Madeline Island Real Estate Blog

The Isles are alive, with the sound of money

2008-08-20T09:46:31Z

Thanks in part to the Wisconsin State Bureau of Aeronautics, Madeline Island is receiving nearly four million dollars worth of gravel.

The Madeline Island Ferry dock is a beehive of activity, with bargeloads full of gravel for road and sanitation and airport projects being delivered daily. Every time the crane swings from barge to the giant hopper on the ferry dock, you hear the sound of money being poured onto the Island.

Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle presented the Town of La Pointe with a check for $1.2 million on August 11. That portion came from the Bureau of Aeronautics, to pay for 21,500 tons of gravel needed for future airport projects.

The Madeline Island Sanitary District will be using about 2,000 tons. That leaves nearly 65,000 tons to be used by the Town of La Pointe over the coming decade for road improvements and annual repairs to town roadways. And the total cost of the gravel will come to $3,651,600.

Ashland County is helping to pay for the gravel, contributing nearly 40% of the required funds. The County, in turn, received a grant from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation to rebuild Highway H on Madeline Island.

Upcoming road projects will include the re-paving of half of Main Street, Big Bay Road, Middle Road and Black's Shanty Road. Northwoods Paving of Ashland, Wisconsin, will be the general contractor for the gravel and blacktopping contracts.

If an agent can't show your property, they won't be able to sell it!

2008-08-17T00:46:11Z

The title of this post sounds so very simple. Yet this is a concept that seems to elude some sellers.

Nearly two years ago, my office scheduled a visit with a qualified buyer and his family who came to our area to look at property. The buyers were looking at upper-bracket homes and they had definite ideas about what they were looking for.

I called the listing agent of one home they wanted to see. The agent rather sheepishly informed me that the seller hadn't given him a key yet and he couldn't provide access to the home's interior until the seller arrived the following week. I informed him that my buyers were here for a weekend and they wanted to view the home as soon as possible. The listing agent tried in vain, but he couldn't reach his client.

I told my buyers they would have to wait perhaps five or six days and maybe make another 300 mile trip back to Madeline Island to see the property. They were, to put it mildly, displeased. They walked away from that first home and bought another one just a few miles away, priced at over $750,000.

That day, the seller of the first home missed out on a huge opportunity. The seller waited nearly two years for a serious buyer to come along again. And that seller's home recently received an offer considerably lower than if the home had been made available for showing in the first place.

This wasn't the only time I've encountered such a situation. The story bears repeating. Make your property available for showing or don't bother to put it on the market. Buyers (and agents) find it irritating and frustrating when they cannot view a listing that is supposed to be available for purchase.

What works for sellers and what doesn't - Lessons learned from a real estate auction

2008-08-08T23:23:54Z

On Saturday, July 19th, I attended a real estate auction on Madeline Island. To my knowledge, this was the first time a Madeline Island residential property had ever been offered at public auction.

The auction of the Campbell estate on Equaysayway Lane seemed more like a social event than a real estate liquidation. There were approximately seventy people in attendance. Most turned out to be spectators rather than participants.

From the perspective of some who attended the auction, the result of the bidding was less than spectacular. The highest bid received for the estate home portion of the property (valued for taxes at $1.2 Million) was just over $600,000. A separate interior parcel brought a high bid of $72,000.

My understanding is that the family had earlier stipulated a reserve figure which was not met during bidding and therefore the prevailing high bid was not accepted.

There was a lot of public discussion in the town of La Pointe following the auction. The whole event probably did more to stimulate local dialogue about real estate than any marketing campaign could have achieved. And there were lessons learned from the auction experience.

The availability of this property was probably not as widely publicized as a traditional listing would have been, and that certainly may have limited the seller's chances of achieving their desired price. Without a listing presence on MLS and REALTOR.com, an interested party would have had to learn about the auction by actually visiting the area and noticing one of the signs advertising the upcoming auction, or perhaps by browsing the auction house website.
There were probably only six or seven bidders present, out of the dozens of folks who attended. Had the property been given appropriate time for market exposure, it seems likely that more prospective buyers would have stepped forward to express an interest.
More exposure usually generates more prospective buyers. More prospective buyers generally results in receiving a higher offering price.

