“We make a point of going to the Detroit Boat Show every year,” said Anthony Adams, sales manager at Colony Marine – a family business with over 55 years of its own history. “It’s one of the largest boat shows Michigan has every year, and it’s just a great place to come and shop and to see all the different product lines.  For us, it’s a great place to meet with our customers and to show off some of our newest inventory.”

Featuring hundreds of new yachts, runabouts, fishing boats, cabin cruisers and more, pontoon boats proved to be one of this year’s most popular watercrafts at the show. Not necessarily known for their power or their speed, 2013’s crop of pontoon boats are not like the pontoons of yore.

“I’ve got pontoon boats that can go up to 50 mph,” said Adams, “and that was unheard of for a pontoon boat only five years ago.  That’s a growing trend that’s taken the industry by storm over the last couple of years, and more and more people are interested in buying a pontoon.”

Another growing trend in the industry is luxury, and perhaps no boat defines luxury quite like the 47’ Sea Ray 470 Sport Yacht. Named 2013’s “Queen of the Show” at the 55^th annual Detroit Boat Show, this behemoth, brought to the Cobo Center by none other than Colony Marine, was the largest boat on the showroom floor.

“For many people in Michigan, the opportunity to climb onboard a 47-foot yacht happens only once a year – at the Detroit Boat Show,” said Show Manager Nicki Polan.  Priced at $925,000, those who climbed onboard were able to view the boat’s spacious cabin, forward state room and two mid-state rooms (including one with a shower) adorned with a wood interior finish, silver alloys, a wet bar, ample seating, Raymarine electronics at the helm and powered by a diesel V-drive propulsion engine.

“People are very interested in the more luxurious side of things, as well as looking for additional creature comforts,” said Adams, noting that the Sea Ray and boats by Chris Craft certainly fill that niche.  “It’s a strong market now – you couldn’t say that two or three years ago. Today, a lot of people are buying, and these new features are a lot of the reason why.”

Partnered with Devil’s Lake Water Sports, Colony Marine has three showrooms throughout Michigan, including one at 580 East Walton in Pontiac, a showroom in Algonac and another in St. Clair Shores. Featuring lines and products from Sea Ray, Boston Whaler, Meridian Yachts, Princecraft, Crest Pontoons, Chris Craft and more, visit www.colonymarine.com or call (248) 371-0400 for further details about your local Oakland Cou

nty retailer.

It’s that time of year again- the birds are chirping, the grass is one good rain away from needing a mow, and you’re heading to your shed to take all of your lawn accessories out of storage. Before you unpack that cracked birdbath and begin your annual battle with your ancient charcoal grill, consider instead making this the year YOUR yard is the one everyone else envies and do some much-needed upgrading.

For Him

Choosing Your New Grill

When purchasing a grill for your lakefront, it’s important to take into consideration a variety of factors. Some things to look at include the size of location for grilling, the number of people your home typically hosts, the types of food cooked, child-safety options, overall price and style.

Some grills that are higher priced have features like stainless steel, easy-to-use upgrades, warrantees, stylish designs and more- but that doesn’t always equate to better performance.  Before purchasing, consider which features are important to you, familiarize yourself with the grill’s performance and research customer reviews.

According to Consumer Reports, Char-Broil, Kenmore and Weber account for more than 50 percent of gas-grill sales overall.  These brands can be good jumping-off points for consumers who are looking for quality benchmarks.

Some Recommendations:

Gas Grills

Cheapest, less than $250

Look at Broil-Mate Reddi-Bilt 15516

Mid-range, less than $1,000

Look at Weber Genesis E-330

An under $500 option: Dyna-Glo Smart Space Living 30,000 BTU-2-Burner Propane Gas Grill

When price isn’t a factor:

Weber Genesis E-330 637-Square-Inch Grill

Charcoal Grills

Cheapest, under $100- Weber 741001 Silver One-Touch 22-1/2-Inch Kettle Grill

Average-Range: Char-Griller Kamado Kooker Charcoal Barbecue Grill and Smoker

Dual Grills

If you want both charcoal and gas, there are several options:

