The New Au Sable Event

Join us for an evening with Dave Jankowski, Co-author of The New Au Sable, which details famous events in the river's history, such as the Au Sable River Canoe Marathon. What began as a humble, backwoods paddling free-for-all in 1948 is now the most important canoe-racing event each year. The book also covers the May 1990 Stephan Bridge Fire. Although this day is considered one of the darkest days on the river, the heroism of the firefighters and first responders prevented an epic disaster. The New Au Sable shows that through all these events and the people, one common thread runs: a deep and abiding love for one of the world’s greatest rivers. About the authors Thomas A. Buhr is a native Michigander and lifelong fishing enthusiast. At fourteen years old, he moved to Boca Raton and fell in love with Old Florida. Watching "progress" steal away this magical land also spawned his interest in conservation. Over thirty years he has written scores of articles in magazines, including Field & Stream, Florida Game & Fish, The Fisherman, Michigan Out-of-Doors, and Midwest Fly Fishing, as well as several pieces for academic journals. He was editor for The Riverwatch and won an award for Conservation Journalism from the Sierra Club in 2011. Both his first novel, The Outgoing, and his second novel, The Big Water: A History of Michigan's Lower Au Sable River, won silver medals in the Global Book Awards. When not fishing, writing, or protecting wild places, he cheers for his favorite sports teams: the Leicester City Foxes, the Michigan Wolverines, and the Miami Dolphins. Dave Jankowski is a retired U.S. Air Force fighter pilot and Northwest Airlines captain. He is an ardent fly fisherman, fly tyer, and bamboo rod maker. With a passion for veterans, he participates in Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing and its affiliate, Bamboo Bend, where he serves as lead instructor. He lives in Traverse City, Michigan, with his wife, Mary. They enjoy a long marriage, have four grown…