I'm sure the auction house did its best to make the auction a success. But the less than stellar result seems to have sent a message to Island property owners that a real estate auction may not be the best answer for those hoping to sell a Madeline Island property, especially a high-end estate.

Madeline Island summer resident campaigning for Minnesota U.S. Senate seat

2008-08-08T22:48:48Z

A friend and client of mine is making a run for United States Senator from Minnesota.

Attorney Priscilla Lord Faris, daughter of retired Minnesota Attorney General and Federal Court Judge Miles Lord, announced her candidacy for U. S. Senate in Minnesota on July 15. Faris will be opposing incumbent Senator Norm Coleman and DFL-endorsed challenger Al Franken in the Senate race.

Priscilla and her husband Wayne became summer residents on Madeline Island seven years ago. I'm proud to say I sold them their Madeline Island home. Priscilla's no rookie when it comes to political involvement. Her family has a long history of involvement in Minnesota politics. Among other things, she worked for the campaign of Senator Hubert Humphrey in 1968 and she has served on the Sunfish Lake, Minnesota City Council.

And on top of that, Priscilla Faris holds a real estate broker's license in both Minnesota and Wisconsin.

I have a great deal of respect and admiration for Priscilla and I wish her well in her endeavors, both personal and political. Embarking on a third-party campaign is hardly an easy task. Fortunately, Priscilla Faris has the wisdom and experience that it takes to accomplish her goal. Her father, Miles Lord, enjoyed a distinguished career as a well-known and much-admired attorney and Federal Judge.

For more information on Priscilla Faris' campaign for United States Senate, please visit http://uniteminnesota.com/.

Remember that home equity loan you took out from Morgan Stanley Bank? Don't count on borrowing any more money!

2008-08-06T23:36:24Z

The times they are a-changin'..

Reuters News Agency and other sources reported today that Morgan Stanley Investment Bank has decided abruptly to freeze home equity (HELOC) credit lines. The bank apparently plans to review its outstanding home equity loans on a monthly basis from now on.

Does the term "bait-and-switch" mean anything to you? If you took out a home equity loan from Morgan Stanley with the idea that you'd be able to tap into your (presumed) home equity, think again. The good folks at America's second-largest investment bank have decided to pull the rug out from under you.

How many consumers had any idea that their bank could (or would) unilaterally downgrade the value of their home equity after the loan closed? And how many American households are counting on equity credit lines to help pay household bills?

If you have a home equity line of credit at any bank, you should think twice before relying upon a home equity credit line as a financial parachute. This week's Morgan Stanley announcement could reverberate throughout the financial community. And if it does, the resulting domino effect could put a real squeeze on households trying to pay their bills in these challenging economic times.

Stay tuned.

VISIT OUR MADELINE ISLAND BLOG AT http://activerain.com/blogs/madelinebroker

2008-07-06T15:37:56Z

VISIT OUR MADELINE ISLAND BLOG

WWW.ACTIVERAIN.COM/BLOGS/MADELINEBROKER

You'll find

Valuable Real estate information for buyers and sellers

Up-to-date information on what's going on in La Pointe Township

Madeline Island news

Bayfield, Washburn, Ashland area updates

Weather information

Ferry schedule changes

Island special events and business promotions

Information on merchant discounts and free events

Helpful links to websites for private pilots and boaters

Winter road conditions and ice road reports

plus much more!

Browse http://activerain.com/blogs/madelinebroker and check it out!

Alternative Energy Committee formed on Madeline Island

2008-07-04T07:47:16Z

An Alternative Energy Committee has been formed by former Town Chairman Burke Henry, along with Larry Bean and Alan Fischlowitz, to study the feasibility of using wind, solar or other alternate energy sources on Madeline Island. The committee will research the possible future use of these technologies by individual Island homeowners, as well as investigating community-wide solutions that may employ these technologies.

The committee has received study grant money from the Apostle Islands Foundation and from Wisconsin Focus on Energy. The first phase of the committee's research was centered around evaluating various locations on the Island as potential wind turbine generation sites.

The Wisconsin Department of Aeronautics is assisting in providing evaluations and data for the program. The evaluation period is expected to last a full year.

The committee plans an informational presentation to the public on August 7, at 7 pm. The presentation will be part of this summer's Madeline Island Wilderness Preserve lecture series at the Madeline Island Museum.

