Lighthouse Seeks Volunteers. Purpose: Connection.

Posted on by farlane
Grand Haven Pier Sunset by Kevin Povenz

Grand Haven Pier Sunset by Kevin Povenz

“You make a living by what you get. You make a life by what you give.” – Winston Churchill

A couple of weeks ago I shared the news that the Grand Haven Lighthouse is once again open for tours. That is reportedly going so well that they need the help of volunteers!

The Grand Haven Lighthouse is operated by one manager and a host of volunteers! Our manager, Kyle Roffey is doing an amazing job as is the volunteers that have helped us out so far. But…we don’t have enough volunteers! If you’ve been having fun volunteering, you can sign up for some more. If you have been out to see our Lighthouse and love it so much you’d like to spend more time in it, sign up to volunteer! If you’re someone that volunteers for stuff all the time and is looking for something new to do, sign up to be here with us … Only 4 hour shifts, so it doesn’t take up your whole day. It’s fun and easy! You will get and talk with several hundred people, all smiling cause they are so happy to be there! Please help us if you can! We want to be open all summer, but we can’t do it alone!

If you can, click click to volunteer!

Kevin took this photo way back in the summer of 2011 and speaking of talking to people, along witht he photo he shared, “My wife and two of my daughters camped at the Grand Haven State Park for a few days this week. Had a nice time, lots of sun and sand. I Just love meeting other photographers when you are somewhere taking pictures. Lots of fun! I would of never of gotten this shot if I did not start talking to this other photographer.“

A great reminder that connecting regardless of the pursuit, connecting with your fellow humans can make things better! Connect with Kevin on Flickr or at Kevin Povenz Photos for his latest!

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Grand Haven Lighthouse now open for tours!

Posted on by farlane
Across the Lake by Gary Syrba

Across the Lake by Gary Syrba

WOOD-TV shares that the Grand Haven Lighthouse is now open to the public for tours:

After many years of restoration work, the iconic 151-year-old lighthouse that sits at the end of the pier in Grand Haven opened to visitors Tuesday. Crowds passed through to get a look inside what’s known as the foghouse, which was abandoned and boarded up for years.

“I think it’s fabulous. I have volunteered in them before so I’m a big fan of lighthouses and I think it’s fun for people to have the opportunity to see what it was like then,” said visitor Jo Harding, who made the trip from Lansing to take a peek inside. “Too much of America, we tear things down. We don’t preserve them and I think it’s really nice and we actually preserve part of our history,” Harding said.

Amen to that Jo & good on the Grand Haven Lighthouse Conservancy & their donors for returning this historic beacon to the public! The lighthouse will be open (weather permitting) from 10am – 5pm on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays & Sundays.

Gary took this photo a decade ago so you’ll probably want to visit Grand Haven to compare ;) For sure head over to Gary Syrba Photography to view & purchase his work including some tasty shots of Grand Haven!

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Fly High at the Grand Haven Kite Festival!

Posted on by farlane
When Pigs Fly by The Kite Festival at Grand Haven

When Pigs Fly by The Kite Festival at Grand Haven

The annual Kite Festival at Grand Haven takes place THIS Saturday (May 16th, 2026) from 10am – 5pm and Sunday 11am – 5pm at the Grand Haven State Park beach! (Wind and weather permitting)

PS: Thanks to Michigan Native Photography for reminding me – for sure check out his awesome pics on Facebook!

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Grand Haven After Burn

Posted on by farlane
Grand Haven After Burn by SG Captures

Grand Haven After Burn by SG Captures

Sarah shares that Sometimes, the actual sunset itself isn’t terribly ‘earth shattering’….but the after burn sure is! Such as the case last evening, when the sky erupted into the most brilliant of vibrant color! I also hit the jackpot with the outer pier being beautifully covered in what remained of melted snow and ice!

Regrettably she learned too late something that any digital photographer fears – all of her images from last night had been inadvertently saved as JPEGs 🫤 Still, it’s a dynamite shot! Head over to her Facebook or Instagram for her latest, and view & purchase her work on her website.

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Grand Haven’s eagles are ready for prime time!

Posted on by farlane
Bald Eagle Cam by Spring Lake Township

Bald Eagle Cam by Spring Lake Township

Spring Lake Township’s Eagle Camera is officially up and running on YouTube, offering you a chance to watch a pair of local eagles in real time as they nest, soar, and raise their young! One of the eagles was sitting on the branch looking the other way right before I shared this so be sure to tune in!

If you’d like to tune in on the discussion & see some dynamite closeups by Suzi Hackney Mccabe, head over to Visit Grand Haven.

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See the March 3rd Blood Moon Eclipse in Michigan

Posted on by farlane
Blood Moon over Grand Haven by Randy Riksen Photography

Blood Moon over Grand Haven by Randy Riksen Photography

The Detroit Free Press shares that Michigan’s chances of viewing the “Blood Moon” eclipse early tomorrow morning will depend on the weather:

The “blood moon” eclipse takes place during March’s full moon, which will occur in the early morning of Tuesday, March 3. The full moon’s peak and eclipse’s totality to coincide at 6:38 a.m., according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac. Clear skies permitting, the Worm Moon could be visible for part of the eclipse in Michigan, with the moon to set for local viewers during totality.

