Sun seekers tanning their hides on Empire beach were suddenly transported back in history on the afternoon of Sunday, July 31, when the Saginaw Voyageurs arrived in a birch bark replica canoe. The Voyageurs wore costumes to resemble the pre-American Revolution French fur traders, who opened up trade routes between Great Lakes Native American communities and Montreal. They were concluding the first day of a weeklong journey that began in Frankfort and ended on Aug. 6 in Traverse City.
The Saginaw Voyageurs are based out of the Castle Museum in Saginaw, Mich., and since 1986, have paddled over 4,000 miles during annual reenactment tours on the Great Lakes. According to brochures the Voyageurs distributed upon arriving at Empire beach, “The purpose of these trips is to better understand the historic Great Lakes Fur Trade, the life of the Voyageurs, and the role Saginaw played as a fur trade center for central-lower Michigan.”
“The Great Lakes fur trade opened the interior of America to the Europeans. The Indians wanted iron and cloth, the Europeans wanted furs, thus a fair trade exchange was established. The prime fur areas were crisscrossed from coast to coast by a chain of navigable rivers and lakes. Navigable, that is, by the unique birch-bark canoes of the Indians.”
According to the brochure, the original canoes were made from cedar with a birch bark skin attached with the white bark on the inside and the “olive” colored part showing on the outside. The craft were sturdy but light and could be carried on portage around obstacles, such as river rapids or waterfalls. Today’s Voyageur canoe is a fiber-glass replica of the birch bark Montreal Canoe. The fiber-glass gives safety with increased strength and durability, it weighs more than 600 pounds. The canoe is 34 feet long, 5 feet wide and is paddled by 11 to 16 men. The canoe travels very fast in the water with the men paddling 60 strokes per minute for about 20 minute stretches. They then take a “pipe” break to rest while the canoe drifts dead in the water. The men sing traditional Voyageur songs to keep their rhythm while paddling.
Over the last quarter century, the Voyageurs have canoed the entire water highway between Green Bay, Wis., and Montreal, across the northern coast of Lake Michigan, through the Straits of Mackinac and the northern channel of Lake Huron, the French River, Lake Nipissing and down the Mattawa and Ottawa Rivers to the original fur trade warehouse at LaChine near Montreal. This year’s “Leelanau Brigade” consisted of 15 voyageurs, most from mid-Michigan and ranging in occupation from retired autoworkers to attorneys to college professors to contractors and maintenance men.
For more information about the Saginaw Voyageurs, visit the Saginaw Historical Society’s website at www.castlemuseum.org.
After half a decade of planning, some debate, and the solidification of enthusiastic support across a broad spectrum of the public, the Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail will officially launch with a groundbreaking ceremony at the Dune Climb on Friday, August 12 at 11 a.m. When completed, the 27-mile trail will run from the southern edge of Leelanau County, through the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore to Good Harbor Bay. The groundbreaking celebrates the upcoming construction of nearly five miles of trail between Glen Arbor and the Dune Climb, roughly parallel to M-109. Construction is scheduled to commence next spring and be completed in 2012.
The Heritage Trail will be a hard-surfaced, multi-use trail through the Lakeshore. According to Sleeping Bear Dunes Deputy Superintendent Tom Ulrich, “It will provide a new, and much-needed, recreational opportunity for us all; that is, a non-motorized trail that can be used to travel between the Lakeshore’s main visitor destinations, Glen Arbor and Empire. The SBHT will give bicyclists — as well as walkers, runners, wheelchair users and baby strollers — a safe, enjoyable and car-free way to explore the Lakeshore and neighboring communities. The Lakeshore has over 100 miles of hiking trails, but exactly zero miles of bicycle trails. The trail will be fun, and will get a lot of people out of their cars and into the outdoors.”
The trail will be a boon not just to sport bikers, but to those looking to commute without using their automobile. “I think the most exciting thing about the trail is that it’s not just a fun hike or ride, but that people can actually use it to get around the area,” says Ulrich. “I live up in Centerville Township, so I will be most excited when construction gets up to County Road 651, and I can hop on my bike and get on the trail there.”
And the Heritage Trail won’t just be usable eight months a year, as Ulrich attests.
“One of the ways I am most looking forward to using it with my family, though, is for cross-country skiing. Because the trail will be built 10 feet wide to bicycle trail standards, we will be able to groom it for classic and skate skiing; another thing we don’t currently have in the Lakeshore.” Read the entire interview with Ulrich on our website at www.GlenArborSun.com/Heritage-Trail-Dream-Becomes-a-Reality.
The Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail is a project of the Leelanau Scenic Heritage Route Committee (LSHR). Trail development is a partnership between the LSHR Committee, the Michigan Department of Transportation, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes and TART Trails. Funding for trail development comes from federal and state grants, foundations, and individual donations.
“After five years, this amazing Leelanau Scenic Heritage Route project is taking physical shape. By this time next year, we will be able to safely bike, walk, or wheel from the Dune Climb to Glen Arbor with the opportunity to stop at other park sites in between,” says Patty O’Donnell, Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail Project Manager — Northwest Michigan Council of Governments
The trail was included in the National Lakeshore’s most recent management plan and garnered strong public support during the planning process. According to Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore Superintendent Dusty Shultz the “The Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail is the single most exciting project to come out of our recently completed General Management Plan. The trail will provide a wonderful way to explore and learn about the park, as well as become a meaningful alternative for visitors to travel between park sites and local businesses — without having to use their cars.”
Julie Clark, Executive Director of TART Trails is grateful for the strong collaboration between partners. “Many partners came together to make this trail a reality. We are very excited for the groundbreaking ceremony on August 12th as it officially launches the public fundraising effort,” said Clark.
Campaign Tri-Chair, Karen Van Nort is excited about the groundbreaking, “We are thrilled that families will have a safe place to ride their bicycles. We hope the public will join us as we kick-off this legacy trail.”
On Tuesday, July 26, the Glen Arbor Women’s Club hosts the Fifth Annual “Running Bear 5K Run/Walk and ½ Mile Kids’ Run”. This event has become popular with locals and tourists alike who participate. Last year 680 adults and children took part.
The 5K event is open to everyone. You can run or walk, so young people as well as seniors can participate. The younger children are not forgotten either, and they can participate in a ½ Mile “Kids’ Run”. They run/walk the distance, and each child will receive a ribbon, an ice cream cone from Riverfront Pizza and a miniature golf pass from The River at Crystal Bend. Bring the whole family and join the fun.
The event is staged at Cherry Republic in Glen Arbor. Registration will be from 7:30-8:45 a.m. and the race will leave from the corner of Lake and State Streets at 9 a.m. The Kids’ Run follows at 9:05. The event will end back at Cherry Republic for an “After Race Celebration”.
Pre-race excitement will include a warm-up for runners and walkers by Lori Osinski, Trainer and Pilates Instructor in the Village Sampler, at 8:40 a.m. Two favorite local entertainers, Pat Niemesto and John Kumjian from The New Third Coast, will kick off the race with the National Anthem.
Don’t miss our great Running Bear T-shirts sponsored by The Homestead. We will offer the shirts for sale at the Run for $15 for adults and $12 for children.
The “After Race Celebration” will announce the winners. A male and female overall race winner will be crowned, as well as first and second place in nine age categories, with metals and prizes for each donated by Cherry Republic and Crystal River Outfitters. The event will include lots of great food and, last but not least, a drawing for over 50 prizes, where everyone entered in the race is eligible. You must be present to win. The prizes include get-a-way weekends, dinners from local restaurants and prizes from many area merchants.
This event will earn money for local scholarships and community improvements. With the proceeds from last year’s Run, the Glen Arbor Women’s Club gave out three $2,000 Memorial Scholarships to Lilly Christiansen, Lena Cruz and Heather Leach. The GAWC Extraordinary Achievement Award for $2,000 was given to Patrick Stowe. Congratulations to these fine students. We also gave $500 for the Glen Lake Leadership Retreat, $200 to Glen Lake Pals, and $150 to the Glen Lake Music Department. The club also supported our community with $500 to our local food pantry and $400 to the Glen Lake Fire Department and $100 to the Traverse City Health Clinic.
Last year the Dahm family from Cincinnati entered 52 members in the race, ranging in age from age 4-84. According to Mike Dahm, “We were celebrating the 60th anniversary of our parents Jo and Dene Dahm. This race is so fun so we knew everyone would have a good time. This was the 4th year our family has participated.”
