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The Leelanau Enterprise reports that this Sunday (Jun 29) from 11 AM - 3 PM is the fourth annual Kids Fishing Day at the former Veronica Valley Golf Course (map). They say that while the state has been slow in forwarding funds for the sale to the county as a park, owners Bill and Diane Grant are holding the free event. Because bluegills are so aggressive, kids are pretty much guaranteed to catch some:

Many of the bluegills planted in past years have held over. They are found in such abundance that growth is starting to stunt.

DNR fish biologist Todd Kalish said 1,310 bluegills were planted this year in the ponds on the Grant property, most going 6-7 inches. A few were larger...

In addition, 25 rainbows that went up to 14 inches and weighed up to 2 pounds were planted, and should be available.

...More than 30 volunteers will be on hand to help in any way they can, from tying on hooks to taking off fish. Everything is free, including hot dogs, pop and potato chips

Photo: Nice...Boy with Giant Salmon Card by UpNorth Memories - Don Harrison

6 Acre iris farm M72 Leelanau Co MI by 1Cher

News from the Week

Last week had some of the coolest articles in a while with features on the construction of a new light for the South Manitou Island Lighthouse (with photos!), an aerial photo (wallpaper-sized) of the village of Suttons Bay before the marina, a feature on strawberries and an in-depth Enterprise article examining how the new Turtle Creek Casino (and planned improvements at Leelanau Sands) will impact Leelanau Sands Casino.

The Week's Weather

The weather was pretty much sunny & summery. We'll take 12 more weeks, please!

Jun 19, 2008: Partly sunny & upper 60s (70/50)
Jun 20, 2008: Sunny & 80 (81/49)
Jun 21, 2008: Mostly sunny & upper 70s (80/55)
Jun 22, 2008: Mostly sunny & 70s (75/53)
Jun 23, 2008: Mostly sunny & low 70s (72/52)
Jun 24, 2008: Mostly sunny & 80 (82/49)
Jun 25, 2008: Mostly sunny & 80s (84/64)

Click for the Leelanau news archive from June 2007 and our June 2008 page!

The Leelanau Enterprise has a feature that explores how the new Turtle Creek Casino in Acme might impact the Grand Traverse Band's first casino (and major Leelanau county employer and economic driver), Leelanau Sands.

...(Ron Olson, CEO of the Economic Development Corporation of the GTB) said the GTB is “very aware of the fact Turtle Creek will be very successful” — and the effect that might have in drawing gamblers from Leelanau Sands.

But he also sees opportunity for Leelanau Sands, which will continue to cater to a more local clientele. Olson expects the base of visitors to expand to include users of a proposed 129-slip marina planned within walking distance of the casino. Also being built in Peshawbestown is a cultural center and museum designed to tell the history and ways of the Grand Traverse Band.

...Notably absent from the rebuilt Turtle Creek is an entertainment center of the capacity of the Leelanau Sands Showroom, which will host country music legend Marty Stuart on June 28. Turtle Creek’s Level 3 lounge was designed as a 200-seat nightclub on the third flood overlooking the gaming area, but lacks capacity to host big-name acts.

Read Tribe: New Turtle Creek is opportunity for Sands in the Enterprise.

Photo: kasino by The Real Ferg (a photo of te Turtle Creek Casino while it was under construction)

Taste the Local Difference says that strawberries are ready to pick! They have a great list of Leelanau farm markets and local food providers.

From Absolute Michigan (where you can also get recipes for Strawberry Shortcake and Strawberry Sorbet):

Strawberries are grown in every county of Michigan and your fun fact of the day is that 53% of seven to nine year olds say strawberries are their favorite fruit. Strawberries are high in iron and Vitamin C - Eight strawberries will provide 14% of the recommended daily intake of Vitamin C for kids - and have less than 60 calories per cup.

The MDA's Michigan Strawberries page has a ton of strawberry purchasing, growing and preparation info and some great strawberry lore, such as the fact that strawberries were a symbol of perfection and righteousness that medieval stone masons carved on altars and around the tops of pillars in churches and cathedrals and that:

In parts of Bavaria, country folk still practice the annual rite each spring of tying small baskets of wild strawberries to the horns of their cattle as an offering to elves. They believe that the elves, who are passionately fond of strawberries, will help to produce healthy calves and abundance of milk in return.

If you're looking for a fun place to eat strawberries, check out the Empire United Methodist Church Strawberry Social featuring strawberry sundaes, strawberry shortcake and lunch this Saturday (Jun 28) from 11 AM - 3 PM.

I'm always happy when it's a slow news day and I can wander through Don Harrison's incredible collection of Northern Michigan postcards. He has hundreds of cool Leelanau ones and I always learn something new as a result.