Dyna-Glo DGP700SSB-D Dual Fuel LP/Charcoal Grill

Char-Broil Combination Charcoal Grill and Gas Grill with Side Burner

Char-Griller 5050 Duo Gas-and-Charcoal Grill

Broil King 997644 Imperial XL Liquid Propane Gas Grill with Side Burner and Rear Rotisserie
Purchasing a Fire Pit

When choosing the perfect fire pit for your backyard, there are several things to consider. First, determine the size of the fire pit your outdoor space can accommodate. Fire pits come in a variety of dimensions, ranging from large, relatively permanent units to smaller, lighter, more mobile pits, usually of the bowl variety.  If your yard is smaller, or you have a tendency to frequently change your mind, then a moveable bowl would allow the portability necessary to suit your needs. If you’re looking for a more stationary option, consider one of the larger table-like versions.        

Next, consider the type of fuel you’d like your fire pit to require. The majority of fire pits burn wood or use propane, and both have their pros and cons. Wood-burning can save money and smell authentic, but propane, or gas-burning pits, often provide a better aesthetic and come without the fuss of lighting, maintaining and cleaning up a traditional wood fire.

If your yard is your oasis, then the look of your fire pit will be a substantial deciding factor. The materials used to construct the pit can alter the aesthetic of the pit considerably. Steel, tile, stone, copper- the variety of options allow your fire pit to match your existing décor seamlessly.  Check out Mulligan’s Landscape & Garden Center in White Lake for all your fire pit needs, or visit their website at www.mulliganlandscaping.com.

For Her

Plant Mapping for Your Yard

Purchasing flowers that not only brighten your yard, but are practical and easy to maintain, can be a seemingly impossible task. It’s important to not just plant flowers and trees that look good and hope for the best. The quality of the soil, abundance of sunlight and shade, accessibility to water, and the plant’s vulnerability to animal and insect damage are all factors that need to be considered carefully.

Determining the makeup of your yard begins with a soil test. Home testers are sold at most home improvement stores and are relatively simple to use. Once you’ve established the various pH levels around your yard, you can begin to eliminate certain species of plants based on their acidity preferences.

Establishing your yard’s sunlight and shade pattern can be a bit trickier. Those in the know recommend creating a shade map to avoid the often inaccurate assumption that seeing sun means an area is more sunny than shady and vice versa.  To map your yard’s shade, first allot a day where you will be home to monitor the sun’s progression over your yard.  It is necessary to take visual measurements at 9 a.m., noon, 3 p.m. and 6 p.m., so you will need to be at home during those times.

Begin your map by drawing the basic forms of the buildings and major trees, bushes, etc. – anything in your yard that produces shade. Choose four different colors to represent each time of day and sketch the shapes created by the shade at each of the incremented hours.  Since the shade varies throughout the seasons, it’s recommended that you create different maps for March, June and September to get the best possible understanding of your yard’s shade patterns.

After you know your soil levels and shade patterns, it’s time for the fun part. Shopping at your local garden center can be a wonderful experience for the senses, but you might have difficulty sticking to just what your yard is able to sustain and staying within the constraints of your budget. Here are just a few native plant varieties to consider:

Made in the Shade

Bleeding Heart

Note: Poisonous to people and pets if ingested

Soil Requirements: Moist and rich

Color: Typically red-based, with some varieties producing white

Ferns

Note: Nearly 3,000 types of native ferns

Requirements: Well-adapted for low levels of light

Color: Usually leaf-like, greens

Horned Violets

Note: Smaller in size, avoid planting where they’ll be unnoticed

Requirements: Can actually be damaged by the sun- need lots of shade

Color: Purples, golds and whites

Wild Columbine

Note: Multiple names for this plant- Eastern Red / Red, Canadian / Canada

Requirements: Very versatile, does well in both full sun and shade

Color: Reds, oranges and fuchsias

Everything Under the Sun

Black-eyed Susans

Note: Common name for Rudbeckia hirta

Requirements: Full sun, well-drained soil

Color: Yellow, daisy-like

Yarrow

Note: Common name for Achillea, about 85 varieties

Requirements: Well-drained soil & full sun, prune for best blooms

Color: Reds, pinks, oranges, yellows and whites

Blanket Flower

Note: Common name for Gaillardia

Requirements: Tolerate light frost, are usually not eaten by animals, long-blooming

