National Park faces major decisions as spotlight focuses on D.H. Day farm

By Jacob R. Wheeler Sun editor At least once a day a curious tourist nudges up to the fence surrounding the D.H. Day farm to snap a photo or draw a sketch of the majestic 116-foot-long dairy barn that dominates the landscape along historic route M-109. This is one of the images that people associate […]

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An Afternoon Drive on South Manitou Island

By Mike Buhler Sun extreme sports correspondent Driving up the Glen Arbor boat ramp at 8 p.m., Hugh Gordon is greeted by a score of laughing, curious onlookers. As he parks and exits his 1967 Amphicar, the crowd immediately gathers, and like a carnival barker, this experienced salesman greets their curiosity with a familiar patter.

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Local wild man raises Santa Claus’ helpers

By Forest Mullins Sun investigative reporter Can Reindeer fly? “Well Duh. That’s why we live so close to the Empire Airport,” says Kevin Kelly, who shakes his head in disbelief at my foolish question. “You skeptics. We have to cover the local district for the Big Man (i.e. Santa Claus).”

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Fresh Food for People In Need: The Story of a New Partnership

By Bronwyn Jones Sun contributor This summer something strange and wonderful is happening at food pantries in Leelanau and Grand Traverse Counties. People in need of emergency food supplies are receiving nutritious, fresh foods grown on farms nearby. From lettuce and carrots to beans and potatoes, healthy food grown by dozens of area farmers is […]

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Decomposition at the Cottage

By Jim Coleman Sun contributor Cottages have piles of crossword puzzle books, boxes of revered games, and dog-eared novels slouched in pine-board bookcases. A good addition to these summer amusements might be poet W.D. Snodgrass’s De/ Compositions (Graywolf, 2001). T.S. Eliot remarked that poetry was “a superior amusement,” and Snodgrass’s book is in that vein. […]

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Labor Day’s meaning lost amidst beach supplies

By Jacob R. Wheeler Sun editor and occasional columnist What is marked in your calendar for Labor Day Monday: a day on the beach; a barbecue on the deck; a cocktail party in the garden? How about 12 hours toiling on the assembly line in a hot factory? Or maybe you’d like to march in […]

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Leelanau County on the Cheap: Focus, Empire

By Ashlea Turner Sun staff writer This is a new column devoted to budget travelers who enjoy fresh food and quality time spent off the beaten path in Leelanau County. While following this advice, the savvy traveler will spend less than $25 a day (including tax and tip) on food and have plenty of adventures. […]

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Zebra mussels are here to stay

By Christina Campbell Sun staff writer It was only a matter of time. For years, Glen Lake has been the last holdout against the Leelanau County zebra mussel epidemic. But this summer, swimmers are seeing native Glen Lake clams coated with the mussels. These massing molluscs have now infected every main recreational lake in the […]

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Personal Watercraft: lake lice or a harmless thrill?

By Christina Campbell Sun staff writer What do you think of when you hear “Personal Watercraft?” A Jet Ski®? A Sea-Doo®? A Wave Runner®? A shallow-draft, aquatic craft propelled by a water jet drive and capable of achieving planing speeds? Or do you just cover your ears and wait for the whine to dissipate?

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Heart of a hobo beats inside 90 year-old Honor Man

By Jane Greiner Sun staff writer Almost as soon as I met Clive Haswell, 90, of Honor, he quoted a little poem. I had asked him about his hobo days and he said it brought this to mind: The skunks they have in Wyoming Smell just as bad as ours. The odor sneaks into the […]

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