Today I learned that Suttons Bay hasn't had that great marina (modern aerial photo) for as long as I thought. It was apparently built in 1962! (link)  Be sure to check it out larger and you can also order postcards and other items from Don's Up North Memories collection!

You can click the pics above for a slideshow of photos of the new third order Fresnel lens being built for the South Manitou Island Lighthouse Project by Artworks Florida.

The Relight the Light project seeks to fabricate and install replica third order Fresnel Lens in the lantern room of the South Manitou Island Lighthouse and Illuminate the lens using a solar powered L.E.D. light. You can learn much more about the project and donate online at www.leelanau.com/lighthouse. They still have a lot of money to raise, so please donate if you can!

Artworks Florida is dedicated to the history and preservation of historic Fresnel lenses used to illuminate lighthouses. The first restoration was completed in 1993 in St. Augustine, Florida, where glass prisms were machined and polished to Fresnel's original formulas developed in 1819.

They have some really cool information about the process right here and be sure that Leelanau.com will bring you more about this story as we have it!

Tales of The Crib by jimflix

News from the Week

Agriculture was the featured topic this week, with stories including a feature on the weekly Leelanau farmers markets and the 2008 regional farm & farm market guide from Taste the Local Difference and news that Bingham Township planners have recommended adoption of agritourism language into township zoning. We also noted the start of another season of Friday night with the Beach Bards in Glen Arbor.

The Week's Weather

The weather was great ... if you're in March. For June (after a brief foray into the 80s) Mother Nature put on her June 1979 throwback jersey. On the plus side, sweatshirt and fleece sales are brisk.

June 12, 2008: Mostly cloudy, rain & upper 70s (80/60)
June 13, 2008: Mostly cloudy, thunderstorms and 80s (87/59)
June 14, 2008: Mostly sunny & low 80s (82/59)
June 15, 2008: Mostly sunny w/ brief showers and 70s (76/53)
June 16, 2008: Mostly cloudy, scattered showers and low 60s (62/53)
June 17, 2008: Cloudy, light rain & 50s (57/50)
June 18, 2008: Partly sunny & 50s (58/49)

Photo credit:

Click for the Leelanau news archive from June 2007 and also our June 2008 page!

The annual Leelanau Children's Center Silent Auction takes place on Friday, June 27, 2008 from 6-10 PM at Gill's Pier Vineyard and Winery (on M22/North of Leland). Tickets are $10 advance ($15 door). The event is one of the major fundraisers supporting preschool programs in both Leland & Northport and features a wide range donated items, fantastic food, music and mingling with friends!

A new twist this year is an online portion to their Silent Auction - click here to bid online through eBay!

For more information or to reserve tickets, contact LCC at 231-256-7841 or visit the Leelanau Children's Center web site.

The Leelanau Farmers Markets are now in their 8th season and feature fresh, Leelanau County produce and farm products. Here are the locations and times:

Glen Arbor(downtown, behind the Township Hall) 9am-1pm
Tuesdays, June 17 – September 2, 2008

Leland (parking lot across from The Bluebird Restaurant) 9am – Noon
Thursdays, June 19 - September 4, 2008

Northport (The Depot next to the marina) 9am - 1pm
Fridays, June 27 - September 5, 2008

Suttons Bay (corner of Lincoln & Broadway, at skating rink) 9am - 1pm
Saturdays, May 17 - October 18, 2008

Empire (downtown near the Post Office) 9am - 1pm
Saturdays, June 14 - September 27, 2008

Speaking of farms and markets, the Taste The Local Difference guide to local farm markets and farm products is now available at visitor centers and retail locations from Manistee to Mackinac (and all through Leelanau). Now in its fifth year, the free and popular guide lists 229 farms, 26 wineries, 21 farmers markets and nearly 100 restaurants, caterers, grocers and other businesses that offer locally grown food products in the 10-county northwest lower Michigan region.

Visit Taste the Local Difference is also online at www.LocalDifference.org for an online guide, recipes and other information about fresh, seasonal foods.

You'll also want to check out our online listing of Leelanau farm markets on the Leelanau.com map! (look for the yellow milk jug and apple on the map!)

Photo: Just Peachy by Andy McFarlane

The River at Crystal Bend in Glen Arbor features Miniature Golf, Carriage Rides, Free Wireless, Birthday Parties, Rustic Trading Post & More!

Latest Giveaway!

The last question was apparently too easy, so here's a tougher one:

Who was the first European explorer to record a sighting of the Sleeping Bear, when did they sight it and what did they call it in their native tongue?

Be the first person to post a comment below with the answer below and you'll receive SIX FREE ROUNDS OF GOLF AT THE RIVER!

Past Giveaways

• The first question was the year that John LaRue moved from South Manitou Island to set up a trading post at Sleeping Bear Bay and Mark Haveman had the correct answer of 1848