Spring Lake (click on any image for a larger version) Not since the Great Spring Lake Fire has so much damage occured at once in the Village of Spring Lake.  Damages are tentatively estimated at $4.6 million within the Village.  Damage estimates have not yet been released for Spring Lake Township. Nearly every business in the Spring Lake business district has been damaged in some way.  Alles Tire and Mail Services Plus appear to be total loss, with their roofs and parts of their structures completely torn away by the storm.  (Alles Tire's building has been demolished, and Mail Services Plus is getting a new roof) Other businesses suffered broken windows and lost roofing materials.  Most of the roof from AVPI Van Pelt, Inc. was found against the front of the neighboring buildings.  The Grand Harbor Resort and the Public Safety Department also suffered roof damage.  Signs, windows and awnings were ripped from their frames. The windows and garage door for the building under construction at Pier 33/Barrett Boat Works were damaged, and the trailer housing Pier 33's temporary sales office was torn loose and thrown into the parking lot at DeLass' Farm Market. The Mill Point Condominiums suffered the worst damage, with most of the riverfront side of the buildings torn off and two of the buildings literally collapsing with their occupants inside.  Fortunately, a large number of Consumers Energy employees working in the area were being housed next door and were able to mobilize immediately, using their generators and lights to begin a rescue effort.  Among the lucky survivors were two young children and their families.  Had it not been for the Consumers Energy employees, this could have been far, far worse.     Savidge Street, the main route through Spring Lake, was clogged throughout the day as people traveled through town in search of ice, batteries or a view of the damage.  It's been reported that Savidge Street was completely closed to traffic early on Sunday, due to trees and power lines blocking the road.  All traffic signals in the area are out, and police officers have been busy keeping traffic going at key intersections.  Many of the street's new streetlights have been destroyed by wind or flying debris. Nearly all streets in Spring Lake are currently open, however many are narrowed by debris.  In many cases entire yards and sidewalks are covered with the wreckage of trees, power poles and nearby buildings.  There are numerous fallen trees blocking the bicycle path in Spring Lake Village.       Many homes in Spring Lake Township and Village have been damaged, with countless trees, power poles and debris from ruined buildings landing on homes and in the streets.  Cars, motor homes, trucks and boats have also been destroyed by falling trees.  Public Works crews arrived in the neighborhoods early on Sunday armed with bulldozers and chain saws.  Where possible, the workers simply pushed the wreckage to the sidewalk so that emergency vehicles could get through.  Where necessary, they cut the trees into more manageable sizes. A mixed aerosol of dirt, sand and insulation material covers many buildings and cars.  At one home, a two-foot length of wood about eight inches in diamter was driven nearly completely into the ground. Both sides of the Spring Lake cemetery were devastated by about 250 downed or broken trees.  It's unclear how many grave markers have been damaged or destroyed, due to the number of trees and branches covering the ground.  At least one tree with a diameter of five feet or more was toppled.  Cleanup is estimated at about $130,000.  Burials have temporarily suspended. Spring Lake High School's graduation ceremonies were re-scheduled for Monday, June 1 at 7 p.m.  The Spring Lake Heritage Festival, scheduled to begin in June 15th, has been canceled for this year. Feel free to drop me a line if you have any questions or concerns, or if you are having difficulties contacting a loved one in the area.  I will try to help in any way possible - Rick Stricker, Webmaster.