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The TC Ticker reports that at long last, the rest of the Leelanau Trail will be paved! It begins:

If you’ve ridden the Leelanau Trail from Traverse City to Suttons Bay, you know what happens at Lakeview Hills Road – the pavement ends. For the next 6.5 miles, it’s a dirt two-track.

A year from now, that two-track will likely be a memory for trail users who have been pining for pavement for years. Why?

The Ticker has just learned that the public phase of a fundraising campaign to lay that final stretch of asphalt kicks off this Friday, July 22 – appropriately, in tandem with the 11th annual Tour de Tart bicycle ride from Traverse City to Suttons Bay.

Read on for details and definitely check out the Tour de Tart. This evening ride to Suttons Bay is now in its 11th year,. It's a one-way bike ride on the TART and Leelanau trails from Traverse City to Suttons Bay that happens this Friday, July 22nd.

Starting anytime between 4 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., riders will enjoy snacks along the 19-mile ride and a bayside meal at the Suttons Bay Marina, and then can relax on a bus ride back home. Bus service begins at 7:00 p.m. and the last bus departs at 9:30 p.m.

Pre-registration is encouraged and can be done online or pick up a registration form at the TART office (415 S. Union St. in downtown Traverse City) or at local bike shops. Day of ride registration is also available from 4:00 - 6:30 p.m.

THE COURSE:
The start will be located under the awning at EuroStop Cafe' located at 8th Street/Woodmere Ave. in Traverse City, cyclists will ride on the TART and Leelanau trails to the Suttons Bay Marina. Twelve miles are paved and seven miles unpaved (hard-packed, two-track). The flat course is suitable for cyclists of all abilities and ages.

A road ride option is available for riders who prefer pavement. Again this year, we will be offering special transportation for Suttons Bay area participants. A bus (and truck for bikes) will leave the Suttons Bay Marina promptly at 4:00 p.m. and drop riders at event check-in in Traverse City.

The 2011 Inland Seas Summer Festival takes place this Saturday, July 16th on the waterfront at the Inland Seas Education Center in Suttons Bay.

The event kicks off with the 5K Road Race/Walk at 9 AM along scenic Lake Michigan and it's only $25 to participate! The music follows from 10 AM - 5 PM. There are also tours of the schooner Inland Seas, short sails aboard ISEA's Friendship Sloop Liberty,  hands-on activities from numerous Great Lakes organizations, food, art & other vendors, and the announcement of the winners of a hand-made Abenaki canoe built in the ISEA Boat Shop by volunteers, a Boardwalk D7 folding bicycle from Brick Wheels, dinner for four at Trattoria Stella, and a sail for 6 aboard ISEA's Friendship sloop Liberty!

Tickets for the music are $10 per person, with kids 15 and under free - click the link above to register for the race or music and much more information.

Music Lineup

The Inland Seas Summer Festival will provide live music from several musicians throughout the day. The Sour Belly Trio made of members from Sour Mash - a local Roots Bluegrass and Alternative Folk group; 3-Hour Tour - a Power-Folk group playing Leelanau County Style songs you know by heart; and Don Julin - master of jazz. The headline act will feature Don Middlebrook & Living Soul, a Buffet cover band - think trop rock, Jimmy Buffet meets Kenny Chesney.

11:00am - 3-Hour Tour
12:00pm - Don Julin
1:00pm - Sour Belly Trio
2:15pm - Don Middlebrook & Living Soul (Jimmy Buffest covers)
3:45pm - Don Middlebrook & Living Soul

The Inland Seas Education Association has 2 Astronomy Under Sail trips this summer. The dates are June 30th and August 13th from 9-1:15 PM. Cost is $45/person and the event is limited to 25 participants.

The schooner sets sail on Suttons Bay before sunset and heads out beyond the shore lights where you a clear view of the night sky. Your guide is astronomer Dick Cookman (owner of Enerdyne) and Dick will help you identify constellations and explain the legends behind their names. In addition to the star gazing, you will become the unofficial "crew" of Inland Seas, learning to work the halyards and sheets!

