Stories

Over the past few months, I've had the chance to talk with many of you about the forest. What you've noticed, what worries you, and what you hope for its future. Those conversations surfaced themes that go beyond ecology alone.

Some concerns were practical: the size of new cottage construction, how long people stay when they visit, and reminders that CSA isn't an HOA and shouldn't operate like one. Others were ecological, touching on invasive species, aging trees, and the disappearance of wildflowers and native groundcover that many of you remember from years past. And some went deeper still, raising questions about whether CSA is drifting from its founding mission, the tension between actively caring for the land and simply leaving it alone, and the real spiritual weight this forest carries for the community.

All of that points to the same conclusion: this isn't just a forest management question; it's a community one. Here's where I think we can start.

On CSA's end, commissioning an updated forest assessment would give us a current baseline to work from, since decisions right now are being made without current data. An organized garlic mustard pull program, with structured community participation rather than scattered individual effort, could make a real dent in that invasive plant's spread. Clear construction guidelines would help protect trees during building projects. And a shared resource for elderly, less-mobile, or extremely busy residents who want to help but can't do physical work themselves would open up participation to more of the community.

There's plenty you can do on your own property too. Avoid pruning oaks between April and July, since that's when oak wilt spreads most easily. Never move firewood from unknown sources, as it's one of the easiest ways to introduce new pests. Take a look at the understory around your cottage and consider whether there's a next generation of trees coming through, or whether it's bare. If you notice unusual tree death or decline, report it and take a photo for the record. And if you spot garlic mustard, pull it and bag it rather than composting it, since composting won't kill the seeds.

Not every threat to the forest comes from insects or disease. Some of the most stubborn problems are growing quietly along the forest floor, often from plants that were originally brought in just to make properties look nice.

Garlic Mustard

Garlic mustard's white flowers and heart-shaped leaves

This European herb causes more damage than its size would suggest. It releases chemicals into the soil that harm the fungi native tree seedlings rely on, so it does not just compete with young trees. It interferes with their ability to grow at all. You can spot it by its small white flowers with four petals, heart-shaped leaves with toothed edges, and a faint garlic smell when the leaves are crushed. It is especially hard on sugar maple regeneration. Its seeds can survive in the soil for five years or more, which means missing even one season of removal can undo years of effort.

Japanese Knotweed

For a long time, this forest has held a steady balance. But that balance is starting to shift. Since 1951, our area has warmed by nearly 3 degrees, the frost-free season has stretched by a couple of weeks, and both rainfall and heavy downpours have increased. Those changes may feel subtle day-to-day, but they create conditions where pests and diseases can spread more easily. There are a few in particular that are worth getting to know.

 

 

This tiny insect targets hemlocks, feeding on their stored nutrients. One of the first things you might notice is a
dusting of small white, wool-like spots at the base of the needles. Over time, the tree begins to thin and fade. Once
infested, hemlocks often don’t recover, usually dying within a decade or so. Birds can unknowingly carry the
insect from tree to tree as they move through the forest.

 

 

 

 

This one works in stages. A small insect damages the bark, allowing a fungus to move in and take over. Early on, the bark may look pale and crusty. Later, the tree develops dark, oozing wounds and begins to decline. Across Michigan, millions of beech trees have already been lost, and only a small number seem able to resist it.

 

 

Emerald Ash Borer
This beetle has already changed forests across the region. Its larvae burrow beneath the bark of ash trees, cutting off the flow of water and nutrients. You might see small D-shaped holes in the bark or notice the tree thinning from the top down. At CSA, ash loss is already noticeable, and in some parts of Michigan, entire ash populations disappeared within just a few years.

Oak Wilt
Oak wilt moves quickly and can be especially hard to contain. It disrupts the tree’s internal system, and in red oaks, death can come within weeks. Leaves begin to brown from the outer edges inward, often while the veins stay green a little longer. What makes it especially troubling is how it spreads underground, moving through interconnected roots so that one sick tree can quietly affect nearby trees.
These changes don’t happen all at once, and they don’t follow a clear schedule. That’s part of what makes them easy to miss at first. But learning to recognize the signs, even in small ways, can make a real difference in how we respond and care for the forest.

Final proposal from Community and Belonging Group

By Frances Somers

This summer, the Working Group on Community and Belonging will wrap up its three-year mission to examine diversity, inclusion, and belonging at the Congregational Summer Assembly. The final action will be a vote at the annual meeting, Aug. 1, on a proposed bylaw change regarding who can serve as a trustee.

