed our waters, but it is the only one that honors and shows the men and women that served on those ships, including six of our own!!

Once we left the museum, we all headed back to the motel, to change out of our dripping clothes and pick up some cool refreshments.  Than we were off to Paul's cottage where he, his wife Kathy, son Nick and several kind and entertaining neighbors had a wonderful evening of visiting and one very big and delicious backyard barbecue!  We left very full, stopped at a Lake Huron marina, than finished the day/party/talking back at the motel pool, until we were sent to bed at 11pm after having our pool curfew extended 1 hour.

Big hugs and thank you's go out to the Maritime Museum and Paul LeVeck/family, for giving us a great weekend and induction ceremony for Art and Kenny!!  Paul is looking at nominating Capt. Beattie, Capt. Mike and Tim Traynor and possibly others next year, so we may be going back up, and hope you might consider joining us for a lot of fun and laughing until your belly hurts!  We had a great "adventure" (Cindy, Dawn and I's term we adopted while laughing and making the most of our humidity hair and sweat dripping bodies and warm rooms) at the Huron Shores Motel, but we might look into seeing if any motels have installed air conditioners, just in case Rogers City has it's hottest day of the year again next August!

Check on the www.boblocrew.com website to get a view of our very handsome inductees, as well as Capt. Mike and Dawn who have been MIA the past 3 summers (click on image of Art and Kenny on home page to view other images).

Congratulations Captain Art and Captain Kenny!!

Karen

August 2, 2009

Hi Everyone,

Only 2 thoughts come to mind as we look back at yesterday, and try to process the day.... WOW and THANK YOU!!

It could not have been a more perfect day, between the # of attendees (including 2 US attendees, one with no passport and one with no birth certificate, who did arrive back without too much hassle:)), the weather and the location with it's beautiful grounds and pavillion!

We hit a minor glitch early on, when our fun, very friendly & brave bus driver, Bob got to Amherstburg and realized he had to take his greyhoud bus over on the ferry.  He initially was adamant that he was not putting the bus on the ferry as he had no doubt he and his bus were going to end up in the river! After several phone calls with my husband and ferry personnel on the dock to Karyn Anderson and I on the island, the captain of the ferry was able to convince Bob that he had handled bigger and heavier loads before:)  As we learned at the end of the day, Bob did not know how to swim, so we really appreciate Bob facing such a personal fear yesterday in order to get everyone over to the island and back:)  Thank you to Mr. Lee again for securing us the bus and our great driver Bob!!

It was so nice seeing so many of the faces from the past 2 years, as well as so many new ones!!  Having Capt. Rod Graham and his daughter Lori join us, after driving across the state of Michigan yesterday morning, was such a treat, and it was nice having our last captain of the S.S. Ste. Claire and Capt. Art Herrala the last captain of the S.S. Columbia with us!  We also had a last minute addition with Dave Anderson, the Boblo Island Groundskeeper from 1959 to it's closure in1993!  I could go on and on, but it was special having everyone there, whether in the past, you served food, operated a ride, worked in an office, ran a game, wore a Boblo Bear costume, secured the island or boats, operated a boat, or are currently restoring a boat!!  You are all a part of Boblo's past, present and future!

We were able to wish Capt. Art a Happy 80th b-day, and he was able to inspire all of us to look and feel that "80" can be pretty darn good!  Thank you to all who sang Happy Birthday, shared in his cake and signed his picture mat!

We had lots of Boblo explorers!  From those that visited the Dance hall and area around the paviliion, to others that embarked to other areas such as the space needle, old dock and the old putt-putt area.  Some were even braver, renting bikes to explore the island, and "three amigos," I hear were in areas with weeds up to their faces, maybe feeling like the early settlers seeing Boblo Island for the first time:)?!

Our own Scott Shuttleworth grilled some great bugers, brats and hot dogs and The General Store offered some extra treats and many enjoyed ice cream, snow cones and cotton candy back near the marina which really brought back the smells and enjoyment of the old amusement park!

Ron Kattoo and Saqib Nakadar spoke about the progress of the Ste. Claire and hope for the 2010 season, and Ron even got a chance to be reunited with a couple of childhood schoolmates who were residents on the island and visiting the pool nearby when Howard announced his name:)  Ron and Saqib mentioned that they will be getting wood in the next few weeks to begin re-building her decks, but what they didn't stress, is if anyone has some time, motivation and especially some carpentry skills, they could really use your help over the next few months to get her ready to be pulled out next season for her 100th b-day!!  Sign-up for the volunteer list on www.bobloboat.com, and you'll be notfited of volunteer days and times.