Tips on enjoying Fourth of July weekend on Madeline Island

2008-07-01T14:19:59Z

It's just a couple of days away!

The upcoming Fourth of July weekend on Madeline Island is one of the most popular Independence Day celebrations in the upper Midwest. Here's a list of events associated with the upcoming holiday and tips on how to enjoy it to the fullest!

July 2

2 PM and 8 PM: Madeline Island Music Camp "Artist Faculty Concert" at the Madeline Island Clubhouse, with Pianist Jeffrey Cohen, Lucie Robert, Christopher French and Evelina Chao (Evelina is a fellow member of the Twin Cities Musicians' Union, a published author and a violist in the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra). Evelina is currently Music Director of the Madeline Island Music Camp.

July 4

9:45 AM: Parade floats and participants line up at the Madeline Island Marina

10:30 AM: Fourth of July parade begins, followed by an Independence Day ceremony at the Madeline Island Historical Museum, featuring the Madeline Island Community Choir

[NOTE: Bring a folding chair and park yourself on the lawn next to our office, across the street from the Island Store & Grampa Tony's for a great view of the parade!]

NOON: Art Fair and barbecue at the Rec Center on Middle Road (an annual fundraising event for the Art Guild and Gallery)

10 PM: Fireworks in downtown La Pointe, off the Ferry Dock shoreline.

July 5

4 PM and 8 PM: Fry Street String Quartet (with pianist Jeffrey Cohen) at the Madeline Island Clubhouse, presented by the Madeline Island Music Camp

7 PM: Liz Woodworth (keyboard and vocals), performing at the Beach Club courtyard

July 6

7 PM: Madeline Island Radio Hour event at the La Pointe Elementary School, hosted by Marilyn Hartig and presented by Madwood ProMotions. Tickets will be $10, with youngsters under 12 admitted at no charge.

HERE'S WHERE TO ENJOY THE BEST VIEW OF THE FIREWORKS - You'll find the best and most comfortable vantage point for enjoying the fireworks display off the Beach Club dock and the beach shoreline behind the Madeline Island Realty office at 809 Main Street. Our office property extends from the middle of the Beach Club dock all the way down to the "Big Bay State Park" directional sign.

Bring along a blanket or a camp stool and feel free to park yourself on our beach during the fireworks display, compliments of Madeline Island Realty!

Before the display, you'll find nearby refreshments and fast food at Ed & Marilyn Hartig's famous Island Store, Grampa Tony's Restaurant, Lori's Island Grocery, the Beach Club, Lotta's and the Bell Street Tavern.

Have a safe and enjoyable Fourth of July weekend!

A second home is an affordable luxury.

Discover why a vacation retreat on Lake Superior is the ultimate indulgence!

Contact Broker Eric Kodner today at 612.670.2539.

Fourth edition of "The Superior Way: A Cruising Guide to Lake Superior" is now available

2008-06-28T18:18:59Z

If you're a Lake Superior sailor or power boat owner, you'll want to pick up the latest edition of Bonnie Dahl's much-praised "Cruising Guide to Lake Superior".

The newly-available fourth edition includes wilderness anchorages around the "big lake". And there are over 350 GPS waypoints plotted for sailing and boating enthusiasts.

I still have my trusty second edition and I've always loved this book. The section on the Apostle Islands is detailed and easy to follow. The spiral binding lets pages lie flat on a chart table for easy reference. You'll find harbor maps, wilderness charts, information on marine facilities and navigational aids. Dahl provides specific information about dockage and navigation hazards, such as gill nets, rock cribs and shoals.

One of my favorite aspects of Dahl's book is the historic information she provides about each destination. There's also plenty of detailed information on the Ontario side of Lake Superior, for those cruising between Thunder Bay and Sault Ste. Marie.

This book is an absolute must for boaters planning a trip along the shores of Lake Superior!

A second home is an affordable luxury.

Discover why a vacation retreat on Lake Superior is the ultimate indulgence!

Contact Broker Eric Kodner today at 612.670.2539.

Door County, Wisconsin cherry crop severely damaged by bad weather

2008-06-26T12:00:07Z

When I lived and worked in Door County, Wisconsin back in the early 1980s, one of the local treats was a slice of Montmorency cherry pie.

This summer, the cherry crop in the Door has been devastated by bad weather. This year's harvest may produce only one or two percent of last year's crop.