Start a family tradition and join us on July 26. The cost is $15 for the 5K Run/Walk ($18, the day of run) and $5 for the Kids’ Run. Registration forms are available at Cherry Republic, the Glen Arbor Athletic Club, the Glen Arbor Chamber, which is located in the new M-22 Store, and Running Fit and Cherry Republic in Traverse City. Forms and money can be mailed or returned to the Glen Arbor Athletic Club. For more information, visit our new website, www.runningbearrun.com or call (231) 334-7363.
Please come out and enjoy a morning of fun in beautiful Glen Arbor. Help the Glen Arbor Women’s Club help our community.
When Frank and Beryl Skrocki packed up their three tiny kids to start an unknown life up north, they never imagined their family would own and operate one of the only surf shops in Michigan just a few years later.
The addition of their youngest daughter Annabel was the perfect excuse for the couple to sell their too-small-for-five home in Chelsea, Mich., and Frank had just sold his environmental laboratory in Ann Arbor. “We thought, why don’t we just go north?” Beryl recalls. “We had no idea what we were going to do; all our friends thought we were absolutely crazy.”
Contrary to popular belief, “we were not surfers,” Beryl says. “We just had a love for Lake Michigan and for the area. But I always wanted to learn how to surf!” She (unsuccessfully) tried to rent a board in Traverse City during the summer of 2003, and — after a few crash courses and a visit to a surf expo in Orlando, Fla. — they opened their shop in Empire in ‘04.
Now it’s impossible to imagine Empire without Sleeping Bear Surf and Kayak — and without the active Skrockis. This summer marks their eighth year of business — eight years since the family first insisted that, “Yes! You CAN surf on a lake!”
Rod Robertson started surfing Lake Michigan a few years after the Skrockis opened their doors, and since then he has transitioned from customer to surf instructor at SBX.
“I’ve see an exponential growth in surfing on the lakes,” Rod says. “The understanding of it is more than ever. People have gone from disbelief to acceptance.” He largely attributes the revamped attitudes to the Skrockis. “They were in this before anyone else. They have such an impact because of their selfless giving, happiness, joy and passion for where they live.”
Rod, an Empire native, says “it almost doesn’t make sense how a small store in a town with virtually no retail can be successful, but it thrives off of positivity, good attitudes and stoke.” He and other knowledgeable surfers recognize Sleeping Bear Surf and Kayak as one of two authentic surf shops in Michigan — the other being Third Coast Surf Shop in St. Joseph in the southwestern part of the state — where “you can walk in, buy a wetsuit, wax, surf clothing and have a selection of boards. They have all the info, equipment and they’re totally accommodating.”
As the oldest Skrocki daughter, Ella, puts it, Beryl is “Head Honcho” and Beryl laughs that Frank is her delivery and errand boy (to be fair, Frank still works as an environmental specialist designing and selling environmental treatment systems). Every summer day you’ll find Ella-16, Reiss-14 and Annabel-12 working or just lending a hand at the shop. Clearly a majority of their lives has been spent learning about surfing, stand-up paddle boarding and long boarding, and they have plenty of toys to experiment with. Sibling rivalry and adolescent growing pains surely exist, but their professionalism and commitment to the family business is endearing. Frank and Beryl never planned on raising children and a business all at once, however the process seems to be going swimmingly.
SBX Waterman Camp July 25-29
For the first summer ever, Sleeping Bear Surf and Kayak is offering a five-day long camp “designed and taught by water enthusiasts to create water enthusiasts.” Ella was inspired to develop the program in northern Michigan after she attended an Orca camp in Santa Barbara, Calif., where she learned about whales, the ocean and the history of the area while exploring the water through fun activities. With Rod’s help, the two have outlined a week of experiential learning on the limitless shores of Lake Michigan. Sea kayaker Andy Rieck will be the third camp instructor.
As all surf sports, each day’s activities will depend on the weather and conditions. Count on learning how to read and interpret surf forecasts, and start every morning with a session of stretching. From there, the days will be packed with surfing, stand-up paddle boarding, snorkeling the shipwreck at Pyramid Point with a hike and dune tag, kayaking to North Bar from Empire Beach for skimboarding, and a last “free-for-all” day with all equipment and a barbeque at Empire Beach. “We’re also hoping for the campers to organize a beach clean-up that we can host on the Friday of the camp,” Rod says. “Being mindful of the impact we have on our beaches is another important lesson we’re trying to teach.”
“Our instructors are over-the-top cool,” Beryl says. The camp is for all ages, and she urges those with an adventurous spirit to sign up. “Try something new and maybe even get out of your comfort zone.”