Our friends over at EarthSky explain that total eclipses can turn the moon a deep shade of red, and have lots more detail about viewing. They explain why this eclipse called a Blood Moon eclipse and that the shade of red on the moon will depend mostly on what’s happening in Earth’s atmosphere at the moment of the eclipse.

Randy took this photo of the October 2014 total lunar eclipse over the Grand Haven South Pierhead Lighthouse and says that keeping the camera still enough in the howling wind was a chore in itself!! View & purchase his work including some killer fishing photos on his website.

Lots more solar & lunar eclipse photos on Michigan in Pictures!

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Michigan athletes bound for the Winter Olympics!

Posted on by farlane
Winter by Kevin Ryan

Winter by Kevin Ryan

CBS Detroit reports that there will be 17 Olympians from Michigan on Team USA out of the nearly 230 athletes we’re sending to Milan-Cortina, Italy. Athletes range from old timers like 5-time Olympian & gold medalist Nick Baumgartner or dual gold medal winning freestyle skier Kaila Kuhn to Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin to first time hopefuls. Best of luck to all these Team USA athletes!

  • Evan Bates, 36, Ann Arbor, Ice Dancing
  • Nick Baumgartner, 44, Iron River
  • Christina Carreira, 25, St. Clair, Ice Dancing
  • Madison Chock, 33, Redondo Beach, California, Ice Dancing
  • Kyle Connor, 29, Shelby Township, Ice Hockey
  • Connor Hellebuyck, 32, Commerce Township, Ice Hockey
  • Jack Hughes, 24, Canton, Ice Hockey
  • Quinn Hughes, 26, Canton, Ice Hockey
  • Megan Keller, 29, Farmington Hills, Ice Hockey
  • Vadym Kolesnik, 24, Novi, Ice Dancing
  • Kaila Kuhn, 22, Boyne City, Freestyle Skiing
  • Dylan Larkin, 29, Waterford Township, Ice Hockey
  • Kirsten Simms, 21, Plymouth, Ice Hockey
  • Jake Vedder, 27, Pickney, Snowboarding
  • Winter Vinecki, 27, Gaylord, Freestyle Skiing
  • Zach Werenski, 28, Grosse Pointe Woods, Ice Hockey
  • Emilea Zingas, 23, Grosse Pointe Farms, Ice Dancing

Kevin shared these photos from Mulligan’s Hollow in Grand Haven way back in 2010. Check out his Sports gallery on Flickr for lots more great shots!

UFO by Kevin Ryan
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In the Clutches of the Polar Vortex

Posted on by farlane
In the Clutches of the Polar Vortex by Brian Ertl

In the Clutches of the Polar Vortex by Brian Ertl

mLive shares that the National Weather Service has expanded the Extreme Cold Warning area across most of the state:

The only places not under an Extreme Cold Warning are the Southeast corner of the state – from Saginaw and The Thumb down to Flint, Ann Arbor and Detroit, as well as the Lansing and Jackson area along the southern rim of Michigan. Those southern and eastern spots are under a Cold Weather Advisory, as the cold is not expected to be quite as severe there.

The Extreme Cold Warning now covers the Upper Peninsula – where wind chills could plummet to -45 degrees over the next couple of days – and all of Northern Michigan and West Michigan. This extreme warning covers Grand Rapids, Holland, Muskegon, Traverse City, Gaylord and the Tip of the Mitt, too.

That’s a big yikes from me! Brian took this when we were deep in the polar vortex of January of 2019 from the South Pier in Grand Haven. See his latest on Flickr and STAY WARM!

PS: If you want to tune into the current scene in Grand Haven, check out the Grand Haven South Pier Cam!

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Light up your days with a Michigan Nut photo calendar!

Posted on by farlane
Winter Evening at Grand Haven Lighthouse by Michigan Nut Photography

Winter Evening at Grand Haven Lighthouse by Michigan Nut Photography

I would be completely remiss in my features of 2026 Michigan photo calendars if I left out one of Michigan in Pictures’ most enduring supporters, John McCormick of Michigan Nut Photography! His 2026 Michigan Wall Calendar is made right here in Michigan and features some dynamite photos from all over the Great Lakes State. He’s got all kinds of other photo-based gifts so head over to michigannutphotography.com today & make the Michigan lover on your list happy!

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August 7th is National Lighthouse Day!

Posted on by farlane
Sunset Fire by Brian Ertl

Sunset Fire by Brian Ertl

National Lighthouse Day is an un-official celebration of lighthouses and the commitment and service of those who tended America’s lights for generations. It’s an especially big deal in Michigan because we are home to more lighthouses than any other state in the country, with over 120 lighthouses keeping watch along the 3,200 miles of Great Lakes shoreline!!

The American Lighthouse Foundation explains that the 1789 Act for Establishment and support of Lighthouse, Beacons, Buoys, and Public Piers enabled a huge amount of commerce by guaranteeing that lighthouses and other marine safety infrastructure would be funded nationally. National Lighthouse Day was officially celebrated on August 7, 1989 to mark the 200th anniversary signing, but Congress has yet to officially name it a national holiday.

Brian took the above shot of the Grand Haven Lighthouse earlier this year & the one below back in June of 2020 – love the way the sun lights the light! See his latest on Flickr.

…and learn about many more Michigan lighthouses on Michigan in Pictures!

Grand Haven Pier Sunset by Brian Ertl

Grand Haven Pier Sunset by Brian Ertl

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