2026 Bylaw Proposal

The bylaw proposal that members will vote on is an effort, according to Board of Trustees President Bruce Lindsay, to open up board service to a wider audience, specifically those who do not identify as Christians. 

The bylaw currently reads: “All persons elected to the Board of Trustees shall be Members or Associate Members in good standing of the Assembly and shall have demonstrated their willingness to participate in and contribute to the Christian fellowship of the Assembly. 

The proposed change replaces the bolded text above with: “and shall demonstrate a willingness to promote the physical, intellectual, moral, and religious welfare of its constituency.”

The origin of this statement, which was adopted in 1905, can be found on the CSA website and on the first page of every edition of the Assembly News. It states that the purpose of the CSA is to promote the physical, intellectual, moral and spiritual welfare of its members.

Although the Board of Trustees did not take a position on the proposal, Lindsay supports bringing it to the membership because it was a “grass-roots effort.” It should not be a top-down decision from the board, he said.

Formation of the Working Group

First, a little background for anyone new to this topic. During the isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic, a handful of community members began talking about issues of belonging at the CSA. In 2023, the Board of Trustees established the Working Group on Community and Belonging to gauge the experiences of the broader community.

In the summer of 2024, the Working Group hosted nine weekly sessions on “Community and Belonging.” Some 100 participants shared their CSA experiences on diversity and inclusion.

Last summer, the Working Group hosted two conversations on “Values and Vision,” which 42 people attended. These discussions led to a list of shared values, which can be viewed on the CSA website.

The goal was how to describe what we mean when we say “The CSA Way’; what members value about the CSA; and to provide guidance for CSA leaders.

History of the Bylaws

In addition to the group meetings, Chris Sturgis, a trustee and Working Group member, searched the archives for relevant history. She found that the Articles of Incorporation required that two-thirds of the trustees be members of the Congregational church. But as the membership grew, the community expanded to include a mix of Protestant denominations and Catholics, according to Sturgis. She said the CSA modified its bylaws accordingly to reflect the growing diversity.

In 1956 that changed, Sturgis said. It was at that 51-year mark that the CSA initiated formal efforts to create a Christian-only community to maintain “the homogenous character” of its residents. Those efforts started as suggestions that residents sell or rent only to people of Christian heritage.

In the late 1960s, three bylaw changes were voted on and approved that created conditions of eligibility based on religious beliefs, Sturgis said.

1. Associate members “had to demonstrate their ability and willingness to participate in the Christian fellowship of the Assembly.”
2. The property bylaw stated that “No application shall be approved unless the applicant is deemed willing and able to participate in and contribute to the Christian fellowship of the Assembly.”
3. The trustee bylaw also stipulated that trustees had to be willing to “participate in and contribute to the Christian fellowship of the Assembly.”

The Working Group found that while the Associate member bylaw was eliminated at some point, the bylaws regarding property and trustee eligibility remained on the books.

Last summer, members approved an amendment from the Bylaws Committee to remove the property bylaw, and this summer members will vote on a proposal to amend the trustee bylaw.

Concern about Changes

Elaine Walton is co-chairwoman of the Pilgrim Fund, which sustains the CSA’s religious and educational programs. 

When the Working Group began holding meetings, Walton said she started hearing conversations from members who felt it was bringing Diversity, Equity, Inclusion (DEI) politics that were dividing the country into the CSA.  

There was a fear that it was a slippery slope. That there would be an effort to radically change the CSA, especially to dilute or even remove religion entirely.

Speaking for herself and not for the Pilgrim Fund, Walton said she supports the bylaw proposal. “It’s very non-threatening. It does not change the meaning, but it does open the door so that the board doesn’t have to limit itself to who can serve.

“To me, this is about shared values. The CSA needs leaders who share its values and support its mission.”

A Bylaw not Followed

Susan Ratner sees the issue from a unique point of view. Her Protestant roots date to the early 1900s at the CSA. She celebrates that history, but she converted to Judaism before she married, and has since served as a trustee and vice president on the board under the Christian-restrictive bylaw. As a member of the Working Group, she found that the Nominations Committee was unaware of the Christian bylaw and did not use it as a criterion for nominations.

“This is really about cleaning up our bylaws to get them in sync with how our organization is operating,” Ratner said. “Most organizations at a certain point do have to look at their bylaws and bring them up to date with current practices.

“This is not about getting rid of Christianity. It’s meant to make sure though that everyone and anyone who’s interested in leadership and who’s qualified feels welcome to pursue that path.

