The Leelanau County Cherry Blossom Tour has been scheduled for Saturday, May 10 from 11 AM - 2 PM. The Tour is sponsored by the Leelanau Conservation District, Leelanau Conservancy and the Leelanau Enterprise, with several other organizations presenting a tour of orchards with a leisurely FREE bus ride for folks of all ages (wheelchair lifts are on every bus as well!).
The event will start and end at the Connie Binsfeld Building in Lake Leelanau and features a free ride on busses provided by the Bay Area Transportation Authority. Tour takers can stay on a bus throughout its journey or get off at preplanned stops and catch the next one! There will also be a free lunch with cherry brats from Pleva’s Market in Cedar and those famous Cherry Republic Boomchunka cookies. Highlighted on the tour will be the views offered from a vantage point at St. Wenceslaus Church and the Gregory family's Cherry Bay Orchard.
Years ago, a Blossom Tour was offered annually by agricultural leaders in Leelanau County at about the same time the "Blessing of the Blossoms" ceremony was celebrated in Grand Traverse County. While the blessing event remains today, the blossom tour has long been discontinued — until this year.
Contact the Leelanau Conservancy at 231 256-9665 for further information or to volunteer and get more information from Cherry Blossom Tour web page from the Leelanau Enterprise.
Photo: Spring Will Come by Andy McFarlane (check out this Cherry Blossom Slideshow too!)
The Leelanau County Workshop for The Grand Vision will be held next Thursday (May 8th) at 6:30 p.m. at Suttons Bay High School.
The Grand Vision is a regional transportation and land use planning project that will help determine spending on transportation projects in the Grand Traverse region for years to come. Participants will be using maps and discussion to focus on Leelanau County's future land use and transportation system.
This workshop is open to everyone - you do NOT need to live or work in Leelanau County to attend. To register, visit The Grand Vision web site or call toll-free: 866-441-5214.
Photo: Misty Blossoms I by Andy McFarlane
The Leelanau Peninsula Chamber of Commerce hosts their annual Leelanau Business Expo next Wednesday (Apr 30) from 11 AM - 6 PM at the Strongheart Center in Peshawbestown.
The event is free to the public and the Leelanau Enterprise reports that over 100 businesses will be exhibiting.
Event co-organizer Jackie Morrison expects a full house of exhibitors, but said the Chamber will try to fit in any last-minute attendees.
“There is still some room,” said Morrison. Jackie and Bill Morrison are organizing the event, which is held every other year. They are owners of the Business Helper in Suttons Bay.
“But it’s going to be cozy,” she added, with some 112 spaces already rented out to a variety of businesses and non-profit groups. Some businesses, such as the Bill Marsh auto dealership in Traverse City and Stander Marine of Leland, will be showing cars and boats on the grounds of the center.
Read the rest of Big Turnout Expected at Chamber's Expo in the Enterprise.
Photo: Strongheart Center by Andy McFarlane
Birch by Andy McFarlane
News from the Week
News from the week included news that Brad Lutz will not pursue his option on Sugar Loaf and the story of not one but TWO state championship teams from Leland in the Michigan Odyssey of the Mind competition, and a cool photo of daffodils.
The Week's Weather
The weather has been great! Lots of sun and 60s and even a taste of the 70s!
April 17, 2008 : Partly sunny & low 60s (63/48)
April 18, 2008 : Mostly cloudy & 50s (57/43)
April 19, 2008 : Mostly sunny & 60s (66/41)
April 20, 2008 : Sunny & 70 (70/40)
April 21, 2008: Sunny & 70s (75/48)
April 22, 2008: Mostly sunny & 70s (75/45)
April 23, 2008: Mostly cloudy & upper 60s (69/42)
Click for the <a href="http://www.leelanau.com/blog/2007/4/">Leelanau news archive from April 2007</a> and the <a href="http://www.leelanau.com/blog/april-2008/">April 2008 page</a>.
The photo is Daffodils II, and I'd like to wish everyone out there a happy Earth Day (and tell you that the daffodils came out yesterday!).
Come to the parade in TC Saturday too!
Here's a page with information about team fundraisers and reports from the World Finals!
On Saturday in Grand Rapids two teams from Leland took the gold medal in their respective divisions in the Michigan Odyssey of the Mind State meet.
Both teams competed in the Tee Structure competition which required them to design and build a structure using only balsa wood and glue (maximum weight of 18 grams!) and also present a play while adding weight to the structure. Leland's teams held the first and second highest weight totals with 328 in Division II and a whopping 443 in Division I! (results)
The teams now prepare for the World Finals May 31 - June 3 in Maryland.
The Crystal River is a perfect river for a nice leisurely float, its crystal clear waters allows you to see right down to the river bed, and are perfect for swimming. Canoeing or kayaking the main stretch of river takes 2-3 hours, spanning 7 miles, most of which are in the Sleeping Bear National Park. Plus, for the extremely leisurely folk, you can bring your inner tubes and soak up solar rays while afloat, killing the two sunbathing and river-floating birds with one stone. At least, you can try this in the calm parts of the river. It's also pretty likely that you'll love the view.
Cool things to do: look for wildlife: Bald Eagles, Blue Herons, White Tail Deer, Otters, and many more. Eat a packed lunch on a riverbank. Stop to fish.
The COOLEST thing to do: shoot through the culverts in your canoe or kayak, or if you are feeling really adventurous go through in your life jacket.
Rent your boat at the Crystal River Outfitters .
While Earth Day is next Tuesday (Apr 22), the 2008 Grand Traverse Earth Day Parade takes place next Saturday (Apr 26) at noon.
In addition to the parade through downtown Traverse City, there will be a "zero-waste" community picnic at Hannah Park (on the river) following the parade . There will also be a puppet & mask performance, Earth Day Green Fair and music from 3:00 - 4:30 PM by the Earthwork Musicians.
Much more about Earth Day activities and how you can get involved from The Little Artshram.
Photo: Bee's Eye View by Andy McFarlane (more pics from last year's Earth Day Parade)
The Record-Eagle (and today's Enterprise) report that Brad Lutz, who signed a purchase agreement for the resort in February, announced Tuesday he won't close because he hasn't finished his review of the deal.
"We're still very interested in Sugar Loaf. We've done a lot of work out there and we still have a good plan for the property," Lutz said. "But we couldn't accomplish in 90 days what others haven't been able to accomplish in eight years."
...Lutz declined to discuss his plans in detail, but said he wanted to make the resort more of a four-season attraction in Leelanau County. He said he also needed more time to work on details like county and township approvals for renovating the property, tying down building demolition costs and reaching and resolving sewer issues as the resort's sewer system is not part of Wickstrom's holdings.
Read Purchaser pulls back on Sugar Loaf deal in the Traverse City Record-Eagle and also see Offers for Sugar Loaf shot down from the Leelanau Enterprise.
The photo is (still) waiting for Sugar Loaf by Andy McFarlane (who is still (still) waiting for Sugar Loaf).