Paul LeVeck spoke about Capt. Art Herrala and Capt. Ken Horner's induction into the Maritime Museum  in Roger City, MI on August 15th, and discussed how others could be considered and selected for future inductions..

In addition to Jim Kasuba, the Downriver News Herald Reporter who is also considered a Boblo Crewmember due to his extensive support and past articles about the Boblo boats, we had a suprise visit from a Windsor Star reporter and photographer, so hopefully with some more media exposure, our Boblo Family will only continue to grow!  I will let you know when the articles will be printed and/or send you the links.   Jim besides reporting on so many pressing issues each day, is looking to incorporate the island, Ste. Claire and Columbia info. and progress in one article, and the Columbia's contribution won't be obtained until an event tentatively scheduled for next month.  So thank you to Jim, and also thank you to Karyn Anderson at Bob-lo who apparently tipped off the Windsor Star:)!

We introduced our own Karen McCord, who is running for Detroit City Council, so if you are able to vote in Detroit's primary on Tuesday, be sure to add in her vote, as besides being a great gal, she's a Boblo supporter, and could possibly pull some strings for Ron and Saqib in the future!!

Finally, we were able to get a full group picture at the end of the day, minus a few that had to leave early, and that along with the other photos that Howard took throughout the day should be posted on www.boblocrew.com in the next couple of days.  If anyone would like their photos to be submitted on the website, please send them to Howard or the site!

Dates for next year will be forthcoming.  Looks like we may be doing (2) next year.  One on the island, as it's a perfect site for a reunion and our Canadian alumni increased drastically over the past couple of months, and one on the US side hopefully incorporating the Ste. Claire and honoring her 100th b-day (attendance will be open to all for either reunion)!!  After next year, we'll determine if we will continue with (2) reunions or alternate sides each year?!

THANK YOU AGAIN for those that made yesterday possible, and for those that were not able to attend, we hope you'll re-join us or come for the first time next year!

Karen, Howard, Ted, Scott Shuttleworth & Lori Voutt-Morin
 (as you can see, we recruited a couple more greatly needed and greatly qualified planners yesterday !!!

March 10, 2009

Hi Everyone,

Hopefully spring and summer are coming soon, and just wanted to let everyone know what has been transpiring over the winter....

We have scheduled, Saturday, August 1, 2009 as this year's reunion date.  It will be held on Boblo Island.  Howard, Ted and I are just waiting for the weather to break, so that we can take a trip over to the island and meet with the people in charge at the island and check out the logistics.  Once we do, we will provide more details to everyone!  U.S. crewmembers, should keep in mind that rather we travel to the reunion through Amherstburg or a boat from the US side, they are stating after June 1, 2009 that passports, passport cards or the new special Michigan license will be required to travel into Canada!

Also mark your calendar for the weekend of August 15-16, as Captains Art Herrala and A. Kenneth Horner will be inducted into the Maritime Museum in Roger City, MI!  A big thank you goes out to our own Paul LeVeck, for coordinating this honor on behalf Captain Art and Kenny!!  He is also working on several other crewmembers for future inductee ceremonies, so if you have anyone you would like to have inducted, please pass along any info to Paul at  plev40anch@yahoo.com !  Paul also recently informed me, that Captain Art was also nominated for the Captain Louis Maritime Award, congratulations Captain Art!  Hope you and Woodie are enjoying Florida and return soon to accept your awards:)!

Also, hopefully as we speak, the ice is breaking up on the Detroit River, and our beloved Ste. Claire and shipkeeper, Ski are thawing out from another rough winter:)  For anyone interested, I haven't seen her since late October, but I would imagine Ron and Ski could use some assistance in just getting things cleaned up on the decks and probably down below, since the engine room and galley were Ski's winter projects. I would assume once the weather warms up, that there will be crewmembers down in Ecorse each weekend.  