The cherry harvest is a major part of the area economy in Door County, with nearly 400 seasonal harvesting jobs being lost this year. Wineries and area restaurants will also be affected. Door Peninsula Winery produces thousands of bottles of cherry wine each season and will likely have to raise prices and import cherries. Al Johnson's Swedish Restaurant in Sister Bay and the White Gull Inn in Fish Creek both have menu items which feature Door County cherries.

Orchard owners are likely to apply for Federal Disaster Relief as a result of the huge crop loss. Most orchard owners in the state do not carry crop loss insurance.

A second home is an affordable luxury.

Discover why a vacation retreat on Lake Superior is the ultimate indulgence!

Madeline Island Fireworks Fund Seeking Donations for July 4th Display

2008-06-25T15:48:54Z

As of mid-June, the Madeline Island Community Fireworks Fund had raised only $2750. That is just over one-third of the total amount needed to produce the Island's annual Fourth of July fireworks display in downtown La Pointe.

Each Fourth of July, an estimated five thousand people attend the Madeline Island community parade and the fireworks display. Contributions generally come from area businesses, Island residents and visitors.

This year's funding shortfall potentially threatens an Island tradition. Funds go to pay for the fireworks, safety crew, transportation and liability insurance.

For information on how and where to contribute, please contact the Madeline Island Chamber of Commerce, or send a check to:

MICC Fireworks Fund, P.O. Box 274, La Pointe, Wisconsin 54850

A second home is an affordable luxury.

Discover why a vacation retreat on Lake Superior is the ultimate indulgence!

Contact Broker Eric Kodner today at 612.670.2539.

Downtown La Pointe, Wisconsin stormwater project underway

2008-06-22T15:06:34Z

From now through the end of June, expect to see road closures in portions of downtown La Pointe, on Madeline Island.

Various roads in downtown will be "intermittently closed" during the next several weeks. Last week, a section of Big Bay Road from the intersection of Colonel Woods Avenue and Main Street extending to the La Pointe Town Hall was under construction.

The project is part of a storm sewer renovation and expansion plan for the La Pointe commercial district. The current phase of this project should be completed in advance of this year's Island Fourth of July celebration and parade.

Madeline Island Chamber of Commerce Membership Dinner to take place on Thursday June 26

2008-06-22T15:01:21Z

The Madeline Island Chamber of Commerce will present its Membership Dinner, to be held on Thursday June 26 at the "Lightkeeper's Lodge" in La Pointe, Wisconsin.

Situated next to The Pub Restaurant & Wine Bar, the "Lightkeeper's Lodge" is a new lodging and special events facility. The Lodge is scheduled to open officially on July 1 and preview tours of the building will be held on June 26th. The finished "Lightkeeper's Lodge" will feature six deluxe hotel suites and two standard hotel rooms, plus a large area for private parties and community events.

The Membership Dinner will begin with a social hour at 5:30 p.m., with cash bar. Dinner will be served at 6:30 p.m.

Here's the "scoop" on the Menu:

Salad

Mixed field greens salad with house vinaigrette

Entree

Bistro Steak Bordelaise and Pecan Crusted Trout Dijonnaise

Garlicky Smashed Yukon Gold Potatoes

Asparagus with Red Pepper

Dessert

Fudge Brownies with Berries & Whipped Cream

coffee or tea

Admission per person is twenty-five dollars. Those planning to attend should RSVP by June 20th.

Chequamegon Chefs Exhibition coming to the Bell Street Tavern in La Pointe, Wisconsin on June 19

2008-06-22T14:59:23Z

The nineteenth annual Chequamegon Chefs Exhibition will take place at the Bell Street Tavern on June 19, 2008 from 6:30-8:30pm.

The Chefs Exhibition features several of the Apostle Islands area's best-known restaurants. This year's native Madeline Island participating restaurants will include the Bell Street Tavern, The Beach Club, Lotta's Lakeside Café, and The Pub Restaurant & Wine Bar.

Other area restaurants participating in this event will include Bayfield restaurants Burt & Francie's Café, The Egg Toss Cafe, the Gourmet Garage, Maggie's and the Portside. The Blue Bayou Inn (Manitowish Waters) will also be participating.

