Sunday, May 11 2008
Monday-Friday - Weekends on Occasion
The News...
You can follow along with the latest news & photos from the Leelanau Blog or scan below for an archive of stories from Leelanau, Traverse City and Michigan over the last few months.
Saturdays at the Lakeshore in May
Every Saturday in May the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore will hold a ranger-led, educational walk in the Lakeshore. Meet at the Visitor Center in Empire on Saturdays at 1 PM. Here are the topics:
May 10 - The World of Frogs - What would spring be without the sound of frogs? Why are they [...]
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The Leelanau Almanac
Got something to say? Click over to the May 2008 Page. For today's weather, weather links, this week's events, a new weekly photo and comments, click the "more" link.
Weather
It's 44 degrees under mostly cloudy skies at 6:50 AM at our Leland office. The barometer is at 1011 millibars (29.85 inches) and rising with a [...]
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Explore the Sleeping Bear Dunes
Over on our Absolute Michigan web site, we're featuring Leelanau's own National Lakeshore in Dig Michigan: Sleeping Bear Dunes. It begins:
The October 21, 1970 Act of Congress that established the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore declared that "...the Congress finds that certain outstanding natural features, including forests, beaches, dune formations, and ancient glacial phenomena, exist [...]
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Leelanau Cherry Blossom Report
Last update: May 8 Sweets are definitely getting going - the orchard by my house is almost in full blossom and we'll definitely have nice blossom coverage this weekend - make your reservations now! The cool weather is keeping the tarts under wraps, so it looks as if we'll have orchard beauty for at least [...]
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Leelanau Almanac for the Week of May 1-8, 2008
Sleeping Bear Dunes 0822 by SNiedzwiecki
News from the Week
In addition to some upcoming events, we posted the Leelanau Cherry Blossom Report (which we're updating as the blossoms update!)
The Week's Weather
The weather was what you want from spring, some sun, some rain and not too hot allowing blossoms and buds to develop slowly.
May 1, 2008: Light [...]
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Spring at the Bufka Farm
Dan took this photo of The Bufka Farm last weekend. He has several more photos from around the county and area on Saturday.
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Mother's Day Brunch for Habitat for Humanity
The Leelanau School in Glen Arbor is hosting a Mother's Day Brunch this Sunday (May 11) from 10 AM to 2 PM to benefit Leelanau County Habitat for Humanity. This is a terrific brunch for the whole family and funds raised will help pay for a habitat house that is currently under construction in Maple [...]
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May 2008
Every month we make a post where you can let folks know about news items, fun things you did and observations of what's happening in the great outdoors.
Every May we know we can expect cherry blossoms and the beginning of the summer travel season.
This May on Leelanau.com, we're also going to be focusing on summer [...]
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Downtown Traverse City Art Walk
Traverse City hosts a Downtown Art Walk tomorrow night (Friday, May 2) from 5-9 PM.
You're invited to enjoy a self guided tour of galleries and exhibits in Downtown Traverse City featuring local art and wine. Visit each participating location, receive a stamp and enter to win a $500 Downtown Shopping Spree. Walking guides will be [...]
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Leelanau Almanac for the Week of April 24 - 30, 2008
Fog Bank by John Levanen
News from the Week
Stories this week were pretty much events, but there was a very cool video about "Leland Blues".
The Week's Weather
We had a nice warm end of the week last week and have spent most of the rest of the time in the 40s and 50s. I get the sense [...]
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Leelanau County Cherry Blossom Tour
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 [...]
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The Grand Vision Leelanau Workshop
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 [...]
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Leland Blues video
From Posts: The Becky Thatcher Designs blog:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cyerr-UuqmI
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Leelanau Chamber Business Expo
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, [...]
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Leelanau Almanac for the Week of April 17-23, 2008
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 [...]
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Earth Day Daffodils
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!
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Leland Odyssey of the Mind: 2008 State Champions!
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 [...]
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Crystal River
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. [...]
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Grand Traverse Earth Day Parade
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 & [...]
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Lutz won't pursue option on Sugar Loaf
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 [...]
