Photo Friday: Glen Haven Canning Co by Mark Smith
Today's photo was sent in by Mark Smith who wonders if we've all had enough of winter.
|
Don't Miss: SBD on Good Morning America, Mario Batali Loves Leelanau, Leelanau Wine, Northern Lights!, Sugar Loaf, Sleeping Bear Dunes 
Wreck of the Jennie and Annie washes up on Sleeping Bear Point
About a week ago now I came across this photo by Mark Lindsay. I asked former Park Ranger Bill Herd, and he told me what has since come out in the media. Sleeping Bear Dunes historians believe the schooner fragment, estimated to be about 40-feet long and peppered with twisted metals spikes, is part of the shipŐs bilge keelsons, which the Oxford Handbook of Maritime Archeology says were long timbers running most of the shipŐs length, strengthening the keel. Traverse City Winter Microbrew Festival (Feb 11), Sleeping Bear Snowshoe Hikes (Every Saturday). Check the Leelanau Calendar. Daily photos from the Leland Report | Michigan News, Features & Links at Absolute Michigan! |
Latest Weather Clear & 24 at 7:11 AM sunrise: 7:57 am / sunset: 5:58 pm Waxing Gibbous, 98% of the Moon is Illuminated Weather Forecast »  |
February 27, 2009
February 26, 2009
Proposal to slash MSU Extension & Hort Station budgets panned
The Leelanau Enterprise reports that a proposal by Gov. Granholm to combine budgets for Michigan State University Extension offices and Michigan Agricultural Experiment Stations and then cut the overall budget in half is generating protest by extension & legislative reps for Leelanau County.
“The proposal to combine MSU Extension budgets with those of the agricultual experiment stations takes us in the wrong direction,” Scripps said. “In fact, there are a couple of things in the governor’s proposed budget that may indicate a bias against rural areas.”
The governor has also proposed a cut in state aid for public schools – a measure that Scripps said will unfairly impact schools in rural areas of northern Michigan that receive the minimum “foundation grant” funding offered by the state, notably Suttons Bay and Traverse City area public schools.
Sirrine, McManus and Scripps all pointed to a recent report from the state indicating that agriculture is one of the few areas of Michigan’s economy that is remaining relatively strong despite the current nationwide economic recession. The study showed that Michigan’s “agri-food industry” grew by about 12 percent last year, and currently generates some $71.3 billion for the state’s economy.
Leelanau Almanac for the Week of February 19-25, 2009
Leelanau Groomer by TART Trails
News from the Week
Stories from the week included a roundup of Leelanau County webcams, a cool aerial photo of Leelanau's northwestern shore and the fascinating tale of a potential pre-historic Stonhenge beneath Grand Traverse Bay.
The Week's Weather
We lost our snow but got it all back with interest over the week.
February 19, 2009: A good deal of snow, wind & teens (19/15)
February 20, 2009: Light snow & 20s (26/4)
February 21, 2009: Heavy snow & teens (25/2)
February 22, 2009: Partly sunny & 20s (25/20)
February 23, 2009: Sunny & 20 (21/2)
February 24, 2009: Early sun, afternoon clouds & 30 (34/-1)
February 25, 2009: Cloudy, wet snow/rain & 30s (37/22)
<Leelanau Almanac for the Week of February 26 - March 4, 2009
February 24, 2009
Stonehenge: Grand Traverse Bay Style
A few weeks back we posted the photo to the right in a feature titled Underwater images from a Lake Michigan Stonehenge at Michigan in Pictures. Stonehenge Beneath the Waters of Lake Michigan at Geoff Manaugh's very cool BLDGBLOG introduced Mark Holley, professor of underwater archaeology at Northwestern Michigan College, his underwater imaging and the fascinating story that is (slowly) unfolding under the waters of Grand Traverse Bay.
The other day, Get Off the Couch posted Prehistoric Ceremonial Site or Random Natural Arrangement? It's based on this Chicago Tribune article which includes a cool photo of Mark diving the site. When I saw it, I realized I hadn't featured this story on Leelanau.com. I hope you'll explore it in full and stay tuned as we work to uncover more!
...Researchers who study early American Indians say they will need more evidence to be convinced the stones are a human artifact. They are especially wary of the idea of a mastodon petroglyph. Mastodons were facing extinction when early humans were on the scene, and the few that still existed in North America lived much farther south, evidence shows.
"It would be the only visual representation of such in the whole hemisphere," said a skeptical Charles Cleland, retired curator of Great Lakes archeology and ethnology at Michigan State University. "It would be a really spectacular find—if it turns out to be true."
Still, Hank Bailey of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians said, "There's a lot that we haven't learned." Moreover, to American Indian eyes, the rocks seem to be arranged with some purpose, he said.
"It could easily be a ceremonial site," said Bailey, who gave underwater photographs of the stones to religious leaders. "The same kind of thing that I see there is the same kind of things we use, so why couldn't it have been connected to our people further back than modern archeologists know?"
February 23, 2009
Annual Northport Winter Carnival
Georgienne was at last weekend's 5th Annual Winter Carnival sponsored by the Leelanau Township Chamber and the village of Northport The event took place at Bramen Hill (on Morningside Drive off West Third Street just out of Northport) and featured a snowmobile poker run, outhouse race, broomball, curling, free hot dogs, hot chocolate and coffee and much more!
February 20, 2009
Photo Friday: Flying above the Leelanau Peninsula by kimmus122
I think that this is Christmas Cove - can anyone confirm or deny?
Kimberly has another aerial right here. You can see more of her Leelanau photos on Flickr (slideshow) and learn more about her at her blog!