With the economy, sponsors and support are going to be even more difficult than they have been in the past, but I'm hoping with our long list of contacts, that maybe we can get awareness and/or $ going into the project, and at least get something moving so that we can all enjoy her dockside again for her 100th birthday next May and next year's reunion?!  I have been writing (stalking:)) Eric Smith at channel 7 for over a year, to do a follow-up story to his original "From The Heart," he did on the ships a few years back. I'm thinking if we could get several other crewmembers contacting him, that maybe something could finally get scheduled this spring or summer?!  If you get a few moments, contact him or his "From The Heart" co-producer, Carolyn Clifford at www.wxyz.com (click on "About Channel 7" at the top of the page, than click on "Anchors and Reporters" on the left sidebar),and ask that the efforts of Dr. Ron and the restoration crew be featured in an upcoming episode!   Another idea to either generate sufficient funds and/or renovations for the Ste. Claire, is to possibly get her booked as a movie location site for all these films that are coming to Michigan.  I have contacted several companies that coordinate things for movies coming into town, but if anyone has any personal contacts with anyone in the industry, we'd greatly appreciate any closer connections we could make!  Several of us remember watching that Pat Morito film being filmed in the warehouse next to the Clark St. dock, from the decks of the Ste. Claire, but I'm hoping with all these films coming to Detroit that in the near future, her decks will be featured!

Finally, if you intend to change your e-mail address or know of someone in the group that has, please contact us with the new info.!  We had 4 returned e-mails with the Don Reid notice a couple of weeks ago, that were no longer active.  We have never nor would omit anyone from our listing, unless we have have been notified that the accounts are no longer in use, they have requested removal or have blocked our address.  Occasionally we get notice that e-mail boxes are full, but when that has happened, I have made a point of going in once or twice after that to re-send them and have been successful.

Think spring, and we will be in contact soon!

Karen, Howard and Ted

February 28, 2009

It is with a heavy heart, that I inform our Boblo family, that Don Reid passed away this morning.

For those of you who did not attend the first Boblo reunion, Don was an oiler on the S.S. Ste Claire from 1942-1944, and flew from the state of Washington just to be able the see the Ste.Claire again. This was not an easy task for him, due to some medical difficulties that required him to use a scooter. However, he made it to Detroit, and several of us, will forever remember the emotion and tears in his eyes, when he first saw the Ste. Claire from the deck of the Detroit Princess and again when he went down to the engine room on the Ste. Claire and took a moment to touch the levers and remember the engine and his 2 summers on her!

For those of us on his e-mail list, we received lots of e-mails about his activities out west, his beloved dog Sammi, and often he would talk about his desire to come back to Detroit again once the Ste. Claire was running again on the river. I'm sad that he won't be here to share that day with us, as I don't think anyone would have been more estatic about her being on the river again, even including Ron.

Per his daughter Cheryl, Don was on his motorcycle this morning with his dog Sammi when they were involved in an accident. It was a beautiful sunny day, in AZ (his winter home) and her dad was doing what he loved and was with his best friend. He will be greatly missed!

Karen

Click here to View Don Reid's Boblo Crew menbers page.

Friday, February 27, 2009, 12:03 AM

Dear Friends of Don Reid,

I'm sad to report that my father, Don Reid, passed away  as the result of a motorcycle accident this morning.  His beloved dog, Sammi,  joined Dad on their next journey. Dad knew Sammi for 19 years and this great little dog was blind, deaf, diabetic and arthritic, but could still wag his tail.   My family and I are at Dad's home in Arizona and we are extremely touched by how many people have reached out to us in this sad time.  Thank you for your thoughts and prayers.   One of my Dad's greatest joys was the many friends he shared on-line and we are thankful you have been there for him. My family and I are comforted in the fact that Dad spent his 81 years living life to its fullest, even to his last day.  He left us on a sunny day, riding on his bike.  It was his request that no services be held, but instead, memorials can be sent to your local Humane Society.

December 5, 2008

Hi Everyone,

Wanted to let everyone know that we have requested Saturday, August 1, 2009 for next year's reunion.  We don't have a confirmation yet, so go ahead and pencil it in your calendar, but we believe you can most likely ink it in:)  It will be on the island either at their new restuarant or in the former picnic area.  As we start making arrangements and firming up things, we will keep you posted!

Howard and I would like to thank and welcome Ted Diesbourg aboard the reunion committee!  Besides just being an all around great guy, his expertise as the Island Manager for so many years, his connections with our Canadian alumni, and living near the island, will make him a great asset to all of us in getting next year's reunion to be a great success!

Also, wanted to let everyone know that two of our former S.S. Columbia captains, Art Herrala and A.Ken Horner will be inducted into the Great Lakes Maritime Museum in Rogers City, MI. on Sat., August 15, 2009!  This is a great honor for both of these fine men, and we hope that many of you will try and make the trip to be at their induction, or at least assist us in having to possibly kidnap them and drive them up there, since they are both a little shy and modest about their accomplishments.  Thank you to Paul LeVeck who got this all arranged and setup!!

