The Leelanau News Blog
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In Sugar Loaf deal reached in the Leelanau Enterprise, Eric Carlson reports that Omena resident Brad Lutz has signed an option to purchase Sugar Loaf Resort from Kate Wickstrom.

The resort has been closed for skiing since March 2000. Lutz offered no timetable for reopening the resort, but made it clear that he expects the return of skiing at Sugar Loaf to be "a central focus" of his efforts. The condition of ski lifts and other facilities at Sugar Loaf Resort is such that no skiing will be possible there this ski season.

"Of course, we want skiing to return," Lutz said. "Sugar Loaf has some of the best runs anywhere in the Midwest."

But, Lutz added, he is "going into this deal with some fear and trepidation" and is well aware that he may be facing many obstacles.

"I've heard people in Leelanau County say they'll believe it when they see it when it comes to Sugar Loaf," Lutz said. "Actually, that's just about the right attitude to have in this case. I'm enthusiastic, I'm local, and I believe in Leelanau County – but I have no illusions. This will not be simple or easy."

I have no illusions either, but I am excited to see some new life in a place that was once the winter heartbeat of Leelanau - here's hoping that we'll all be Sugar Loafers once again!

St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church by Bean in Sylvan Lake

News from the Week

Stories from the week included features on a new bridal show at the Homestead, Empire's Winterfest and the Taste the Passion wine trail event along with a feature on mentoring programs in Leelanau County and the animated video of the Leelanau Song.

The Week's Weather

The weather went from single digits to record highs with January Thaw II: Jason Returns and back to single digits. At the end of it all, we've got a little less snow but still enough for winter fun.

January 24, 2008: Snow & low teens (16/5)
January 25, 2008: Flurries and upper teens (25/9)
January 26, 2008: Light snow and 20s (25/18)
January 27, 2008: Cloudy & upper 20s (30/19)
January 28, 2008: Early sun, afternoon clouds, light rain & upper 40s (48/23) Record high!
January 29, 2008: Heavy rain & 40s with overnight blizzard (45/24)
January 30, 2008: Snow, very windy and single digits (-22 wind chill!) (21/0)

Click for the Leelanau news archive from January 2007.

The annual Empire Winterfest will be held next weekend (Feb 8-9). Highlights from past years have included a Friday night bonfire and ice skating on South Bar Lake, kids games, curling and the  the legendary Polar Bear Dip on Saturday and the Winterfest Parade from the top to the bottom of Empire's Base Hill.

There's a whole bunch of information from Empire Winterfest 2007 on the Leelanau Blog. You can see more photos from the Empire Polar Bear Dip and check the Empire Chamber web site.

Photo:  Extra Points for Sheer Insanity detail by Andy McFarlane

An animated version of the Leelanau Song. Written by Art and Hazel Oberhelman, sung by Amy Hubbell of the Leelanau Enterprise. Animated by students at a TAP workshop ... www.theartplace.org

Coming in May

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Cyrstal Skull, premiering May 22nd!

For more information, visit the Bay Theatre's website.

Iron Man

Paramount Pictures and Marvel Entertainment's big screen adaptation of Marvel's legendary Super Hero Iron Man will launch into theaters on May 2, 2008. Oscar® nominee Robert Downey Jr. stars as Tony Stark/Iron Man in the story of a billionaire industrialist and genius inventor who is kidnapped and forced to build a devastating weapon. Instead, using his intelligence and ingenuity, Tony builds a high-tech suit of armor and escapes captivity. When he uncovers a nefarious plot with global implications, he dons his powerful armor and vows to protect the world as Iron Man. The film also stars Oscar® winner Gwyneth Paltrow and Oscar® nominees Terrence Howard and Jeff Bridges and is directed by Jon Favreau. --© Paramount Pictures

Rated PG-13 126 Min. Scope

Showtimes through May 15th

Fri. 4:30 7:00 & 9:30

Sat. 2:00 4:30 7:00 & 9:30

Sun. 2:00 4:30 & 7:00

Mon. – Thurs. 7:00

For more information, visit this site .

“The gadgetry is absolutely dazzling,

the action is mostly exhilarating, the

comedy is scintillating and the whole enormous

enterprise throbs with dramatic energy.”

- Joe Morgenstern, Wall Street Journal

“Powerhouse… expansively entertaining

special effects extravaganza”

Todd McCarthy - Variety

”Iron Man is a shapely piece of mythmaking.”

David Edelstein - New York Magazine

“Handsome and Charismatic, Robert Downey Jr.

renders a dominant performance.”

Emanuel Levy - EmanuelLevy.Com

The Leelanau Enterprise has a comprehensive feature titled 'A sense of giving back'  on the wide range of mentoring programs on the Leelanau peninsula. According to the article, benefits of mentoring include a decreased incidence of drug and alcohol use and violence, improved grades and more positive relationships with friends and parents.

Programs in the area include Voices & Choices, Kids Hope USA, Big Brother/Big Sisters of Northwest Michigan, Leelanau Christian Neighbors, Project HERO, Leelanau Mentoring and you can find out more about mentoring in Leelanau County (including how to volunteer) through Leelanau County's mentoring page.

Photo credit: skipping stones by Andy McFarlane

The Leelanau Peninsula Vintners Association invites you to celebrate Valentine's Day (and wine and chocolate) at their annual "Taste the Passion" wine tour held February 9-10.

The weekend features special pours and tasty chocolate treats and many of the wineries along the wine trail are hosting special events including snowshoeing, cross country skiing, evening parties, a snowman building contest and the first annual Vineyard Snow Angel Contest.

As a bonus, all participants will be entered in a drawing to win one of three great door prizes - romantic weekend escapes featuring lodging and dining at either The Homestead Resort with dinner at Funistrada; Holiday Inn West Bay with dinner at Hanna; Whaleback Inn with dinner at Samuel's.

Details and tickets at: www.lpwines.com/taste.

The Homestead Resort is holding a bridal show at their new Mountain Flowers Lodge next Sunday (Feb 3) from noon to 5 PM. The event features a fashion show, tours and vendors of wedding services showcasing their services and answering your wedding questions.

You can register to win any of dozens of prizes and there will be food, wine and music. For more information, call 334-5100 or visit www.thehomesteadresort.com.

Cedar Hilltoppers by Andy McFarlane

News from the Week

Stories from the week included a neat article (with photo) about History of Whalebacks and Pigboats on the Great Lakes from the Leelanau Enterprise, a look at the impact of Impact of the State Theatre on Traverse City and the surrounding area (and of the impact of movie theaters like The Bay) from the Glen Arbor Sun, a cool old photo of the fish tug Helen S in Fishtown and a look at free-falling lake levels on Lake Michigan and inland lakes.

The Week's Weather

We spent most of the week in the teens with wind chills below zero and plenty of snow to remind us that we do live in Michigan after all.

January 17, 2008: Cloudy, light snow and 30s (35/21)
January 18, 2008: Early sun, afternoon clouds, evening snow and low 20s (25/16)
January 19, 2008: Cloudy, windy, snow and subzero wind chills (15/5)
January 20, 2008: Cloudy, windy & single digits (9/5)
January 21, 2008: Cloudy, snow and low teens (15/8)
January 22, 2008: Cloudy, light snow & teens (19/12)
January 23, 2008: Cloudy, light snow & low teens (15/10)

Click for the Leelanau news archive from January 2007.