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Leelanau Almanac for the Week of April 10-16, 2008
Trumpet Call by greencottage
News from the Week
News from the week included a $300 poster contest for the Suttons Bay Art Festival, Steve Smiley's home energy setup and his thoughts about changing energy generation in Leelanau County, a bunch of national media attention for Leelanau's Black Star Farms and a ton of new items trails, towns [...]
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The Leland Library
The Leland Township Public Library staff, board, and volunteers work to offer information and educational services in both traditional and innovative ways that anticipate the needs of their growing and changing population. Free wireless internet makes it easy to keep up to date with news, events and more. DVDs are available to rent and books [...]
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Energy for change in Leelanau County
April is a month that folks seem to think about more wisely using resources. This week's Enterprise has a nice feature on community power consultant and Leelanau resident Steve Smiley.
Smiley’s home serves as a case study for the Michigan Energy Office, Department of Labor & Economic Growth and is an example of energy (and fuel) [...]
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Glen Lake Community Library
The library has served the residents of Empire, Glen Arbor, and Kasson townships since 1977. The library was first housed in an annex of the former Bolton Department Store building in Empire. In 1983, the library moved down the street to its current location, previously used as the Empire Fire Hall. Over the past few [...]
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Glen Haven
Glen Haven was first a refuge for schooner and steamboats traversing Lake Michigan from Chicago to the Straits of Mackinaw. When these boats would dock at Glen Haven they would be restocked with fuel (wood), fresh food, and additional supplies. As Glen Haven grew, farmers and lumbermen shipped their products out of the dock at [...]
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Suttons Bay Art Festival poster contest
The Suttons Bay Art Festival (August 2nd and 3rd, 2008) is holding a contest to design a poster for this year's festival with a prize of $300. You can use paint, markers, photography, digital art, crayons, chalk - whatever! The winning design will be used for the poster and T-shirts sold at the Art Festival.
Poster [...]
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Hall Beach
Also known as Vans, and located on the best stretch of beach in Leelanau County (then again aren't they all), Hall Beach is right next to the south side of the Leland Harbor breakwall. The beach is perfect sand and the floor of the lake is the same, no rocks to hurt your feet. The [...]
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Kehl Lake Trails (Leg Lake)
Nearly 3/4 of Kehl Lake is undeveloped, a rare gem in Leelanau County. It is a perfect place for a hike, with two trails totaling 2 miles. The trails leads hikers through open fields that used to be the Kehl's family farmland, and virgin forests with 200 year old trees. At the end of the [...]
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The Great Lakes Schoolship (Inland Seas Education Association)
The Inland Seas Education Association (ISEA) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to help people of all ages experience the science and spirit of the Great Lakes through shipboard and on-shore programs. The knowledge gained through these experiences will provide the leadership, understanding and commitment needed for the long-term stewardship of the Great Lakes.
ISEA [...]
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Exposures 2008 Open House & Exhibition
The Exposures Open House will be held Friday (Apr 25) at the Old Art Building. The event features an exhibition of work from this year's Exposures magazine along with refreshments and music. The opening reception is on Friday, April 25 from 5 to 8 pm featuring original artwork, essay and poetry readings, hors d'oeuvres and [...]
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Heady days for Black Star Farms
Leelanau's Black Star Farms is enjoying an amazing run of good news.
After being named one of bedandbreakfast.com's Top Ten Eco-Friendly Inns, they were invited to provide a prize for Wheel of Fortune's Green Week. The show will reportedly air tonight (Apr 11) at 7 PM on WPBN TV 7&4, and a contestant did win the [...]
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Leelanau Historical Museum
The Leelanau Historical Museum is located in Leland, overlooking the Carp (Leland) River. The museum's exhibits are designed "to reflect the cultural history of the Leelanau Peninsula and its islands from the time of first human habitation." The displays change every few month and are always beautifully presented. The Anishnabek Exhibit is a permanent [...]
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Leelanau County 4-H Expo
All 4-H members, parents, families and the general public are invited to the annual 4-H Expo. It takes place at Suttons Bay School this Saturday (Apr 12). From 11 AM - 12:45 PM, there will be demonstrations by 4-H club members and each club is bringing a hands-on activity for visitors. The day includes lunch [...]
