The web developer in me wants you to watch the video below because I think it's really cool that we are able to convert DVDs, slideshows and other video content and display them in a cross-platform and inexpensive way.
However, the Leelanau County business owner and lifelong Leelanau County resident in me is the part that has the most to say today.
To put it in the simplest terms, I strongly believe that the vast majority of income in Leelanau County is derived from its rural beauty and that our hilltops of orchards and vineyards are a big part of that. I also know without a shadow of a doubt that this beauty is why I have chosen to make Leelanau County my home. Farmland and other preservation is often portrayed as something that just rich folks want. If you've ever had your heart swell with a love of this land while gazing at rows of cherry trees on Schomberg Rd or the vineyards in Elm Valley or any of the other bountiful vistas from Northport to Empire, you know it is not. Farming is food for more than just the table, and I believe it is our duty to do what we can to offset the economic pressures on farmers who want to keep on farming and keep farmland in production.
For just about everybody, we're talking about a cost of less than $40/yr for this measure. Two twenty dollar bills (or less) to make a difference in the lives of our great-great grandchildren seems to me a very small price.
There is a lot of talk about how this measure won't help farmers, that to really help them we need to lower taxes. Watch the video, you will see farmers who say that this WILL help them. Talk to them. Visit the Save Leelanau Farmland web site. Get informed.
- Andy McFarlane
Feel welcome to post a comment below, call me at 231-256-2829 or email andy@leelanau.com if you have questons, comments or disagreements.
The Traverse City Record-Eagle reports that Sugar Loaf owner Kate Wickstrom is optimistic skiing can return to the Leelanau County resort this winter for the first time since 2000. "We're going to at least open up for a little bit of skiing this winter," Wickstrom said.
The state has been working with Sugar Loaf to get ski lifts certified and at least one lift should be ready to go this winter. However, a dispute over the sewer looms as a potential roadblock. If Sugar Loaf comes up with a plan to generate a small enough amount of waste this winter, the resort could be eligible for county approval of a drain field, an alternative to the sewer system.
We had temps mainly in the upper 50s and low 60s with a much better than forecast Saturday (driving home the lesson that those who believe weather forecasts cheat themselves out of fun sometimes). Fall color began to be seen in earnest and we're at about 30-50% color right now.
September 21, 2006: Variable clouds & low 60s (64Ëš/39Ëš)
September 22, 2006: Mostly cloudy, breezy & low 60s (64Ëš/48Ëš)
September 23, 2006: Mostly sunny & 70s early with evening rain (73Ëš/57Ëš)
September 24, 2006: Cloudy, very windy, some rain & 50s (59Ëš/41Ëš)
September 25, 2006: Variable clouds & low 60s (63Ëš/43Ëš)
September 26, 2006: Mostly sunny & mid 60s (66Ëš/41Ëš)
September 27, 2006: Cloudy, rain & 50s (57Ëš/50Ëš)
The Southwest Leelanau County Crop Walk is scheduled for Sunday (Oct 1). Registration begins at 12:30 PM at the Empire United Methodist Church, and the walk starts at 1:30 p.m. Participants who are unable to walk can rock in rocking chairs for pledges. Contact Marilyn Johnson at (231) 334-4481 for details.
On October 6th & 7th, twenty Leelanau County art galleries will have the yellow "Fall for Art" signs in the window. Stop in, pick up a map and brochure, have your brochure signed, and proceed to the next gallery. On Sunday at North Restaurant on M-22 (across from Little Traverse Lake) prizes will be awarded to participants. It is anticipated that there will be in excess of $5,000 in prizes!
Taken in the beautiful fall color, in the galleries and outdoors in Leelanau!
The Record-Eagle reports that Saginaw-based SpeedNet, Michigan's largest wireless broadband provider, received a $5.6 million loan from the Michigan Broadband Development Authority to expand its service network in northern and central Michigan and to purchase Wireless First, an Internet service company in Traverse City. Leelanau County is among the areas that will receive new WiMAX antennas in the next year or two. WiMAX has a non-line-of-sight range up to 30 miles, is considered especially effective in rural, hilly areas and operates at speeds 100 times faster than a dial-up modem.
Instead, here's a link to the results for the 2006 Tour de Leelanau from the Michigan Scene (nobody else seems to want to post the results online). The men's race was won by Eddy Hilger of Lookout Mtn, GA(racing for Priority Health) and the women's champ for the second straight year was Mackenzie Woodring of Grand Rapids (Priority Health/Ford).
I'd also like to direct your attention to the Tour de Leelanau photo pool set up by Joel Gaff. If you have photos of the Tour, please join Flickr and add them to the pool.
We had a great weekend of weather - perfect for the huge slate of outdoor events we had in Leelanau in Traverse City. Those who were watching the skies around sunset got a scary treat in the form of several small tornados (none came close to touching down).
September 14, 2006: Mostly sunny & upper 60s (69Ëš/55Ëš)
September 15, 2006: Early clouds, then sunny & mid 70s (77Ëš/48Ëš)
September 16, 2006: Mostly sunny & 70s (73Ëš/51Ëš)
September 17, 2006: Mostly sunny & 80 (82Ëš/64Ëš)
September 18, 2006: Variable clouds, some rain & 60s (69Ëš/57Ëš) Saw a few baby tornados in the clouds Monday night!
September 19, 2006: Cloudy, late afternoon rain & 50s (55Ëš/50Ëš)
September 20, 2006: Variable clouds, evening sprinkles & 50s (57Ëš/46Ëš)
The Traverse City Record-Eagle reports that the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians will build a new $80 million casino and resort at the site of its Turtle Creek Casino along M-72. Construction will begin in October on a new 347,000-square foot resort and casino that will include a 120-room hotel, a 64,000-square foot gaming floor, a concert and entertainment area, and restaurants and shops.
Our latest background is a photo of the bow of a beautiful Cris Craft at the annual Wood Boats on the Wall show at the Leelanau Historical Museum on September 16, 2006. This is also the first background with the new Olympus Evolt!
• 800 x 600 [100k]
• 1024 x 768 [146k]
• Laptop [174k]
• Widescreen [212k]
Leelanau Winter Festivals in Glen Arbor & Northport! (and maybe Empire)
Our latest background is a photo of the bow of a beautiful Cris Craft at the annual Wood Boats on the Wall show at the Leelanau Historical Museum on September 16, 2006. This is also the first background with the new Olympus Evolt!
