Story Sharing Technologies Along the Byways
Imagine projectable holographic ‘storytellers’ appearing on demand as byway travelers explore the route. How close to reality is that? Maybe a ways off yet, but the stage is being set.
Paul Bunyan Scenic Byway board members, Linda Ulland and Lynn Scharenbroich attended the National Scenic Byways Conference held last month in Baltimore. One of the popular sessions explored technology and how byway visitors interact with and benefit from it.
Podcasts and cell phone walking tours are already being used along urban byways in Maryland and states with similar urban byway routes. Byway users polled said they wanted snippets of information about the place they were standing at that moment; podcasts and cell phone tours filled that need. About 18 months ago, tours became available in multiple languages, were always on and ready to tap into, and boasted high quality audio and video. Interspersed with the technological side of the byway tour were short conversations and/or presentations from real people along the route; DNR experts, local store owners, historical society representatives, etc.
Downloadable walking tours from byway websites, printed maps and tour brochures remain popular today. But, as the population becomes ever more familiar with and comfortable around all kinds of technologies, new avenues continually open for sharing the stories of America’s byways with byway visitors.
The Paul Bunyan Scenic Byway Association welcomes your ideas for ways to share the stories of this local nationally designated byway. Click here to send us your ideas.
Byway Volunteer Nationally Recognized
Byway chairperson, Lynn Scharenbroich, was presented the President’s Call To Service Award on Thursday, May 10, 2007. Minnesota Lieutenant Governor Carol Molnau presented the prestigious award to Scharenbroich along with congratulatory letters from President George H.W. Bush and Mary Peters, Secretary of Transportation, as well as the President’s Council on Service & Civic Participation. In recognition of Scharenbroich’s selfless contribution, donating more than 19,700 hours to the Byway project over the last 10 years, she also received a souvenir coin on behalf of the U.S. Department of Transportation.
Byway Board member, and Paul Bunyan personality, Wayne Chamberlain presented the Lieutenant Governor with a commemorative photograph– and Scharenbroich prepared her a bountiful basket of Byway memorabilia.
 After the award presentation the Lt. Gov. enjoyed a stroll on the resort grounds with Lynn and Mark Anderson, from the MN Office of Environmental Services.
Lynn is one of the original Directors on the Paul Bunyan Scenic Byway Association and a leader when it comes to her duties as meeting organizer, newsletter editor, grant and project coordinator, fundraiser and group cheerleader. Local businesses along with State, County and Local governments value Lynn’s commitment to communication and her ability to persevere no matter what the challenge.
Lynn Scharenbroich, along with her husband Bob, have owned and operated Black Pine Beach Resort, a year ‘round 13 individual cabin lodging property on the Whitefish Chain of Lakes in Central Minnesota for 30 years. Until the age of 12, Lynn spent her childhood “just down the road” at a resort owned by her parents and grandparents. After graduating from Hutchinson High School, Lynn attended St. Cloud State University and received her elementary and special education teaching degree. In 1982 she completed her Masters degree in special education. She spent 15 years teaching special education. Lynn and her husband Bob, have one son, Lucas, who is an engineer at Jet Propulsion Labs in Pasadena, CA.
Birding the Byway
 Birding, known also as bird watching, continues to grow in popularity. There are an estimated 46 million birdwatchers in the United States and more than 700 species of migratory birds, according to the US Fish and Wildlife Service.
A Birder's Team, consisting of well-known authors, editors, educators, conservationists, eco-tourism experts and members of the business community, has been appointed and will work with the Fish and Wildlife Service to increase quality bird watching at the 547 National Wildlife Refuges and other important bird habitats.
As a part of this Birding Initiative, the Fish and Wildlife Service is working with the National Scenic Byways Program (NSBP) to improve information on bird watching along many of the 126 nationally designated America's Byways routes. There are already 62 national wildlife refuges and several of America's Byways are also closely associated with designated Birding Trails.