Color: Red and Yellow

Butterfly Weed

Note: High nectar attracts butterflies, multiple names Asclepias tuberose, butterfly milkweed

Requirements: Doesn’t like to be moved once planted,

Color: Oranges

Subtle Touches

It’s more often than not the little things that make the largest of impressions.  Personalizing your home’s landscape can be a way of welcoming visitors and making the space your own.  Decorative planters, wind chimes, birdfeeders, patio sets and outdoor lighting can make your house the hotspot for summertime gatherings.  Lawn and garden centers are great places to pick up everything from top-of-the-line lawn swings to ornate birdbaths.

If you love spending time outdoors, then establishing an elegant and practical gathering area with ample ambiance is important. Outdoor swings, patio sets and lawn chairs can provide the seating you need, without taking away from the yard’s overall aesthetic. Innovative options like solar lights can provide sufficient lighting, while also being cost-effective and environmentally friendly. And while we all would love to be professional gardeners, sometimes that’s not feasible- that’s where outdoor planters come in.

Outdoor planters are perfect for people who love plants, but don’t have the space or time required to maintain sprawling gardens. Before choosing planters to incorporate into your outdoor living space, there are several things to research.

First, what type of planter do you want? Planter types include everything from window boxes, hanging baskets and pots to vertical gardens and raised garden beds. If you’re looking for more simple accents, pots and hanging baskets do the trick. Planters like vertical gardens are more dramatic and require more space.

Next, what type of plant are you planting? Knowing the size of your plant and its unique living conditions will effect what type of planter you’ll need. If you have a specific planter type in mind, make sure you pair up a plant that will be sustainable once planted. Things like the planter’s drainage and capacity need to be considered to make sure your plants are able to thrive.

Last, you should look at the materials available. Planters come in all sorts of varieties and it’s important to choose ones that will complement your yard’s overall décor. It is also important, however, to consider the planter’s durability. A lot of times cheaper planters can seem similar to their pricier counterparts, but are not nearly as sturdy. Since relocating plants can cause them undue stress- and replacing planters that crack and break can end up more costly in the long run- it’s sometimes best to just pay more for your planter initially.

Oakland County Sheriff’s Office Courses

1200 N. Telegraph Rd., Building- 38E, (248) 858-7831

Boater Safety Classes are offered by the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office at no charge. Registration is required. These free courses run from 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. on May 4, May 18, June 8 and June 22.

Additional classes will be held throughout Oakland County and instructed by Charles Comstock. Pre-registration is required to attend. Two-day courses require attendance at both classes and full-day courses suggest participants bring with them a sack lunch.

May 28 & 30, from 5:30-9 p.m., $20. Must be present on both dates.

Parks & Rec. Dept., 12000 Davisburg Rd., Springfield TWP., (248) 846-6558

May 14 & 16, from 5:30-9 p.m., $16. Must be present on both dates.

Parks & Rec. Dept., 5200 Civic Center Dr., Waterford TWP., (248) 674-5441

June 19, from 9 a.m.-4 p.m., $20. Full-day course.

Parks & Rec. Dept., 12000 Davisburg Rd., Springfield TWP., (248) 846-6558

May 6 & 8, from 5:30-9 p.m., $20. Must be present on both dates.

Community Programs Dept., 1335 Joslyn Rd., Orion TWP., (248) 391-0304

With warm weather fast-approaching, Oakland County lakefront homeowners are ready to dust off their boats and hit the lake, but both local and nationwide boating safety advocates are reiterating the importance of preparedness, above all else, before jumping aboard.