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Leelanau Almanac for the Week of April 3-9, 2008
Paraglider by nasunto
News from the Week
Articles this week included features on the Leelanau Peninsula Vintners Association's annual Spring Sip & Savor event and the Leelanau Players upcoming presentation of Perfect Timing, news that the Leelanau Conservancy has added to its Cedar River parcel and a cool photo of the Manitou boats. We also have added [...]
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The Sleeping Bear Point Maritime Museum
The Sleeping Bear Point Maritime Museum is a restored U.S. Life-Saving Station, located a few miles south of the abandoned town of Glen Haven. The Life-Saving Station was built in 1901 and relocated in 1931 when shifting dunes started to bury it. An identical Life-Saving Station was buillt on South Manitou Island at the same [...]
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The Leelanau Trail
The Leelanau Trail is a non-motorized trail extending 15 miles, roughly north and south. The trail follows along part of the east side of the Leelanau Peninsula, from Suttons Bay to Traverse City. It follows the early 20th-century railroad beds of what came to be know as the Leelanau Transit Company.
While hiking the [...]
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Bay View Trail
The Bay View Trail is divided into small loops that total 8 miles. There are many exciting things to see along its many different routes. Part of the trail runs directly behind the barn of the Charles Olsen Farm which is home to Preserve Historic Sleeping Bear. The Port Oneida School [...]
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Empire Bluff Trail
The Empire Bluff trail leads walkers on a 1.5 mile round trip hike up to the bluff looking out over Lake Michigan and towards South Bar Lake. When the weather is clear you can see South Manitou Island.
To get more information on the Empire Bluff, you can visit the National Parks Service site here.
Cool things [...]
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Alligator Hill Trail
Alligator Hill Trail comes equipped with beautiful views of both Lake Michigan and Big Glen Lake. Alligator Hill has a total of nine miles of trail, which are divided into different loops, the hike is very hilly and passes through beautiful Michigan forests.
The 1.5 mile hike from the Stocking Road trailhead to the Islands Lookout [...]
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Sleeping Bear Point Trail
The Sleeping Bear Point Trail takes you on a spectacular climb ascending from forested dunes all the way to open dunes. You can either follow the trail around in a 2.8 mile loop, or you can detour and walk down to the beach for a nice cool dip on a hot day - but please [...]
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The Whaleback
One of Leelanau County’s more famous geographical landmarks is known as The Whaleback.
Jutting out into Lake Michigan just south of Leland, the Whaleback was so named for obvious reasons. When viewed from the north or south along the shoreline or just offshore, the geological formation is shaped much like a beached whale, with its head [...]
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Spring Sip & Savor wine trail event
The Leelanau Peninsula Vintners Association's annual Spring Sip & Savor trail event takes place May 3 & 4, 2008 and offers you an opportunity to taste a wine and food pairing selected especially by the each of the LPVA winemakers. The winemakers will be present in the tasting rooms all weekend to talk with you [...]
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Pyramid Point Trail
The Pyramid Point trail is a 2.7 mile loop, with a small spur that that climbs up to overlook Lake Michigan. As you hike you will pass through three different environments, maple-beech forest, high bluffs, and meadow. The trail does include several steep hills, but like so many other trails in Leelanau County the view [...]
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Good Harbor Beach
A magnificent beach along a stretch of Good Harbor Bay. This beach offers clear views out to the islands and has a long sandy beach. Just a few seconds walk south is a stream running from the woods into Lake Michigan. The stream is great for kids to play in, fun to follow into the [...]
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North Manitou Island
Since the 1800s this island has been a popular harbor and fueling station. By the late 1840s there were piers on both the eastern and western sides of the island. The steamers traveling to and from Chicago and the Straits of Mackinac stopped at these piers to refuel. The island was inhabited for a time. [...]
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The Grand Traverse Lighthouse
The Grand Traverse Lighthouse is located inside of the Leelanau State Park on the Lake Michigan shoreline at the tip of the Leelanau Peninsula. The lighthouse was occupied by the U.S. Coast Guard from 1941 until it was closed in 1972. It has since been restored to resemble the keeper's house of the [...]
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South Manitou Island
South Manitou Island is an uninhabited island just off the coast of west Leelanau County. In the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries the island was a popular harbor and fueling station. In the 1800s the island was inhabited by farmers - their buildings, equipment, schoolhouse, and cemetery still remain on the island today. The island [...]