Finally, Tyron Hurd sent us some great You Tube Videos of the ships.  The sound is a little distorted and old, but it definitely will give you some chills and make me feel like you were standing on the Ste. Claire or Columbia as it sailed down the river, like it was yesterday!  So take a trip down memory lane.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1DFAP_XWMAS
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mG8HT7S9Vsl
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dK_RkEmKOXE

May you and your family have a wonderful holiday season!

Boblo Crew Reunion Committee

November 14, 2008

Hi Everyone,

Just wanted to give everyone a few updates...

We heard from Jim Kasuba the writer for the Downriver News Herald.  He hasn't forgotten about us, he has just been busy with a lot of newsworthy items lately.  He is hoping to write a column about the recent reunion before the Thanksgiving holiday.  Once he does, we'll send out a notice and/or link. 

Still working on a reunion date for everyone.  We believe it will either be Saturday, July 18, 2009 or August 1,2009  Just waiting to hear the official date that Captain Art Herrala and Kenny Horner will be inducted into the Maritime museum!  Paul LeVeck is getting these arrangements going, and it appears it will be in August, so we don't want to book the reunion on the same date.  Not only would we like both of them to attend next year, but we are hoping that some of you can attend the honorary ceremony as well!

Howard and I recently met with Boblo's former owner, Al Schaffer.  What a great and interesting guy!  He loved all his Boblo goodies his son, Jim surprised him with at his recent 80th b-day and is looking forward to seeing a lot of old faces and the island once again at next year's reunion!

We've had quite a few new contacts since the reunion and our official contact # is now up to 183 Boblo crewmembers!

For all our Michigan/Canadian alumni, we hope you stay warm and dry with our first accumulating snowfall

Have a great weekend!

Karen & Howard

Octoober 25, 2008

From Brian Pattison

I am saddened to report the passing of Tim Dagg on Monday 10-20-08. Here is a link to the funeral home.

www.walkerfuneralhomes.com

Brian Pattison

Hi Everyone,

Here is an e-mail we received this week from Brian regarding the unfortunate and saddened passing of our fellow crewmember, Tim Dagg. Tim was the Marketing Director for Boblo Island from 1986-1992 and his wife, Heidi was a ticket seller at the Gilbraltar dock in 1987. Tim contacted us in Feb. and was really looking forward to this year's reunion and was a great help in helping us to find some of the crewmembers that were located and/or attended this year!! Unfortunately, I was aware that he was going through chemo, and had to opt out once the reunion got closer, but I had no idea how serious it was and just told him to get healthy and we would see him and Heidi next year.

If anyone would like to acknowlege Tim and his family, there are several options; there is a guestbook on the funeral homes website which is listed in Brian's e-mail below, donation info. for the family is also listed on their website, and if you would like to send a personal card or letter to Heidi and her girls, the address I have for them is; P.O. Box 140243, Toledo, OH 43614-0243.

Also, is was a unusual oversight that I didn't get this info. until after the funeral occured. If in the future, anyone has info. that needs to be passed along to the crew quickly, still e-mail us, but as a backup, please write my home phone # (248) 620-1445 down and contact me that way as well.

Thanks!

September 30, 2008

Hi Everyone,

We received an interesting e-mail today, from a Jim Schaffer, who wanted to put a rush on a t-shirt order.  Jim wanted to surprise his dad, Al who is turning 80 on Sunday.  Through several e-mails and phone calls today, I determined that Al Schaffer was the President and CEO of Boblo from 1981-1983.  We were also able to verify his employment and place in Boblo history, through Patrick Livingston's book,Summer of Dreams-The History of Bob-lo Island! 

As luck would have it, Jim who is flying in on Sat. from Connecticut for the party, will be arriving at his dad's condo here in Clarkston!  If he hasn't found Patrick's book before he arrrives, he plans on stopping to get one, than he will stop here to get his t-shirt, and some other things Howard and I said we give or do for him.

Sometimes Presidents are not always the most pouplar guys around:) However, I'm sure each of you that worked with him, can remember a funny story or something positive you saw while working with him!  If you would like to share/remember something with Al, please send it to us, and we will print it off, for Jim to present to his dad on Sunday at his 80th b-day!

Thanks!!