Tickets to the Chefs Exhibition will be $25 in advance and $30 at the door. Tickets include free round-trip (passenger) ferry fare. Tickets may be purchased at the Bayfield Inn, Maggie's, Portside and also at Chamber of Commerce offices in Ashland and La Pointe.

Last boat from Bayfield to Madeline Island on Friday night of "Biker Weekend"

2008-06-22T14:57:47Z

I found myself on the 11 p.m. trip, the last of the day, from Bayfield to La Pointe this evening.

If you were trying to determine whether or not tourism is down this year, you'd get the impression things are slow this year by riding the last ferry of the day to La Pointe on a Friday summer evening.

We left the mainland aboard the Bayfield at around 11:10 p.m., with a total of just seven vehicles on deck. Two of the vehicles had Wisconsin license plates, the remaining five (including mine) had Minnesota plates.

The Bayfield has a capacity of 26 vehicles and up to 149 passengers. Tonight, you could have ridden a bicycle around on deck.

Ordinarily, the last ferry boat of the day on a Friday or Saturday night is packed. Tourists coming up to the Apostle Islands area from the Twin Cities or Eau Claire or Madison begin filling boats late in the afternoon and well into the evening.

On top of that, this is "Biker Weekend" on Madeline Island. Typically, this is the weekend that we see hundreds of motorcycle enthusiasts on the Island, filling the campgrounds at the State Park and Town Park and also occupying the available rental units.

You can't blame the lightweight ferry traffic on the weather. It was a gorgeous evening, with a full moon, starry sky and almost no wind or waves on Lake Superior.

What I observed tonight was in direct contrast to what I've heard from some Island merchants about this summer's tourist traffic. Some have told me that lodging bookings are filled and campground sites are tough to come by.

Nevertheless, it's unnerving to ride the 11 p.m. boat on a Friday evening and find yourself with very little company on board.

Madeline Island Ferry Line forced to make tough choices due to rising fuel costs

2008-06-19T20:35:02Z

Rumor has it that the Madeline Island Ferry Line in La Pointe, Wisconsin has recently resorted to layoffs and shift changes in ferry crews in an effort to save money. Economic forces are apparently to blame, including reduced tourist traffic resulting from high gasoline prices.

An area source reported that tourist traffic is down this season and the Ferry Line has been forced to cut back multiple shifts, cancel two round-trip crossings per day and reduce its staff by several employees.

Another source mentioned that the Ferry Line crew seems to have adopted the practice of holding ferry boats at the dock longer for some trips, waiting for "stragglers" to fill a boatload.

What we buy is influenced by life changes

2008-06-19T01:09:49Z

Remember the Seventies?

In the mid-1970s, I bought my first car, a SAAB. It got great mileage, had heated seats, front disc brakes and rack & pinion steering. When you slammed the car door, it closed with a solid "chunk" and the frame didn't vibrate. I loved the Michelin tires, the way it handled on slippery roads and the comfort.

My love affair with Swedish cars lasted until 1983, when my first daughter was born. My wife and I decided we needed the "family station wagon", so we bought a Jeep Grand Wagoneer. It was comfortable to drive and easy to get the kids in and out of their car seats. I enjoyed the height of an SUV and gas wasn't all that expensive then.

After three years or so, the Jeep inexplicably began to flake paint and rust. The repairs got alarmingly frequent. So I dumped the SUV and bought a Volvo 240 DL station wagon. Again, I loved the way it handled, the solid feel and luxury, and the kids liked it better than the Jeep. They rode to school every day in it and called it the "Volvo bus". That car saved my life one day when an impatient tank truck driver decided to pass me on the shoulder and rear-ended me. The cop who showed up said I'd have been killed if I'd been driving anything else that day.

Around the same time as I bought the Volvo, I fell in love with a little red Mazda Miata convertible. It was totally impractical, but it was the most fun little thing to drive in the world! In 1995, I traded it for a 26-foot powerboat. I kept that cruiser at the Madeline Island Marina until a couple years ago.

About the same time the Volvo got totaled, around the mid-1990s, our family was building a cabin on Lake Superior and a friend advised me to buy a truck so I could haul building materials. I bought a Ford F-250 diesel pickup truck with a topper. Diesel fuel was affordable and the truck was a construction vehicle, hauling doors and windows, appliances, furnishings and fixtures.

