The Leelanau News Blog
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Fishtown is a historic 100 year old fishing village located in Leland. In the 1930s fishing reached its peak and quickly declined due to overfishing. Although Fishtown may not still be home to as large a fishing community as previously, it is home to many charter fishermen, Carlson's fishery, the only ferries to the Manitou Islands and a wide variety of shops.

Cool things to do: take a ferry to the Manitou Islands with Manitou Island Transit, shop in the old fish shanties, buy fish from the 5 generation old Carlson family fishery, look for fish in the Carp River, and eat a sandwich from The Village Cheese Shanty.

Read about Leland at Leelanau.com's Leelanau on Location.

Located in the heart of the Leelanau Peninsula, Lake Leelanau is a pristine lake running through almost the entire county. Lake Leelanau appears to be two lakes, and is even referred to as North Lake Leelanau and South Lake Leelanau, but the two lakes are connected by what is known as "The Narrows," a narrowing of the lake that looks like a river. The village of Lake Leelanau is located at the narrows. South Lake Leelanau is the shallower and warmer lake of the two, but both are breathtakingly beautiful and from top to bottom the North and South Lake total about 22 miles in length.

Lake Leelanau's water levels rose 12 feet when a dam was built on the Carp River (which connects Lake Leelanau to Lake Michigan) in 1854.

Cool things to do: boat around the lake (rent one from Stander Marine in Leland), swim (public access spots: Nedow's Bay, East Leland Park (on 641 at the northern end of North Lake Leelanau), Fisher "Fudgie" Beach (just south of Leland on M-22) Schneider's Beach (at the end of Popp Road (off M-204) 1.5 miles west of the village of Lake Leelanau), fish, or just hang out.

Head into Lake Leelanau for some fantastic vegetarian food and great antique shopping, Cedar for the best processed meat in the area and some great local ice cream inventions, or Leland for great shopping, delicious food, and much more.

The Leelanau MSU Extension will host an organic vegetable farming and gardening event on Friday, April 18 at the NW Michigan Horticultural Research Station.

This session will be of use to organic producers, backyard vegetable growers, those considering organic certification, and anyone else interested in growing vegetables. The program will cover soil management, how organic soils work, cover crops for vegetable production, composting, organic pest management, emerging crops for organic production, the pros and cons of organic certification, the use of hoophouses for season extension. There will also be an experienced farmer panel representing four farms across Michigan to explain their operations and answer first-hand any questions participants may have. A catered lunch will be provided. The cost to attend is $25 per person.

If you're interested, you meed to RSVP to the Leelanau MSU Extension office by Monday, April 10th! Call 231-256-9888.

Photo: Eggplant by Andy McFarlane

Sap Buckets, photo by Jim Sorbie

News from the Week

The week's news featured a rare upcoming appearance by landscape artist Russel Chatham at the Dennos (Apr 4), a clip from Song of Lakes new Live at Interlochen DVD, a cool ice boating video, news that the courthouse redevelopment in Leland will receive brownfield aid and - for all you seasonally disaffected folks who aren't headed somewhere warm - a neat photo of an iris from a warmer spring!

The Week's Weather

The week's weather featured a lot of sun but not a lot of heat. Jim said that there was maple sap in those buckets - a sure sign of spring!

March 20, 2008: Flurries & 20s (30/25)
March 21, 2008: Sunny & 20s (32/18)
March 22, 2008: Sunny & upper 20s (32/18)
March 23, 2008: Light snow and low 30s (33/19)
March 24, 2008: Mostly sunny & 30 (34/7)
March 25, 2008: Cloudy, light snow, rain, and in between & 40s (45/30)
March 26, 2008: Mostly sunny & 40 (43/26)

Click for the Leelanau news archive from March 2007 and our March 2008 page.

Thanks everyone for telling me that the annual Glen Arbor Winterfest already happened. It had been added to our calendar by someone with the wrong date - my apologies! Here's the report on the event from the Glen Lake Chamber of Commerce:

2008 Chili Cook-Off Winners (There were about 400 chili tasters)
Traditional Chili
1st place-Peace Pole Makers
2nd place-Glen Lake Schools
Non-Traditional Chili
1st place-Bear Paw
2nd place-LaBecasse

Fishing results
1st. Jeremy Plamondon 13.25 in. 16 oz.
2nd. Tim Egeler 13.25 in. 15 oz.

The event was sponsored by the Glen Lake Chamber of Commerce and all net proceeds benefited the scholarship fund at the Glen Lake School.The photo is Chili cook off Glen Arbor Days 08 by 1Cher.

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 Enterprise reports that the Bingham Township Planning Commission held a public forum to discuss ideas that may enhance agricultural tourism in the township, including model zoning ordinance language from the State of Michigan. They quote planner Rochelle Rollenhagen on what is being considered:

"The ideas we're exploring involve expanding the types of activities that might be allowed on agricultural land," Rollenhagen explained. "Agritourism involves some land uses that can be pretty commercial in nature; and a broader range of uses could become allowable in the township’s agriculture district if we follow through with some of these ideas," she said.

The point behind expanding opportunities for agritourism in the township would be to allow farmers and the owners of agricultural properties to stay in business and on their farms, Rollenhagen said. Such opportunities might help prevent residential sprawl.

Read Bingham gathers input for boosting 'agritourism' in the Leelanau Enterprise.

Photo: Harvest II by Andy McFarlane (available in wallpaper size)

The annual Christmas arts & crafts show will be held on Saturday, December 1, 2007 from 10 am to 4 pm at the Old Art Building in Leland. This year's Merry Marketplace features 18 local artisans with fresh and dried holiday wreaths, herbal soaps and lotions, jewelry, specialty foods, pottery, woven wheat, cards, pillows, kids and American girl doll clothes, and many hand knit items. There's also complimentary cookies and coffee!

Local artisans include Dee Glass, Annie McFarlane, Cheryl Van Zee, Julie Sanco, Mary Turak, Kit Knowles, Kathy Powell, Brenda Reynard, Carrie Hodapp, Sharecare, Victoria Gallup, Ted Gilmer, Bernadette Denoyer, Rebecca Poinsett, Mike Hulbert, Jules Highfield, Charlotte Seeley and Roxanne Wagner.
This event is sponsored by the Leelanau Community Cultural Center. For more information please call 256-2131.

Photo credit: Yule by Duane Romanell. This photo is more than just atmosphere. It has a well crafted essay on the roots Yule that you may find enjoyable. Check it out.

The annual Starlight Night Auction is already underway with an online auction (through November 29). There's several cool items including lodging at destinations from Crystal Mountain, Beaver & South Manitou Islands  to Cabo San Lucas & Hilton Head. There's also a chance to skate at Centre Ice with Dallas Drake of the Red Wings! 

The main event is Friday, November 30th at the Bluebird from 6-11 PM and features many, many more items in a silent auction, dinner, cash bar, live music by drama students from the high school performance of Little Shop of Horrors and the Live Auction.

Tickets may be purchased at the school or at the door and all proceeds benefit Leland Public Schools. Please call Kris Sneed at 256-2343 with any questions.

The village of Leland invites you to visit this Saturday (Oct 27) for the annual Fall Frenzy - a day-long, town-wide, end of the season sale. Celebrate the end of the summer season in Leland and historical Fishtown with cider, doughnuts, and special sales.

Visit the Leland Chamber of Commerce for more about Leland's shops, stores & restaurants!

Photo: M-22 just south of Leland by Andy McFarlane (view bigger)