With Frankfort, Leland and Empire emerging as known surf spots on Lake Michigan, the camp is truly the perfect way to begin the emersion into fresh-water surf life. Beryl explains it best: “We have miles and miles of amazing shoreline and so many fun ways to use our natural resources. Let’s expose people to these different super-fun activities and teach them how to understand the water and weather so they can become stewards of the earth.”
Contact Sleeping Bear Surf and Kayak to register and learn more about the camp at (231) 326-WAVE. You can also check out wave conditions on Empire beach by viewing Sleeping Bear Surf and Kayak online “Wave Cam” at www.sbsurfandkayak.com/wave-cam.
Tournament bass fishing has exploded nationwide as a professional sport and there are numerous club events throughout northern Michigan. On May 21, the first bass fishing tournament specifically for local high school students was held on Green Lake in Interlochen. The inaugural event saw a competition between 11 teams from four area schools.
Fellow Leelanau School teacher Bob Sonnenberg and I originally had the idea for a tournament while running the Field and Stream sport at the private boarding school near Glen Arbor.
“Field and Stream gives us the opportunity to get outside with kids of all levels of hunting and fishing experience and take advantage of the amazing resources in this area,” said Sonnenberg. “Some of the students watch the tournaments on T.V. and know that champion angler Kevin VanDam is from right here in Michigan. So they wanted their own competition.”
Sonnenberg, who is Leelanau School’s Athletic Director, made calls to the other athletic directors who discovered there was a great deal of interest from their students.
On tournament day, the weather could not have been better as 11 boats gathered at the Green Lake boat launch. At 10 a.m. the horn sounded and they all motored off to their favorite spots.
“Because the tournament was before the opening of bass season, we could not keep the fish to weigh,” explained Sonnenberg. “Before the season, you have to do an immediate catch and release. So the winner would be the boat that caught the most bass of any size.”
That boat, it turned out, was the team from Benzie Central High School consisting of anglers Ron Egeler and Devin McPherson, as well as captain Joe Taraskavage. During the four hours, they caught 24 bass to win first place honors, as well as a tackle assortment from The Fish Hook in Lake Leelanau and a gas card from Blarney Castle.
Second Place went to The Leelanau School team of Scott Thompson and Conner Madison, who were captained by this writer. Thompson and Madison boated 14 fish during the tournament. The team from Suttons Bay of Nathan Kulpa, Noah Reyhal and captain Derek Kulpa came in third by pulling in 11 bass. Fourth place went to Mack Wolfgram and Scott Hoch of Elk Rapids, who registered eight bass.
Based on the fun, excitement, and interest that the first tournament generated, Sonnenberg said to stay tuned for more. He and Leelanau School students Conner and Scott will travel to the State Competition on Sunday, June 26, at Whitmore Lake in southeast Michigan. Stay tuned for more Tournament dates later in the summer and when school starts again in the fall.
Pamela Houtteman gives her dad, Mike Tanielian, an early Father's Day hug following their participation in the M-22 Challenge.
By Stephanie Zalucha
Sun contributor
At 8 a.m. on Saturday, June 11, 548 athletes took off from the start line on M-109 in Glen Arbor and prepared to race up the Sleeping Bear Dunes “Dune Climb.” It would only be the start of a challenging event which also includes a 17.5-mile bike race around Big and Little Glen Lake and a 2.5-mile paddle in Little Glen Lake.
The battle for the number one spot in the 2011 M-22 Challenge took place in the water between U.S. Olympic team Kayaker Jeff Smoke of Chicago, 2010 M-22 Challenge Winner Dennis Paull of Cheboygan, and Steve Andriese of Traverse City.
Andriese, a strong cyclist, was the first to come back to the transition area from the bike and secured a lead going into the water on his stand up paddleboard. Not far behind, Smoke and Paull caught up and took first (1:15) and second (1:19) respectively and Andriese took third (1:20).
Keri Pawielski of Niles, Michigan, took home the overall women’s first place (1:24) and Queen of the Dune trophy for the third consecutive year. When asked if she plans to compete in 2012, she exclaimed, “Yes! I’m so looking forward to next year!”
Between M-22 Challenges, Pawielski also competes in Ironman races. Katy Tomczk of Big Rapids, and Ranae Ihme of Glen Arbor, took second (1:40) and third (1:42) in the women’s overall. Tomczk participated with friends who also compete in the “Mud Run” and “Warrior Dash”.