The pickup truck got heavy use. I hauled my boat with it and took it over rough roads. When it got seedy, a Ford dealer talked me into trading it for a Ford Explorer around 1998. At first I liked the Explorer, but after only a year and a half, it became a money pit. It ate parts and refused to run at inconvenient moments. So I got rid of it quickly and bought a Toyota Highlander. The Highlander was extremely comfortable and solid. I kept it until a few years ago, when the fuel expense and maintenance became noticeable. I had a tendency to use it as an office on wheels, and it was always full of files and lawn signs.

Now, I drive a Toyota Camry. I bought it loaded, with heated leather seats and all the available options. It's sufficiently luxurious and it gets over 31 miles to the gallon on the highway.

My point in telling this rather lengthy story is that we buy what we do as our needs change. But we are also sold what we buy, to some extent. Before I had children to transport, I bought sporty European cars. When the kids arrived, the neighborhood moms and dads were buying Jeeps, and the television ads were all pushing them. So I bought a Jeep. The Volvo was the same kind of purchase a parent makes. The Volvo station wagon was boxy and homely, but it was safe as heck and it made the perfect family car.

After the kids were grown, I switched to the company car, the SUV that I could use to haul lawn signs, files and clients. And now that I drive alone most of the time, I've chosen a vehicle based on gas mileage.

The home buying process is really not much different. We're seeing change in America, change in an aging society, energy costs rising and empty-nesters downsizing. It's our responsibility and our job to go along with that change, to see our clients through it and to help them make their transitions with dignity and grace.

I've made a friend through Localism.com

2008-06-12T15:57:39Z

Last autumn, I wrote a post on a subject that's always fascinated me. The post was about a piece of Chequamegon Bay area history that has been mostly forgotten, the Barksdale explosives plant, operated by DuPont in the Washburn, Wisconsin area for decades during the twentieth century.

Northwest Wisconsin's Best-Kept Secret for Decades: The Barksdale Explosives Plant

As with most Localism.com posts, I never expected to get much (if any) response in the way of comments. My purpose was to provide Localism readers with a bit of area history they might find intriguing.

And then, my post received a comment from John Holman, nearly six months after I uploaded it.

John lives in the Washburn area and his father and grandfather worked at Barksdale, over a period of more than four decades. John's grandfather lost his life in the plant explosion of 1928. And I learned more and more about Barksdale from the unique perspective of a family member of two former Barksdale employees.

Some posts you write for visibility and some for local consumption. A Localism post doesn't always produce immediately gratifying results the way a more attention-grabbing post might. But you're missing the opportunity to build friendships and to connect with the public in a very real way if you're not writing and posting to Localism.

There's huge value in making a connection in your community. Localism is absolutely the best way for a real estate professional to accomplish that.

A second home is an affordable luxury.

Discover why a vacation retreat on Lake Superior is the ultimate indulgence!

Contact Broker Eric Kodner today at 612.670.2539.

Marinas.com provides information on local marinas and boating facilities

2008-06-07T23:56:28Z

Visit the Marinas.com website and find an online database (with photos) of just about every public marina in the United States.

Marina listings on the site include a Google map locator and an aerial photograph of each marina. There are links to local weather, GPS coordinates and phone/email contact information for each marina as well.

The aerial photography is some of the best you'll see anywhere. The site has a luxury look and feel. And you can search the aerial photo database by category (marinas, restaurants, lighthouses, locks, inlets, anchorages, port/harbor overviews, ferry terminals, bridges and points of interest).

The Marinas.com website reminds me a bit of the AirNav.com website for pilots. Marinas.com offers somewhat less detailed information, but the marina locator would be a very helpful resource for sailors or boaters planning a summer trip.

Tell your clients and friends about this one!

A second home is an affordable luxury.

Discover why a vacation retreat on Lake Superior is the ultimate indulgence!

Contact Broker Eric Kodner today at 612.670.2539.

Madeline Island Golf Club opens June 14th in La Pointe, Wisconsin

2008-06-07T23:50:52Z

The Madeline Island Golf Club is gearing up for its opening day, June 14.

The course, designed by world-renowned golf course architect Robert Trent Jones Sr., is in the process of being groomed and made ready for opening week. Resident PGA pro Jeff Obst will be available for lessons and golf clinics this season.