Ratner added, “I think it’s inevitable that our community had to start talking and thinking about this. The next generation are marrying a diverse group of people. And I think it’s going to be more and more of a challenge for the community whether this (Working) group existed or not.”

Sturgis summed up the Working Group’s bylaw proposal this way:

“Today, as we celebrate our 125th year, we see clearly that clinging to homogeneity isn’t the path to a vibrant CSA. Our community has grown in so many ways — expressions of faith, diversity of backgrounds, who we love and how we live our lives. So we’re proposing updating that bylaw—not to loosen standards or lose who we are, but to strengthen our culture with intentional inclusivity. With a culture of belonging, everyone can bring their whole self. When we invite the full diversity of gifts, care, and insight, we’ll be stronger, more creative, and more responsive. And we can all look forward to renewal happening right here, on the shores of Crystal Lake.”

More information

To learn more about the Working Group on Community and Belonging and its report to the Board of Trustees, check the CSA website here. 

By Bruce Lindsay, M.D.

From a tick’s perspective the CSA is a target rich environment, and you are one of the targets. The problem is the abundance of deer ticks and the risk of Lyme disease. I contracted Lyme disease at the CSA a few years ago. I recognized it and was treated without any problems. I also saw a few patients at the Cleveland Clinic who had Lyme disease affecting their heart, which is a more difficult problem. There are significant complications that can be avoided if people understand Lyme disease, take measures to avoid it, and know what to do if they are infected. Perhaps my review of this unappetizing topic will help you to avoid a disease that can be debilitating. Be aware that ticks carry other diseases such as Babesiosis (destroys red blood cells), Anaplasmosis (resembles flu symptoms), Alpha-gal Syndrome (triggers severe allergy to red meat and dairy), Powassan Virus (encephalitis), Tick Paralysis, and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. Some of these can be very serious or even fatal.

Overview. Lyme disease has spread into the upper Midwest. It is a problem in Benzie County and adjacent counties along the coast of Lake Michigan.¹ Recent CDC data show that visits to emergency departments for tick bites are higher than ever in 2026 and Michigan is among the worst states.² Confirmed reports have nearly tripled in the past 2 years and the CDC estimates that 500,000 people are infected annually in the United States.³ Lyme disease is caused by the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi, which is transmitted to you by the bloodsucking black legged deer tick Ixodes scapularis, and the risk of Lyme disease increases where deer populations are higher. The deer tick is a “hard tick” with a tough shield on its back. Infected ticks carry the bacteria in their gut and transmit it to you through their saliva when they are feeding. There are several species of ticks, but only the black legged deer tick carries Lyme disease in Michigan. Suffice it to say that we have an abundance of deer and black legged deer ticks at the CSA.  Other species of ticks, including the more common dog tick, do not carry Lyme disease, but they carry other diseases and it is not so easy to tell them apart unless you study the topic.

Life-Cycle. Ticks, which are active in the Spring through Fall, have 3 stages over a life cycle of 2-3 years: larva, nymphs, and adults. Each stage requires a host to provide a single blood meal so they can progress to the next stage. They only feed once at each stage and they are waiting for you.

1. Eggs hatch in leaf litter, then the larvae (6 legs, about the size of a typed period) find their first host. Larvae are not infected with Lyme disease when they hatch, so they cannot transmit it to you. They quest close to the ground and latch onto mice, birds or other hosts that carry the Lyme disease bacteria and the larvae become infected. They become engorged, drop off, and emerge as 8-legged nymphs the following spring.
2. Some nymphs are infected from their first host. They limb onto low lying vegetation and ambush the second host – a deer, a dog, or perhaps you. They can detect their new hosts through exhaled CO_2, body heat, shadows, odor, and vibration. Children or pets may bring them into the house and share them with you. Once aboard the ticks crawl around your body – often meeting a barrier such as a waistband, skinfolds or the hairline. They commonly attach on the back, thighs, shoulder, or around the hairline, ears, waistline, armpit, and groin. The nymphs are most likely to transmit Lyme disease because they are abundant, and they are tiny and may feed on you for days before they grow large enough to be detected. They are about the size of a poppy seed initially, so you may not notice that you have a hitch-hiker, especially if they are lodged on your back or some other area that is out of sight.^4,5 Once engorged with blood the nymphs drop off and will progress to become adults.
3. Adult ticks carry Lyme disease if previously infected. They tend to climb higher on vegetation while awaiting the 3^rd host - primarily deer, which distribute them around the CSA, though you would be a welcome meal too. They eventually become engorged and drop off. Then the females lay about 2,000 eggs in the leaf litter to start the next cycle.