“Boating is part of the Pure Michigan lifestyle, and safe boating is everyone’s responsibility,” said boating law administrator Lt. Andrew Turner of the Department of Natural Resource’s Law Enforcement Division. “From canoes and kayaks to larger craft to jet skis, there are opportunities for nearly every type of boating, and a boating safety course can benefit anyone who wants to enjoy being on the water.”

Boater safety courses are the first step to staying safe in what can be very unpredictable circumstances. With nearly 500 people drowning each year from recreational boating accidents, it’s crucial to spread the message of responsible boating.

“The reality is that anyone and everyone can benefit from a boater safety class,” said Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard.  “It’s a good thing for virtually anybody, and we encourage people who haven’t had a water or boater safety class to have one.”

The courses are amazingly accessible and offered in a variety of formats, ranging from completely online presentations to inside classrooms around Oakland County.  The DNR has even created a database where residents can find the classes offered in their neighborhoods online at www.michigan.gov/boating.

“Spring is a great time to get your boating safety class in, so that you start the summer boating season with safety requirements fresh in your mind,” said Turner. “We encourage anyone who plans on operating a watercraft in Michigan to take a boating safety course.”

And boating safety courses aren’t just a good idea in Michigan- in many circumstances, they’re required.

“There’s a lot of different requirements depending on what type of vessel you’re operating,” said Bouchard. “But everybody born after December 31, 1978, must have attended a boater safety class to operate a personal watercraft.”

The best way to make sure you’re operating your vessel safely and legally is to complete a boating safety course before getting in the captain’s chair.

In addition to completing the informational course, safety advocates recommend a simple, yet often neglected, life-saving measure: wearing a life jacket.

“Some 63 percent of everyone that drowns didn’t intend to be in the water,” said Bouchard. “If suddenly something happens and you get thrown into the water, having a personal floatation device under the seat is not going to save your life.”

One of the leading promoters of boater safety, the National Safe Boating Council, is partnering with organizations around the United States and Canada to remind boaters of the importance of wearing a life jacket during their National Safe Boating Week campaign.

“Simply put, boating responsibly and wearing life jackets can save lives,” said Virgil Chambers, executive director of the NSBC. “Accidents on the water happen much too fast to reach and put on a stowed life jacket. It’s important that everyone consistently wears a life jacket while on the water.”

The weeklong campaign takes place from May 18-24, highlights stories of actual boaters whose lives were saved by wearing a life jacket, and kicks off with a special “Wear Your Life Jacket to Work Day,” on Friday, May 17.

“There’s no reason why you, your family and friends, can’t have fun on the water while also choosing to always wear a life jacket,” said John Johnson, chief executive officer of the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators. “Innovative options, such as inflatable life jackets, allow mobility and flexibility for activities like boating, fishing, paddling or hunting, and are much cooler in the warmer weather.”

U.S. Coast Guard statistics show that drowning was the reported cause of death in almost 75 percent of recreational boating fatalities in 2011, and that 84 percent of those who drowned were not wearing life jackets. That’s why boating safety advocates continue to stress the importance of consistent life jacket wear on the water.

“Safety is the best course of action,” said Bouchard. “Just think before you jump in the water with a vessel.”

Information provided by Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard, the National Safe Boating Council and the Department of Natural Resources.

 Photos provided by the National Safe Boating Council

A guide provided by the National Safe Boating Campaign

Looking for a life jacket? Today’s life jackets come in a variety of shapes, sizes, colors and
materials. No matter which life jacket you choose, be sure it’s right for YOU, your planned activities, and the water conditions you expect to encounter.

Try It On

• Check the manufacturer’s ratings for your size and weight.
• Make sure the life jacket is properly zipped or buckled.
• Raise your arms straight up over your head while wearing your life jacket and ask a friend to grasp the tops of the arm openings, gently pulling up.
• If there is excess room above the openings and the life jacket rides up over your chin or face, it does NOT fit properly. A snug fit in these areas signals a properly fitting life jacket.

Fit Facts

• It is extremely important that you choose a properly fitting life jacket.
• Life jackets that are too big will cause the flotation device to push up around your face, which could be dangerous.
• Life jackets that are too small will not be able to keep your body afloat.