The course is located on Old Fort Road, across from the Madeline Island Marina and Yacht Club. You'll enjoy spectacular views of Lake Superior and the mainland from much of the course. Carts are available and there are occasional special prices and offerings which appear on the Golf Club website.

For tee times and other information, call 715-747-3212, or email migc@cheqnet.net.

A second home is an affordable luxury.

Discover why a vacation retreat on Lake Superior is the ultimate indulgence!

Madeline Island Public Library is one of the best in Northern Wisconsin!

2008-06-07T23:44:58Z

The Madeline Island Public Library now has its own website!

The Library, situated across the street from La Pointe Town Hall, is open from 2 pm to 8 pm, Mondays & Wednesdays, and from 10 am until 5 pm, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays during summer. Saturday hours are from 10 a.m. until Noon.

The Island Library sponsors events for kids, as well as adults. The library hosts yoga and knitting classes, and there is a summer reading program for young people.

Contact the Madeline Island Public Library at 715-747-3662 for more information.

Madeline Island Music Camp "Chamber Music for String & Piano" session starts tomorrow in La Pointe, Wisconsin

2008-06-07T23:14:03Z

Tomorrow, June 8th, marks the opening day of the Madeline Island Music Camp's string and piano chamber music session.

The four-week chamber music program in La Pointe, Wisconsin will host the Pacifica, Arianna, Parker and Fry Street string quartets this season. String coaches and instructors come from all over the United States, including professional musicians from the University of Wisconsin, the Cleveland Institute, Oberlin conservatory, the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra and the Houston Symphony. Music Director Evelina Chao is a violist in the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra.

Each year, gifted string students ages 14 to 24 attend the well-known chamber music camp. Students are divided into groups according to age and musical achievement, and are placed in chamber ensembles. The ensembles receive daily coaching and participate in recitals at the close of the session.

A second home is an affordable luxury.

Discover why a vacation retreat on Lake Superior is the ultimate indulgence!

Eric Kodner is a luxury property specialist and real estate educator with a unique perspective on the Madeline Island real estate market. Madeline Island Realty is a member of the LuxuryRealEstate.com luxury properties network.

Madeline Island proclaimed "great weekend getaway" by Minneapolis Saint Paul Magazine

2008-06-07T21:48:02Z

Madeline Island received a fantastic "plug" from the folks at Minneapolis - Saint Paul Magazine in its May 2008 issue.

Minneapolis Saint Paul Magazine proclaimed Madeline Island a "great escape" and added, "regulars prefer to keep Madeline Island a secret."

Well, the secret's out.

Reporter Beth Doole is obviously impressed by the Island. But perhaps the greatest truth in her review of Madeline Island as a summer destination, is her comment,

"The real reason folks come here, however, is to do nothing: wake to the lap, lap of waves on the dock, halyards clanging on boats offshore; soak in the sunsets and count shooting stars".

You'll find the complete Minneapolis Saint Paul Magazine article on Madeline Island here.

A second home is an affordable luxury.

Discover why a vacation retreat on Lake Superior is the ultimate indulgence!

Art galleries open for the summer season in La Pointe and Bayfield, Wisconsin

2008-06-07T19:24:19Z

Summer is a time for art gallery openings on Madeline Island!

Over Memorial Day weekend, Burt & Francie's, at 117 Rittenhouse Avenue in Bayfield) hosted an art opening featuring art works by local artists, including Kelly Nelson (the owner of "Island Thyme" gift shop in La Pointe).

Across the water, in La Pointe, the La Pointe Center Art Guild and Gallery hosted a "Winter Works" opening. The exhibit is described as "an eclectic collection of mixed media" created by Island residents and summer dwellers. The exhibit will run through June 8 on Madeline Island.

Madeline Island Ferry Line announces trip schedule to be adjusted to conserve fuel

2008-06-07T18:33:14Z

The Madeline Island Ferry Line, in La Pointe, Wisconsin, is making an extra effort to improve fuel efficiency this summer.

The Madeline Island Ferry Line has announced "minor adjustments" in its 2008 summer schedule, aimed at conserving diesel fuel. As of Monday, June 9, the 12:00 Noon and 3 p.m. ferry trips from Bayfield and from La Pointe (on Madeline Island) are canceled.

At this time, no additional trip reductions are contemplated.

Visit the Madeline Island Ferry Line website for schedule revision details, or phone 715-747-2801.