June 28, 2000
Island trail dedicated to Rybarz
South Island ceremony celebrates leadership of Long Lake resident
By Justin Trapp
Herald staff writer
On an almost Mediterranean sunny day last Thursday, friends gathered to celebrate their hard work, and the passing of one of their greatest motivators - Lottie Rybarz.
The friends are all part of the Ma-Me-Ne-Sewong Garden Club, a local gardening club centered around Long Lake. The place was South Island, one of the many islands dotting the surface of Long Lake with its beauty.
South Island is currently under the care of the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy, protected from development, but it hasn't always been that way. In the 1970s, the 13.2 acre island was divided into four lots, ready to be developed. The Long Lake Preservation Association, in cooperation with the Traverse Area Foundation, bought the island in 1973 for the cost of $78,000 in order to stop the possibility of development.
The association donated the island to the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy in 1996, to help guarantee its quality as an undisturbed nature preserve.
The Ma-Me-Ne-Sewong garden club members act as the islands keepers. Every year, members - including Rybarz - would tend to the half-mile loop nature trail, picking winter fall off the trail and tending to whatever else may need to be done.
"I think Lottie was the type of person who was a real leader," said Shari Bourdo, Ma-Me-Ne-Sewong club member. "She kind of spearheaded the idea of putting the trail out there. She knew the importance of preserving, in our country, all the lands that we could."
Rybarz was one of the prime forces behind the nature trail, Bourdo noted. Her efforts, along with other garden club members, led to the realization of the nature trail on South Island.
South Island is accessible only by private watercraft. The only structure on it, aside from the conservancy's do's and don'ts sign, is a temporary dock on the northwestern corner of the island. By canoe, the trek to the island takes about an hour. The nearest public boat launch is Crescent Shores, which is located off of West Long Lake Road.
Perhaps one of the most stunning aspects of the island is its diversity.
According to the Land Conservancy, "the self-guided trail passes through a dry mesic forest, a climax forest of mixed hardwoods, a beautiful old growth forest, and a white pine forest estimated to be around 200 years old." The island also has a small pond where bog and swamp flora flourish. The pond is affectionately called "Frog Hollow."
Rybarz, who passed away recently, will be remembered by the garden club for a long time. In fact, the Ma-Me-Ne-Sewong nature Trail has been dedicated to "those who contributed to the preservation of South Island," and underneath, the sign's mock-up reads "In memory of Lottie Rybarz."
On hand for a formal dedication ceremony, held last Thursday, were members of the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy, members of the Ma-Me-Ne-Sewong garden club, and relatives of Rybarz.