Attachment & Risk. When deer ticks burrow into your skin their secretions have a neurotoxin to prevent pain or itching so you probably won’t feel them, and the saliva forms a biological cement that makes them hard to remove⁶. Their metabolism is so low that they only breath a few times per minute. Swimming will not kill them because they are able to extract oxygen from water and can survive underwater for up to 15 days.⁷. They grow larger as they become engorged with blood. Adult ticks are less likely to bite humans and they are more visible, so they are often removed before transmitting the disease. The left image shown below compares the size of the adult (left) and nymph (right) blacklegged deer ticks.⁸ The right image shows how much larger the nymph becomes as it feeds.

Two important factors determine your risk of infection.

1. First, is the incidence of infected ticks in the area. About 20% of nymphs and 50% of adult ticks are infected in areas that are highly endemic for Lyme disease.⁶ The incidence may be lower in Benzie County, but it is significant and growing.
2. Second, time is of the essence. You won’t be infected by a tick that is crawling around look for a good place to lodge. Once they have attached by burrowing into your skin, it takes about 36-48 hours for the bacteria to move from the tick’s gut into their saliva, so a tick that is detected and removed promptly will not infect you with Lyme disease; however, research shows that 50% of infected nymphs transmit the disease by 68 hours of attachment.^9,10,11

A tick bite is considered to be high-risk only if it meets the following 3 criteria:⁵

1. It was a deer tick
2. It occurred in a highly endemic area
3. The tick was attached for ≥ 36 hours.

The reality is that you might not know what kind of tick it was and may have flushed it down the toilet in disgust before it occurred to you to save it and show it to someone who could identify it accurately. The CSA is in a relatively high endemic area. If you think the tick was attached for ≥ 36 hours you should seek medical attention. 

Recognize Lyme Disease. You may wonder how bad is Lyme disease and how do I know I have it? Early infection is heralded by a distinctive rash called erythema migrans in 80% to 90% of cases.⁵ As shown below, the classic rash is an expanding area of redness about 5-15 cm or more in diameter with a bulls-eye or target pattern: however, there are many variants that look much different.¹² The rash may be accompanied by nonspecific symptoms such as headache, fatigue, aching muscles or joints, or neck stiffness. More disseminated disease that affects the nervous system or the heart may occur days to weeks after exposure. There also is a late form predominantly affecting joints that can occur months to 2 years later. If you have had Lyme disease before, it doesn’t prevent you from getting it again.⁵ The good news is that if Lyme disease is diagnosed and treated promptly most patients do well. 

Prevention & Removal. Now that you are thoroughly repulsed, let’s focus on how to avoid Lyme disease if you are walking or working outside:

1. Wear light-colored clothes so ticks that climb aboard will be more easily seen.
2. If you tuck your pant legs into your socks it helps prevent ticks from gaining access to your skin. You can buy gaiters treated with permethrin that repels or kills ticks on contact. These are not fashion statements, but they are effective.
3. You can spray permethrin on the outside of your clothes to repel or kill ticks, but do not spray it on your skin.
4. DEET, picaridin, and oil of lemon eucalyptus are tick repellants that can be applied to skin, but they don’t kill ticks.
5. Inspect yourself when you come in from the woods or grassy areas. A shower is effective in washing them off before they attach.
6. Wash your clothes in hot water ( ≥150 degrees F) after working in a high-risk tick zone in case the ticks are clinging to the clothes. Cold or warm water is ineffective. However, 6 minutes in a dryer on high heat will kill them.¹³
7. Inspect pets if they have been with you.
8. Don’t worry about ticks that have not attached to your skin. Just get rid of them and wash your hands.
9. If you find a tick that has attached, remove it with a set of fine tweezers inserted between the tick body and the skin. Pull gently upward until it is removed. Twisting or jerking is not recommended. Try not to crush the body of the tick. Wash the bite site and your hands after removal. While it is best to remove all mouth parts, sometimes pieces remain in the skin. If not easily retrieved, don’t worry, they will eventually work their way to the surface and probably don’t increase the risk of infection. The risk of disease transmission is greatly reduced even if the tick is inadvertently crushed or squeezed during removal.¹⁴There are commercial tools designed to make removal easier, but good technique is more important.^11,14,15
10. Do not try burning the tick or applying noxious chemicals. These methods are not effective and may actually cause the agitated tick to regurgitate more bacteria into your skin.^4,14,15