February 19, 2009
Blues at the Bluebird w/ Eddie Shaw and the Wolf Gang
The 2009 Blues at the Bluebird concert will be held on Saturday (Feb 21) at the Bluebird Restaurant in Leland. The event benefits the Leelanau Conservancy and this year features Eddie Shaw and the Wolf Gang out of Chicago.
Eddie plays tenor and alto sax and harmonica and is a very talented singer, songwriter, musician, arranger and band leader. He was Howlin' Wolf's personal manager for five years and is one of the most respected blues musicians alive today. Originally from Benoit, Mississippi, Eddie now lives on Chicago's south side. Visit Eddie Shaw & the Wolf Gang on MySpace to hear some of this great blues!
The event kicks off at 6:30 PM with a bountiful and delicious buffet dinner and the concert begins at 8.
Tickets are $35 each and are limited. Call the Leelanau Conservancy to order: 231-256-9665 or stop in their office at 105 N. First St. in Leland. Tickets can also be ordered by emailing gayle@theconservancy.com and all concert proceeds benefit the land preservation programs of the Leelanau Conservancy.
Leelanau Almanac for the Week of February 12-18, 2009
Empire Bluffs by chrisd1332
News from the Week
Stories from the week included some Leelanau & Traverse City Valentine's Day ideas, the Leelanau Players upcoming Steel Magnolias performance, a Suttons Bay man's plan to walk the Way of St. James to benefit Herman Center park and photos of the big Lake Michigan meltdown and Jim Sorbie's pics of bunch of crazy people in Empire who decided that meant they should swim in it!
The Week's Weather
We got back to winter this week, especially overnight and this morning - no school today across Leelanau and Northern Michigan!
February 12, 2009: Cloudy, wet snow & 30s (36/32)
February 13, 2009: Mostly sunny & 30 (32/25)
February 14, 2009: Light snow and 20s (28/12)
February 15, 2009: Mostly sunny & 20s (28/12)
February 16, 2009: Mostly sunny (late clouds) and 20s (29/14)
February 17, 2009: Mostly cloudy, wet snow & upper 30s (41/25)
February 18, 2009: Snow, wind & falling temps (35/18)
<Leelanau Almanac for the Week of February 19-25, 2009
Leelanau Almanac for the Week of February 5 - February 11, 2009>
Click for the Leelanau News Archive from February 2008!
February 18, 2009
Suttons Bay man plans 350 mile walk to benefit Herman|Center
Gary Hoensheid of Suttons Bay has plans for a 350-mile walk across Spain that he hopes will help bolster support the purchase of the parkland to establish the Herman Center Community Park in Suttons Bay Township. From March 11 to April 10, Hoensheid will trek across the Camino de Santiago Ancient Pilgrim Trail. “El Camino de Santiago” is Spanish for The Way of St. James. The trail spans 500 miles from the border of France and heads west across Northern Spain, ending near the Atlantic Ocean at Santiago de Compostela Cathedral, the burial place St. James the apostle of Christ. St. James established the trail during his missionary work following the death of Christ.
"Life is short and it’s time for me to go on a long walk," said Gary. "I will donate $700, which represents $2 per mile of my trek to a project I strongly believe in, the Herman Center Community Park Project."
"The Pilgrim Trail for me, at 57, represents an opportunity for reflection and spiritual renewal. The tradition on a Pilgrimage is to carry a rock, representing your transgressions in life. I will carry my rock throughout my trek and I will throw my rock in the Ocean at the end of the trail and begin with a fresh start."
The Herman|Center Community Park project is an effort of the Suttons Bay Parks and Recreation Committee, in partnership with the Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation, to acquire 126-acres of property located within walking distance of Suttons Bay Village, School, Senior Center, and will connect with the Leelanau Trail.
The majority of the parkland will remain a natural and preserved wetland and wildlife habitat and the remaining 26 acres is planned to be used for a variety of recreational activities, including tennis, soccer, fishing, volleyball, and more.To date, campaign leadership has secured more than $475,000 in gifts and pledges toward their total Phase I goal of $550,000. The committee’s goal is to raise the remaining amount by April 30 in order to secure matching funds from a Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund grant.
To contribute to the project, donations should be directed to the Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation Greater Suttons Bay Park and Recreation Fund. Visit www.4good4ever.org or call 231-935-4066. Gift cards are also available at the Suttons Bay Township office.
The photo is Camino de Santiago by freecat and it's part of JosĂ© Antonio Gil MartĂnez's Camino de Santiago 2005 set.
February 17, 2009
Leelanau Players present Steel Magnolias to benefit diabetes organization
The Leelanau Players production of Steel Magnolias by Robert Harling will take place the last two weeks of February at Leland School's auditorium. The performances take place February 20-22 & 26-28.
Proceeds from the show will benefit the Ryan Dobry Diabetes Charity, an organization that works to educate the public and help fund some of the medical needs of diabetics in Northern Michigan.
You can buy tickets online through the Leelanau Players and read an article about it in the Leelanau Enterprise that begins:
It’s no coincidence that the Leelanau Players’ next production will be Steel Magnolias. The play is set in the South and centers around the lives of six women, including a young woman who has diabetes.
Kristy VerSnyder of Lake Leelanau, a member of the theater group’s board of directors, has been dealing with diabetes for most of her life. She said that March will be the 20th anniversary of her diagnosis of the disorder.
“It has been tough at times, especially when I was young. I wasn’t invited to some of my friend’s houses because their parents didn’t know what to do when my blood sugar level would get low,” she said, adding that Leelanau Players often performs benefits for non-profit groups. “We have talked about doing something related to diabetes and this year seemed to be as good a time as any.”