Important Reminders

• Make sure your life jacket is U.S. Coast Guard-approved.
• Double check that your life jacket is appropriate for your favorite boating activities.
• Take the time to ensure a proper fit. A life jacket that is too large or too small can cause different situational problems.
• Life jackets meant for adults do not work for children. If you are boating with children, make sure they are wearing properly fitted, child-sized life jackets. Do not buy a life jacket for your child to “grow into.”
• On recreational vessels underway, children under 13 years old must wear a Coast Guard approved life jacket unless they are below decks or in an enclosed cabin. Some state laws vary – check with your local Marine Law Enforcement Authorities.

About the National Safe Boating Council

The National Safe Boating Council (NSBC) is the foremost coalition for the advancement and promotion of safer boating through education, outreach, and training. The NSBC accomplishes this mission by promoting outreach and research initiatives that support boating education and safety awareness; improving the professional development of boating safety educators through training; and developing and recognizing outstanding boating safety programs. Visit SafeBoatingCampaign.com for more information.

Hi everyone! My name is Lisa LaGrou and I’m the founder of OaklandCountyMoms.com, a top online resource for families in theOaklandCountyarea. A major component of OaklandCountyMoms.com is to provide families with the latest happenings in the area and that is what I’ll be doing here each month.

Happy Mother’s Day from OaklandCountyMoms.com! Enjoy the day making wonderful memories with your family.

After Mother’s Day wraps up, get ready for another exciting event. This month hosts the 5th Annual Speakeasy event at Meadow Brook Hall on May 17. The Meadow Brook Speakeasy experience includes butler-passed hors d’oeuvres, dinner, drinks, live jazz entertainment and more! Patrons will partake in bootleg beverages while being entertained by a 1920s inspired jazz performance by vocalist Shahida Nurullah. In keeping with the speakeasy tradition, guests will also have the opportunity to take their chances at the roulette wheel and play black jack. Guests are encouraged to dress in 1920s fashion! Tickets can be purchased on the Meadow Brook Hall website, and you can enter to win tickets on OaklandCountyMoms.com.

Here are more some more family-friendly upcoming events:

Pontiac Carnival – through May 5

National Bike to School Day – May 8

Lake Orion Flower Fair  – May 10 and 11

Berkley Days Carnival – May 11-19

Speakeasy at Meadow Brook Hall – May 17

Charlotte’s Wings Annual Benefit at the Royal Park Hotel – May 17

The Anything Goes Fashion Show

Photos by Brian Lee Stapleton, Copyright 2013

 Last month, I attended the Spring Fashion Show at the Village of Rochester Hills to check out the latest fashions. The theme for the spring fashion show was “Anything Goes” and some of the most common fashion trends you’ll see this spring are skinny belts cinched at the waist over tops, stripes, polka dots, mixed patterns, lots of neon, black and white, and more. Many of the fashions were flexible so they can go from the office to the evening. The show ended with Matthew F. Richmond’s paper dress collection, Paper Dress Code. Dresses made from paper and VCR tape, as well store shopping bags, were featured during the spring fashion show at the Village. So many fun fashions are making for an exciting season, and luckily local photographer Brian Lee Stapleton was onsite to capture all the newest trends.  For more information about Brian and his photography, call (248) 838-8512 or email him at bls5577@yahoo.com.

Spring time is finally here on the sunny shores of Lake Orion. We are busy getting prepared for our upcoming Flower Fair May 10^th and 11^th – just in time to shop for Mother’s Day!

We are also organizing and recruiting vendors for the kick-off of our Wednesday afternoon Farmers’ Market on June 19. This month features one of our local vendors, Love MI Seasons.

As the executive chef at The Huntsman Hunt Club in Dryden, Tom Chappell was always getting compliments from the members, raving about his amazing food. When he decided it was time to share his creations, he enlisted the help of his wife, Michelle; sister, Lisa; and his friend Laura Skidmore. Together they started Love MI Seasons in July of 2011- and they haven’t looked back since.