Visit Leelanau Farmer's Markets on Facebook or go to eatleelanau.org for up-to-date information!

Leelanau Farmer's Markets are underway in Glen Arbor, Lake Leelanau, Leland, Northport and Suttons Bay. They offer you a chance to get out and connect with farmers and other folks who produce food in Leelanau County. Tell us your favorite Leelanau farmers market in our poll!

Tuesdays in Glen Arbor 9 am—1 pm June 21 - August 30 Location: Behind the Township Hall on Western Ave Thursdays in Leland 9 am—Noon June 23 - September 1 Location: Parking lot across from the Bluebird Restaurant Fridays in Northport 9 am—1 pm June 17 - September 16 Location: The Depot, next to the marina Saturdays in Suttons Bay 9 am—1 pm May 14 - October 22 NEW Location: North Park; intersection of M-204 & M-22, water side Saturdays in Empire 9 am—1 pm June 18 - September 10 Location: Downtown, next to the Post Office Sundays in Lake Leelanau 9 am—1 pm June 19 - September 4 Location: Parking lot across from NJ's Grocery downtown

What's your favorite Leelanau Farm Market? Empire Glen Arbor Lake Leelanau Leland Northport Suttons Bay View Results  Loading ... Radishes, eggs, salad greens and garlic from Abra at Bare Knuckle Farm More photos on the Leelanau Farmer's Market Facebook!

Taste the Local Difference is a comprehensive guide that includes farm, farm market, CSA, winery  and other listings with addresses, phone numbers and an index to seasonal food availability. The guide includes farms and winery listings, CSA contacts, addresses, phone numbers and an index to seasonal food availability. A kind of phone book for food.  No need to shuffle through the yellow pages--just pick up a guide and start eating!

The Leelanau Farmers Markets Association will hold their Annual Kick-Off Meeting and Potluck next Wednesday, May 11 from 6-8 pm at the Leelanau County Government Center, 8527 E Government Center Drive, Suttons Bay. Join Board members, market vendors and community supporters for information, networking and camaraderie. Guests are asked to bring a dish to pass and their own table service; beverages are provided.

There will be a presentation by Local Orbit to learn about buying and selling local products for delivery at the new local “hub” - the Suttons Bay Market on Saturday mornings. Also on the agenda will be information on the acceptance of EBT Bridge Cards at the Suttons Bay Market, and a Q & A Session to answer any questions about any of the six Leelanau Farmers Markets.

The 2011 season begins at the Suttons Bay Market on May 14. Check out www.eatleelanau.org for dates and times of all the Leelanau Farmers Markets in Empire, Glen Arbor, Lake Leelanau, Leland, Northport and Suttons Bay. For more information contact Debby Disch, LFMA Board Chair, at 231-386-5686 or Leelanau MSU Extension at 231-256-9888.

More photos and information on the Leelanau Farmers Markets Facebook!

This spring the Suttons Bay Chamber of Commerce and Suttons Bay Schools are combining forces to create a new event, Suttons Bay Saturday. On April 30th fifteen area businesses will donate 10% of their proceeds back to the department of your choice at Suttons Bay schools. This is a great opportunity for local residents to get out and see the new spring merchandise that fills the stores, enjoy a nice meal at a local establishment… while supporting your local businesses and local schools at the same time. In this era of budget cuts the schools need us more than ever, and a strong school is vital to the long term health of our community.

Shopping local is fun, but there is more to it than that. There is a tremendous multiplier effect in choosing to shop local. Each dollar spent with a local business returns 3x more money to our local economy than that spent at a chain store. Spending your hard-earned money locally means area businesses can employ your family and friends. Shopping local allows these businesses to employ supporting services from area trades, accountants, insurance providers, and so on. Not to mention, shopping local allows these businesses to give back to local causes.