According to the NSBP, birding can play a significant role in a byway's continued success as it fosters sustainable economic development. Recent estimates from a Birding in the United States study indicate that as high as 84% of non-consumptive recreation users are birders.
Here in Minnesota's central lakes area, the nationally designated Paul Bunyan Scenic Byway has had a popular birding brochure for many years. The Birds of the Byway brochure was developed through a grant from the Minnesota Office of Tourism (now Explore Minnesota Tourism) in 2000, with local support from the Whitefish Area Lodging Association, Ideal Community Service Organization, DNR-Nongame Wildlife Program and local businesses. Well-known Minnesota birders, Steve and Jo Blanich, provided all the local bird research for the brochure.
The Blaniches are now in the process of updating the information and will complete their year-long review in May. The newly updated Birds of the Byway brochure will be reprinted this spring and will be available to the public by early summer. Sponsorships for this reprinting are still being sought. To learn more about this project, contact the Paul Bunyan Scenic Byway. For more information on America's Byways, visit www.byways.org.
Some information for this article is from Vistas, March/April 2007 issue.
Buying at a Bargain
Grants allow organizations to complete projects at a real bargain. Total project costs can be shared among multiple funding sources.
The Paul Bunyan Scenic Byway Association is able to apply for grant funding for various projects through federal sources as well as state and local sources. Federal partners cover up to 80% of the total costs, leaving 20% as the local responsibility. State partners provide 40%-50% of the total costs, with the remainder being the local responsibility.
As with any good bargain, though, there’s more to consider than the good deal itself. The big consideration is the local match.
With projects ranging in costs from a couple thousand dollars for smaller things like brochure reprints, to over $50,000 for major plan development and implementation like the Corridor Management Plan, securing local match funding becomes a big job.
You can help. If you’re part of a township, city or organizational board, encourage your group to allocate annual funds to the PBSBA. Individuals and businesses can help through membership in the PBSBA and through additional yearly donations to specific projects or as an undesignated donation. Thank you for supporting the PBSBA‘s community projects.
Projects in Progress
- As of December 13, 2006, the Wetlands Walk, at Veterans Walking Trail now has four interpretive panels installed along the Walk. Thanks to Dave Badger, Bob Joens and Darrel Skallet for installing the panels and Mike Holst for assembling the panels and posts. In the spring, Badger will lead a work crew to install vegetative control fabric under the walkway sections. Sons of the American Legion-Pequot Lakes have supported this project.
- A Paul Bunyan Scenic Byway Tour Brochure will be available by next summer. The brochure style is a spin-off of the highly regarded Loess Hills brochure. Partially funded by a federal scenic byways grant, the required local match is $5000, representing 20% of the total project cost. Partial funding support has been received from the University of Minnesota’s Central Region Partnership. Support for the project idea was received from Whitefish Area Lodging Association and the Brainerd Lakes Area Chambers of Commerce.
- The Historic Mailcarrier Interpretation for Byway Visitors project is being coordinated by Dick Haskett, of Rice Creek Resources. Extensive research on area mail carrier, Ben Knebel, mailcarrier in the Whitefish area for 39 years, has yielded scenarios which are the basis of live interpretative performances beginning summer of 2007. This project is funded in part by a federal scenic byways grant with a major portion of the local match expected through the US Army COE
Handshake Program.
- An interpretive panel is being developed for Rice Lake, located on the south side of CSAH 11, east of Pequot Lakes. The panel message will focus on shallow water lakes and their unique ecology. Pam Perry, DNR, is the PBSBA advisor for development of text and graphics.
!!SITE HIGHLIGHT!!
Nearly 100 resources and points of interest have been identified
along the Paul Bunyan Scenic Byway route. Some of the spots
are well known such as the Uppgaard Wildlife Management Area
or the Crosslake Historic Log Village. Others are not as commonly
recognized.
Each of the quarterly issues of Inkslinger
will highlight one of these lesser known Byway points of interest.