In only a short month, the first grocery store signed on to carry Love MI Seasons’ delicious array of specialty seasonings and spices, including their “Fresh Herb Blend,” a blend made from hand-picked herbs, blended into a seasoning that although originally created for wild game, enhances the flavor of any food. Now, Love MI Seasons’ products can be found in over 50 stores around the region.

And they continue to expand their offerings. Their “BBQ Rub Blend” is a one-of-a-kind rub with 19 different herbs and spices. It tastes great on ribs, chicken, pork, in soups and much more! Their Latin-inspired blend, “Acapulco Gold,” is unlike other Tex-Mex seasonings. It is well-balanced, no one flavor overpowers another. It’s so delicious that in less than a year, it’s become their second best seller!

This month, they’re spreading their expertise to you.  Try out their “Acapulco Gold” seasoning in a delicious Cinco-de-Mayo-inspired recipe your whole family will love!

See you at the market!

Janet Hartman

Lake Orion Farmers Market Manager

118 N. Broadway

Lake Orion, MI  48362

www.downtownlakeorion.org

248-693-9742  ext. 100

farmersmarket@downtownlakeorion.org

“Lonely & Blue: The Deepest Soul of Otis Redding”  -  Otis Redding

No one could take a song full of sadness and woe and turn it into something beautiful and uplifting – into a desperate affirmation of life – quite like the incomparable Otis Redding.   And while “Lonely & Blue: The Deepest Soul of Otis Redding” (released March 2013) seems, at first glance, like just another best-of album – the record is anything but.  Mixed in with some of Redding’s more popular hits (“These Arms of Mine,” “I’ve Been Loving You Too Long”) are some rare B-sides (“Gone Again,” “A Waste of Time,” “Little Ol’ Me”) that come together seamlessly to form one of the most cohesively thematic, beautifully heartbreaking Redding releases out there.   A great collection for long-time fans or those looking for their first introduction.  Bonus album for lakeside listening: The Dock of the Bay.

“Cloud Atlas” ­by David Mitchell

I’ve never read a book quite like David Mitchell’s “Cloud Atlas,” first released back in 2004. Which is strange, in a way, since Mitchell’s novel jumps from one popular genre to the next, including a travel diary from the 1800s; a slick, 1970’s detective novel; a futuristic, sci-fi dystopia; a post-apocalyptic oral history and more.  And yet, jumping genres, time periods and plot lines, Mitchell weaves together a complex narrative unique in nearly every way.  It’s a book that’s both haunting and exhilarating, every genre, timeline and character intertwined in ways that seem almost impossible for any author other than Mitchell to pull off.  With a movie release of the same name earlier this year (it’s really good too!), check it out if you’re looking for a read that’s at once strangely familiar and absolutely original.

The Judge John Hodgman Podcast

You may know him as the “PC” in the Mac vs. PC ad, from his regular appearances on “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart,” as an author, actor or comedian – but John Hodgman is best when he dons his powdered wig and robe to dish out Internet Justice on his weekly podcast – the Judge John Hodgman Podcast.  With the help of his faithful bailiff, Jesse Thorn, Hodgman is quick, witty, funny and fair as he rules on cases often ridiculous, mundane, and (occasionally) full of bats. With a large back catalog to get you started, this is one of the funniest podcasts on the Internet – appropriate for all ages – and a great, free addition to your iTunes library.

Art on the Grand – Downtown Farmington

With finer spring weather finally on its way, expect more outdoor fairs and festivals to start sprouting up all over Oakland County.  With more numerous and varied vendors each year, Farmington’s Art on the Grand is a great way to celebrate the start of the season.   Featuring fine art from local artists, live music, great food, wine and beer – not to mention a hands-on art area for kids – this June 1-2 festival along Grand River in downtown Farmington is one event you won’t want to miss.   Visit www.downtownfarmington.org/downtown-events/whats-happening/art-on-the-grand to learn more.

Click on the table below for your fishing guide to Michigan lakes.

Fish MapTable

Table from Oakland County Fishing Opportunities Map- Provided by Oakland County Economic Development & Community Affairs and Oakland County Parks and Recreation.