The M-22 Challenge attracts competitive athletes as well as those who just want to conquer the Challenge. When 18-year-old Bryan Applin’s bike broke down during the race, he thought, “I just want to finish this race,” and made a quick decision to ditch his bike and run the next 11 miles back to the transition area while others cycled past. The Monroe native laughed at the finish, “Inspiration Point is bigger when you have to run up it!”
Seventy-seven-year old finisher Bo Clampitt of Thompsonville told us, “I just like the challenge and I do it to fight old age.” Clampitt, who came with his family, says he wants to go for it again next year too.
For many, it was a family event. Thirteen-year-old Ben Osborn of Ferndale did the race with his mom and stopped just before the finish line to wait for her so they could finish hand in hand. Mike Tanielian, 68, of Glen Arbor and daughter Pamela Houtemann also did the race as a family for their second year in a row. “The whole idea was to train and race with my daughter and try to do my best.” Tanilelian passed his daughter at the end but credits his newer kayak.
While many participants are local, others came from thousands of miles away. Traveling all the way from Southern California, Amanda Silverio said she visited Northern Michigan this winter and after learning about M-22, she wanted to come back to support the area and get outside. “It was awesome!” she exclaimed after racing with her boyfriend and friends.
M-22 Challenge participants came from 15 states this year and event coordinators, Matt and Keegan Myers of M-22, expect that number to grow next year.
About the M-22 Challenge and M-22:
The M-22 Challenge, is a multi-discipline event based in beautiful Leelanau County in Northern Michigan designed to challenge athletes against the natural terrain and environmental elements of the area. The 2011 Event is sponsored by Merrell and Britten Gear. www.m22challenge.com.
Founded by kiteboarders in search of epic wind and waves, M-22 was created to express the common passion for Northern Michigan. M-22 is not just a road; it’s a way of life. Its bays, beaches and bonfires, dunes and vineyards, cottages, friends and family. It is the feeling you get when you realize there is no other place you would rather be. www.m22online.com
Beloved highway gets M-22 store, wine tasting bar, and parking lot
By Jacob Wheeler
Sun editor
“M-22 is all about the northern Michigan lifestyle,” an excited Matt Wiesen says while standing behind the wine counter at his and wife Katy’s new apparel store and tasting room in Glen Arbor. “It’s about a glass of wine on the boat, beaches, bonfires and a laid-back attitude.”
Outside, the town is abuzz. Construction crews and earthmovers hurry to pave a parking lot by Memorial Day weekend on the Wiesens’ new land just east of the M-22 store and across the road from their signature business, Crystal River Outfitters. Next to the canoe and kayak outfitter, customers occupy every seat inside Sue’s Riverfront Deli. Up the street, Carol Worsley buries her hands in soil as she plants colorful flowers outside Thyme Inn. The innkeeper is still giddy about the nervous young couple that got engaged while staying in her suite the previous weekend. And at the Good Harbor Grill, tools, sawdust and paperwork cover tables that, by May 26, will host hungry tourists. Summer is coming fast.
The Wiesens are teaming up with the “Broneah Brothers”, Matt and Keegan Myers, to sell M-22 brand apparel along the scenic Michigan highway. To them, and to thousands of locals and tourists alike who wear the now ubiquitous brand on their clothing or on automobile bumper stickers, M-22 is more than just a road — “it’s a way of life.” The Myers brothers, whose parent M-22 store is located in downtown Traverse City, are best know for the M-22 Challenge triathlon, which they’ll hold this year on Saturday, June 11. (Visit M22Challenge.com for more information.)
“We became friends with the Myers brothers three years ago through the inaugural M-22 Challenge,” explains Matt Wiesen. “We’ve been their paddle directors ever since year one. Our friendship has grown.”
Crystal River Outfitters supplies kayaks for M-22 Challenge participants, who paddle 2.5 miles on Little Glen Lake, following a 2.5-mile run up the dunes and a 17-mile bike ride around the Glen Lakes. The Myers brothers, who live on Old Mission Peninsula, liken Crystal River Outfitters to a godsend for satisfying the Challenge’s biggest equipment demand. (This year’s race will expand to 550 participants: It sold out within hours of registration opening. You can watch videos of last year’s race on GlenArbor.com.)
