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Workshop Wednesdays return with two new class offerings. Classes run from 10 a.m.-2 p.m., with the students bringing their own lunch. Bottled water will be provided. All classes cost $10/ person except the chair seat weaving which is $30/ person.

*June 13 Sue Baughman returns with another spinning wheel class. There is a limit of eight students, so please sign up early.

*June 20 Barb Murray brings a class on basket weaving to the museums.

*June 25 Ð 27 Kim Uridge of Uridge Refinishing will show students how to weave chair seats. She will need the chairs two weeks before class, so if you would like to attend, the deadline is June 8.

*Sept. 12 Molly A. Dando, editor of the Huron County Press, Newsweekly and Harbor Beach Times, will present a class on Writing Family History.

*Sept. 19 Karen Renaud of Harbor Beach will teach a class on Writing Poetry.

*Sept. 26 Donna Martin rounds out the season with a stained glass class.

Call now to reserve your space as they go quickly.

The museums events

*June 16 This year is the fifth annual Pioneer Day.

-11 a.m. The Friends of the Octagon Barn give a presentation with a talk on the ongoing restoration

efforts and future plans.

-1 p.m. The Museums welcome Debbie Jett from Chicago, who will give a presentation entitled "The

Pointe aux Barques 1880 Disaster" on the rescue attempt that resulted in the deaths of six surfmen. At the time, this was the worst catastrophe in the history of the US Life-Saving Service. Ms. Jett has done extensive research on this event and will share some of her findings with us.

-3 p.m. Program features Janis Stein, writer for The Lakeshore Guardian, giving a presentation called "Romancing the Country Schools."

Local historical societies will have tents on the grounds with items for sale and the parents of Girl Scout Service Unit 604 will provide food.

On July 21 and July 22, the 8th Arkansas Company C will encamp on the grounds of the museums. They are a family oriented unit of 19 which started in 2002. Their passion is authentically re-living a period in history not fully taught to students. The founding families are from Caseville and Capac, with other members from Bad Axe, Harbor Beach and Fort Gratiot. Most of the unit belonged to other units for more than 15 years. The group formed here in order to keep the family oriented events going and to bring more people to the Thumb. The group participates in the Walk Through Time event at Sleeper State Park. There, students experience first hand the history from 1700 through 1865. A church service will also be held on Sunday at 10:30 a.m.

*Aug. 18 Sawmill Day brings the sounds of saw mills and antique engines to fill the air. The Eastern Michigan Music Makers perform all day. The Maplewood Farm and Petting Zoo provides pony rides for the children, along with animals to pet. Uridge Refinishing, gives chair seat weaving demonstrations throughout the day. Dave Thuemmel brings his beautiful wooden bowls and plates to sell, and Hugh Clark will show you how to carve wood. The parents of Girl Scout Service Unit 604 will again grill bratwursts and sell baked goods for refreshments. Eddie Kubacki brings some of his John Deere artifacts. New this year will be puppet shows by S&D Puppetry for the children and also ÔThe Mine" exhibit, presented by Steve Emerick. The stamped cedar shingles will again be available and there will be boards for sale. Pending the award of grant money, two shuttle buses will run from Huron City to Lighthouse Park to Port Hope and their A-B-C Day.

*Sept. 30 The fifth annual Poetry Reading features poets from the Bards of Bird Creek reading their work at 3 p.m. in the Huron City Church. Everyone is welcome to bring their own work to read or to come and listen. Celtic harpist, Mary Barnes, will again perform.

All the events, besides the Workshops, are free to the public. Mark your calendars today to enjoy some time at the Huron City Museums this summer. Potential funding for Pioneer Day, Sawmill Day and the Poetry Reading comes from a grant through the Michigan Council for the Arts and Cultural Affairs. This is the fifth year that Huron City Museums have been awarded these funds.

Huron City Museum's season opens Memorial Day Weekend and runs through the end of June on weekends only or by appointment. The museums are open full time starting July 1 through Labor Day from Thursday through Monday. September is weekends only or by appointment. Hours are 10 a.m.-6 p.m., and Sunday 11 a.m.-6 p.m., with the last tour at 5 p.m.. Teachers are encouraged to schedule their field trips early. The church is available for weddings Ð call to reserve your weekend. If you would like to contact someone at the museums about demonstrating at an event or to schedule a private tour, please call Patty Finan at (989) 738-6007 or call the museums at (989) 428-4123. Information is also provided at their Web site at www.HuronCityMuseums.org. The museums are located between Port Austin and Port Hope on M-25.