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Fishtown
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 [...]
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Cathead Bay
An alluring stretch of beach right in the middle of Cathead Bay is backed by dunes that gradually give way to forest. A few different paths wind through the woods to reach the beach, leading a walker through the secession of forest to dune. The open dunes, along with the numerous blowouts, are a [...]
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Lake Leelanau
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 [...]
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Glen Lake
According to the Leelanau Conservancy "Glen Lake, framed by a dramatic rise of Sleeping Bear to the west, and surrounded by high-forested moraines to the east and south, presents one of the most recognizable landscapes in Michigan. The waters of Glen Lake are so pure that with increasing depth, on a clear day the water [...]
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Conservancy adds to Cedar River parcel
The Leelanau Conservancy recently completed a purchase that will expand the protected areas along Victoria Creek (Cedar River) to a total of 300 acres with over two miles of Lake Leelanau shoreline and connecting channels along the waterways within the Solon Swamp wetland complex (scroll down and click the small map to view the protected [...]
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Fouch, Michigan
Fouch was originally established by an African-American, by the name of Smith, who settled on the south end of Lake Leelanau sometime before the Civil War. Smith built a dock, known as Smith's landing where settlers who lived on Lake Leelanau could dock and then walk into Traverse City to buy supplies. Hardly anything [...]
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North Unity, Michigan
North Unity was a small settlement on Good Harbor Bay. It was first settled in the 1855 by Bohemian immigrants who came up the shore of Lake Michigan from Chicago to scout for a suitable place to start a settlement. The new settlers lived the first few years in a barracks that was 150 feet [...]
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Gill's Pier, Michigan
Gill's Pier was founded as a lumber town. Today all that remains are the pylons from the old pier, the nearby St. Wenceslaus Church, and the Gill's Pier Road. The Gill's Pier Vineyard and Winery was named in honor of the town of Gill's Pier. The town grew up around the William Gill and [...]
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Burdickville, Michigan
All that remains in the area of the once thriving town of Burdickville are two lone businesses. Laker Shakes and Trattoria Funistrada. Although both Laker Shakes and Funistrada are located in Burdickville, neither can claim that they are part of the history of the town. In the late 1850s William Burdick built a saw and [...]
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Port Oneida, Michigan
In 1852 Carsten Burfiend of Hanover, Germany moved from North Manitou Island to the mainland, just west of Pyramid Point. Burfiend continued his work as a fisherman on the mainland and ferried settlers from the Manitou Islands to the mainland on his fishing boat. In 1862 Thomas Kelderhouse's dock was completed on Carsten Burfiend's land. [...]
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Crescent City, Michigan
The first settlements in Leelanau County were on the Manitou Islands. The islands provided natural safe, deep harbors for schooners and steamers and excellent fishing. Families living on both the North and the South Manitou Islands worked as fishermen, farmers or as lumbermen to supply fuel to the steamers. In 1844 Nicholas Pickard built [...]
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The Manitous Await
This photo is part of Joe Burda's Fishtown set (slideshow) and also a part of the Manitou Islands group on Flickr.
And yes, it's wallpaper-sized!
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Cedar, Michigan
The Polish community in Leelanau County originally consisted of four small settlements one or two miles apart. These settlements, Shomberg, Bodus, Cedar and Isadore began in 1868 when Polish families first started arriving in the county. The first wave of Poles in the county came to scout out the area. In the 1870s a large [...]
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Maple City, Michigan
Maple City is nestled in the heart of Leelanau County in a grove of grand maples trees. The countryside around Maple City is hilly with many farms, orchards, and lakes. Many Maple City settlers came to the area because of the Homestead Act of 1862 which "allowed anyone to file for a quarter-section of free [...]
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Leelanau Players present Perfect Timing
The Leelanau Enterprise reports that the Leelanau Players will present Perfect Timing by Kristi Kane at the Old Art Building in Leland.
Perfect Timing follows the trials and tribulations of an art critic, her frightening German maid and her refreshingly sane secretary. The comedy bubbles over with an assortment of intruders, passersby and drop-ins accompanied [...]
