Dinner & Discussion: Benzie County Water Festival

Description

This year, the Benzie County Water Festival theme is “MI Water,” relating water issues that are ongoing throughout the state of Michigan. Please join us for the first of a week-long series of events on Tuesday, February 14, for a dinner & discussion at Grow Benzie at 6pm. From how the Dakota Access Pipeline could affect our own Line 5 Pipeline in the Mackinac Straits to Nestle/Ice Mountain’s application to take even more water out of the ground in Osceola County, from the unending problems with Flint’s drinking water to the perennial news of shut-offs for those who cannot pay their bills in Detroit, it seems – at least on the surface – that there are many discouraging things going on in the Great Lakes State. But here’s the good news: there are good people working very hard on these issues, and the 2017 Benzie County Water Festival will present actionable ways for you to get involved and make an impact! Moreover, there are many good things going on that we sometimes forget to acknowledge and celebrate, so we plan to do this, also! The panel discussion will be facilitated by Ed Hoogterp, Benzie County’s new drain commissioner and former president of the Crystal Lake & Watershed Association. The panelists will include: John Timothy Ransom (Benzie Conservation District), Elizabeth Rosan Kirkwood (FLOW for Water, Melissa Mays (Water You Fighting For?), Holly & Percy Bird (Standing Rock Legal Council/Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians Tribal Council). Dinner will be delicious – made from scratch, courtesy of the Northern Michigan Culinary Arts Community. (Note: If Benzie Central Schools are closed that day for snow/ice, then the event will be postponed.)