Participating businesses include: 45th Parallel Cafe, Bahles, Business Helper, Candy World, Deb’s Dish, Enerdyne, Forget-Me-Not Florist, Front Porch, Hansens, Happy Woman, Haystacks, Ice Cream Factory, Lima Bean, Martha’s Leelanau Table, Suttons Bay Trading Company and The Village Inn. The booster club will be selling Spirit Wear at both Northwestern Bank and Fifth Third until noon. Look for the special Norseman symbol in the windows of participating businesses. Some restrictions may apply.

Photo credits: Open for Business by joeldinda and Happy Woman by Bean in Sylvan Lake.

The Grand Rapids Press reports that:

Dwaun Anderson pulled one of the biggest upsets of the high school basketball season when the Suttons Bay guard was named today as the 31st winner of the Hal Schram Mr. Basketball award.

Anderson became the first player from a school north of Saginaw to win the award. The 6-foot-3, 195-pound guard, who led his team to last year's Class C state championship game, has signed to play at Michigan State.

“To be honest, I wasn’t even expecting to get it,’’ Anderson told the Detroit Free Press, which administers the award in conjunction with BCAM. “I just figured that no one from downstate really knows me, so I figured someone from down there would get it.”

You can also read more in the Freep. Anderson averaged 20 points, 10 rebounds and 4.8 assists his senior season and is the third consecutive Mr. Basketball to sign with Michigan State, joining 2010 recipient Keith Appling and 2009 winner Derrick Nix.

Here's a video of a pretty impressive dunk by Anderson and you can also watch some highlights from last year.

The Leelanau Enterprise reports that units of government and other organizations in Leelanau County will receive about 20% of the nearly $1 million in casino revenue sharing funds paid by the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians (GTB). The largest single award is $75,000 through Grand Traverse County for a Father Fred Foundation program to offer financial assistance to families facing utility shutoffs. Other highlights:

• Government-to-government agreement with Leelanau County for a prisoner housing contract, $63,875.
• Empire Township, funding to purchase a generator to be used on conjunction with the township’s agreement with the American Red Cross for emergency needs, $4,568.
• Leelanau Conservation District, funding to purchase two new desktop computers, three sets of new office software, and one operating system for existing laptops, $2,400.
• Leelanau County, funding for Leelanau Clean Water programs for various projects, $9,930.
• Leelanau County, funding for the county Planning Commission to update aerial mapping, $20,000.
• Suttons Bay Township, funding for Inland Seas Education Association to develop and install an "Asian Carp Exhibit," $7,550.

Also included are numerous payments to the Suttons Bay-Bingham District Library, Fire & Rescue Authority, and Suttons Bay Public School.

Photo credit: day trip-34 by 1Cher

From the Leelanau Peninsula Vintners Association...

Celebrate wine, chocolate and love at the upcoming Valentine's Day at the Taste the Passion weekend February 5 & 6, 2011. The combination of winter's beauty in Leelanau with the special pleasures of life always makes for wonderful weekend. You can enjoy special pours and tasty chocolate treats or savory pairings at Leelanau wine trail wineries between the hours of 11am and 5pm on Saturday, and Noon and 5pm on Sunday.

Tickets for "Taste the Passion" are just $30 each and available online. As with all LPVA events, attendance is limited to give participants an opportunity to become better acquainted with our wine and wineries. In addition to regular ticket sales, participating lodging partners offered a limited number of special accommodation packages that included a ticket to the trail event.

To add to the weekend's festivities, several of the wineries will hold special events and activities exclusively for "Taste the Passion" ticket holders to celebrate the beauty and fun to be had in this winter wonderland.

There is also a special Glen Arbor Art Association "Art from Wine Country" event at the Homestead Resort on Friday night (February 4th). This event is open to anyone! For a third year, this event features wine from Leelanau wineries, coffee from Leelanau Coffee Roasing, original art by local artists and a fabulous small plates menu designed by The Homestead’s Chef Piombo. Tickets are $20 and we'll have more details soon!