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Leelanau Almanac for the Week of March 27 - April 2, 2008
Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore by anttler
News from the Week
The top story of the week was obviously the startling sale of Sugar Loaf ... to aliens, which of course took place on April 1st. Sources close to the deal were heard to remark "somebody take that guy's copy of Photoshop away". We had a more standard [...]
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Greilickville, Michigan
Greilickville today cannot be distinguished from Traverse City. Located just north of Traverse City on the western shore of the Grand Traverse Bay, Greilickville is the first stop in Leelanau County, and yet there is no village to stop in. The only notice that one has passed into Greilickville is a sign attesting to [...]
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Lake Leelanau, Michigan
The town of Lake Leelanau is located where Lake Leelanau itself narrows. The Native Americans who lived in the area called the lake "lee-lan-au" which means "delight of life." French settlers were the first to arrive in the area, coming from Canada, in the mid 1900s. They called the settlement Le Naro. The early white [...]
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Peshawbestown, Michigan
Peshawbestown is located just a few miles south of Omena and is part of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians'. The Leelanau Sands Casino is located in Peshawbestown and attracts many visitors every summer. Originally founded as a mission, Peshawbetown's exact history and dates are disputed. Peshawbestown was established by 1855 [...]
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Omena, Michigan
Omena is a small community in Leelanau County located between Suttons Bay and Northport. Omena began in 1852 when Reverend Peter Daugherty brought a band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians from Old Mission and settled in what is now Omena. In 1858 the Protestant Church was dedicated, and is the oldest in Leelanau County. As [...]
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Suttons Bay, Michigan
Suttons Bay is a charming village located on the western shore of Leelanau County. Surrounded by vineyards, orchards, and farms, Suttons Bay's unique charm reflects these surroundings. In 1854 Harry C. Sutton settled in the area with a crew of woodsmen and soon began supplying fuel to the passing wood-burning steamboats. In January of [...]
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Leland, Michigan
Leland is on the western shore of the Leelanau Peninsula, between Lake Leelanau and Lake Michigan. The Carp River (known to locals as the Leland River) connects Lake Leelanau to Lake Michigan and runs through the village. Leland is well known for its 140 year old historic fishing village, Fishtown. Fishtown is popular because of [...]
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Northport, Michigan
"Pleasantly situated on a safe and capacious harbor of the bay," Northport is located near the tip of the Leelanau Peninsula. The surrounding area is filled with cherry and apple orchards, as well as many terrific vineyards. Northport was one of the earliest settlements in Leelanau County. In 1849 Reverend George N. Smith, a minister [...]
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April 2008
Every month we add a page where you can make your observations about what's happening in Leelanau & Traverse City, comment on news we might not cover, talk about what's growing and whatever else you're thinking about.
April began with Mother Nature's own April Fools captured by Keith Burnham and some startling news about Sugar Loaf. [...]
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Sugar Loaf SOLD … to Aliens!
Sugar Loaf area resident Bryan Poirier - who was up late practicing for the upcoming New Third Coast tour opening for Neil Young - was startled Sunday night to see "a bunch of lights zooming up and down the face of the mountain, but I just figured it was Jim Rennie 'sleep-grooming' again."
Rennie, another area [...]
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Leelanau.com's map of Leelanau County - powered by Google!
We have started on a new map of Leelanau County and the nearby area. After looking at the available options, we decided to build it using Google Maps. We're adding short entries on the map that link to longer entries in our Leelanau Blog that will be posted under the map category and feature photos [...]
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Glen Arbor, Michigan
Glen Arbor is located on a small strip of land between Glen Lake and Lake Michigan in the heart of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Glen Lake's natural beauty attracts visitors throughout the summer. Considered one of the most beautiful lakes in the entire state, local legend says that Glen Lake was recognized [...]
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Glen Haven, Michigan
Glen Haven was first founded as a wooding station to provide fuel for the passing steamers. In 1857 a sawmill and an inn were built on the beach west of Glen Arbor by Charles C. McCarty, brother in law of John E. Fisher, the founder of Glen Arbor. McCarty called the area Sleeping Bearville. In [...]