The Myers brothers looked at Frankfort, Suttons Bay and Leland for their M-22 store location, and ultimately favored Glen Arbor. Last year they rehabilitated the old Fisher House east of Glen Arbor near Bay Lane, but soon realized that zoning wouldn’t let them turn the space into a retail location. So in December they approached the Wiesens and proposed opening an M-22 store in the space that Katy’s business Campfire Pottery occupied last summer.
“We realized that the M-22 store could compliment Crystal River Outfitters,” says Matt Wiesen, adding that Campfire Pottery didn’t fit as well into their outdoorsy business model. “Campfire Pottery was way off in right field compared to our other ventures. We knew that long term Crystal River Outfitters (and M-22 apparel) was the real opportunity.”
This winter, Matt and Katy Wiesen escaped for a week to Florida, then Mexico, where they hung out with the “Broneah bros”. Matt and Keegan Myers kiteboarded offshore, while the Wiesens favored tanning (and sunburning) on the beach. Glen Arbor’s M-22 store opened for business on Friday, May 13 — a good omen, they hope. And a grand opening will follow once they secure a liquor license for the wine-tasting bar.
Black Star Farms will produce seven signature wines exclusively for the M-22 store, and though the bulk of Leelanau County’s wineries are clumped near Suttons Bay, this summer the Glen Arbor area will boast three wine-tasting locales: the M-22 store, Cherry Republic, and Longview Winery in nearby Cedar. Matt Wiesen believes that wine tasters will discover a laid-back and unpretentious atmosphere at the store, as visitors sip Leelanau grapes while surrounded by surfer gear, wetsuits and sunglasses.
The Glen Lake Chamber of Commerce also finds the new locale to its liking. The Chamber has officially moved its office and rack of business brochures to the M-22 store. There Matt and Katy will employ approximately five workers this summer: the Wiesens already have 19 at Crystal River Outfitters.
And the massive landscaping project next door? Last year the Wiesens bought the house of the late Bill Rohn, a colorful college professor, car dealer and descendent of this area’s early settlers. Inside his house, Matt and Katy found original prints of early artwork of Alligator Hill. That house will become Crystal River Outfitters’ bike rental and repair shop in 2012. The destination will likely include an outdoor lounge and concrete patio. In the near-term, the parking lot behind the building should be ready by this Memorial Day, and Matt believes it will relieve congestion downtown, while encouraging tourists to use Glen Arbor’s sidewalks and get to know the growing east side of town.
“This can be a new demarcation point for entering Glen Arbor from the east,” said Katy. “Glen Arbor is working its way eastward, becoming a more walkable community that uses its sidewalks.”
Gallery game of musical chairs
In the old garage behind the new M-22 store, Glen Arbor native-returned-from-afar Keenan May is on a creative mission. His stellar photography will soon be on display at the Leelanau Lab gallery, but the architect/futurist’s experimenting with light and sound are just as likely to bewitch you. Keep an eye out for impromptu movies being shown at the Leelanau Lab this summer.
Elsewhere in Glen Arbor, a game of “musical chairs” is underway. Dickinson Gallery has moved from its spot on M-109 near Ruth Conklin Gallery to the garage next to Art’s formerly occupied by Sleeping Bear Surf & Kayak. In Dickinson’s place, the Mimi Nieman Fine Art Gallery is back in town after a 12 hear hiatus (in other words, the previous millennium). MacBeth & Company, which was in the former Leelanau Interiors Location on M-109 has re-opened in the former Cottage Collections space next to the Glen Arbor Athletic Club. The Cottage Collections Design Studio has downsized and now occupies the back area. Tiny Treasures (Village Sampler Plaza) and Bittersweet (M-109) have sadly closed their doors, but in Bittersweet’s place is Century 21 Real Estate and realtors Laura Sielaff (Empire Eagles, which hosted the Dunegrass Festival the past two years) and former Glen Lake football coaching legend Bill Hollenbeck.
Salon turns 50, with upgrade
Sherri Lynn Richard, a well-known stylist at Pavlova in Traverse City, purchased the Glen Lake (Beauty) Salon on Christmas Day last year following months of serious consideration. “I thought it was a dream come true but, initially, too expensive,” she says. Richard opened on New Year’s Eve and exalts at how well Glen Arbor has treated her. “Happy, sunny people,” she calls us. Richard has inherited many of former owner Marilyn’s clients, and also drawn her former patrons from Pavlova. The atmosphere of the Glen Lake Salon today, which is open Tuesday thru Saturday, from 9-6, isn’t quite debonair Pavlova, and not quiet small-town Glen Arbor either. Marilyn’s wicker chairs are still there, but Richard has painted them light mango orange. The forest green walls are now blue and, in a nod to the previous owner, the goddess of an era past, Marilyn Monroe flashes her seductive smile from a portrait on the back wall.