 Pine River Chamber of Commerce Information Building
What could fit into the Byway area better than a log building? Maybe a log building filled with icons of local history, including the area’s first telephone.
This site’s grounds include the Pine River Depot Building which will likely move across the Paul Bunyan Trail and be restored within the next several years.
Located on the southwest corner of the only intersection in Pine River with a stoplight, the Chamber of Commerce Information building was selected by the State of Minnesota in 2004 as an official Explore Minnesota Affiliate Information Center.
Visitors can find information on local events, attractions, dining, lodging, shopping, free wireless, nice restrooms and of course, the history of the area. Chamber Director, John Wetrosky, has stories to share about the Russian snow sleigh, the local art gracing the walls, memorabilia from logging days, and even Paul Bunyan’s wooden baby boots! Soon those boots are going to be even bigger. Last April and the city council voted unanimously to give the chamber permission to build some 12-foot tall, 14-foot long, and 10-foot wide boots on city property near the tourist information center. Area artist Wayne Shilson will create them.
If you’ve ever wondered about the age-old mystery of who shot George Barclay, the first mayor of Pine River, stop by and ask John Wetrosky to tell the story about the whole range of speculation from across the decades. Could the still undiscovered murder weapon be hidden beneath the Depot Building? Hmmm. Better stop by and find out more.
PBSB AROUND TOWN- Dec. 7, 2006, the PBSBA participated for the first time in the Brainerd Area Chamber of Commerce’s Holiday Extravaganza held every year at Madden’s Town Hall. Board members Carol Ottoson and Lynn Scharenbroich created an exhibit table showcasing Byway art, playing cards and other Byway projects.
- Interpretive panels now dot the Byway at many locations along the 54-mile route, beckoning travelers and passers-by to pull over for a brief rest and maybe some sight-seeing. Bunyan-style whimsy and wit from 'the big guy' himself weave you through stories of these special sites. Paul's tall tales will entertain you and maybe even educate you a bit! Read how Breezy Point really got its name or learn how the dam in Crosslake was actually built. Locate these interpretive panels and many other fun things to do with our exclusive Paul Bunyan Scenic Byway Tour Map and Guide. You can pick up a copy from these fine advertisers or contact info@paulbunyanscenicbyway.org.
-A-Pine Restaurant
-AmericInn Lodge & Suites
-Antlers Restaurant & Lounge
-Bait Box Marina
-Beacon Shores
-Black Pine Beach Resort
-Boyd Lodge
-Bruce Bundgaard, Attorney At Law
-Crosslake Communications
-Dairy Queen-Croslake
-Expressions Shoe Center
-Gardiner's Hardware
& Furniture
-Heath's Resort on Whitefish Lake
-Iron Hills North
-Just Your Style
-KLKS 104.3 FM Radio
-Lakes
Area Gallery and Frame Shoppe
-Lakes State Bank - Pequot Lakes/Crosslake
-Leisure Suites of Breezy Point
-Manhattan Beach Lodge
-Mooonlite Square
-Norway Ridge Supper Club
-Pelican Square
-Pine Terrace Resort
-The Commander Bar & JJ's Pub
-Tip-Top Resort
-Towering Pines Resort
-Weise Crafts and Variety
-Whitebirch Golf Course
-Whitefish Golf Club
-Whitefish Lodge & Suites
-Wildwedge Family Golf Park
Paul Bunyan-Sized Thanks to:
Kristi Kraemer, Wayne Chamberlain, Ray Nelson and Rod Nelson for kicking off the development of a Byway and Corps exhibit room at the Crosslake Corps Bldg’s Multi-purpose Room.
Steve and Jo Blanich, Deerwood, for their year-long review of the area’s birds for the upcoming reprint of the PBSBA’s Birds of the Byway brochure.
Former Senator Carrie Ruud for her strong public support of the Byway.
Dates to Remember
Invitations to township/city meetings:
May 20-23, 2007 - National Scenic Byways Conference in Baltimore, MD.
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