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Empire, Michigan
Empire is the southernmost town in Leelanau County and is approximately 25 miles due west of Traverse City. Empire is located in the center of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, on the shore of Lake Michigan. Empire is well know for its breathtaking views of Lake Michigan, the dunes, and the Manitou Islands. Two [...]
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Organic Vegetable Farming & Gardening Program
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 [...]
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School funding plan includes some equity payments
The Traverse City Record-Eagle reports that the Michigan Senate has approved a school aid funding plan that would allow some of the lowest-funded school districts to gain additional equity payments and also increase all districts' per-student allowance by $71 next year. Traverse City Schools (whuch are among the lowest funded in the state) would receive [...]
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Leelanau Almanac for the Week of March 20-26, 2008
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 - [...]
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Spring Dreams
Spring Dreams, photo by greencottage
I'm sure I'm not alone in wondering when the heck spring is going to come and join us.
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Leland project to receive state brownfield aid
The Leelanau Enterprise reports that Leelanau County is the first non-urban municipality in Michigan to take advantage of new brownfield redevelopment rules that provide funding to clean up obsolete, blighted or contaminated properties.
The property in question is the former county courthouse campus in Leland, which is slated to be sold by next month to a [...]
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Video of Iceboating on Lake Leelanau
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNK172OhHu0
Here's a cool video from the tail-end of last winter. There's still a lot of ice boating going on!
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Song of the Lakes 25th Anniversary DVD
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5120861441700385790
My friends Micheal, Ingemar, Lisa and Rick of the band Song of the Lakes have a new DVD titled Live at Interlochen. It features a full-length movie of Song of the Lakes 25th Anniversary concert by Rich Brauer & Brauer Productions and the documentary Journey to Joy by Rebecca Glotfelty of Real People Media.
The DVD [...]
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An evening with artist Russell Chatham
The Dennos Museum Center at Northwestern Michigan College will host an evening with the internationally acclaimed landscape artist Russell Chatham in association with the exhibition "Poetry of Landscape: The Seasons" paintings by Russell Chatham on Friday April 4, 2008 from 6-8 PM. Admission to the evening event is $25 for the public. Museum members will [...]
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Leelanau Almanac for the Week of March 13-19, 2008
Sixty-nine years ago by John Levanen
News from the Week
Stories from the week included a note about the passing of longtime Manitou passage captain George Grosvenor, a look at "berging" the Leland River and a belated story on 2 Leelanau Odyssey of the Mind winners advancing to states.
The Week's Weather
The week's weather is about what you [...]
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Leelanau Odyssey of the Mind winners advance to states!
The Leelanau Enterprise has a feature on the recent Michigan Odyssey of the Mind Regional Competition and how Leelanau teams fared. Competing were teams from Glen Lake, Leland, Pathfinder and St. Mary schools. The Glen Lake Division II team solving a problem titled took third place in "The Wonderful Muses" and both of Leland's "Tee [...]
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Remembering Bumpa - George "Sonny" Grosvenor
Yesterday at The Leland Report Molly Grosvenor wrote:
This morning George Firestone Grosvenor, our Bumpa, passed away. He went peacefully in the company of his children and with the kind assistance of all the great people at Effie's Place. This truly marks the end of an era. I know that many people have a story [...]
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Ice Berging down the Leland River
John Levanen took this photo titled If you're bored on a Sunday afternoon in Leelanau County...
It demonstrates the time-honored tradition of "berging" down the Carp River in Leland from North Lake Leelanau to a stopping point that is curiously close to the Blue Bird.
Keith Burnham over at The Leland Report has complete coverage of Berging [...]
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Musicals at Suttons Bay & Glen Lake schools this weekend
The Leelanau Enterprise has a pair of articles about theater productions at Leelanau schools this weekend.
Suttons Bay students will stage the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical The King and I on Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. They say "The King and I is set in the 1860s around the [...]
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Leland Courthouse & County Office Auction
There will be an auction at the former Courthouse & County Office buildings in Leland this Saturday (Mar 15) at 10 AM. The location is 301 Cedar Street and items include 50 Herman Miller Modular Workstation Systems (many with shelving) numerous chairs, conference tables, miscellaneous office furniture, courtroom furnishings, including theater-style seating, hand-crank expanding file [...]