Long Island at the WAG; boating-dining fusion at the Narrows
Western Avenue Grill bartender Bill Skolnik, a native of Long Island, desperately missed good oysters and seafood here in the Midwest, so he has incorporated a half-shell oyster bar at the WAG, on Thursdays through Sundays, and nightly between July and Labor Day. Pair your ocean pearls with oyster-friendly wines, and stay late for karaoke. Only problem is, “we desperately need shuckers,” says Bill — in his Long Island accent.
Meanwhile, over at the Glen Lake Narrows, the McCahill family from Colorado followed up last year’s acquisition of On the Narrows Marina with their purchase this spring of the deli/diner/ice cream shop south of the Narrows Bridge. The locale likely won’t open until July, but when it does, look for a fusion of boating and dining while watching sunsets on the lake.
Pathways to Sleeping Bear and the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore has released a dazzling new video that extolls the virtues of the Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail, the 27-mile multi-use trail that will parallel M-22 and M-109 in and near the National Park. Construction will begin on the Heritage Trail late this summer.
According to the Heritage Trail website, “the trail will provide a safe, non-motorized, multi-use transportation alternative connecting the Lakeshore’s main visitor destinations with Glen Arbor and Empire. The SBHT will give walkers, runners, wheelchair users, bicyclists, cross-country skiers, baby strollers, and rollerbladers a safe, enjoyable, and car-free way to access and explore the Lakeshore and neighboring communities.”
Appearing in the video are Lakeshore Deputy Superintendent Tom Ulrich and a couple prominent private citizens — Ranae Ihme of Leelanau Vacation Rentals, and retired Hall of Fame high school basketball coach Don Miller.
Would you like to identify migrating birds, look for wildlife, learn about search and rescue in the dunes, or enjoy a bike ride? Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is the place to do all that and more. May is an excellent time to get outdoors and National Park Rangers are looking forward to leading you on some fun adventures this spring.
Every Saturday afternoon for the “Saturdays at the Lakeshore” programs at 1 p.m., a Park Ranger awaits you at the Visitor Center in Empire to introduce a topic and then lead a car caravan a short distance to where the walk will begin. Each week features a different topic and location. The programs last 1 to 1½ hours and are no longer than 1½ miles.
For all other scheduled programs, go directly to the designated location to meet the Ranger. When planning to attend any program, please be prepared for all kinds of weather and dress appropriately. Wear shoes that are good for walking or ensure that your bicycle is tuned up and tires full of air if you are going on a bike ride. Whatever the program, always take along water and sun protection.
May 7 – Saturdays at the Lakeshore- Predator-Prey Detectives
Use your detective skills to figure out the mystery animal. Your Park Ranger will lead you to the clues to be found throughout the hike.
May 8, 2:30 p.m. – FUN Wildlife Encounters
Families will learn how to react and what to do if they encounter the Park’s wildlife residents and possible transients. There will be games, prizes, and plenty of animal role-play. This event is open to all families and is part of the park’s outdoor activity club, Families United with Nature (FUN). Meet Park Rangers at the Platte River Campground Amphitheater, located off Lake Michigan Road, 10.3 miles south on M-22 from the Visitor Center in Empire.
May 14 – Saturdays at the Lakeshore- Returning Birds
Celebrate International Migratory Bird Day by joining a Park Ranger to welcome back several species of migratory birds and learn about their winter adventures in far-off lands. This is a great opportunity for beginning birders. Bring binoculars or borrow some from the Ranger.
May 21 - Saturdays at the Lakeshore- Search and Rescue (SAR)
Do you ever wonder what happens during a search and rescue? Come and learn about the process of a SAR on the dunes. Observe as the training takes place in the park and learn some tips to be safe in the Lakeshore. Meet at the Visitor Center in Empire for a short introduction about Search and Rescue and then car caravan to watch the SAR team in action.
