Elk Skegemog Lake Association Meeting

April 19 Wednesday 4 p.m. Shore Thing (@ the Dam Shop): A history lesson featuring four speakers with deep ties to the past of Elk Lake and the village. We’ll gather at 4:30 p.m. for wine, nibbles, and chatting. ESLA President Bob Campbell will emcee. Speakers will be:

1. Lou Sanford, author of the touching memoir “Meadowpoint,” recounts the love story of his family and Elk Lake. Meadowpoint is the estate where Lou and his wife Karen have lived full-time since the late 1990s. Lou also spent childhood summers at the family estate which once had 800 feet of frontage on Elk Lake.
2. Norm Veliquette, of cherry growing and processing fame, will talk about Rotary Park’s recent renovations, especially the storyboards and huge mural detailing the connection of greater Elk Rapids to the river and lake.
3. Bob McCririe, ESLA’s newest board member, will share the passed-down family stories. His great-grandfather owned and operated steamships that delivered passengers to vacation homes and resorts on the Chain of Lakes.
4. John Conrad, general manager of the ER Marina on Elk Lake, has ties dating back many generations to key movers and shakers in the Elk Rapids business community. He’ll regale us with his stories, too.

We urge ESLA members to stay after the program for a drink at the cash bar and varied food truck menu offerings thedamshop.com/menu for onsite or takeout. Our membership support helps reciprocate the marina owners’ decision this year to include a paid ESLA membership to its nearly 100 boat slip renters as part of their annual contracts.