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Leelanau Almanac for the Week of March 6-12, 2008
Frost on the Narrows by greencottage
News from the Week
Features this week included our new March 2008 page where you can post comments about events, news, the weather, or whatever you're thinking about. We also had the announcement of the Leelanau Conservation District Plant & Seedling Sale, took a look at the New Great Lakes Dunes [...]
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Mute Swans and Fishtown Docks
The photo is by Chris Burda, part of his Fishtown Docks photo gallery (view slideshow). The University of Michigan's Animal Diversity Web's entry for the Mute Swan (cygnus olor) includes photos and information and begins:
Mute swans are large birds, measuring 144 to 158 cm. The wingspan is 2 to 2.5 meters. The two sexes are [...]
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Leland Comets fall to Muskegon WMC in Basketball Quarterfinals
March 12
The Record-Eagle has a feature on Leland's 72-45 loss at the hands of Muskegon West Michigan Christian in the Class D quarterfinal:
"I thought we were playing some of our best ball as of late, but we just did not get it going tonight. I give West Michigan Christian credit. They took us out of [...]
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Dawn's early light at Brunson Barn
Jim posted this great photo of the first light of day at Brunson Barn in the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore:
The Brunson Barn is on Thoreson Road about one mile west of M-22 where Thorson Road turns south. This structure is all that remains of the Joseph and Margaret Brunson farm. Mrs. Brunson was the [...]
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New Great Lakes Dunes Stamp features Sleeping Bear
The Muskegon Chronicle reports that the Sleeping Bear Dunes are going to get a little envelope time in 2008 with the release of the latest Nature of America educational series. It was painted by artist John Dawson of Hilo, HI under the art direction of Ethel Kessler of Bethesda, MD (kind of a curious combination [...]
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Leelanau Conservation District Plant & Seedling Sale
The Enterprise reports that the Leelanau Conservation District's annual seedling and plant sale is now underway. The sale is a fundraiser where:
Selections are available in quantities ranging from five conifers or deciduous transplants, to thousands of seedlings. Also available are wildlife shrubs, groundcovers, native grasses, ferns and wildflowers.
"With the variety of species available, there are [...]
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March 2008
I've been thinking that it would be nice to have a place where people can post a little note about a cool event, mention something interesting in the news or natural world or just say something about the weather. Here's our first for March of 2008 and we'll post a new one each month!
The photo [...]
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Leelanau Almanac for the Week of February 28 - March 5, 2008
February Morning in Leelanau by Bean in Sylvan Lake
News from the Week
Stories from the week included news that Lutz remains interested despite listing of Sugar Loaf, a look at Leland's Regional basketball run (they won the title last night), a flashback to Leelanau in the 1930s (courtesy the Leelanau Enterprise) with a photo of the [...]
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Leelanau County in the 1930s
The Leelanau Enterprise has a feature on Leelanau County in the 1930s that says that despite the dramatic collapse of the market in 1929:
...perhaps things weren’t all that different in Leelanau County, which had been in a bit of its own depression even before 1929. In a region where lumbering activity had once played such [...]
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Glen Arbor Winterfest (already happened)
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 [...]
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Sugar Loaf Resort Updates, Forum & News
Latest news on Sugar Loaf from the Leelanau Blog
Our News Archive has lots of stories about the fate of Sugar Loaf - click to view them! You can also read Leelanau Enterprise Sugar Loaf news.
Leelanau Sports
Get the latest Michigan and local sports information from our Leelanau Sports Page.
The Weather is now posted in the Leelanau Almanac!
Absolute Michigan - All Michigan, All the Time
Leelanau.com's latest project is Absolute Michigan, a guide to Michigan web sites (over 5000 links!!) as well as Michigan news & features (2500 and growing) from and about the Great Lakes State. If you have a business, personal, organization web site or simply a favorite Michigan link, you can add it (for free) at absolutemichigan.com.
Local News
News@leelanau.com welcomes communities, organizations and individuals all over northern Michigan and their e-mailed news. If you're interested, please send an e-mail to news@leelanau.com. We're looking for
reportage of all kinds and will list your name and home page (if you have one and so desire) with your stories. Help us to provide the most comprehensive news possible!
Government Links
the northern michigan journal
• the leelanau forum
• nm site of the week
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