May 28, 10 a.m. – Pedal the Lakeshore – Bike Tour/Beach Ride at Platte River Campground (3 miles, 1 hour)
Join a Park Ranger for an adventure to learn about invasive species and the threat that they pose to our resources. This bicycle tour consists of a short ride through the woods to the beach at the end of Peterson Road. Meet at the Platte River Campground Ranger Station parking lot.
May 28, 1 p.m. – Saturdays at the Lakeshore- Protecting Piping Plover Personalities
Our endangered plovers have so much personality for being such tiny birds. Learn how we are sometimes just like the plover and catch a glimpse of them at their nesting sites.
May 28, 3 p.m. – Heroes of the Storm
Experience turn-of-the-century shipwreck rescue techniques with this hands-on program designed for children of all ages. Audience participation is encouraged. Meet at the Maritime Museum in Glen Haven.
May 28, 8 p.m. – An Evening Out with a Park Ranger
Enjoy an evening outdoors with a Park Ranger at a campground talk about the park’s natural and cultural treasures. Meet at the Platte River Campground Amphitheater. The facility is handicapped accessible.
May 29, 2 p.m. – Pedal the Lakeshore – Bike Tour – Recreation and Tourism: Past, Present, and Future! (9 miles, 2.5 hours)
Bicycle through history with a Park Ranger and discover how people have kicked back and relaxed along the lakeshore. What has changed over time and how might we recreate in the future? Meet at the Glen Lake Picnic Area, located off M-109, near the Dune Climb.
All Ranger-led programs are free. Participants need only purchase the park entrance pass or have an annual pass displayed on their vehicle to join in the fun. Reservations are not required, but are suggested if you wish to bring a group. Please call (231) 326-5134, ext. 328, for details or log onto www.nps.gov/slbe. Also, check out our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/sbdnl.
Celebrate your National Park by attending a park ranger-led program
From staff reports
Join in the celebration of our country’s 394 national park sites right in your own backyard at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. The theme for National Park Week 2011 is “Healthy Parks, Healthy People.” Get moving and attend a FREE Park Ranger-led program or just get to the park and enjoy some of the healthy activities the National Lakeshore has to offer during National Park Week, April 16-24.
America’s 394 national parks offer many close-to-home opportunities for outdoor recreation. A growing number of doctors even write, “Park Prescriptions” to get patients outside and active. The growing connection between public lands and public health is the focus of National Park Week. Entrance to all national parks is free throughout the week.
“National parks have always been great places to go on vacation, have fun, and learn something, but for millions of Americans, national parks are also a daily part of a healthy lifestyle,” National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis said. “If you’ve never thought of your national parks that way, we’d like to invite you to come out to see how parks can help you meet your fitness goals. Getting outside and moving is the first step.”
April 16 – Healthy Parks, Healthy People: That’s the Point!
Join a Park Ranger for a healthy hike through the Sleeping Bear Point Trail. This leisurely paced walk through the 2.8-mile loop of hilly sand dunes and woods will get your leg muscles warm, your heart pumping, and your senses savoring the views. Meet the Park Ranger at the Visitor Center in Empire at 1 p.m. for a brief introduction and then car caravan to the trailhead.
April 22 – Empire Bluffs Sunset Hike
Join a Park Ranger for a 1.5-mile roundtrip hike to enjoy the sunset on the Empire Bluffs. Improve your outdoor photography skills while improving your waistline. Bring your camera if you have one, and we’ll have some old fashioned film cameras on hand if you don’t. Meet the Park Ranger at the Empire Bluffs trailhead at 7 p.m. From the Visitor Center, go south 1.7 miles on M-22. Turn right on Wilco Road. The trailhead is just up the road on your left.
April 23 – National Junior Ranger Day
This year’s National Junior Ranger Day will not only be focusing on exploring and learning about the park, but also why the park is a great place to help you be healthy and active. Kids of all ages are invited to attend any or all of the events.
• 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.: Junior Ranger Exploration Programs
• 2:30 p.m. Pre-Ceremony Activities at the Visitor Center in Empire.
• 3 p.m. Junior Ranger Ceremony at the Visitor Center in Empire.
All activities are free. In honor of National Park Week from April 16-24, entrance fees at the National Lakeshore and all national park sites will be waived. Reservations are not required, but are suggested if you wish to bring a group. Please call (231) 326-5134, extension 328, for details, or visit www.nps.gov/slbe. Also, check out our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/sbdnl.
By Jacob Wheeler
